Chypre Palatin Parfums MDCI 2012

Goes on with a blast of either tarragon or lime-like aldehydes with maybe just a hint of orange well in the background, barely detectable. The scent almost immediately turns mild to moderately powdery, most likely due to iris being a key heart note and it makes its appearance extremely early, while hanging around throughout. The powdery iris couples with rose and jasmine before joining with a small amount of oakmoss peeping into the scent's heart from the base notes. The oakmoss remains in the base, while also featuring a decent dose of castoreum that is well-integrated, and a powdery vanilla that sweetens the scent just a tad, while never veering into the "too sweet" territory. Projection is average, while longevity is average to above average.

Chypre Palatin is billed as a "throwback" vintage chypre, but I have to respectfully disagree. I find it quite modern, and that is my biggest problem with it. The powdery nature of the scent just does not remind me of the best chypres of old, instead Duchaufour plows new ground in having Chypre Palatin remain classy and elegant in its mild powdery nature throughout but it just does not mesh with my tastes. I personally like my chypres heavier on the oakmoss and lower on the powder showing a bit less polish and a bit more "spunk." While I won't be buying a bottle, I can see why many folks who have tried this have really fallen in love with it as it is top quality. If you like powdery modern scents Chypre Palatin is absolutely worth a sniff and maybe even a purchase if you can afford its relatively lofty price tag. I give Chypre Palatin a solid "good" rating and 3 to 3.5 out of 5 stars.