Séville à l’Aube is the latest from French niche line L’Artisan Parfumeur. Over the years, I’ve reviewed a fair number of their fragrances — yes, I’m a fan. This, however, is not a proper review. I’ve never met blogger Denyse Beaulieu of Grain de Musc, who worked with perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour to develop Séville à l’Aube (and who wrote a book about the process: The Perfume Lover). But I’ve corresponded with her, and I utterly fail the test for any sort of objective review: would I be completely honest if I thought it was dreck? No, I really wouldn’t. I’m quite sure I would just keep my mouth shut and review something else. As it happens, I love Séville à l’Aube, enough so that I want to say something about it. So, consider this a review with a major disclaimer.
The scent’s inspiration and development was detailed in Denyse’s book, and has been repeated elsewhere, so I’ll just quote her own quick summary from Grain de Musc:
[Séville à l’aube] was inspired by one of the most beautiful nights in my life, in Seville during the Holy Week under an orange tree in full blossom, wrapped in incense smoke and the arms of a Spanish boy…
Oh là là, right? Translated into fragrance, many years later, what we have is an oriental fragrance focused on orange blossom (other notes: lavender, pink pepper, petitgrain, jasmine, magnolia, beeswax, benzoin and incense). Given the sexy backstory, I didn’t expect a breezy summer sort of orange blossom, but I was only partly right, and Séville à l’aube does start off with a clear and bright orange blossom, as fresh and summery as can be, and partly tinged with green.1 It turns spicier and richer in short order, but it’s no more than slightly indolic, and while you will notice the other floral notes, the orange blossom stays front and center straight through to the end. In the dry down the orange blossom turns honeyed and lightly vanillic, and mingles with pale wisps of incense. I do not smell the lavender unless I go looking for it, but it’s there, and it keeps Séville from tipping too far into sweet territory.
If you’ve read the book (or even followed the story online), you might be expecting a sex-bomb sort of fragrance, but that’s not at all what Séville à l’Aube is. It never gets deep or dark or heavy, and it isn’t at all skanky or animalic. Despite the name, I think of it as a twilight fragrance, not sexy, exactly, but a bit mysterious, and maybe a bit nostalgic, although that’s probably just my own projection.
Séville à l’Aube strikes me as somewhere between unisex and feminine. The lasting power is very good. It’s gorgeous, and it’s on my buy list.
The quick poll: name a favorite orange blossom fragrance.
L’Artisan Parfumeur Séville à l’Aube is a limited edition, and is available in 100 ml Eau de Parfum. It is already on counter overseas, but is not expected to reach the US until September. For buying information, see the listing for L’Artisan Parfumeur under Perfume Houses.
1. One of the best breezy summer orange blossoms ever, in my humble opinion, was L’Artisan’s original 2005 harvest scent, Fleur d’Oranger, now sadly gone. I never could bring myself to pay the steep price for it, but I’m jealous of eveyone who has a bottle.
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Wonderful review, Robin. I’m dying to try – and to love – this. It was split on the Google split group a while back, but in my old age, I’m pretty adamant about not buying unsniffed.
Oops! I forgot the poll question. Hands down my favorite is Guerlain’s Philtre d’Amour. It carries the classic trio of bergamot, petitgrain, and neroli – using all three elements of the bitter orange tree.
I’m 85% better about buying unsniffed! Not completely cured, but getting there.
This is lovely. I actually didn’t check the price until after I posted — $165. That’s steep too. Given the fact that they were developing it as part of the book, I guess they didn’t limit themselves in terms of cost, which makes sense. We’ll see if I can make myself spend it! Do wish they’d done a smaller size, and will be rooting for it to join the regular L’Artisan line.
Dying to try this as well – it sounds lovely. Yet another lemming – thanks Robin!
Hope you’ll like it!
I’m not usually a big orange blossom fan, but this one might change my mind! Until now, I *have* enjoyed DS & Durga’s Poppy Rouge.
Oh, I need to try that one!
Gaultier Fleur De Male! Just AWESOME and Sexy yet Subtle and Fresh!
Totally agree — it’s a really great scent.
Second Fleur De Male.
Can’t wait to try this!
My favourite orange blossom is By Kilian Prelude to Love. Not remotely original and well and truly overpriced for what it is, but it’s nicely balanced (not to sweet, not too green, not too citrus-y), long-lasting, very wearable and just pleasant. Did I mention overpriced? I’d totally own it otherwise.
Ditto on all of that!!
I would have to say that my favorite orange blossom frangrance is between Serge Lutens Fleur d’Oranger and the L’Artison 2005 Fleur d’Oranger harvest scent which I still have. I also have sampled the new Seville a l’aube and thought is was beautiful.
The Serge is probably the sexiest of the orange blossoms? Will have to think about it.
So many typos in my previous email. Sorry, but I’m at work and typed my comment as fast as i can without checking the spelling.
Oh, no worries! Our fault for not having an edit function.
Sounds great!
I’m not a huge fan of orange blossom, but my favorite version of it is in GFF Bergamotto Marino.
Everyone loves that one, and I still haven’t tried it.
SSS’s Jour Ensoleille brightens many a morning for me…and, wonder of wonders! The scent police don’t come-a-calling (at work). It’s a fragrance that successfully passes under the fragrance radar when lightly applied. Can’t wait to try Seville, though! I really hope it is at Ogilvy’s in Montreal when I visit in March!
This one is definitely darker, but might still pass under the radar very lightly applied — depends on how good the radar is
And who will police the scent police?
Casey, I also love Jour Ensoleille. As Robin noted, it does seem somewhat less “sunny” than the name suggests — though it’s certainly no less beautiful for being a bit darker. (I like to think of it as representing the kind of sunny day we have in the Bay Area, where a good bit of morning fog has to burn off before the sun comes out.)
Whoops, just realized that I completely misread Robin’s comment! If Seville is darker than Jour, it’ll probably be my ideal orange blossom. Off to hunt for $165 worth of loose change in the sofa cushions …
Duchaufour did an extrait version of Seville a l’aube, too, that Denyse has been calling “Duende.” I hope L’Artisan decides to release that, too! I smelled it on her, and it’s gorgeous–a little edgier than the EdP, maybe, with lots of delicious sillage.
Thanks Angie, that sounds wonderful! And probably too expensive to release.
Thanks for the review; this perfume sounds intriguing. I love Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom, I just wish it lasted longer. It’s hard to maintain excitement about a cologne, despite how gorgeous it is! L’Artisan’s La Chasse is another beautiful orange blossom scent! Love it! Victoria’s Secret used to make a gorgeous orange blossom called Lace. On the other hand, I’ve tried Serge so many times & it is so indolic, I just get BO!
Some of the Jo Malones really don’t last. I don’t think of myself as picky about lasting power, but agree that it’s hard to get excited when they disappear so fast.
Orange blossom is one of my favorite notes, and my favorite orange blossom fragrance is Sweet Redemption. I sampled Seville a l’Aube last week and thought it was very pretty. The opening was glorious – lots of orange blossom, lavender, and I swear for a few minutes I smelled juicy orange pulp too. The vanillic orange blossom drydown arrives quickly and is nearly identical to the drydown of Hilde Soliani Conaffetto, which I already own, so I won’t need to rush out and buy a bottle of this. I do hope it’s successful and L’Artisan decides to add it to its permanent lineup. It seems like something that would appeal to a lot of people.
I will have to try Conaffetto then!
Well, the Conaffetto is more expensive than Seville a l’Aube, plus I don’t think the opening notes are as pretty, so if I had to choose one I’d go with the latter. They’re just too similar for me to warrant owning both at the same time.
Orange blossom and I are not good neighbors, but I’m happy to hear that this scent sounds like a success for those who enjoy it! It’s kind of a perfumista dream to write a book about scent and collaborate with Duchaufour to make a complementary fragrance! Happy to hear that it’s attainable for a few lucky ones!
Good to know who you don’t want as your neighbors, right? And saves $.
You know what they say, good fences make good neighbors!
This sounds so delightful! I love a good orange blossom. I hope I can give this one a sniff!
Good luck!
My favourite is Azemour Les Oranges but it’s more about the whole orange. For orange blossom only – might be Atelier Cologne Grand Neroli or Prelude to Love from By Kilian
Nice picks!
For a cheap thrill, believe it or not Gorilla perfumes(Lush) Orange Blossom is not bad.Pretty true to nature and hard to beat the price.I also like Andy Tauer’s Orange Star.Although orange blossom is in there, so are all the other aspects of orange from the rind to the juice,to the blossom and it dries down to an incensey orange.Unlike most orange scents it has tremendous lasting power
Agree, good deal for the price!
I recently had the pleasure of trying Seville a l’Aube and it has moved to the top of my list of favorite OB scents. I also really like Penhaligon’s and Jo Malone’s as well as Atelier Grand Neroli.
You know, it’s getting so much perfumista love that I’m tempted to think it will stay in production. BUT, perfumista love doesn’t always mean something sells! So we shall see.
Is L’Artisan popular in the non-perfumista population? It seems more widely distributed than many, but certainly not mainstream.
I would say at this point it occupies a kind of middle ground. It’s widely available, and I know “non-perfume people” who know of the brand.
Well it is now on QVC in the UK, so that has made L’Artissan a lot more mainstream/accessible here. With very mixed feedback results though.
I really love Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom but it’s too fleeting.
I used to love SL Fleurs d’Oranger but have found it to be different lately — it’s screechier than I remember it — seems more jasmine focused these days.
I am now on the hunt for my holy grail OB and am hoping and praying L’Artisan Seville a l’Aube will be it!
Robin, would you compare this L’Artisan to anything else? Is it mostly a straight up OB with hints of the other notes you mention or is it mostly an oriental plus OB?
Oh dear, wonder if the Serge has been reformulated?
Hmmm. It’s a straight up orange blossom but duskier than the usual treatment of straight up orange blossom? I can see why it’s classified as an oriental, but that isn’t my immediate reaction to it, if that makes any sense.
I met a very nice person who had been hanging out with M. Duchafour and swore he had given her a decant of this, but it must have been a mod because it smelled nothing like any of these reviews…am now doubly eager to try a sample.
I adore L’Artisan Fleur d’Oranger 2007 and wish I didn’t since I have a limited supply. I keep trying to convince myself to wear Goutal’s Neroli instead, but they’re not the same and L’AP FdO remains my summer staple. I also love the Jo Malone and fall in and out of love with Lutens FdO–the cumin and the sweaty tuberose scare me, but when it’s perfect it’s so perfect and drop dead sexy that I swear I’ll wear nothing else (until it’s too much and then I can’t wear it again for months). Sweet Redemption is…too sweet for me. So far.
A, I have an earlier mod, but couldn’t find it this morning, figures! I wish I could find it, I think it was quite different too. Going on memory, less sweet, also less dusky.
Lovely review, Robin! Favorite orange blossom? Usually they turn way too soapy for my liking but I find John Varvatos Artisan very enjoyable! Beautiful scent and the wicker wrapped bottle is just bonus!
Oh, that’s a great one, and yes, great bottle to boot.
Vero Profumo Rubj is instant k.o. for me each and every time
Not a shy scent, that one!
Fleur du male features a strong orange blossom note ! I only have one L. A perfume and the bottle is lovely to hold , hope for more in the future. This one did not grab me , nice review
Fleur de Male was great, too bad it did not sell better.
Ferragamo’s Tuscan Soul, is for me the perfect OB. It lasts a whole day on me, and is perfect layered over something woody like Encre Noir or Dzongkha.
SL’s Fleurs d’Oranger is nice but is more jasmine to me, but another go to is Bergamotto Marino although that is less blossom and more the whole orange experience.
Tuscan Soul does seem like a good layering agent.
I really like Bourbon French Orange Blossom. It’s linear but very pretty, and a super deal. I havent found another fav OB and am hoping the LAP Seville is it. I am soooooo tempted to blind buy, but am resisting with all my might. I fully expect to fall heels over head in a hurry to get a bottle after first sniff.
Agree, that’s a nice one.
Oh, what perfect timing. I’m wearing Ineke’s Field Notes From Paris today; the orange blossom makes it one of my favorite comfort scents.
That’s also my favorite Ineke
This one is easy, hands down Orange Blossom/Orange Cologne by Garner James(not affiliated). A.K.A. Wooznib on Basenotes. Not sure if his website is up or not but everyone who is on BN and have tried it loves it. Such a great scent. Everyone should check his stuff out. Contact him if you are interested in trying it out. Nice guy too:D. Such a great orange scent.:D.
Ah, thanks, never heard of him!
I actually have a bottle of L’Artisan’s 2007 Fleur d’Oranger, as well as the 2010 edition, so the bar is set pretty high for me, but my big favorite is the Afghanistan Orange Blossom from 7 Virtues: http://www.the7virtues.com/orange_blossom%20.html
I got a bottle at the Bay, during a trip to Toronto. Looks like they do ship internationally if you buy it on their website. Highly recommended!
I cannot remember now if the 2010 version was cheaper?
Cheaper, yes, but officially only available in France, I think. In the US of A, LuckyScent got a few bottles and since I bought the 2007 version from them, they emailed me to ask if I was interested in the 2010.. voila.
Gotcha.
I’ve tried very few OB fragrances, but I quite enjoy Jour Ensolleilé and 7 Virtues Afghanistan Orange Blossom, and Seville has moved to the top of my sampling list.
And the 7 Virtues is moving onto my list, thanks!
This is a great scent at reasonable price and for a good cause. What more could you want ..
Angela’s Celebrity Scent series last week proved just how many frogs you guys have to kiss. I am happy for you to have found such a prince and jealous of your job at the same time.
I don’t really have a favorite orange blossom scent. I like John Varvatos Artisan, but it’s a bit sweet. I also have C.O. Bigelow Lemon Orange Blossom and Jo Malone Orange Blossom. They’re both alright, but don’t really do it for me. I mostly use them for layering in the summer. I have a bottle of Orange Blossom Water from the grocery store…does that count? It’s real earthy and green, very much like standing in a grove. Actually…(takes break)…(sits back down at computer)…I’ve sprayed on the C.O.B., J.M., and the water. The grocery store water blows the other two away. (Which is awesome because it costs a whopping $2.89.) The two “perfumes” smell incredibly synthetic and syrupy (and gross) in comparison. That was a fun little experiment.
Anyway, congrats on finding something “full bottle worthy.” You have a long sniff list and a short buy list. Just knowing Séville à l’Aube made the latter means I’ll have to hunt it down.
Poor Angie! She went above & beyond the call of duty. My job was much easier
I’m crazy to try this. Haven’t read the book , but I really enjoy Denise’s blog.
As for my favorite orange blossom, it would be Jean Patou Sublime, which is not exactly an orange blossom, but still.
But still is right
Robin, I’m with you on L’Artisan’s ’05 as my all time favorite orange blossom. I do like LM Neroli or SL’s Fleurs d’Oranger to mix things up now and then, but the original L’Artisan is perfection and I cherish my decant.
Does this feel at all like the orange blossom fragrance By Kilian did recently? That is what the description reminded me of when the press first came out.
I will be no help — I tried BK Prelude, but not Sweet Redemption. But from the sound of it, SR was more of a gourmand than this — it sounded very dessert-like to me. This is honeyed, but never reminds me of food.
I’m still looking for a good orange blossom. I have John Varvatos Artisan but that’s not the orange blossom of my dreams. This one sounds nice and I do want to try it when it’s available.
I bet we all have a different orange blossom in our dreams!
I’m so eager to try this after so many intriguing hints and mysterious references to it by the perfume community. Whether it will like me is another thing all together. There is a very thin pathway I must tread to find an orange blossom that works for me. The only one I have presently that never seems to fail me is Zagara by Mazzolari and this sounds a world away from Zagara. But the story is wonderful, as is the ‘muse’, so even if it’s not for me, I’m absolutely sure I’ll admire it.
This quite different from the Mazzolari, but of course it may or may not suit you — worth a try!
Hi Robin! Oh là là seems to sum up reactions to this scent and I’m definitely anticipating it. I even arranged for a very large decant without even sniffing it yet. Sounds very good, an I love orange blossom.
I’ll name two quite different favorites — both of which I deeply love — that probably fall on either end of the spectrum from Séville à l’Aube:
- Le Labo Fleur d’Oranger in all it’s dewy hyper-realism
- Mona di Orio Jabu, which may be the sex-bomb oriental that you indicate folks might expect from the description of Séville
I need to try that Le Labo again. I was so much more taken with their masculine line than their feminine that I probably didn’t give them enough of a chance.
I want to try this, although it is unlikely I will spring for a FB. If I really like it, a decant might be in order. I do wish everything came in sizes of 30 ml or less.
I haven’t tried a lot of orange blossoms. For one thing, orange blossom (as well as linden) usually makes me sleepy, so I cannot wear it in the daytime. I do have Ames Soeurs, which I like very well at bedtime. It seems to make me relaxed rather than sleepy. . In fact, it is one of the most soothing and calming fragrances I have ever tried. I also love that it comes in a 10 ml rollerball.
15 ml, 15 ml! And L’Artisan’s 15 ml bottles were so cute
I’m getting a decant of Seville a Laube unsniffed. You and I are scent twins, so I’m sure I’ll like it too.
In general I’m not wild about orange blossom as the prominent note in a perfume. I love the soapiness of neroli but not the skankiness of o.b.
But, as for the poll: I got Aqua Allegoria Flora Nerolia, a very fresh smelling o.b. It seems well balanced between o.b. and neroli. I compared it side-by-side with SL Fleur de Oranger, and FdO smelled artificial and chemical-like in comparison.
Azemour is my favorite but the o.b. is only part or the story.
And if you hate it, you can send the decant to me, LOL…
My favorite OB would have to Seville a l’Aube. I was one of the lucky ones who got the Summer Sampler Pack from LuckyScent and it included a sample of it. I loved it so much that I have a FB on pre-order.
I also have The Perfume Lover which I haven’t read so now I will while enjoying the last of my sample!
Lucky you!
I got my sample of this last night, and I was in raptures. One billion times better than I expected (and I expected something lovely). If I had to buy one FB this year, it would be Seville a L’Aube.
That is all.
That is enough!
Oh, how exciting! I’m really enjoying AG’s Neroli this summer, but I love a good orange blossom and am always on the look out for more. This does sound dreamy, and I think L’Artisan is wonderful – I just wished they lasted a bit longer on my skin.
Some of them last on me, some of them don’t. I do think this one has pretty good lasting power, but of course your mileage may vary!
Yes, I, too, love that L’Artisan 2005 harvest scent – I miraculously found a discounted bottle on ebay three years ago. I also like PG Cuir Venenum (only a decant).
I was fortunate to get a sample of Seville, which I adore, and have my preorder in at LuckyScent. It should be great for our usual warm Septembers.
So many of you have pre-ordered that I wonder if it will sell out. Still can’t bring myself to spend that much. Ack.
It IS being launched as an LE, isn’t it? One can always hope that it will join the permanent line if it does well, but it’s a tough decision when one already has a plentiful perfume supply. Sounds like you need a split partner! Either that or watch ebay closely – there’s alway someone who orders impulsively and then decides to sell before too long.
I’m such a Duchaufour fan, as well as a Denyse admirer, and it has my favorite notes so I won’t resist!
Yes, LE, and see Denyse’s comment below about the cost & the raw materials. Do maybe it won’t easily move into the regular line.
I have yet to find my HG orange blossom, but it is one of my favorite notes (which makes the lack of an HG all the more frustrating). As I noted above, I do love SSS Jour Ensoleille — but it’s a more complex scent than my ideal simple, sunny, hyper-realistic OB would be. I also like DSH Fleurs d’Oranger, but it lasts maybe an hour on me (unusual for a DSH, in my experience).
I should have known DSH would have one! But haven’t tried it.
Hands down the best OJB I’ve ever tried were the L’Artisan fleurs d’orangers……I tried samples of 2005, 2007 and 2011. I’d happily have bought any of them if I’d been able to afford it at the time.
Other than that, the one I love most is Tubereuse 40 from Le Labo (I think of it as more of an OJB, doesn’t make me think of tuberose at all!)
I also tried the 7 Virtues one and think it is lovely.
That’s it — I must get the 7 Virtues!
Hey Robin, so happy you (and a few others here) think this is full-bottle worthy! Perceptions seem to vary as to the oriental, tobacco/balsamic and incense facets; people who’ve read my book often expect something darker and/or sexier. But Bertrand Duchaufour and I were really trying to keep a balance between the sensual and “mystical” aspects of the story that captured his imagination, as well as a masculine/feminine dimension, since this was the story of a man and a woman.
As for the price and the limited edition, Bertrand explained at our London launch that the latter was due to the fact he used a very specific quality of orange blossom absolute produced in small quantities in Tunisia, so that production needs to follow the crops.
I like what you say about “twilight” — I’d say that since the story unfolds during the night, dawn *was* the twilight zone! You could also say that the scent goes backward in time, starting with the crips notes of the morning sun and moving back into the night…
Thanks D!
I’m looking forward to smelling Seville a l’Aube. I’m trying not to overly anticipate what it smells like after reading the story.
My 2 favourite perfumes containing orange blossom notes are Serge Lutens Cuir Mauresque when I want to feel dirty and Prada’s Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger when I want to feel clean : )
Sometimes it’s worse to have read so much, I know what you mean.
Guess I have a difficult relationship with orange blossom Divine Enfant used to make me feel very innocent and upbeat, but now I just find it way too sweet. Fleur d’ Orange is horrible on my skin and Jour Ensoleille doesn’t fare much better.
One I do love, and would like to one day own is Orange Star!
Interesting how many people say the same…I think of it as an “easy to wear” note, but maybe it isn’t.
I’m a sucker for orange blossom. Favourite so far, Castile Penhaligon’s, partial to Neroli Portofino TF, and completely sold on Eau De Neroly Dypthique.
been reading about it for the longest time, and I happen to date a spaniard too 
Now, this one is just up my alley
Ah, then it’s (hopefully) perfect!
I am very surprised that no one named Hermes’s 24, Faubourg as their favorite OB.
Good point!
My favourite OB: the bottle of orange blossom water I got from the Indian store.
I tried the Serges and the Killians, and none really did it for me. But I love how refreshing the ob water is when used as tonic in the morning
I’ve also been using an orange blossom oil that I got in Egypt a lot this summer. It has incredible lasting-power, and has nothing soapy about it.
Oh, I need a bottle of that then! Must check out an Indian grocery.
I am an OB Ho, and I like Seville a lot – it is so honeyed, and lasts well.
I like the Le Labo but have never quite sprung for a bottle. I do have the Lutens, which is a different animal. Pretty much, if it doesn’t go soapy like the Prada Infusion, I’m good. Lush OB is very strong in liquid, but I love it in solid, and even like the sweet little Yves Rocher.
Aha, I will have to try the Lush solid.
Ok! If you were on my living room, Robin, when presented with the Orange Blossom frag question, I would offer you some earl grey tea and some 70% cacao chocolate and we could sit down and talk about our favourites for the next 2 or 3 hours ehehehehehe (It takes nothing to dream, right?)
My top 3 would be SL Fleurs d’oranger (most life-like I’ve ever tried, but I agree it is more jasmine-cassis smelling now than when I first tried it in 2007)
Then Fleurs du Male… Stunning and bold. Nerolí that hits you in the nose with a baseball bat.
And last, I am surprised to agree with those who mentioned Gorilla Perfumes(lush) orange blossom. It is very decent and very decently priced.
Now, I am intrigued about this seville affair.. Will try it soon. Muahahahahhahahaah! (evil laugh!)
Make my chocolate 65%, will you? It’s amazing what that extra 5% will do
Really sounds like the SL has been reformulated. Wonder why — there aren’t any restrictions on OB that I know of.
Robin: I’ve been out regarding this fragrance. Your comments above make this sound completely gorgeous, and it is now solely occupying my must sniff pronto list. I love orange blossom – so fresh and wonderful. I can’t pick a single favorite, but these are all my fav OBs: Lorenzo Villoresi Dilmun; Laura Mercier Neroli; Annick Goutal Neroli.
So glad to see Dilmun get a mention! I think it’s gorgeous.
You really should have been a diplomat Robin. Great intro to a fun review. I will have to smell it at some point as I love the smell of real orange blossom and I adore lavender.
Reading this and all the comments I realized I haven’t smelled that many orange blossom fragrances. I have tried the Lutens and own and love the Goutal ( Néroli). The others mentioned I haven’t even tried, although I would love to try the LE Artisan.
Why thank you!
This is definitely on my to-try list. Must… have… sample.
I like Tom Ford Neroli Portofino, but I also really like (and can afford) the orange blossom water I got in the cocktail mixers section at the grocery store. It smells amazing, but very easy to overdo when actually trying to use it in a cocktail. A little goes a very long way.
What do you mix it with?
Honestly, it’s been long enough since I tried it that I don’t really remember specifically what I tried it with. It was some concoction I made up, not like a specific drink or anything. I think bitters were involved, Peychaud’s if I remember correctly. Now that I’m thinking about it, I think it would go nicely in a gin drink.. but only a very little bit, otherwise it just tastes like you should be wearing it rather than drinking it… lol
(The gin thing was just a guess, but I looked it up at cocktaildb.com, and lo and behold, most of the recipes that come up are gin drinks..ha)
Thanks!
oh no! i hope SL fleurs d’oranger hasn’t been changed too much. it’s one of my all time favorites. smells like flowery black tea to me. a really stunning scent.
i have a friend who wears santa maria novella’s Zagara (orange blossom) and it’s very nice. a little citrusy in the opening, then becomes more floral. plus that gorgeous bottle.
i’ve noticed orange blossom and particularly neroli seem to be easily recreated in the fragrance lab. the aromachemical versions smell pretty much the same as the absolutes and essential oils, which is obviously not the case with most flowers (rose, tuberose, jasmine).
The SMN is nice, and I really like their Queen’s Cologne too.
ps. this new l’artisan sounds like an absolute must.
I’ll look forward to trying this one – it’s hard to get my head around what OB and incense together would be like.
My favorite OB is Jo Malone. Smells exactly like the trees in my neighborhood when in bloom. Lovely on a warm spring day, it also happens to be my favorite Malone.
Worth a shot just for that then! But it’s not, at least to me, a heavy churchy incense.
I was so happy I did get a chance to try this last week. It’s such a beautifully complex scent. I’ve pre-ordered too!
Lucky!
I can’t wait to try this one – sounds fabulous! My current favorite orange blossom perfume is ELDO’s Rien.
I need to try Rien again.
Gah!! I want this even though I haven’t sniffed it yet. The problem is I also want more Vanille 44 which I have and love, but am running short on. Seville sounds heavenly, but if I can only have one (according to my budget) which should I spring for?
I’d say the Vanille 44 since you already know you love it & will be sorry if you run out. But I think I like the L’Artisan better.
I forgot about my favorite orange blossom scent – it’s APOM Pour Homme
I’m just now noticing all the comments about orange flower water. About $3 from the Lebanese grocery and I’ve always got a bottle on hand to add a little bit to a cocktail of gin, orange juice, and soda, or to add into a facial water spritzer. I can’t imagine wearing this as a scent though… are y’all on to something i’m missing?
My favourite orange blossom is by Serge Lutens, and it’s not Fleur d’oranger, but Fleur de Citronier. I found FdC to be a much better neroli than FdO.
I’m very late to this because I’ve only just tested this yesterday. I love the lime-leaf opening, but within a few minutes is reminds of of Nuit de Tubereuse – that mildew note in particular. The accord seems very similar to me, but in orange blossom instead of Tubereuse. Hours later the dry down of incense and something else very familiar (ISO Super?) was present. The opening & drydown are lovely, but I can’t get over the heart. I wonder if anyone else has noticed this??