Empreinte was my signature scent for a long time during my student days, replacing the Aramis phase. I wanted something a bit more feminine around me.
When it then disappeared, I believed it was a farewell forever.
And now Lilienfeld presents us with a fragrance of the same name and describes it so well, and I get to test it:
And I could swear: it smells just like it did before. I have nothing to compare it to, but my scent memory recognizes
the fresh-spicy bergamot/mandarin opening, green, citrusy, immediately softened by velvety peach,
the floral heart with a bright rose as the main character, warmed by a touch of soft ylang-ylang and glowing against a darker backdrop of patchouli (more woody than musty-earthy).
And the base, mossy, becoming darker, but soft and warmed by sandalwood.
Everything is in a perfectly balanced harmony, and the very fine noble leather note that holds the perfume together showcases the classic (and the class) of a fragrance entirely in the tradition of fine French perfumery.
Empreinte is an elegant, understated, timeless scent with good but not overpowering sillage and decent longevity. It is certainly better suited as a daytime companion than for the evening.
With all its floral-fruity softness, it is such a clear chypre, as if there had never been an IFRA regulation.
I will quickly get a bottle for my home before the world allergy guardians come up with something new to protect us and this fragrance treasure disappears once again.
And I could swear: it smells just like it did back then. I can't compare it to anything, but my scent memory... I feel the same way, I had it 33 years ago!! I was 12 and got it from my aunt. The empty bottle is still in my bathroom today :)
Beautiful comment! Unfortunately, I never came across the original scent, but I had to get a Courrèges dress. I had one similar to what Romy Schneider wore in "The Swimming Pool." Ah, those were the sixties!
Empreinte is a true treasure :-)