Paradis Perdu Frapin 2013

Lost Paradise? Past and gone? That sounds very melancholic.

But the scent speaks a different language. ‘Paradis Perdu’ is thoroughly green. A rush of all imaginable shades of green, from delicate lime green to leaf green, moss green, reed green, and olive green, all the way to deep dark forest green. In between, emerald green flashes and bright lemon green shine through.

I see an enchanted, overgrown garden before me. Lemons and bergamot grow there, and their herb-fresh scent mingles with fresh, light green, invigorating herbs like mint and lemon verbena.

This wonderfully inspiring scent is caught by a breeze and blown away over an old-fashioned herb garden. There, it absorbs herbal scents: basil, with its fresh, anise-like notes, sweetly soft yet simultaneously bitter spinach, and powerful aromas of vine leaves.

Fruits also grow in this garden, still green and not quite ripe, for behind ‘Paradisamide’ lies a scent accord reminiscent of green tropical fruits like guavas, passion fruits, and grapefruit, as well as rhubarb.

The green spectrum slowly darkens, but is repeatedly enlivened by the fresh camphor notes of Ravensara leaves, which allow for a deep breath.

The scent wafts past haystacks and raked leaves in the back garden area and continues along the forest edge, taking with it the spicy-resinous tones of coniferous trees. It penetrates deeper into the forest, where the woods become drier, in the background the rustling of reed-like vetiver, and the ground is covered with moss.

Here I want to stretch out and absorb this scent for a long, long time.

Paradis Perdu is remarkably long-lasting for a green scent, even on difficult skin. And it is full of surprises, as every time I wear it, I discover new nuances. The green tones also set different emphases, so that sometimes the fruits take center stage and then the herbs. A fascinating interplay.

I have found my green paradise.