Not everyone loves traditional perfumery, the one that pleases immediately, easily understandable, clear in its visions even when it is shaded by dreamlike essences, which smells of flowers wet with dew, of roots dirty with earth, of sun-ripened rinds. Some prefer to wear essences that clone nature giving it new connotations, with arrangements so abstract that they seem to come from another planet, whose trail crosses the universe.
Mon Amour is my second try with Caline, a brand that I got to know with
Femme Florale. The manufacturer classifies the perfume on the box's back as oriental, with cassis, jasmine, and cashmere keynotes. And these three notes prevail and clearly exude in the wealthiest blend of notes described on the official Lifestyle Distribution website and reported here. The perfume comes in a bottle with deep purple tones, with some roses in relief on the bottom, a trademark we find in all Câline fragrances.
The essence has an aura of its own and leaves an unforgettable fragrance on and around you. It's more of a sensation than a scent. It unfolds with a healthy dose of the bright and sparkling acid accord, with facets of sour berry leaves and liquorice-like green anise seeds unobtrusive but weighted to balance the acidity, and soon met from a juicy apple. The indolic and narcotic white jasmine is innate and exudes in the head accord, acute and sonorous, and not the delicate jasmine found in the garden or on the terrace. A redolence that shines like a falling star crossing the sky. If you don't like jasmine, I bet this perfume isn't for you. So, I can say that the opening is agro-floral.
The cashmeran, woody and creamy, heralds the heart, while the hypnotic jasmine and other brilliant notes calm down. The synthetic molecule reveals a creamy, woody, slightly spicy, and musky shade. Along with cashmeran, an earthy quality rises from the base, almost like patchouli but not too bold. Maybe I get a subtle bitterness from orange blossom, a soapy slant, and the more vanilla, sweet heliotrope.
Eventually, it dries into wonderful woody vanilla, which feels sweet but dry. Luckily the jasmine stays throughout the Mon Amour half-life but becomes quieter and joins the soothing vanilla, comforting amber, and slightly woods and musks masculine that work well together to create a glorious aura, a luminous light of fragrance that surrounds and envelops me. I still notice the redolence of the cashmeran with its velvety, almost powdery finish.
Ultimately, Mon Amour is mysterious with a slightly sweet streak, and while it's not gourmand, I bet there's a tinge to something caramelized. I know it won't be for everyone, but if you like very rich and unique perfumes, you should have an open mind on this and don't miss it. This fragrance is superb; for me, it is suitable preferably in the night's dark and autumn and winter, as its luminous depth is perfect for the colder months; perhaps, spring could be an option. It occurs in EDP concentration, but both projection and longevity are moderate for a few hours and close to the skin. But no matter, its ridiculous price allows you to renew it several times while wearing it.
I base the review on a 60ml bottle I have owned since July 2022.
-Elysium