Joséphine Rancé 1795

I slowly believe I am truly discovering a preference for spicy fragrances. For a long time, I thought I liked gourmand scents. Far from it. Because even the sweetest fragrances that I have owned and loved for years have a small and fine spicy edge that makes all the difference. This is the case with Confetto from Profumum Roma, with my evergreen Cašmir, or also with JPG Classique. But one with galbanum, there hasn't been one until now. But then it came: Joséphine.

I spray all the fragrances I receive for testing (especially due to Ambrocenide and other horrors) first into the air and onto cotton. If nothing dreadful is discernible here, then a test fragrance is allowed on the skin. And with Madame Joséphine, this happened very quickly, because the beauty smelled so heavenly in the air that I didn't hesitate long. There were fine, bittersweet, floral-soft powder clouds. But not the heavy, overdone kind, rather something very delicate, fleeting. Something I want to embrace and cherish. Cozy soft chicken feathers? Oh yes, this scent is that gentle. And yet, it is not too sweet, because the galbanum, just like the clove and the rose geranium, provides a pleasant edge.

I have read several times about chypre accords here. I wouldn't go that far, because at the latest after the heart and definitely from the base note, this is an inviting, very friendly fragrance. This unattainable quality, like a Cabochard or a Bandit, Joséphine never radiates. Nevertheless, the empress remains a perfume with all the lilac, ylang-ylang, and jasmine, and despite the vanilla and musk, it does not become truly sweet even in the base. A really beautiful sandalwood note also ensures this, which is as far removed from the modern, for me mostly unpleasant synthetic woods as possible.

It's a little fragrance dream that wears absolutely wonderfully. And I have ordered her, Joséphine.

A heartfelt thank you goes to the lovely Petra66 for the testing opportunity.