I’m very happy to hear the news that L’Artisan Parfumeur is going to reissue Jour de Fête as its spring 2014 limited edition. Jour de Fête was first released in 1986, and then in 2003 it was reinterpreted by perfumer Olivia Giacobetti. The fragrance is inspired by almond dragée (Jordan almonds), the sugar-coated almonds that are part of many French celebrations. It includes notes of bay leaf, almond, iris, wheat, white cedarwood, and vanilla.
“Jour de Fête, meaning “Happy Day” or “Festival Day,” is a delicious celebration of this sweet symbol of French celebrations, with its crispy sugary coat melting into a subtle vanilla. Light and airy, the dragée transports us to the wheat fields of the French countryside, reminiscent of the insouciance of childhood. Jour de Fête is a flamboyant yet delicate fragrance, a treat for special days.”
L’Artisan Parfumeur will also relaunch two of its celebrated perfumes in 2014, but for now, they’re leaving us to guess which ones.
Jour de Fête will be released in March 2014. 100ml Eau de Toilette/70€. Via press release
47 Comments
Karen: Good news! I hoarded my bottle of Jour de Fete. I only hope the juice didn’t change. December 10, 2013 at 8:08am
Victoria: I also liked it very much and went through a big decant at one point. December 10, 2013 at 11:28am
Deborah: I’m excited. It’s such a lovely perfume and they shouldn’t have discontinued it. December 10, 2013 at 10:37am
Victoria: Apparently, they’ve been asked for it so much they decided to relaunch it. December 10, 2013 at 11:29am
Annikky: I wonder what the other two will be… I’d love them to bring back Iris Pallida – I never got the chance to try it. December 10, 2013 at 10:59am
Victoria: I would love for them to reissue Jacinthe des Bois, which was one of my favorite hyacinth perfumes. They also used to have a terrific candle called Jacinthe et Feu de Bois, but I don’t see it on their website anymore. December 10, 2013 at 11:30am
Annikky: Even just the name of that candle sounds perfect. December 10, 2013 at 11:48am
Victoria: The candle smelled like fresh hyacinths, green buds and had a hint of bonfire. It also had a superb throw, even in a votive size. December 10, 2013 at 1:45pm
Rickyrebarco: That sounds like a great scent. I never had a chance to try it. I am not a fan of the L’Artisan scents generally though I know they are very well done- they are just not to my taste. This one I definitely want to try. December 10, 2013 at 11:24am
Victoria: I don’t like everything, and the latest ones (apart from Seville a l’Aube) left me cold. But the early L’Artisans had such a distinctive character. Of course, today many other houses have gone down the same simple and uncluttered route, but Premier Figuier or Mure et Musc still stand out. December 10, 2013 at 11:31am
Alessandra: for me, bois farine, premier figuier, la chasse, méchant loup, dzing! and passage d’enfer do, too December 10, 2013 at 1:44pm
Victoria: And Vanilia, which sadly has been discontinued. I still don’t understand why. December 10, 2013 at 1:51pm
Alessandra: true, forgot that one too. that being discontinued is sacrilege. same for verte violette. December 10, 2013 at 5:43pm
Victoria: Especially since they discontinued Vanille Absolument too. I think that you mentioned it to me before, and I didn’t realize that they’ve done it already. December 11, 2013 at 6:53am
Alessandra: Sadly yes. A shop in town still has a couple of bottles of verte…. I am contemplating buying it, but I have so many perfumes to buy 🙁 bankrupcy December 11, 2013 at 9:13am
Alessandra: oh, and fou d’absinthe. LOVE. December 10, 2013 at 1:44pm
Nancy A.: Jour de Fete has gone through many name changes but it’s still considered a charming and coquettish fragrance that I’ve worn in the past. L’artisan has also been through many corporate changes that the return of some of the original fragrances would be a smart move on their part and a welcome one from the devotees of their original compositions and some remnants of Jean La Porte. December 10, 2013 at 12:44pm
Victoria: L’Artisan has been all over the place, in my opinion. Some of their launches were very good, but others were just odd. Batucada is probably one of my top 10 least favorite perfumes for its unrelenting, screechy feel. December 10, 2013 at 1:49pm
Alessandra: I feel weird about batucada. when i first tried it, i thought it was well weird… but i was in paris and it was a happy july, and i do associate it to that. i can’t hate it. also, during the day it evolved beautifully on my skin in the parisian gardens. dunno what to think of it, it’s still well weird… not in a massively positive sense… but i am partial to perfumes to whom i am emotionally attached via memories, haha. i didn’t buy it, tho December 10, 2013 at 5:47pm
Victoria: A nice association can make a big difference. 🙂 December 11, 2013 at 6:53am
Alessandra: Haha, totally! 🙂 December 11, 2013 at 9:12am
Mel: I hope they bring back Tea for Two! December 10, 2013 at 1:25pm
Alessandra: YES. December 10, 2013 at 1:45pm
Victoria: Now, that would be wonderful! December 10, 2013 at 1:49pm
Alessandra: I’ve come to the conclusion that I am pretty certain they *will* bring back tea for two. I am saving money for that, despite wanting many other perfumes, haha. Will buy jour de fete soonest, too! April 4, 2014 at 8:00pm
Anne of Green Gables: Unfortunately, I never got to try it. I have a soft spot for tea themed fragrances (although not many of them really smell like tea) and I love cinnamon so I hope they bring it back! December 10, 2013 at 1:59pm
Alessandra: What a wonderful news. I will definitely buy this! December 10, 2013 at 1:45pm
Victoria: I look forward to smelling it too. There are few almond perfumes that don’t smell cloying. December 10, 2013 at 1:50pm
Alessandra: true! December 10, 2013 at 5:42pm
Anne of Green Gables: Added to my list of “Marzipan perfumes” and I’d curious to try it when it’s released next year. What a coincidence that I’m having rose and marzipan flavoured tea at the moment! December 10, 2013 at 1:55pm
Victoria: Mmm, that sounds delicious! The combination makes me think of marzipan rose fudge my mother-in-law makes. December 10, 2013 at 3:42pm
LP: Okay I have to comment- Do you have a recipe for marzipan rose fudge? I could probably google it, but now I’m curious. December 10, 2013 at 7:29pm
LP: This must be her creation, because I found nothing other than “Marizpan Roses” December 10, 2013 at 7:35pm
Victoria: Here is a recipe that’s similar to hers. Except that she adds no saffron and uses rose water instead, or a drop of rose essence.
http://www.jeyashriskitchen.com/2013/10/badam-burfi-recipe-quick-diwali-sweets.html December 11, 2013 at 6:55am
Anne of Green Gables: Your mother-in-law’s fudge sounds really luscious! I usually don’t drink flavoured teas but Germany is so full of them. I had my doubts before trying it (it was a Christmas present from a friend) but it’s such a good combination and it’s lovely to see the rosebuds. December 11, 2013 at 6:34am
Victoria: I forgot to mention yesterday, but as I was replying to comments, I was drinking rose tea too. But no marzipan in it, though. 🙂 It’s called Rose de Chine, and it’s made by Le Palais des Thes. The best rose flavored tea I’ve tried. December 11, 2013 at 6:56am
Alessandra: Need to try this. I have a lovely rose infusion myself, that’s from germany… can’t remember the exact name but will look out for it, if you want… I keep the box in my wardrobe because the scent i so intense!! December 11, 2013 at 9:15am
Austenfan: I love the name of this perfume. It reminded me instantly of the Tati film.
I too would love a sniff of Jacinthe des Bois, Fleur de Carottes, Fleur de Narcisses and Iris Pallida.
Plus I wouldn’t mind a return of Vanilia (still one of my favourite funny reviews in The Guide), La Haie fleurie du Hameau and Tea for Two. December 10, 2013 at 4:20pm
Victoria: Fleur de Carottes was one of the first L’Artisans I’ve smelled. I remember finding it intriguing but ultimately not very interesting to wear. I’m curious how it would appear to me now.
I’m with you on the name. Such sunny associations! December 10, 2013 at 5:11pm
Austenfan: Was it at all like Love les Carottes? December 10, 2013 at 5:13pm
Victoria: I remember it as heavier on rooty, iris notes and also more gingery. But it didnt last on me. December 10, 2013 at 5:16pm
rainboweyes: As an iris aficionada I’m quite thrilled about Artisan reissuing Jour de Fete. I’m quite new to niche perfumery and have never had the chance to try the former versions but I trust in Giacobetti’s talent. I’ve always loved her creations. Has JdF any similarity to Traversée du Bosphore, by the way?
I would also welcome the return of Iris Pallida – and Fleur de Carottes sounds like another iris-themed scent to me… December 10, 2013 at 4:28pm
Victoria: It’s a different animal. Jour de Fete is crisp, transparent, not at all cloying and quite delicate. TdB, by comparison is much warmer and sweeter.
I also love Giacobetti’s work! December 10, 2013 at 5:09pm
rainboweyes: Oh, less sweetness sounds even better! I have a love-hate relationship with TdB because of the lokhoum note… December 11, 2013 at 4:49am
Victoria: I like Traversee du Bosphore, but whenever I wear it, I keep thinking that if it had more iris and less powdery-sweet notes, it would be just perfect. As it is, it’s very good, but I don’t see myself finishing a full bottle. December 11, 2013 at 6:28am
Alessandra: I like and admire it an awful lot, but it’s far too complicated to wear. Sometimes it’s suffocating. I still don’t want it to be discontinued, hehe.
Not my fave almond perfume, tho, mind. Jour de Fete kinda is, so I can’t wait for it to be reissued. December 11, 2013 at 9:11am
rainboweyes: Yes, that’s exactly how I feel about TdB too! I haven’t sprung for a full bottle for the same reason. That said, I must confess that I sometimes wear it on balmy summer evenings and it works surprisingly well. December 11, 2013 at 6:59am