Lily2911

“I remembered a smell of ponds, a smell of jasmine, a smell of soppy stones, of plum trees, kumquats and hulk bamboos. It was all there, and in a ponds there were even canopy usually operative towards their hundredth birthday.” — Jean-Claude Ellena.

I was able to buy this latest creation this weekend and the good thing is that it matched my expectations : it is a very typical JC Ellena creation and unfortunately his last one at Hermes. It is definitively part of the whole Jardin family and he brought good tribute to what we could imagine as a typical Chinese Garden. Don't expect that typical fizzling almost Fanta kind of citrus opening, it is more a citrus whisper. I definitively recognize the kumquat aroma, after that soft opening, you can smell that typical green body with a non indolic Jasmin, an "aquatic" jasmin interpretation. I don't smell the real mint note, it is more the green, fresh muskiness which Ellena always master to create in his Jardin series, closer to a juicy "fig" note than really mint which would have been too harsh for balancing this very delicate composition. The Kumquat citrus has a bit more sweetness and juiciness than any other citrus note, it gives a little honeyed aspect to this perfume. Some people will be disappointed that this is just a simple & linear perfume but I think JC Ellena wanted to close his chapter of the Jardin by honoring his master pieces in all modesty and not with lot of bravura. It is if he wanted to introduce his successor Christine Nagel already by giving her the opportunity to success him in all serenity and softness...Is it a cologne ? No not really : it is a delicate, introvert perfume. A minimalist intimate scent you would like to wear for yourself, allowing you to transcend from the daily routines and bringing some peace in your hectic life.

I received the mini from Paris store via postal service as the SA lady promised me to do once she was allowed. Such a lovely gesture because i missed their launch last Saturday and herewith my feedback : it is an incredible complex jasmin with definitively animalic underground due to civet, unique combination of sweet white jasmin, but with fresh body and restrained smokiness due to the incense and very sensual dry down because of the musk.. it is officially an unisex and men can definitively wear it because it is a kind of modern interpretation of a soapy floral.. Don't expect the lush creamy jasmin, no it is the more fresh, crispy, grassy jasmin interpretation with good sillage and average longevity. Is it a "haunting" perfume ? In a way it is, don't be misled by the simple official composition of the notes, there is some magician behind it to develop a perfume which is built within so many layers of jasmin. I am mostly used to that typical indolic jasmin, well this perfume has not these typical indolic jasmin notes, quite the contrary. It reminded me first to other flowers like LOTV or even freesia, mimosa, brought me almost off balance. Could not believe it first that jasmin is the only flower in here..
I really love it and i ordered immediately a FB ! I can highly recommend to test it for the real SL lovers who appreciate a modern floral.

I am wearing today my old time favorite Guerlain : both the perfume extract and the EDP. What more can be told about this masterpiece. It is unbelievable that this perfume remains "ageless", although created in 1919, this perfume remains THE reference chypre for many women & men. I admire how Thierry Wasser was able to reformulate it without damaging too much the initial DNA. I strongly recommend to buy the latest bottles. He succeeded to replace the interdiction of oakmass and kept the creamy peaches, spicy cinnamon, and cool moss notes all intact. The actual version is extremely well balanced and I recommend the EDP instead of the more citrus, watery EDT version. You cannot appreciate Mitsouko, if you dislike complex layered perfumes. You have that typical moss and refreshing bergamot notes at each end of the soectrum but there are lot of spicy accents like cinnamon, cloves and heavenly peach. That special peach note is very "Mitsouko" which is very distinctive but it also contains rose, neroli, vetiver. The candied orange/peach softens the strong, herbal aspects of Mitsouko, while the flowers are so subdued and well-blended that they become more an abstract beauty. Yes Mitsouko is not an easy perfume to appreciate or love, it still remains a mystery for lot of us but once you discover the unique beauty, it remains your very precious perfume for ever.