Eau Exotique is the latest fragrance release from Parfums de Nicolaï. The notes feature lime, petitgrain, sweet orange, cassis, mango, jasmine, vetiver, patchouli, cedar, and musk.
Eau Exotique opens with citrus and summer fruits. It smells green and sparkling, rather like a fruity summer cocktail. There is lots of mango and lime, and a hint of cassis, and it is beautifully balanced between sweet, bitter and tart notes. There is a whisper of jasmine in the dry down, no more, and a nice musky base. My old nemesis, patchouli, is very much under control, but with the vetiver provides a bit of earthiness and depth to what is otherwise a sheer, summery fragrance.
Eau Exotique is in the Eau Fraîche line, and so has neither the complexity nor the lasting power of some of the regular Parfums de Nicolaï scents for men and women, but it is a lovely fragrance from what I find to be one of the most consistently interesting niche houses around.
Parfums de Nicolaï Eau Exotique runs $60 for a 100 ml bottle. Update: it is now available in 30 ml travel bottles as well!
For buying information, see the listing for Parfums de Nicolaï under Perfume Houses.
29 Comments
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Hello dear R!! I need to get down there and re-test this one. Another one that I remember testing but cannot remember how it developed on me. Hope the weather is cooler for you.
xoxo
Wonderful review, R! It sounds so much more interesting that what I envisioned at first. I like nearly everything from Eau Fraîche line, save for Fig Tea, and I will try this one. Did you say that there is a store in Montreal? Hmmm…. Mr. P might have to bear a trip there
Thanks for this wonderful review! I can't wait to try this one. Did I read that there is a store in Montreal? Do you, by any chance, have the address? It would be wonderful!
PBI, I just located the address:
A Montréal :
10138, rue Lajeunesse
Montréal (Québec) H3L 2E2
Tél.: (514) 277 7412
Hope that it helps!
N, It is supposed to cool off tomorrow, and I am hoping some brain function is restored
V, I even love Fig Tea! Will be curious to hear what you think of Eau Exotique. If someone had told me last year that I would like two mango fragrances, I would have thought they were nuts…but I need this & Sur Le Nil.
Sending some superb cool breeze your way! Hope it gets better – I cannot function terribly warm, humid icky weather either so I totally feel for you.
xoxo
K, I meant to try them together, but only managed to try it next to Sur Le Nil so far. Going on memory alone, I would say not too similar. There is much less jasmine in Exotique, and perhaps a bit less musk as well. Will try them together later on & come back & comment again.
Oh, R, this one sounds right up my alley! Thanks for reviewing it! I have not yet tried a PdN scent yet. Oh, wait! I did…I tried the Fig Tea and did not care for it…very weak and I got no fig at all from it.
This and the bottle of Hermes Nil I ordered will help me get through the miserable 105+ degree days here…
Thanks again for your wonderful blog
R, thank you very much for your wonderful review!!! Eau Exotique sounds ever better than I expected. I ´ll have to test it when I´m in Paris
(I wonder how much staying power it will have on my skin, Fig Tea lasts the whole day.)
Hi V! I like Fig Tea, but you are right that it isn't primarily a fig fragrance. It has lots of osmanthus and I think that is why I love it.
Sounds like your weather is even worse than ours…hope it improves soon for both of us!
I don't think I get a full day out of Fig Tea, but this is somewhat better. The fruits & florals last for 3-4 hours, the musky base lasts much longer but it is faint. Not fabulous but not bad for an Eau Fraiche.
This one sounds lovely NMS! I have never encountered Parfums de Nicolai myself, but have read about them on the 'Net. Any other scents you like from this line?
I am normally not a fan of fruity fragrances, but am surprised at how much I like a touch of mango in a scent. I really like Annick Goutal's Folavril which has just a hint of mango. I also liked Un Jardin Sur Le Nil – very different and intriguing. Unfortunately it did not settle well on my skin, so it's probably not one I'd purchase.
Oh thank you V! I'll go there as soon as possible!
I've never tried PdN fragrances and many seem to be right in my alley.
I suppose it isn't helpful but I really think the whole line is worth trying. I just posted a review of Eau d'Ete, and love Balle de Match (which was reviewed yesterday on Bois de Jasmine — see under “other perfume blogs” on the left). Sacrebleu, Vanille Tonka, Eau de Lude, Temps d' Une Fete, Eclipse, New York…all beautiful although not all of them work for me.
Just got a sample of Folavril recently & looking forward to trying it, have heard many raves.
Thanks! I will have to keep an eye out for these perfumes. I'm a big citrus fan, so the Eau d'Ete sounds wonderful.
Hope you like the Annick Goutal, however you mentioned you are not fond of “clean” scents, and this one smells very soft and clean on my skin. I personally love it and think it is perfectly named – “April Fool”.
This is really nice and allows concentration at work yet fresh. I ALSO agree- this and Sur de Nil !
)
Glad you like them
Do you know if this is still available? I couldn't find it on the web site. Just curious.
Oh dear, I don't know — and hope it is not discontinued
Well, you can breathe a small sigh of relief, I did find this, in two sizes, at Beautyhabit. However, it was no longer on the main Parfums de Nicolai website, New London Pharmacy or Luckyscent websites. It was still on TPC for samples and decants. I guess it might be a good idea to stock up. I am interested in this one, so I might just buy it!
Wow, sounds like it might be wise to stock up. I've still got a good amount left so I'm going to just keep my fingers crossed…
Can someone please tell me why they decide to discontinue a good perfume ? What are the reasons for this ?
How does Eau Exotique smell as compared to Fig Tea (I have the latter) ? And compared to Vie de Chateau ? Please give me an idea ! Thanks.
Usually it's because it isn't selling.
Ahh, thank you.
How about Serge Lutens Un Lys ? Its no longer sold in department stores in Europe, only in its store in Paris. I wonder why they wouldnt want to sell it in other stores as it is so popular. Doesnt make sense……
P.S.
Perhaps there should be a topic : “What perfume will you store up in case it will be discontinued ?´´
Aha ! That would be interesting.
Serge Lutens Un Lys was in the “export range” as a limited edition, now it's gone. You can still buy it at Serge Lutens in Paris though.
okay I will, thanks for the information !