A few months ago, I briefly tested L'heure Mysterieuse at Galeries Lafayette in Paris and could only vaguely remember dark chocolate, and that the price had deterred me from any intention to buy. Now, I came into possession of a beautiful luxury sample in Cartier red with gold embossing and was able to put it to a thorough test.
The top note was still relatively fresh, but already quite spicy and incense-like.
The heart note did justice to its name: earthy-woody notes blended wonderfully with a slightly chocolatey, smoky note and dry spice. Opulence, baroque churches, heavy fabrics interwoven with gold, and tapestries come to mind, as well as past wealth, peeling splendor, and crumbling varnish.
A sublime feeling spreads.
Cartier, a brand I haven't particularly liked until now, as the former users of Panthere and Must left what seemed to be a lasting image damage in my mind in the 90s, suddenly appears in a completely different light. And that light is golden! The L'heures Exclusifs line elevates Cartier to the ranks of the great perfume houses, seamlessly placing it among Maison Guerlain, Armani Privé, and Dior Collection Couturier fragrances.
The base is a high-quality blend of patchouli and woods, and the longevity is correspondingly good.
The fragrance is only available in a few houses, but it is definitely a candidate for the colder season, festive occasions, and as a pampering scent for lovers of precious, spicy, cozy patchouli fragrances.
Medusa00 14 years ago