Fragrance Reviews by DeeOlive

At a first glance at the bottle, which was a gift, I thought this frag was "tea rose" but on first whiff I realized it was crafted of tea plus rose. Brosius says, "I composed this classic scent with real Tea (Indian Black) and real Moroccan Rose Absolute (Rosa Damascena)" and the tea adds a dry, smokey, woodsy quality to the exquisite rose absolute. A stunning combination; not too sweet and very long lasting.

I bought Un Jardin en Méditerranée because I had already purchased Un Jardin sur le Nil and had fallen in love, so this was a blind buy. I was curious to experience another Hermes. This is probably the best untested purchase I’ve ever made. It was also the first scent in my wardrobe based on fig notes, and the heady warmth of the fig blended with cooler greens and umbers of wood and leaf reminds me of strolling through my summer garden and then heading into the shade of the forest with soft winds wafting the scent of flowers into sunlit breaks of the canopy above. I can see how this is described as unisex; I would love to smell this on a man, but I will be content with sniffing it on myself. It is a peaceful scent but not languid, comforting but not cloying, and the counterpoint between soft honeyed fig and sharper notes I can’t place, make it an interesting puzzle. Just when I think it says one thing, another elusive note appears. The orange blossom never dominates, it whispers softly, weaving in and out of the cedar and leaves. Strangely, though the name invokes the Mediterranean, this has no seashore notes at all for me. I live in the mountains, and this is very much a scented glade in the dell.

Jean Patou 1000 is sublime. An exquisitely blended palette of lush floral notes but no cloying syrup here. I have never smelled Chinese osmanthus, in a garden, but will seek it out, since this is the note 1000 is said to be built around. I must now rearrange my personal list of top 5 scents to make space for this bottle of perfection.

Am curious as to why this has been reviewed as “old lady” smelling. Well, if that is so I am glad to be 60 and to appreciate things aged and rare – for this is truly as close to perfection in a bottle as you can get. It is the epitome of elegance:

Tasteful opulence in form, decoration, or presentation
Restraint and grace of style

elegance. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved November 23, 2007, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/elegance

I think the restraint in the perfumers’ art is aptly exhibited with 1000 – no one element screams out a dominant note nor fights for preeminence. There are such smooth segues from top to bottom you don’t even notice the transition. I wish I could afford to own many more bottles of this – I must make a note to place this on my various holiday gift wish lists.

I have stocked up on this, buy bottles everytime I see them offered online, for it is a staple in my wardrobe, and I can wear it in all seasons, though I find it particularly comforting in cold weather. It reminds me of time I spent in Algiers, sun baked earth, burnt umber tones, soft & spicy. Reminds me of a tune on Mile's Davis' Scetches of Spain.

I have it. I wear it from time to time when I remember it is there. I bought it on a day I was bored - and since I adore Poeme thought I'd give another Lancome a try, having already rejected Tresor. There is nothing wrong with it - it is pink, and pleasantly bland. It does not last very long on me, nor does it have much depth. I am a fan of freesia - but prefer Crabtree & Evelyn's version. I'd recommend this for much younger tastes than mine - under 40. It is surely no miracle of perfumer's art. When and if I finish the bottle - I will not re-up my supply.

Jaïpur Saphir evokes the Taj Mahal at midafternoon or perfumed gardens of the East...sun ripened fruit in floral bowers waiting to be picked. The opening peach notes, spiced with cardamon mesh seamlessly with the underlying floral medley of jasmine and magnolia, and yet another spicy scent - but understated. It is like a jeweled necklace, accompanied by gold and amber teardrop earrings. I do not detect the musk- the vanilla warms the drydown, clinging close to the skin, whispering throughout the days wearing; never loud or brazen. If this scent were a fabric it would be silk.

Music notes - Miles Davis in his blue period arranged by Gil Evans. Muted trumpet solo. Lush orchestration - all this is what L'Heure Bleu evokes when I wear her. Not melancholic but haunting in her allure, she is like a stroll through my garden at dusk, when the scent hangs thickest in the air, the notes of all the evening flowers blending before dark; segue to Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.

This is my signature scent - if I had to pick one perfume to accompany me as a cast-away, this would be my choice. I first wore her in 1971, and over 30 years later I have grown into her.

A poem, a nosegay, a posy... tender violets after a spring rain peeping up from under crisp green leaves; hints of lily of the valley, rose, & hyacinth.

I love this perfume and wear it when I want something soft and delicate to hover around me. This is a scent that matches my cashmere sweaters, with pastel palette tones; an impressionist landscape by Monet.

The long-stemmed crystal-like flask with lavender tassel is lovely as well.

I bought Poême as a gift for a friend who loves it, and took home a sample for myself. Went back the next day and bought the largest flask in the store, and have never been without it ever since. It is like wearing liquid gold; a bright, warm, sunlit floral bouquet with no melancolic notes. Of all the perfumes I own, my husband loves this on me the best.

This is a particularly comforting scent to wear in bleak winters; evoking fields of spring and summer blossoms and honey bees. The sillage is great, I don't over apply, and it lasts on me for 24 hours.

To my nose, it differs greatly from
Tresor, which has an acrid tang.

The freesia, orange blosson, jasmine and tuberose mid notes are a smooth transition from topnotes of peach and other fruits. All seated softly on top of vanilla and amber.

This was my first "grown up" scent in the 60's and remains a favorite. Classic floral, crisply elegant and smoothly blended it has always been a perfect daytime scent for me. I'm a sucker for Bulgarian rose & jasmine; the iris does not take front stage on me, and the sandalwood and cedar give it a comforting base note. Though reformulated I'm told, the current version smells no different to me than the original. Inspired by Chanel No 5 with many of the same notes - they are nothing alike, on me.

MR has a cleaner feel to it; very white gloves and tailored suit, but with softly ruffled blouse beneath.

Have been wearing this since it first came out, and it is now readily available in discount venues.

Rose and violet are the two major notes on me, with hints of lily of the valley. Starts off quite strong but settles down quickly. A staple of my wardrobe when I want a floral blend.