Top Notes 
Bergamot
Gardenia
Lemon
Black pepper
Ylang-ylang
Heart Notes 
Clove
May rose
Jasmine
Tonka bean
Iris
Lily
Base Notes 
Musk
Sandalwood
Brazilian rosewood
Heliotrope
Patchouli
Vanilla
03/24/2013
Sherapop
1239 Reviews
Sherapop
2
Balmain Ivoire's Cousin?
L DE LUBIN is my second "reconstruction" experience with the house of Lubin, the first having been NUIT DE LONGCHAMP, which reminded me rather of Lanvin ARPEGE. Both ARPEGE and the original NUIT DE LONGCHAMP were launched in the 1920s, so I took the similarity to be evidence that the reconstruction undertaken by Lubin was sound in that case.
Interestingly enough, without knowing anything about L DE LUBIN, I was reminded immediately upon application of Balmain IVOIRE. Like the perfume of which L is a reconstruction, IVOIRE was also launched in the 1970s. Something about the lemony aldehydes and the classic line-up of notes (soapy iris, rose, jasmine, etc.). So this was a kind of trend, I guess. I decided to do a side-by-side test of IVOIRE and L, at which point I discovered that the Balmain is a lot more lemony and strident next to L, but they definitely strike me as cousins.
My conclusion: the house of Lubin is quite good at producing these "perfume of an era" reconstructions. However, older versions of both Lanvin ARPEGE and Balmain IVOIRE are immediately available (I have not tried the 2012 re-launch of IVOIRE) from discounters for a pittance, so I cannot really think of any good reason to invest my big niche bucks in these reconstructions, despite what I take to be their successful execution. I definitely do not need a bottle of both of L DE LUBIN and Balmain IVOIRE, and I already own the latter...
Interestingly enough, without knowing anything about L DE LUBIN, I was reminded immediately upon application of Balmain IVOIRE. Like the perfume of which L is a reconstruction, IVOIRE was also launched in the 1970s. Something about the lemony aldehydes and the classic line-up of notes (soapy iris, rose, jasmine, etc.). So this was a kind of trend, I guess. I decided to do a side-by-side test of IVOIRE and L, at which point I discovered that the Balmain is a lot more lemony and strident next to L, but they definitely strike me as cousins.
My conclusion: the house of Lubin is quite good at producing these "perfume of an era" reconstructions. However, older versions of both Lanvin ARPEGE and Balmain IVOIRE are immediately available (I have not tried the 2012 re-launch of IVOIRE) from discounters for a pittance, so I cannot really think of any good reason to invest my big niche bucks in these reconstructions, despite what I take to be their successful execution. I definitely do not need a bottle of both of L DE LUBIN and Balmain IVOIRE, and I already own the latter...
