L'Eau Rêvée d'Hubert Sisley 2023

Fisherman´s girl friend
Actually, I only wanted to write a statement about Hubert, but this experience
requires several words.
When I first joined parfumo (2011), I didn't know Sisley yet. Through a lively exchange of samples,
I got to know the brand better, and it wasn't love at first sight, even though modern Chypres were presented to me, which should have been tailor-made for me. I dismissed Eau de Sisley 1 to 3 as "weird and fishy stuff." I might see it differently today, but I never had them under my nose again. Well, when one door closes, a window opens… or something like that. Still, I don’t like to be pushed into anything. Just like back then when I was supposed to like Serge Lutens. Nope, he hasn’t managed to win me over to this day, and neither has Mrs. B. You know who I mean. Let’s keep that between us…. I find concept fragrances to be coercive and intrusive. They can continue to stink from their niches, but not with me.
"Soir de Lune" then came from behind through the cold kitchen, as a gift, and voilà, it caught me at the right moment, and now I already have my 3rd bottle. A constant candidate for repurchase. Later, "Eau du Soir" (the 1990 version) joined in. Of course, a Chypre. What else? Due to my recurring, longer breaks from parfumo, I hadn’t had another Sisley under my nose for a long time. But now Hubert arrived (thanks ElAttarine), who doesn’t fare too well with other Parfumos.
But why should I be bothered by others' dislikes? Sprayed it on. Oh wow, full-body mouthwash! It reminds me of "Yerbamate" by Lorenzo Villoresi, which I criticized back in 2011. I would feel differently today. So I feel a little ashamed…..
Well, Hubert starts off with a hefty dose of peppermint! Wow! But hey, just peppermint doesn’t have this punch. Internally applied, it helps against stomach grumbling, intestinal rumbling, and quick trips to the bathroom. Cats like it too. Would a fisherman suck on these drops to combat fishy breath? The mint gets reinforcement, and I had to check in botany what Shiso and Buchu are. Shiso (also known as Perillo) smells minty, slightly spicy, with a basil note. It is used in Japanese cuisine. I looked at my Fumico. She is Japanese, but Hubert didn’t affect her.
Buchu, on the other hand, comes from South Africa, is a medicinal herb, and is said to help with stomach cramps and rheumatism. This plant also smells strongly minty and like rosemary.
So it doesn’t surprise me at all that this mint-muscle-packed top note dominates almost the entire fragrance progression. I found that a bit strange, and I thought that Sisley sometimes has peculiar tendencies anyway. A floral note doesn’t emerge, and the mentioned geranium has little chance. Besides, geraniums don’t smell sweet or lovely anyway.
Mintiness allies with a needliness. No little wonder for sweet-toothed souls. I’m glad. Hubert races past the current trend - sweet, gooey, sticky - and gives all Toffifees a run for their money.
From then on, Hubert had me. I became Fisherman´s girl friend. On top of that, a typical mossy, damp, greenish Chypre base.
A mint Chypre! A glorious LmaA (Lick me on the arm) scent. The next summer can come. It will surely also drive away mosquitoes, ticks, and other uninvited guests.