4
Helpful Review
Lemons and Laurel Drown Out the Beach
The first impression is an Eau de Parfum version of 4711 or one of the other Eaux de Cologne, but the citrusy notes diffuse with record speed. I can relate to the citrus lovers' laments on the scent's lack of longevity, although I believe they are mistaken, but see below. After trying Pell Wall's hilariously hesperidic "Fruit Wood" earlier today the contrast appears all the starker.
Since I don't belong to the citrus faction I don't care much about the temporary loss of lemony lusciousness and bask in the strong contrast between the laurel-and-lime head notes and the dirty animalic heart instead.
This is the part that really does it for me: with the last whiff of lemon gone musk and ambergris unite over bay leaves to form the perfect scent image of sunscreen on hot skin, bathing attire and parasols, sand and the sea ... a motif I would sooner have expected in Heeley's "Sel Marin", which however is much cleaner if memory serves me right.
After a short while the bathing season is over once, and in the wake of a small storm I'm astonished to detect citrus notes again. I wouldn't call it Earl Grey though, both because I'm not sure its bergamot and because I can't really detect any tea leaves worth their name. Bay leaves are gatherin in strength proportionally and beginning to get on my nerves (ostensibly there is no right translation for Heinrich Boell's prose collection "Der Lorbeer ist immer noch bitter", which loosely translates as "bay leaves will be bitter").
I can't completely fit in all the notes - there is something akin to a grain or rice note and more spices.
In the heart of the perfume I'm tempted to cry out "stay, thou art -"... or at least demand more marine goodness. However, altogether laurel is too prominent for me.
I'm quite thankful to Rose1976 for this refreshing sample (among others)!
Since I don't belong to the citrus faction I don't care much about the temporary loss of lemony lusciousness and bask in the strong contrast between the laurel-and-lime head notes and the dirty animalic heart instead.
This is the part that really does it for me: with the last whiff of lemon gone musk and ambergris unite over bay leaves to form the perfect scent image of sunscreen on hot skin, bathing attire and parasols, sand and the sea ... a motif I would sooner have expected in Heeley's "Sel Marin", which however is much cleaner if memory serves me right.
After a short while the bathing season is over once, and in the wake of a small storm I'm astonished to detect citrus notes again. I wouldn't call it Earl Grey though, both because I'm not sure its bergamot and because I can't really detect any tea leaves worth their name. Bay leaves are gatherin in strength proportionally and beginning to get on my nerves (ostensibly there is no right translation for Heinrich Boell's prose collection "Der Lorbeer ist immer noch bitter", which loosely translates as "bay leaves will be bitter").
I can't completely fit in all the notes - there is something akin to a grain or rice note and more spices.
In the heart of the perfume I'm tempted to cry out "stay, thou art -"... or at least demand more marine goodness. However, altogether laurel is too prominent for me.
I'm quite thankful to Rose1976 for this refreshing sample (among others)!
aoe
