Criste Marine Raffermissante

Firming Sea Fennel

Panier des Sens Eau de Parfum

Oh no, has no one wanted to be here yet...?

I confess: I have no clue what sea fennel is supposed to smell like.
However, I do enjoy watching the BeautyNight on QVC, which is where I hear about Panier de Sens.
Though mostly about the soaps, which are said to be of excellent quality. I can't really comment on that, as my favorite soap is and remains Sea Kelp / Scottish Fine Soaps.
If I have the luck to get it. (Thanks, TKMaxx)

On my daily commute to and from work, there is a small perfumery that sells well-selected cosmetics and not-so-common fragrant treasures.
Usually something that tends to exceed the budget of the average person, but still sparks desire.
On one of those dark autumn evenings, before any lockdown, there was a display of fragrances from Panier de Sens in front of the store.
Now, as an old coastal girl, I like scents that smell of the sea and its relatives, so my hunting instinct was awakened.
Criste Marine (Sea Fennel) was briefly tested in the store, found pleasant, and then bagged. To gift myself with it for Christmas.

Well, Christmas just passed, the bottle was opened, and just at that moment, I have the scent on my skin.

How should I describe it? Let's start with the little things.
A nicely designed cardboard tube in which the fragrance is sold makes the bottle wobble unfortunately (= luxury nitpicking)
The label "Huile Essentielle" initially suggests less a fragrance than a body oil.
The bottle itself is very minimalist, a clear cylinder with the barest print / labeling.

Okay, let's spray a round. Right where it’s warm and where the gentlemen of creation like to glance :)
Wonderful, it works perfectly.
Unfortunately, there is no fine mist, as one usually knows from the sprayer, but rather a small shower that lingers damp on the skin for a longer moment.

But what is now being sprayed out is as follows:
A fresh-fruity scent with both watery and somewhat bitter notes, more sweet than seawater.
It lifts the spirits on dark winter days.
Not so light and fleeting, but by no means heavy.
Longevity is okay.

Melon dominates the fruity note. No water melon, no honeydew melon. Something green with a slightly bitter sweetness, Galia or cantaloupe?
Doesn't matter, I like it.
And above all, there hovers a slightly ethereal fresh-air hint of je-ne-sais-quoi and a touch of creaminess. However, I couldn't detect the cedar........

It vaguely reminds me of something I liked very much: Tommy Hilfiger The Girl (the bottle with the anchor) in a very rough direction, but it is much milder.
(At this point, a call: If anyone knows where I can still get The Girl, please help me)

Indeed, I find it hard to describe this little pick-me-up.
Over the years (I'm not a young girl anymore), I have been able to smell a lot.

Smooth recommendation for Criste Marine: For the affordable price, you can take it with you.