Myosotis Henry Jacques Extrait de Parfum

Right from the opening, there's an invigorating blast of ylang-ylang, hawthorn, and jasmine, all delicately interwoven with a subtle hint of tuberose and orange blossom. It's a vibrant and refreshing beginning that immediately captivates the senses.

As the fragrance settles in, a few minutes-hours later, it undergoes a beautiful transformation. The initial floral notes give way to a smooth creaminess from vanilla. This is complemented by the slightly buttery and powdery touch of iris, adding a layer of sophistication to the scent. The balsamic undertones from benzoin, with just a hint of cloves, provide a warm and comforting finish.

The iris also makes its presence felt throughout the heart to the base of the fragrance, adding continuity and depth to the overall composition. It's a well-balanced blend that evolves gracefully over time, making it an enchanting choice for anyone who appreciates floral fragrances.

Oh Henry Jacques, what have you conjured up for us this time? Myosotis - a rather unusual creation from the house of Henry Jacques. Sweet, with plenty of benzoin, almost a kind of "syrup," combined with light, friendly floral notes. Can this work? Oh yes, it can. And here I will tell you how and why.

Having tested several Henry Jacques fragrances now and with the salespeople having a good understanding of what they can offer me for testing, I couldn't help but ask about this scent. The dark oil, the intriguing name, and the notes pyramid sounded so exciting that I had to inquire. Of course, testing was no problem at all, and so I was able to try it both on paper and on my skin, and I was not to be disappointed.

The fragrance begins floral. Ylang-ylang and jasmine immediately stand out, but tuberose is not far behind. Surprising for the rather dark contents of this bottle. The lightness is unusual, but it makes you crave more, and the sweetness doesn't take too long to appear. The scent transforms, and as is typical for Henry Jacques, it does so extremely often and in an exciting way. It becomes a bit spicier. The sweetness provides an interesting counterpoint to the otherwise quite dominant floral notes. Benzoin is absolutely noticeable, just like the clove. Spiciness and sweetness, among other things through the vanilla on one side, light floral notes on the other side. A interplay of wonderful scent notes, all in breathtaking quality. Clearly perceptible, but not overwhelmingly loud. A journey of discovery that leads through many developments and is never boring. On my way to the Eiffel Tower, I can do nothing but continuously sniff my arm. Two weeks later, back home, the scent still hasn't let me go.

What is this? A paper strip in my jacket pocket with HJ on it? Now the entire jacket pocket, including all the receipts and packaging, smells of this fragrance. Never has trash smelled so good, and even after disposing of it, the trash bag still smells of Myosotis. Impressive longevity and strangely strong sillage, even on paper.

After the fragrance has gone through its development, the lightly floral, sweet, syrupy construct remains until the end, where it fades after about 10-12 hours. An astonishing longevity that carries through the entire day. A warming, friendly, unique scent that simply won't leave my mind. And while other fragrances from the house are similarly beautiful and can definitely impress me, it is this one that radiates a certain magic, providing comfort and security. It exudes warmth. Plus, the lovely bottle, although the cap could be a bit nicer. The service is also an absolute dream from start to finish. Buying this fragrance just feels good - from service to packaging to the actual scent, which, with the right budget, would make an excellent signature scent. If one of my fellow humans "discovers" this fragrance on the right person, they can consider themselves lucky to experience such a masterpiece. An absolute dream.

The alarm clock rings, ringtone? That super annoying and loud one from the iPhone, at full volume. The phone is far away, and the alarm is getting louder. The message: The fragrance costs nearly 800 euros. Ouch. Dreams can vanish quickly. At least the journey was beautiful.

Many thanks to Sören for the sample of Myosotis Extrait de Parfum :-) I am truly captivated by this fragrance... Wow, is it beautiful! And it immediately brings back childhood memories for me: It smelled just like this in the grocery store of my grandparents' village in Croatia. Crazy! It's a pity that the longevity doesn't last longer than 7 to 8 hours. At least the sillage is reasonable.

The top note is fresh, creamy, powdery, and floral with jasmine flowers, ylang-ylang, hawthorn, and fabric softener. This floral journey continues in the heart note thanks to tuberose, iris, violet, and orange blossoms. The base has a sweet, balsamic, but also slightly oriental scent of benzoin and bourbon vanilla.

The fragrance may not be complicated or even complex in the end, but it is simply wonderful in its entirety! White flowers and fabric softener create a dreamy scent world!

Actually, I didn’t want to write any more reviews. But as it often goes with “actually,” one is unexpectedly overwhelmed by a fragrance in the most positive sense, so that the 140 character limit simply wouldn’t suffice to do the scent justice.

So far, I have only been able to test a few of the many Henry Jacques fragrances. What they all have in common is that they are very finely and elegantly composed. There hasn’t been a “loud” or even “screaming” scent among them so far.

I was all the more curious about how they would tackle the often challenging theme of “white florals.” After all, they are often a guarantee for being too much and difficult to wear.

But Henry Jacques wouldn’t be Henry Jacques if he hadn’t navigated this challenge with his usual elegance.

The tuberose is certainly present from the very first second. But not overwhelming and suffocating; rather, it is fine, delicate, yet self-assured. A hint of almond/marzipan aroma accompanies it. From somewhere, there also comes a nearly fresh, slightly bitter note. It might come from hawthorn or clove; I can’t pinpoint or explain it exactly. In any case, this note doesn’t completely hold back the tuberose but tempers its overly penetrating quality.

All the other flowers are somehow there but not distinctly recognizable. It’s more like a retinue surrounding the tuberose, naturally not wanting to steal the show from the star.

Gradually, delicate, resinous threads of benzoin weave through the scene, ensuring that the sweetness of the flowers cannot dominate.

Powdery iris mist and yellow-gold shimmering vanilla round off the scent experience, enveloping the tuberose and its entourage like a protective cocoon.

And so, this scent conglomerate lingers on my skin for a good 12 hours, merging with it and forming an infinitely soft, delicate, fine, and effortlessly elegant scent melt.

Nothing bites in the nose here, nor does any of the fragrance notes stand out unpleasantly. Despite the many white florals, only a moderate or very slight sweetness emerges, which appears very muted, just enough for the fragrance.

I must admit that I have never smelled tuberose in this form, and I am truly impressed by how perfumers manage to blend such “difficult” fragrance notes so harmoniously.

Conclusion: A tamed floral dream of sublime beauty and quality that works more with subtle means, thereby excluding all loudness as a matter of course. Furthermore, it does not rush ahead of the wearer but rather forms something like a second skin. A fragrance more for oneself, yet still perceived by the environment. Myosotis is indeed marketed as a women’s fragrance (the feminine aspects are undeniable), yet I can also imagine it on men, as it is not a “tuberose bomb.” I myself would certainly want to wear it with the greatest pleasure from time to time.

Unfortunately, everything beautiful also has its price (15ml perfume / €600, 30ml perfume / €960, and 75ml extrait de parfum / €600). Of course, the question arises whether such prices fit into today’s world, where inflation, skyrocketing energy costs, and the Ukraine war have changed all our lives so much. Surely, one could do a lot of good with that money, alleviating need and hunger (even here in Germany). Additionally, there are people who have to make a living from such sums. Is it therefore morally reprehensible or even perverse to demand or spend such amounts for a fragrance? Difficult. A large part of the price is certainly attributable to the extremely high-quality fragrance materials, and another part could stem from the desire to maintain the exclusivity of the fragrances. As arrogant as it sounds, perhaps the broad masses are not meant to enjoy these scents. It certainly cannot be due to marketing, as I have not heard the name Henry Jacques anywhere so far (though I do not move in the circles of the upper echelons, where it may be different). In any case, it is a fact that the luxury goods industry continues to record steadily growing sales and profits despite everything. And a Bernard Arnault is not the richest person in the world by coincidence. Unlike Louis Vuitton, Prada, Chanel, etc., Henry Jacques does not operate in a flashy manner. Rather, it is a kind of quiet luxury. And I believe everyone must personally decide whether such a fragrance is necessary. Fragrances convey a sense of well-being and comfort, can provide solace, and perhaps especially in such “dark times” as these. Therefore, there is no right or wrong. What is allowed is what pleases and does good for each individual.

Feel free to be yourself!