Lavande Monastère Notre-Dame Ganagobie

Monastery shops have an irresistible attraction for me. Herbal blends, teas, embroidery, cookies, ceramics, juices - I have discovered so much there. Often lovingly packaged and purchased as gifts, some I have kept for myself. But thanks to Yatagan's wonderful comments, it is the first time I am testing perfumes that originated in a monastery. Gold's beautiful statement a few days ago gave me the final push. The low price also allows for a blind order, and so yesterday Lavande and Chevrefeuille arrived at my place.
Lavender - generously spread on my bed linen, accompanied me into sleep yesterday. By morning, its delicate scent had long faded - and so I was able to test it on my skin today. A beautifully simple, graceful fragrance, originally - largely soft, but with a minty yet distinctly herbal-grassy undertone. The scent quickly becomes softer and more delicate, and by the end, it leaves a powdery whisper on the skin. Lavande fades quickly, and throughout the day I happily sprayed it on several times and also distributed a few ml on my curtains in the bedroom.
Today was all about baking Christmas cookies, and the natural lavender scent blended wonderfully with the aroma of vanilla crescents and rum-coconut balls.
I will probably not wear the monastery lavender as a perfume, but rather use it as a good-night scent. Here it unfolds its full soothing and calming effect for me.
I will dedicate a separate comment to Chevrefeuille at some point, as this second scent from the monastery truly deserves it!
A big thank you to Yatagan and Gold!

A comment on a fragrance that apparently contains only a single ingredient, namely the puristic lavender, which is loved by some and strictly rejected by others, cannot really be too long. However, my research in the realm of lavender has led me to the realization that not only the lavender scents that contain additional, rounding ingredients differ significantly from one another. Even the soliflore lavender scents can have a distinctly different character. Of course, one cannot rule out that even in the fragrances that supposedly contain only the blue flower, additional accents have been added, but beyond that, it seems to me that the production method and the regional or local growing area also have a considerable influence on the end product. One could compare "Monastère Notre-Dame Ganagobie Eau de Toilette Lavande" with "Cotswold Lavandula": While the English fragrance (there is also a special tradition of lavender processing in England, famously the Norfolk Lavender) appears very cool, somewhat strict, and very pure, the French fragrance is softer, but also a bit herbaceous - and more charming. That could be considered fitting.

What I find sympathetic about the French fragrance presented here is also the monastic tradition and Benedictine philosophy (or theology) that underlies the Eau de Toilette Lavande. The Prieuré (the Priory) de Ganagobie is located in southeastern France and is known for its extraordinary mosaic floors. The first monastery existed here as early as the 10th century, and thus the community at this location looks back on a thousand-year tradition. Which other traditional fragrance manufacturer can offer that? This is not to say that this fragrance has been around for centuries; probably and very certainly not, but that the production of cosmetic items (the monks have quite a lot to offer) is based on an ancient monastic tradition. Those who have no sense for such questions have probably struggled through the above lines and are now wondering how the fragrance actually smells. So then!
I have already hinted that it appears soft, almost a bit floral and sweet, which is usually somewhat lacking in lavender fragrances. Nevertheless, there is never a suspicion that this lavender water could contain anything more than Lavandulae aetheroleum, the essential oil of the lavender flower, which is obtained through steam distillation (perhaps only in the very late drydown...). And I have enough imagination to picture the venerable devices with which this is done in the monastery of Ganagobie. Anyone who thinks I have too romantic a view of monastic craftsmanship should take a look at the homepage (see above): certainly professionally handcrafted, but equally committed to tradition.
While the fragrance initially appears rather conciliatory mild and not as sharp as some lavender scents, it develops a slightly bitter herbal note in the meantime, which only seems unpleasant when one smells directly from the scent strip or the skin. At a distance of a few centimeters, this accent is so softened that it does not disturb at any stage of the fragrance development. After some time (15 - 30 minutes), the fragrance turns back to mild and calm and remains so until it bids farewell on the skin. The Ganagobie lavender strongly reminds me of the lavender scent from the aromatherapy brand Primavera, which I greatly appreciate and which develops quite similarly, available in organic markets. That one might be even a bit gentler. Both are also wonderfully suited for evening or morning calming, help with falling asleep, and generally act as mood enhancers. Even the potential benefit of True Lavender against anxiety disorders has been demonstrated in a double-blind study published in 2014. As early as 2008, True Lavender was chosen as the medicinal plant of the year. If that’s not all arguments to test this or a similar lavender soliflore! At least one of them belongs in a well-stocked fragrance collection. Everyone will surely find their own desired lavender with a little patience. For seekers, I would like to recommend my blog and my corresponding collection of lavender fragrances once again:

https://www.parfumo.de/Benutzer/Yatagan/Sammlung/Cust1

You wouldn't believe it, but ordering from the somewhat dusty homepage of the monastery of Ganagobie worked flawlessly and the shipping took less than a week.

Now the comment has turned out to be longer after all. I feared that.

The use of lavender in medicine has been known for centuries. It helps with inner restlessness, sleep problems, itching from mosquito bites, etc..
In aromatherapy, lavender oil is particularly used.
I love the scent of lavender, as a plant on the balcony, as a sachet in the closet, as evaporating oil in the aroma lamp, or simply as a sprayable fragrance that I like to spritz on my bed linen. Unfortunately, it is not so easy to find the perfect lavender scent, as most have a very short longevity and disappear shortly after being sprayed.
I find the bottle of "Lavande" simple yet stylish.
The scent, however, is very lavender-like, but I also perceive a slight lemon and geranium note, which I personally do not appreciate very much.
Shortly after spraying, it is unfortunately almost gone again; I sadly have nothing of the scent for longer than an hour. Well, it’s usually enough for falling asleep.
Unfortunately, I still have to continue searching for the perfect lavender scent.