Premier Figuier by L'Artisan Parfumeur, 1994

Interesting that this fragrance is flagged as feminine here while it's actually included in the male sample selection offered by the house. And I know we always say that gender for a fragrance is not that relevant really.. but guys, it takes a woman with quite a thick skin to wear this for the first couple of hours when this fig exerts its most intoxicating power..not that a man would be necessarily able to pull this off any better, by the way...After that, I could see how the softer drydown suits a woman better than a man.. Gender discussions aside though, I'm not fully convinced..the opening is just too strong to be worn by anyone in my view..while the finale leaves you wanting more..a better balance, that's what I guess this fragrance is lacking. Still, the many facets of fig it explores make it an interesting scent, worth giving it a try at least.

Not a stream of words to toss about it and the fig based fragrances around; Premier Figuier starts vegetal and barely aromatic with a blooming up earthy fig note, than in a second stage the rooty-grassy figgy aroma starts to become more milky, sticky (with its notable galbanum) and exotic with hints of ambery coconut, balsams, almonds (or may be is just the olfactory  feel coming from the coconut) and woods (probably sandalwood and cedarwood). In this final phase the smell is milky-lymphatic , pleasantly nutty and a bit acid. The juice projects out in a linear way its aroma till the end and despite its creaminess preserves hints of citrusy "umidity" and cloudy muskiness. A tasty, averagely creamy and finally unrealistic fig prominent fragrance neither close  to the sharper and greener (slightly boozy) Heeley Figuier nor to the musky-ethereal  Ferragamo Pour Homme or Ninfeo Mio. Extremely balanced as proper to the Olivia Giacobetti's wonderful creations.

I have worn this fragrance for such a long time that I find quite difficult describing it. Its just a part of me, the scent that sometimes my skin assumes- apparently by its own will!- in summer I realize that such a description could be of no use at all for other readers, so Ill try to do something better. Imagine a little object: it has the shape of a fig, maybe with a cut in the skin, hinting to some milk and juice leaking out, suggesting the deep pink moist flesh of the fruit, but its made out of creamy sandalwood, rounded by traces of ligneous and polished sweetness of almonds and coconuts. It radiates an intensity, a kind of urging warmth, evoking hot summer days drenched in sunshine. A beautiful and inspiring fragrance, very easy-going and with a decent lasting power.

Premier figuier opens with a burst of joyful impressions that come together all at once. It is sunny, bright and juicy. Green and fresh, it manages to be somehow dry while also being sweet. The first note that striked me was coconut, but that is when the fragrance is dabbed. Otherwise, when sprayed, the crushed fig leaves become prominent. Then you get lime, fig and sandalwood. It also has a sunscreen note that I find quite appealing. Compared with philosykos, I see PF as being warmer, fruitier and I would describe it as more friendly. While Philosykos is an impersonal and objective fig, PF has a spontaneity that the former lacks. Maybe this comes precisely from the fact that, being Giacobetti's first, it perhaps has been composed with less skill, but with greater abandon. Tip: Sprayed on clothes, I get a decent longevity, but practically no sillage.

This scent actually lasts quite a long time on my skin! I find it strangely appealing and especially appreciate the drydown.

I love the smell of figs and detect an almond note in here somewhere (or maybe its the coconut.)

Anyway, I would wear this in the summer months with pleasure and feel it is a beautifully constructed scent with quality ingredients.

Straight away a warm ,rounded fragrance ,almost almost gourmand in deliciousness but not sweet.
Whole ripe sweet figgy fruit ,hints of green-the almond coconut comes through with the fig from the start.Hints of dried furit just help this lovely scent along its way.Slightly smokey too,gorgoeus sandalwood drydown just enhances this fig experience.

In this bottle, we're meant to find an entire fig tree-- leaves, fruit, bark, sap. Instead, I find something much more suburban-- the scent of privet hedges in summer. Glossy dark leaves, white blossoms humming with bees, a sickly, sap-green fragrance that only sweetens after several bitter minutes. Rather than be disappointed at the absence of promised exoticism, I am charmed at discovering a cherished smell from childhood. Does it translate well on skin? Absolutely. This perfume allows the wearer to carry summer with them everywhere, at all times of the year.

PREMIER FIGUIER starts off verdant but gets subtly vegetal with a creamy and nutty undertone along its development. Not a bad option for summer for this is a unisexually appealing scent with an an air of casual nonchalance about it. The only problem I have with it is its poor sillage. Although this is something I've come to expect from L'Artisan Parfumeur I still wish it projects just a little bit further.

This is a youthful, cheery, sappy-green sort of scent. It has a very green fig, leafy opening. This quickly is followed by some good wood and bark notes. The coconut adds a creamy, tropical aspect to the scent. This settles into a creamy woody scent, with continued hints of green fig and a developing lovely sandalwood note. It is only slightly sweet, so it is suitable as a unisex scent.

I had already fallen in love with figs before I came to this classic - my becnmark was the equally satisfying Miller Harris Figue Amere. Figs do well on me - this one in particular...it is creamy and vigorous at the same time. Figgy from the start with a nice green overtone and hint of citrus over woods...wonderful dry down and respectable longevity if a bit short on sillage.