Jacques Flori: 3 posts

Balmain Ivoire : Perfume Review (Vintage and Modern)

44444

Ivoire de Balmain, like many classical fragrances, entered my wardrobe via a thrift shop find. I love browsing antique stores for treasures like old perfume bottles, fake pearl necklaces and copper cake molds, and while more often than not, I leave with nothing but dust on my fingers and clothes, occasionally I find a gem. Several years ago it was a small bottle of Ivoire parfum. It was still sealed, and the fragrance was exquisitely beautiful. Even when later I bought a bottle of new Eau de Toilette, I still was smitten with Ivoire’s fragrance of crushed green leaves and skin washed with jasmine soap.

ivoire

Ivoire was  created in 1979 by a great team of perfumers, Francis Camail and Michel Hy. For reference, Camail created Estée Lauder Aliage and was one of the perfumers responsible for Giorgio Beverly Hills, while Michel Hy gave us legends like Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche and Paco Rabanne Calandre. Balmain was one of the top French fashion houses, and Pierre Balmain was still at the helm. “A garment made by Pierre Balmain was the very quintessence of haute couture,” famously said the Vogue editor Diana Vreeland.

Continue reading →

Houbigant Oranger en Fleurs : Perfume Review

44444

Oranger en Fleurs (“A celebration of the orange tree”) is a new release from Houbigant, a perfume house with a history dating back to 1775.  The company’s perfumes have for several decades been identified with drugstores, but the release of Oranger en Fleurs signals a return of Houbigant to the luxury market.

Oranger en Fleurs is a fully realized orange blossom fragrance that presents the honeyed floral note in a tableau of leaves and twigs, jasmine, rose, tuberose, ylang-ylang, nutmeg, cedar, and musk, along with something called “eau de brouts” (an absolute with a sharp, green orange blossom aroma).  The moment I sprayed it, the resemblance to Serge Lutens Fleurs d’Oranger was unmistakable.  Substitute Lutens’ cumin for nutmeg and give the composition some airiness and you have, for the most part, Oranger en Fleurs.

Continue reading →

Etro Messe de Minuit : Perfume Review

44444

It would not be an overstatement to call Messe de Minuit the most arresting of Etro’s line. While it may not be the most approachable composition due to the musty touch of patchouli, malted warmth of honey and the aggressive sharpness of galbanum, the fragrance compels due to the harmonious blend of these diverse elements. There are no dramatic shifts between the vibrant citrusy tartness of the top notes and the honeyed musk of the base. Created in 1994 by Robertet’s Jacques Flori, Messe de Minuit strikes one somber note after another, allowing one to fall under its spell. …

Continue reading →

Latest Comments

  • Heather Chase in Chanel No 22 Perfume Giveaway: 1. Nuxe’s Woman Perfume Prodigieux warms up chilly fall mornings. Carthusia’s Geranio has a spiciness that smells like sunny autumn afternoons when the leaves are turning orange and red. Tom… November 2, 2024 at 7:05pm

  • OnWingsofSaffron in Chanel No 22 Perfume Giveaway: I am aware that my recommendation might be a bit controversial: Serge Noire by Serge Lutens. But the dark incense and clove brew with a hint of cinnamon and burnt… November 2, 2024 at 5:40pm

  • Cris in Chanel No 22 Perfume Giveaway: Wow! 1. Diptique Tam Dao edt and Eau Duelle edt. I find Hermes 24 very elegant for a woman (or man). Chanel Coco edt for special occasions… 2. Yes. Chanel… November 2, 2024 at 2:46pm

  • Roxann in Chanel No 22 Perfume Giveaway: How kind of Linda to pass this on. For fall I love L’air des Suisse Alpes by Andy Tauer. It is such a crisp beauty that I only wear in… November 2, 2024 at 12:27pm

Latest Tweets

Design by cre8d
© Copyright 2005-2024 Bois de Jasmin. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy