Secret de Weil Weil 2011

I have quite a few secrets, I sometimes act mysteriously, and now I wear one too. I wear the Secret by Weil - the name is inspired by an older classic without copying it. The "Venus" was characterized by wearability, and this new Secret is just as wearable!

How does it achieve that? Wonderful. Anyone who likes, for example, Jicky or Caron will also enjoy this secret.

The fragrance starts with a restrained hesperidic note that becomes more pronounced. But where does it come from? From Sichuan pepper. Hard to believe, but it is a citrus plant and gets its name only because of the shape of the berries. This opening is accompanied by a subtle floral quality, paired with the ethereal notes of Elemi. Over time, it becomes dry, finely powdery, with a freshness from rose and vetiver. Suddenly I think: Hey, you know this? Yes, the opening is reminiscent of Jicky. The old Venus also boasted lavender, but the Secret remains more restrained, yet it incredibly reminds me of that accord.

After a while, an old-fashioned garden blooms with pink and violet flowers that release their fragrance. Dark iris, a pink peony, sweet and fully bloomed, an old, full rose as it smells in reality. The top note provides an elegant sharpness and spiciness. Or does this come from the base? It announces itself again and again, first very softly, then increasingly persistent. The ambrette musk with the vetiver and the iris create a dry, spicy powder that gradually transforms into a tonka-vanilla. Initially, one might think it must have been the peony, but one finds oneself with the nose glued to the wrist, capturing this warm, softly dark vanilla note. They play hide and seek with me in the garden. During the game of hide and seek, I stumble over something. I pause, and what have we discovered here? A twig, fresh green and finely structured with a bunch of miniature bibles attached? Where that comes from, I think there must be more, and I move on. Yes, here the floral dance mingles in the shade with the scent of the forest. A cultivated cedar grove where flowers bloom here and there and whole tufts of vetiver grass grow. Invigorating, dark, and cozy green with a slight freshness kick. Initially, it is finely underlaid with a sharply spicy note that gradually gives way to a not-sweet spicy vanilla. From the shadows, a soft, cozy something sneaks in, which, as already known, gains size and dimension. A fluffy, powdery musk that blends with the tones of green. I think to myself: you know this? Yes, from Jicky and Caron, they must be relatives.

So now I sink down in the small cedar grove, look up at the sky, follow the scent trail, and reflect on the Secret that I now have.

Secret de Weil starts off restrained and grows throughout its entire duration, with a new note appearing quietly and subtly, swelling to announce the next player. In their interplay, they form a community that offers immense entertainment. The balance is right, the edges and corners provide surprises. At first, I thought I had a chypre in front of me, then something floral, and finally landed on a fougère. Today a rare species among women's perfumes. It is so elegant, caressing, with a bit of pain that transforms warmth and beauty into a quiet melancholy. Oakmoss is missing, lavender is missing, no coumarin. Elegant and very aesthetic, but never artificial or constructed, that is the Secret. Nevertheless, they are all there in a secret dimension, just as the scent accords are structured. The fragrance remains somewhat enigmatic, that is true, but one doesn’t have to be overly clever to know everything when the result is right.

Younger people might be more startled, while trained noses, whether lady or gentleman, will surely enjoy it. It is an unusual fragrance and likely more niche, old school modern interpreted. The scent is quite suitable for everyday wear; I personally wish the sillage were stronger, but this way it remains more intimate, and for the environment, it is rather a soft whisper. Well, then we simply surround ourselves with a quiet secret; one doesn’t always have to come surfing in with the bow wave.