L'Occitan

Eau de L'Occitan

L'Occitane en Provence 2005

When reaching for a lavender scent I want a lavender fragrance, and this is that. Simplicity and linear at its best when I want to be comfortable in my own self. So many other fragrances with complex notes, in my opinion, cause a ruckus when you want lavender to be the focus of the olfactory experience. Lavender is so nuanced with many different facets; herbal, woody, floral so it needs attention. In the top, the lavender is mixed with the black pepper just so it becomes more than a room spray. The mix between the two gives the fresh spicy top some interest. In the heart, the lavender is still there along with the introduction of nutmeg and cedar. Picture some cedar wood overlaid with lavender sprigs topped with pinches of nutmeg. This is that "burnt" wood accord. If it's smokey, then that smoke is a fantasy accord conjured up by associations in the mind. The cedar rubbed here together with the lavender and nutmeg loses pepperiness in the top.

Finally, after two or three hours, in the tails of the fragrance, much of the lavender has dissipated along with the woods and nutmeg. What's left is a very clean and very fuzzy musk that is interwoven with tonka bean. Overall, this is a very approachable scent. Because of the fresh spicy opening and the musky dry down this scent is very clean and appealing.

One of my favorites for any time.