L’Artisan Narcissus is another fragrance from the special harvest series that saw the release of Fleur d’Oranger in 2005. The new fragrance is composed using narcissus harvested on June 6th and 7th, 2005, in Lozère, southern France. Read about it and the millésime trend of L’Artisan and Givenchy fragrances in the article by Chandler Burr in NYT.
Narcissus oil is produced from several species of narcissus, Narcissus poeticus, N. tazetta, and N. jonquilla. The scent is heady and rich, reminiscent of dark green foliage hiding the scattering of jasmine and hyacinth blossoms.
18 Comments
Madelyn Etkind: Hello Victoria,
How wonderful to see your review of Serge Lutens new fragrance as well as L’Artisan’s Special Harvest ‘s Series. I was so excited to read Chandler Burr’s review TODAY ! So much so.. that I called Bergdorf Goodman to inquire about Fleur D’Oranger. The perfume representative , finally agreed to make up a special sample for me. ( After I managed to convince her , that for $250. I should know what I might be buying ). Victoria, I love orange flower. Do you think I would like Fleurs D’Oranger?
. Thete ae only 52 bottles left. Also. you write so beautifully of Serge Lutens scents.. where are they available in the New York Area. I am not an Ebay person. I like buying in person. I used to love Origins Orange Flower line. And I wear L’Artisan’s La
Chasse de Papillons ! That has orange flower in it. Victoria you are my newfound inspiration. Also , where can I buy Mariage Frere teas. outside of william Sonoma. Ypu write so descriptically, it is an inspiration and delight to me !
Love to you from Roslyn, Long Island
Madelyn E January 16, 2006 at 2:36am
Sisonne: Dear V, I could imagine that Narcissus will cost as much as Fleur d´Oranger, or am I wrong?
Fleur d´Oranger isn´t available here, so I´ve never been able to test it. On the one hand I´m sad about that, on the other it might be better because I wouldn´t know what to do if I liked it 😉
Narcissus sounds interesting, but it might be to sweet for me. Of course, I´d like to test it if I got the chance, but I think I won´t since we don´t have a single L´Artisan Boutique or a counter that carries the whole line, over here… January 16, 2006 at 7:25am
Amandampc: Oh, fantastic! Thank you for this piece on the new L’Artisan; I had blown off reading the NYT piece and so wouldn’t have known about this newest L’Artisan “single estate” offering if it hadn’t been for your elegant (as always) write- up here. How exciting – narcissus is a favorite favorite of mine and I eagerly anticipate the forthcoming L’Artisan rendition! You do beautiful work here on Bois de Jasmin, Victoria; thank you for all you put into it. January 16, 2006 at 11:32am
BoisdeJasmin: C, I think that the price shall be the same, $250. I wish they came in small bottles. I am not sure what Narcissus will end up like, since I am only familiar with the absolute of N. poeticus, which is great. January 16, 2006 at 12:04pm
BoisdeJasmin: Amanda, thank you so much for your kind words. Like you, I love narcissus, and I hope that L’Artisan will not disappoint. January 16, 2006 at 12:06pm
BoisdeJasmin: L, I doubt it, because narcissus is not as buttery. It has a more bracing green note and the floral element while heady is more jasminey. January 16, 2006 at 4:27pm
BoisdeJasmin: Madelyn, I really enjoy Fleur d’Oranger, and if you like the orange blossom, do try it. I love La Chasse Aux Papillons too, and Fleur d’Oranger ended up on my list of favourite orange blossoms. Although I cannot say that it is overly complex. Just a gentle and ethereal composition.
You can buy Mariage Freres teas here:
[link no longer working]
I like Montaigne d’Or, The Sur Le Nil, Eros and Marco Polo. However, I admit that I prefer these teas:
http://www.le-palais-des-thes.fr
Le Palais des Thes products are available from their store in CA, so you will not have to mail order from France. January 16, 2006 at 12:02pm
Laura: This should really be fun to try! I hope it doesn’t smell like tuberose fragrances, because then it won’t be fun at all. For me, that is, because I can’t bear tuberose perfumes. January 16, 2006 at 4:10pm
portlandia: Oh, the Narcissus should be majestic – I doubt that I will ever smell it, but how I would love to experience this one!
In my garden, I have grown all 3 of the true Narcissus species used in this perfume. The fragrance is indeed heady, like jasmine or tuberose, but always with a freshness, a burst like a cool wind running through it, and yes, a “bracing green note”. The greenness of this new perfume will come in great part from N. poeticus, which has a coolness and a calming quality. The tazetta and jonquilla species are intensely sweet; fresh jonquilla blossoms have a banana-liqueur quality at their sweetest, and the tazetta is of course the one known as the paperwhite, the most jasmine-like of the Narcissus tribe.
Except for Narcisse Noir, most narcissus fragrances are blends as far as I know – are there other narcissus soliflores out there I should know about? Of course, once this new one is smelled, I would most likely swear off all others…. January 19, 2006 at 2:14am
BoisdeJasmin: D, thank you for a beautiful description of your narcissus plants. I love the greenness that marked N. poeticus, and I hope that L’Artisan Narcissus will explore it. Like you, I cannot think of many narcissus soliflores. SMN has one called Narcisso. Caron Narcisse Blanc is a lovely fragrance, but it is heavier on orange blossom and iris. It is an expensive note and heady, therefore it is usually a part of the blend. January 19, 2006 at 6:33pm
BoisdeJasmin: It is $250, yes. I think that it is too high for a soliflore. January 20, 2006 at 3:22pm
Campaspe: Now this one I seriously, seriously want to try. You do not even mention the price; is it as high as the Fleur d’Oranger? January 20, 2006 at 2:16pm
Flora: Does anyone know when this fragrance comes out? April 1, 2006 at 6:45pm
BoisdeJasmin: Later this year was the last thing I heard. I don’t know the exact date. April 2, 2006 at 2:12pm
Flora: End of May- I asked in the Soho store April 4, 2006 at 11:13am
BoisdeJasmin: Flora, thank you very much! I am looking forward to trying it. April 11, 2006 at 1:31pm
Raphaella Barkley: I was very fortunate to sample the new release of Narcissus At L’Artisan this past weekend at Sniffapalooza. It is a dream! Call them and put yourself on the waiting list! It will be released in October and I can not believe how wonderful it was!
It will be worth every penny, so go for it! Bois d Jasmin, I LOVE your reviews! The new Narcissus coming out by L’Artisan does not smell like tuberose! It will be the same price and it is worth it, it will not fail you. I found it very haunting…
To Madelyn E of Long Island. The Serge Lutens line is wonderful! I own almost all of them! The Fleur d’ Oranger is wonderful. You can get samples from Aedes in NYC. April 11, 2006 at 9:27pm
BoisdeJasmin: Raphaella, thank you very much for the update and for your compliment on my reviews! I cannot wait to try this fragrance. Narcissus is one of my favourite flowers. April 12, 2006 at 9:06pm