Chœur des Anges Atelier des Ors 2018

One of my friends recommended me this fragrance as a great example of blood orange in perfumery. So I've got a 2ml sample, and while I see where they're coming from, my perception of Choeur des Anges is completely different

I hear the blood orange note for about the first 2-3 minutes, then it descends into something between an Orange tic-tac and Fanta, and becomes sweet and kind of candy-like.

I also detect a prominent pear accord, additionally sweetened by marshmallow aspects of orange blossom and honey. It's a pretty sweet perfume and reminds me more of a fruit punch, with not much to balance the syrupy sweetness.

Maybe I am just an inexperienced with the blood orange notes, in particular, but I expected it to be a bit more fresh and effervescent. I still wore it to the 2026 New Year celebration and loved every second of those 7 hours that it lasted on me. I can appreciate the beauty of this fragrance, but will keep looking for better blood oranges out there

7.5/10

From the very first moment, a bright, joyful fragrance shines through. This radiance comes from the juicy brightness of orange blossom—elegant yet not overly sharp—softly accented by the scent of honey.

The lush, mellow notes of pear then gradually unfold, seeming to gently push the bright orange-toned fragrance forward.

Above all, the defining characteristic of this perfume is the carrot seed note. Upon contact with the skin, the carrot seed becomes more apparent, spreading a gentle, warm, powdery quality; the addition of osmanthus creates a shimmering effect—much like the gold leaf that is a signature of this brand—as if sparkles are fluttering through the air.

The infusion of honey guides the senses into a state of calm, slow-paced bliss.

On the skin, the powdery harmony of honey and carrot seed is distinctly felt. It is a fragrance that seems to bestow a radiant glow upon those who walk confidently toward the future.

The king is in Marly. He appreciates the privacy of his pavilion when he can no longer endure the hustle and bustle of the courtiers and the constant complaints of the noble ladies in Versailles: Sire, there’s a draft through the roof, Sire, it’s raining through the windows, Sire, the firewood is too damp... Yes, yes, Versailles is a rundown place, full of pitfalls and shortcomings.
Of course, the king is not entirely alone in Marly on the weekend; in smaller pavilions around, a selected company is allowed to accompany him. The nobles nearly fought to come along, they held flowery pleas to secure a weekend pavilion near the king.

Unfortunately, it is only March, and it is cold. The king wants it to be summer. Everything must obey him, even nature. Le Nôtre is already trimming the park, La Quintinie the fruits and vegetables. Who makes March into summer?
I want a greenhouse, the king shouts, not just an orangery. It should smell in there. Of oranges! Of pears! Of berries! I want the buzz of bees and currant jelly.

The nobles are alarmed, Jean-Baptiste de la Quintinie, director of the royal fruit and vegetable gardens, is their last hope. He must come to Marly in the middle of the night, with many little orange trees, jars of honey, fragrant jelly, and wrinkled pears in tow. But he also brings some fresh fruits from his new greenhouse.

Gold, says a chamberlain, gold must be added. After all, he is the king!
And so, hundreds of oranges are hurriedly pressed in a pavilion at night, currant jelly is distributed everywhere in little bowls, gold glitter is placed in a cedar wood bowl, and pear compote is cooked with honey. A kitchen boy waves a towel and mixes the scents. Now the king can come.

They blindfold him; he loves such games. And then he enters the summer pavilion. A wave of fresh orange juice scent washes over him, he is led around, delicate honey notes join the orange juice, something soft caresses his nose, it is wood, it is wax, it is fresh pear compote...

When he tears the blindfold from his eyes, small gold particles fall upon him. Perfect, says the king, perfect. A truly royal summer day. I want the scent in a bottle.
Sire, says Baptiste de la Quintinie, that would be challenging the gods. You can have an artificial summer day with gold glitter if we work on it all night. That’s all we can do. Maybe in 350 years.

PS The small company "Atelier des Ors" is based in Marly. And the bottle is adorned with the symbol of the Sun King, gold glitter included, even for bourgeois perfume junkies.

So first of all, let's talk about the bottle.

I have to say the shape is actually very simple, and that's a good thing, as the rest with the “sunbeam” design and the gold flakes draws attention.
If both were very powerful, it would simply be too much and a kind of “overkill”!

The only thing that bothers me is the cap.
It doesn't seem quite fitting to me, and with the style of simple elegance, the lavish details somehow come off as “cheap”. The shape is also not quite right, in my opinion.

But well, I'm sure there are many who find everything fits :)
Now let's get to the scent!
This scent really divides me! I was truly pondering for a long time whether I like it or not.
For me, this scent was quite difficult.

At first, this scent is dominated by the peel of an orange paired with the peel of a grapefruit.
For me, it's already way too intense, too harsh!
Over time, the initial shock subsides!
- fortunately not for too long :) -
It's comparable to those bitter chewy candies that make your face cringe at the first bite.

After a short time, the “intensity” fades, and you realize that it becomes much, much more pleasant!
The nuance of orange definitely remains as a base and runs completely through.

It's truly incredible how pleasantly this scent develops.
Actually, I'm not much of an orange fan, but it works as a combination of orange, silk, and cotton, so I understand the connection some make to cloud/cotton candy.
Definitely very pleasant, and it makes you crave to catch this scent again and again.

It has a certain sweetness but still not too sweet, paired with the freshness of the orange peel on a cloud of cotton, it is really well done, and if it weren't for one little thing, this one little thing…

… this one nuance bothers me immensely!
I couldn't pinpoint it exactly, but it feels like using orange concentrate for a drink and unfortunately using just a bit too much concentrate where a milliliter makes all the difference.
This slight “scratchiness” that is unpleasant, possibly slightly artificial at the “top”, is just a tad too much, and unfortunately, it's a little thing that I can't forget or ignore, as it always becomes briefly present.

It's really a shame because if this weren't the factor, this scent would truly be “majestic” as some have described it.

If these two points weren't there, I would definitely treat myself to this scent for spring and summer right away!
As it is, it is a treat, but unfortunately, this little thing is just a little too much.

Bells are ringing, the spring sun shines in my face and tickles my nose.
I lie on the meadow, still damp from the morning dew, and listen to the sound of the nearby church and birdsong. My heart becomes light and full of joy.
No responsibilities, leaning back, relaxation, peace.

These are the feelings that this fragrance evokes in me.

Chœur des Anges is one of two scents, out of all the many I have had the pleasure of sniffing, that has a clear and replicable effect on my psyche. And oh god, how I love it! It is my go-to fragrance that reliably carries me through tough days.