Camélia Éclatant

Radiant Camellia

Durance en Provence 2018 Eau de Toilette

The scent is a dream! I wear it so often now, mostly before prayer, that I already think it will become my signature scent. Because my current signature makes me sleepy, as I usually wear it before sleeping.

Whenever I feel like being light-hearted, loving, a little silly, or when I’m just happy to be alive, I put this on. Camélia Éclatant Eau de Toilette brings a smile to my face. I feel like a girl who wants to make cookies out of dirt and pet cats with her best friend. I've never smelled anything like this before. It's almost hard to describe because it’s unlike anything else. But I’ll try.

A little pinch of vanilla sugar on camellias. Around the camellias, the finest musk mist I’ve ever smelled. No sharpness, no laundry detergent. Just flowers, wind, and love.
I don’t find the violets here old-fashioned or dusty, certainly not like violet candies in Insolence. Just subtly dosed, as decoration.

Yes, and that’s it. I could never detect a great evolution, but I appreciate the scent for what it is, simple. From now on, it’s a fixed part of my collection.

The company Durance en Provence deserves a closer look (hence I’m elaborating a bit; if this bores you, here’s a little tip: Just scroll down to the fragrance description), especially in light of their corporate philosophy, which includes sourcing regional ingredients locally while largely avoiding artificial substances. Animal testing is absolutely taboo for all products of this brand, which also sells room fragrances and cosmetics. Thus, we are dealing with vegan scents.
When I label my meals as "Vegan," I can be quite sure that they will remain untouched in the staff fridge; after all, it’s vegan and thus synonymous with tasteless or even unappetizing in the prejudiced understanding of the majority.
Now, one should not fall into this misconception with the fragrances from Durance en Provence. Because the scents are simply wonderful, delicate, balanced, and pleasant. Who would be surprised, considering that the former CEO of the brand L'Occitane founded this brand as his own company and also merged with a small company based in the French town of Grignan called "La Lavandin de Grignan," which was founded in 1986 by a farming couple and marketed Provençal lavender.
Grignan remained the production site, even though the development of the fragrances takes place in Grasse; the brand "Durance," whose name is derived from the river of the same name in Provence, also remains true to regional ingredients; all products are claimed to be 95% made from natural ingredients, the brand boasts.

Now, I finally approach the scent:
For it appears absolutely unsynthetic, if one can put it that way, completely pure, even though this characteristic as a fragrance description is, I am fully aware, quite difficult.
The fragrances of the brand "Durance," of which I already own a few, show no significant scent development, which, however, should not be seen as a disadvantage, as the few components they contain really come through clearly and, above all, effortlessly.
This is also true for the Camélia Éclatant, which translates to the radiant, glowing, blooming camellia. And so it happens to the wearer as well; the camellia is the core of the fragrance, from beginning to end, initially quite dominant, if one can even speak of dominance with such a gentle scent, later becoming a bit more subdued. It is accompanied by a very light violet note; I cannot discern the pear blossom, it must be minimalistic. The musk must be a light, white one, as there is nothing remotely dirty or filthy, as can sometimes be the case with musk, to smell. This raises the question of what kind of musk this could be, given that animal testing is denied and synthetic ingredients are said to make up only 5%. Perhaps a plant-based musk is used, which is said to exist, but I am not knowledgeable enough in this area to confirm it securely.
And indeed, I also think I detect a hint of vanilla, more Bourbon vanilla, unsweetened and subtle.
The entire fragrance has a creamy and, as already mentioned, soft-gentle quality, making it excellent for an evening on the couch, also for going to sleep, as it has a calming effect, but certainly also suitable for professions where only discreet, unexcited scents are required.
And for being supposedly a 95% natural fragrance, it lasts surprisingly long at about 8 hours, even though the sillage is rather moderate and it is only barely detectable at half the time.

As you may have noticed, I am very fond of the brand, both for its corporate philosophy and for the fragrances themselves. And don’t let the label "Vegan" confuse you - it smells absolutely wonderful!