L’Artisan Parfumeur introduced L’Eau de Jatamansi this month. The new unisex fragrance is the line’s first 100% natural, certified-organic scent, and follows the recently launched Jatamansi Body Collection. It was developed by perfumer Karine Vinchon, and the notes include jatamansi (aka nard or spikenard), clary sage, bergamot, grapefruit, cardamom, iced tea accord, Turkish rose, ylang ylang, patchouli, gaïac, vetiver, sandalwood, papyrus and incense.
I do not know if L’Eau de Jatamansi replaces the usual summer limited edition fragrance from L’Artisan this year, but it smells like a summer L’Artisan: a little bit of something spare and refreshing to cool you off on a hot day. The opening is lively and quick — a flash of lightly sugared grapefruit, replaced in short order by woody herbal notes and pale florals. There is a little murmur of peppery spices, and muted earthy tones decorate the woods and a whisper of dusty incense in the base. It isn’t entirely linear, but nor does it change a great deal after the first 20 minutes or so.
It has a clean finish, and is certainly more bright than dark, but at the same time it has a mellow, almost meditative feel. There is little or no sharpness to the herbal notes, and the liveliness of the opening calms to something more gentle than brisk. Jessica, in her review of Jatamansi Body Cream, noted some affinity with the woody notes of Dzongkha and the peppery core of Poivre Piquant, and there is also something about the dryness in the base that reminds me vaguely of Terre d’Hermès.
I like it very much, and have a feeling I’ll like it even more come July. As always, I am wishing it were sold in a smaller (much) bottle, but if you’re planning to wear it all summer long, you’ll need the 250 ml as it not only smells like a summer L’Artisan, it lasts like a summer L’Artisan. In other words, you’re going to need to refresh frequently. If anyone has tried the Body Oil, please comment on the lasting power.
L’Artisan L’Eau de Jatamansi is an Eau de Toilette, and is available in 250 ml Eau de Toilette for $145. For buying information, see the listing for L’Artisan under Perfume Houses.
22 Comments
Read more about commenting at Now Smell This.
The body oil doesn't have such a strong scent. It's very faint but amazing as a moisturizer. My favorite is the bath milk. It turns the water white, and you skin feels so soft afterwards. Yes, I'm biased but I truly love this organic line. L'Eau de Jatamansi isn't a limited summer edition. It's a permanent line, with more items to come next year.
Am I in the minority, R? I hate to have to constantly spritz fragrance throughout the day to make it last. I hear this one smells fresh and wonderful, but for that one reason, I doubt I will purchase it.
Hugs!
I, I know it isn't a summer LE, but wondered if it replaced the summer LE this year — that is, are we going to get a summer LE too?
I am probably more in the minority on this issue: I like a fragrance to last 3-4 hours and go away so I can wear something else
Oh, I get it. No, there won't be any this year.
That's how the French like their fragrances, too! They will wear a daytime one, let it fade, and then put on their evening fragrance.
I'm such an American, yuck, yuck!
Hugs!
L'Artisan is expanding so quickly, so perhaps they'll make it to your n neck of the woods eventually!
Thanks, I suspected that since it is already May and there's been no word of one.
This sounds like something I will have to get. I am w/ you, though – wish it would come in a smaller bottle. Thank God for decants. I also find it a positive thing that it doesn't last forever. I dislike having to commit myself to just one scent for the whole day. Scents like KM Loukhoum w/ the half life of plutonium drive me nuts.
LOL at “half life of plutonium” — it always seems to be with the ones you don't love
It's all anise on me, I swear! Very similar to Eau de Reglisse. Where did it come from and why? I hate anise, ugh.
, but its scent was extremely short-lived.
Body oil actually smelled much nicer one me
Found this online: spikenard root tea has a “mild, pleasant licorice like flavor”. So, don't know what the plant smells like, but might be something anise-like.
Okay, now I really want to try this! I want to try the whole line, actually. I could totally see myself as The Jatamansi Girl. Have you had a chance to see the bottle in person? Is it opaque white glass or really thick plastic?
K, I have not seen the bottle but assumed it was glass. After seeing it in a picture next to the body products, I'm thinking it is not really opaque white.
Would be shocked if L'Artisan put a fragrance in a plastic bottle, but I've been shocked before
Ha! Thank you, Robin. So I am not *that* mad
I'm wondering if this is the one that is reminiscent of Timbuktu. A colleague was wearing a L'Artisan and I thought it was Timbuktu (though it was slightly different). She couldn't remember the name (!) but said J-something. She loves it and it smells so sexy (what she wanted). I wear Timbuktu a lot and adore it. Super long lasting on me (next day!). Jatamansi, if it is that, seems to last long on my friend as well and smells heavenly.
Hmmm…it really doesn't remind me much of Timbuktu — Timbuktu is soooo earthy, and this one is much cleaner, not so sexy. To my nose, anyway.
wow! fresh, soapy but not synthetic-smelling, herbal, clean, masculine, transparent spice! what i wish my boyfriend smelled like.
Then you must buy him a bottle!
i’m single at the moment but this gives me a reason to meet someone new! hahahahaha
LOL…good luck!