Laetitia Rancé 1795 2008

Right from the application, I thought, mhh, Laetitia, this could be something special. Ten minutes later, I checked if the fragrance is available in the souks and what price range we are talking about. To begin with, this behavior suggests that I really like this scent.

According to the fragrance description, the top notes consist of bergamot, mandarin, and orange blossom, but I don't notice any of that. I find the opening to be strong and somewhat pleasantly alcoholic, a bit like an old cognac; I don't detect any citrus here. The scent becomes spicy, slightly woody, with a creamy undertone, and the rose simmers only lightly in the background. The fragrance lingers for quite a while, patchouli emerges and blends in, and I think I perceive a very slight leathery note. (I sometimes smell leather where there is none, perhaps pure wishful thinking clouding my sense of smell.)

Laetitia is a noble, unique fragrance, off the mainstream, somewhat old-fashioned, which I agree with some previous comments, but that is precisely what makes it so appealing. A fragrance like a three-course meal made from exquisite ingredients, cooked with love and finely tuned. Everything harmonizes beautifully, the transitions are fluid, nothing disturbs or needs to be changed. The only thing one could criticize about Laetitia would be perfection.

Laetitia is a women's fragrance, wearable year-round, except in really hot temperatures. I rate the sillage and longevity in the medium range; I only know the bottle from the photo, but I think the color and design represent this fragrance wonderfully. Thank you, dear lab mouse, for this fragrance sample, and it's a pity you don't offer a decant.