Victoire Nicolaï / Parfums de Nicolaï 2024

Since Thursday, the limited edition Victoire has found a place in my home. Of course, I had to test it immediately and am still glad that I ordered it.

I was curious to see how Patricia de Nicolaï's well-known components and usual suspects would be dosed/used in combination, whether it might have a surprise in store and, of course, how the perfume might smell in the end.

The opening is easy to describe for someone who already knows Nishane Wūlóng Chá: it smells identical and exactly the same. Green tea paired with lemongrass and a little fig. The association for me is a Buddhist spa area, a soothing sauna infusion, regeneration. So this image is pretty much exactly what the fragrance wants to express on the occasion of the Olympic Games.

Unfortunately, in my opinion, this initial mood or the fragrance image changes a little too quickly and gives way to a much more floral, soapy spectacle with a slightly synthetic note. Not unpleasant or disturbing, but still surprising.

What remains in the drydown is a fresh, neat and citrusy fragrance with a slightly woody background note. Exactly what you would want to wear after sport or a spa visit, for example, and never becomes unpleasant. I can also imagine wearing it on hot days at a beach bar or in an outdoor pool.

I applied Victoire in the morning and could still clearly perceive it in the evening at a distance of approx. 20 cm from the skin. The sillage, however, is lost after about 3-4 hours.

Conclusion:

If you already own Nishane, you can safely skip this order, because in my opinion you already have the finest interpretation of the listed ingredients in your wardrobe with a slightly better sillage. I would consider the shelf life to be identical.

However, I find the result much more harmonious than, for example, the highly praised Imagination, which I sold at some point because I could no longer smell the typical fabric softener/cleaning agent vibe, which was too strong for me in the drydown. The Victoire is more sophisticated and straightforward without any rough edges.

As I don't currently own either the Nishane or the LV, the Victoire comes in very handy and will be a useful companion when summer arrives. A solid fragrance without a big "aha effect"

I paid just under €70 in the pre-order, which is more than good considering what you get for it.

Due to the white musk and the subtle soapy nuance, it is also very wearable for women in my eyes.