Séville à l'Aube (2012)
by L'Artisan Parfumeur

I can't recall the last time I so badly wanted an opening accord to last forever. Smelling this is like cracking open a classic petitgrain and lavender men's frag from the 40's or 50's which has been trapped in amber. It's sweet, bitter, aromatic, and warm, and the orangey-amber glow reminds me more than a little of Minotaure and New York, those beautiful Mediterranean Orientals. While the top phase is most definitely the more enjoyable part of the fragrance (but so very short-lived!)I really enjoy l'Aube. Even if there is a tad too much benzoin involved the heart of it smells like the simultaneously dirty-resinous-powdery effect achieved before in Ungaro II and Jicky. I can't help but wonder if my naturally dry skin tones down the sweetness a little, because it doesn't come off as cloying on me but there sure are a lot of folks who don't like this one because of the sweetness and volume it provides. All completely reasonable, but this one is an unshakable 'Yes' from me.

The first very few minutes of Seville a l'aube are my favorite. Dabbing it from my sample vial, I get a giant, dusky orange blossom and something oriental. This is how I had imagined it would be and I was very excited.

However, the rest of the wear time is filled with a large dose of lavender, tobacco, astringently green petit grain and something that doesn't actually smell like beeswax but rather alludes to the texture of it. The orange blossom tries to fight its way through, but isn't able to compete with the green-herbal-woody facets.

To my surprise, I never got much benzoin or honey as has been reported here. Contrary to reviews below, I didn't find this very sweet at all. The drydown is a hazy, dusky indistinct floral and herbal with smooth woody undertones. Occasionally this haze is broken up by a brief waft of something that is probably the olibanum note, its smells faintly like an evergreen resin--piney and sharp.

Overall, I would say this is a very nice fragrance, but on my skin this reads more like a feminine leaning fougere composition than an oriental floral. Blind buying is strongly discouraged simply because my experience with this was so different from what I had anticipated.

Quite sweet, which is usually something I'd avoid, but in this case it's a naturalistic-smelling sweet of citrus with honey, amber and florals, rather than the synthetic gummi bears and candyfloss dissolved in shampoo sweet that's in all the pink celebuscents.

Always amazed not to be swarmed by bees when wearing it.

Seville a l'Aube is a stunningly beautiful fragrance that is both uplifting and sensuous. It actually gives me goosebumps when I put it on!

I have worn this in the summer months but may well continue into autumn with it as well. The main notes my skin bring out are orange blossom, honey and lavender. I must smell like a bee magnet.

Duchaufour has created another little gem. It lasts well and sillage is good.

Gross. I love orange blossom, but adding a milky note (borrowed from Duchaufour's Amaranthine) makes it too creamsicle, and slightly sickening to my nose.