TeaWithMilk

Chanel's Gardenia is *almost* my gardenia dream come true. The only problem is that it is so fleeting. After only 20 minutes, I have to press my nose firmly against my skin and inhale several times before I can detect even a hint of the beautiful scent. What I do smell is a very realistic and green gardenia, just like on the bush. It's not just creamy, it's downright buttery. Why oh why can't it project more?? I would still consider purchasing it, it's that beautiful to me, but I would definitely need to spray on my clothes as well as my skin to have any hope of the precious gardenia finding its way to my nose.

SUMMARY: Bathing in sunshine along the French Riviera, only to wake up and realize that it was all a dream.

I love palo santo, or "holy wood," and I have a lot of the raw wood as well as the pure essential oil. It is difficult to describe the scent of it, but I will try. It's definitely woody; but not dark like oud. It's naturally sweet only to the extent that it's not bitter or dry like cedar or birch. It smells a bit creamy and smoky too, although these attributes are subtle.

Bois Farine, my friends, is not farine at all. It's pure palo santo in a bottle. Ok there might be a few extra notes, like some powdery florals, but all in all, this is nearly identical to my palo santo wood and oil. I never thought I would be able to find this wood so prominently in any perfume, so I am thrilled to have found Bois Farine.

SUMMARY: Holy moly, this wood is good

This is one of my very favorite vanillas. Lightly spiced, musty, and a little bit green, Vanille Absolument stands out as unique. It is not a smoky, incensy vanilla, nor is it too dark or intense. Its green naturalness gives it an inherent simplicity. Very wearable and versatile for so many different occasions, but I like to use it for casual days. If I put vanilla in my mouth that tasted like this, I would spit it out. It takes talent to create such an inedible vanilla. It's just like a vanilla cigar that has not been lit.

SUMMARY: "I asked her what's her name, she said Guantanamera." ~Wyclef Jean

Fleur de Liane is a simple aquatic. I smell loads of melon with something else that is a bit tangy and refreshing. A touch of oakmoss adds some necessary depth. The tang eases up after some time and gives the sweet florals a chance to breathe.

Fleur de Liane makes me think of a surfer on his surfboard, riding the blue ocean waves...hmmm...or maybe an elderly man wearing a Hawaiian shirt while sitting next to his swimming pool reading a magazine. It's nice, but at the same time it's hard to believe it's by L'Artisan because it is un-extraordinary.

SUMMARY: Surf's up, dude!

Or Noir is crafted in the style of traditional French perfume. It reminds me of old perfumes like My Sin and Chanel No. 22. But I honestly think Or Noir is better. It's white flowers (I detect jasmine and gardenia) atop a rich and dark base. The base is velvety black--like the dark heart of a forest full of mossy trees. Cloves and cinnamon seem to add a dry dustiness rather than causing the perfume to be spicy. I personally think this perfume is grossly underrated. I have two bottles.

The bottle for the EdP is completely different from the parfum. It's more like the bottle for Coco Mademoiselle--tall, narrow, rectangular. Very chic.

SUMMARY: Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!