Monoï Eau des Vahinés Yves Rocher 2012 Eau de Toilette

Since I joined Parfumo, I have to be careful not to become a social nightmare. Not only because I always smell different and perhaps strange, no, I show signs of a narrow worldview.
What I sometimes find negative in others, such as newly minted parents, dog or car owners who know no other topic of conversation than the detailed description of the smallest trivialities concerning their favorites; self-proclaimed hobby athletes who view their lives and the lives of others solely through the lens of fitness and competition, up to foodies whose thoughts and words revolve exclusively around food - I am slowly starting to exhibit such quirks myself:
I have gotten into the habit of bringing a selection of fragrances to try out when invited to friends' houses. So that I don’t have to lug around 5 to 10 bottles, I usually take neutral travel atomizers.

Last weekend, when among the fragrances to be tested was also Monoï Eau des Vahinés by Yves Rocher, I had the realization: These neutral travel atomizers, on which only the name of the fragrance is written in my barely legible handwriting, turn the tests for my hosts into blind tests.
Besides Monoï Eau des Vahinés, I had six or seven other fragrances with me, all significantly more expensive, some niche brands.
And what was the result? The host had placed Imitation Woman by Amouage in first place and wanted to buy the fragrance for his wife, not knowing what it would cost him. However, the wife did not like Imitation and found Courtesan by Worth to be the best for herself. He, on the other hand, did not like that on her. So they decided to take the fragrance they both liked second best: Monoï Eau des Vahinés by Yves Rocher.

They both found it pleasantly soft and warm, without being cloying, well-balanced, floral and summery, without appearing artificial or flashy, yet something special that stands out from many everyday fragrances, but still not intrusive. A fragrance that gives its wearer naturalness, cheerfulness, and at the same time class.
I feel similarly about it: Tiaré, a flower that is often staged too cloyingly for my taste, is here presented in a pleasantly prominent way. I knew the older Tiaré fragrance from Yves Rocher, which was coconut-based and evoked an intense South Sea feeling that was great at first but became too much for me over time. Here, Tiaré is less traditionally staged with vanilla, and I like that much better. Even after long wear, nothing annoys me anymore, and the fragrance has transformed from a pure casual scent to one with an air of class.
This is also due to the type of vanilla, which blends very well with Tiaré and Ylang-Ylang, a vanilla that is rather light and not too sweet, even though Monoï Eau des Vahinés is overall a rather sweet fragrance. Another thing that is special about this scent: It has a uniquely creamy quality. The word "creamy" in fragrance descriptions always puts me off, as the cause in my nose usually turns out to be musk of the modern, boring, and stuffy kind. Here, it seems to be the Tiaré flower itself that creates the impression of cream, making the fragrance wonderfully soft. The longevity is good, at least 8 hours, with a rather linear progression. The sillage is quite decent, especially in the first hours.

I then revealed the results to my friends. What a surprise: No fragrance from Chanel or Bvlgari, but a Yves Rocher.
And what a joy: The price difference between first and second place is about €250.00 to Imitation Woman, and about €45.00 to Courtesan.

I am happy for my friend. And I wonder: How would the test have gone if I had brought the original bottles instead of the travel atomizers?

The migraine still has my husband firmly in its grip.
He is suffering and incredibly unpleasant.

The dog and I are thoroughly drawn into "suffering" - and should actually be treated as well.

So I take the initiative and treat myself to an IGEL performance in the form of Monoi at the Rocher Shop.
The prickly IGEL performances of my husband please me far less.

But here, in the Eau, gentle Tahiti girls are at work.
They give my tense nerves a delicious exotic massage.
Tiare blossoms caress my nose - and the vanilla is wonderfully soft.
Ylang has a sedative effect, and one is happy to let things be.
A ukulele sounds from afar - and gently lulls me in.

I imagine myself in peaceful lands - which are especially beautifully far away.

The dog presses against me and moves its little legs in its sleep.
Is it dancing the hula on the beach?

For little money, a long journey - with a view all the way to the horizon.

As the wind brushes through my hair, I can sense the fragrance even with my eyes closed. I am by the sea.

Yet I feel neither saltwater on my skin nor the cold water that usually touches my soul and lets me float in all its azure hues, as if the moment were endless, as if there had never been anything else.

No, I feel a slightly sweet, strong, soft cloud. I sense a flower in my hair, no, behind my ear.

And I perceive a scent that infinitely relaxes me and dissolves all my tension within.

It begins very strong and soft at the same time. However, over time it becomes weaker. It reminds me of my beloved Frangipani from the South Seas. But it is not her. Yet it is also a scent, the scent of Tiare, which is usually reserved for Polynesian beauties and is also called Monoi. Their secret recipe for beautiful hair and skin. But can a fragrance not also make a person shine with an uncanny beauty?

A soft, slightly powdery vanilla embraces me, comforts me, gives me confidence for the day. And just, just a little, I also smell her - the flower of flowers - Ylang-Ylang. But she merges into the soft, warm finish. She is also used in aromatherapy for relaxation and is usually found in Indonesia or Madagascar.

Suddenly I feel so internally calm, as I haven't in a long time. All that was once so annoying seems so unimportant.

And I feel how everyday life slips away.

And when I open my eyes, I know it was all just a fragrance dream.

EPILOGUE
Your heart has the size of an ocean.
Go find yourself in its hidden depths.

Author unknown

Thank you JetonToni for this fragrance tip.

To get straight to the point: The scent is really not for me!!! I unfortunately (once again) let myself be seduced by enthusiastic comments and bought the set consisting of fragrance + oil + shower gel in preparation for vacation almost on a whim. Time and again, it shows me how differently scents are perceived. What is the most wonderful fragrance for one person can hardly be smelled by another.

The Monoi by Yves Rocher is supposed to evoke vacation feelings and remind one of summer holidays at the beach. This may indeed be true for some. Provided, of course, that one has always or often used a similar scent. The combination of vanilla and Tiaré is used in many sunscreens, especially in tanning oils.

Now, this is not the case for me, so I do not associate this smell with vacation feelings in any way. However, it does smell summery. Anyone who likes the accompanying oil should not buy the fragrance blindly as it differs quite a bit from it.

Now to the scent: It starts extremely heavy and sweet with Ylang and Tiaré floral intensity. I don’t really smell coconut, but rather a very piercing note. The scent is so intense and sharp that it travels down from the upper floor and my husband asks if I am using a new cleaner, which would be very strong. After a while, this note fades and the scent becomes milder and softer, reminiscent of exotic sunscreen. Gradually, the vanilla comes through and after about 2 hours, the scent is quite pleasant to smell - but that takes too long for me.
I usually like Ylang Ylang, but here the overall package is too intense for me. However, the scent is definitely suitable for a beach party at the gravel pit lake, as you will definitely be noticed: The sillage is bombastic.
Dear Monoi fans: Please don’t be mad, if you like and enjoy wearing the scent, that’s perfectly fine. For me, it is too intense in the initial phase. However, I was able to make a young lady happy with my set. She flew off to vacation beaming with joy with the oil, shower gel, and perfume…

Today, I popped into an Yves Rocher store for the first time in ages, just for fun. I didn't expect anything special and I'm not familiar with the products anymore. My favorite YR scent was my dearly beloved *Venice*, which hasn't been produced for a long time, but I still use it with enthusiasm.

As if guided by magic, I inexplicably reached for the bottle of *Monoi*.

I took the spray bottle in my hand and sprayed a bit on the back of my hand. "Spraying" is the wrong word, as instead of spraying, the Eau de Toilette shot a hard stream onto my skin. The excess fragrance dripped from my hand, which I quickly dabbed on my jeans.

A captivating scent wafted into my nose and I was immediately reconciled: What a sweet, tropical fragrance had come from the bottle. I sniffed and found it simply wonderful, almost delicious, but not gourmand.

A rich sweetness reminiscent of coconut, but also of wonderfully sweet white flowers, spread around me. This must be the indicated Tiaré flower, which harmoniously combines with the milk of the coconut.

During my city stroll today, this inexpensive Yves Rocher fragrance persistently, strongly, and assertively released its exotic scent, and little clouds of fragrance constantly rose to my nose, which delighted me greatly. Rarely has a Yves Rocher scent convinced and enchanted me so much in recent years. The longevity is incredibly good. Time and again, I smelled my hand and caught myself inhaling the scent deeply, as pleasant and lovely as it seemed to me down to its last, fine nuance.

It must be said that this is an exceptionally sweet fragrance. A women's scent that really needs to be dosed delicately to avoid overwhelming others. But when properly dosed, it's a hit that reminds me of the intensity of the power fragrances from the 80s. If POEME by Lancome isn't too sweet and heavy for you, you might find a lovely scent here that you enjoy. Monoi Eau des Vahinés is a distinct fragrance that, in its strength and longevity, somewhat reminds me of the legendary *Fracas*, even though it contains no tuberoses. Since I had just sprayed Fracas yesterday, I can say that with certainty. I would even claim that I like Monoi much better.

I find it lush, feminine, opulent, and alluring. This scent is clearly intended for the female gender; I simply cannot imagine it on a man. Monoi des Vahinés does not smell greasy to me. I perceive it as creamy and well-groomed. Nothing annoyed me during shopping. I found the scent very pleasant. It is predominantly linear, yet I smell a small, pleasant change in the base note at the end, which I cannot describe, but I find it very harmonious and lovely.

Anyone who wants to stand out and make a statement with their fragrance might enjoy this exotic mix. You won't go unnoticed with it. No one would suspect that it is "just" such a "simple Yves Rocher fragrance." Worn with confidence, Monoi appears luxurious, and as long as we don't let ourselves be deterred or influenced by the simple, inexpensive glass bottle, I believe you get an exceptionally good fragrance for little money. And after all, there is still the possibility of transferring it into a nicer spray bottle that one can enjoy more.