Secrets d'Essences - Neroli Yves Rocher 2013
Milky White
Secrets d'Essences Neroli is not only about the eponymous note, but also about the different parts of the sweet and bitter orange tree. I wonder if the latter fact could be partly responsible for the significant changes in my perception of this perfume over the years.
It was also one of the fragrances to prove to me that circumstances such as temperature can indeed influence the development and perception almost beyond recognition.
When tried in the cooler season, I was immediately repelled by the bitterness of a disinfectant or sunscreen and searched in vain for something that even remotely resembled nature, be it the orange or the flower. The next time when the temperature rose, the spray nozzle was already emitting a delicate orange scent. While the association of swimming pools was undeniable because of the white cleanness, there was a hint of something nostalgic that I could not put my finger on and that was associated with my grandmother in my childhood - a ladylike composure without going in the direction of soapy stiffness, a soothing breeze in the humid heat... it may have been a whiff of 4711 caught on a midsummer's day. At this stage, I could not imagine how this fragrance could ever be considered 'too sweet' by some reviewers.
I was enlightened on this matter when the orange blossom finally appeared after two years. The fresh, almost tangy breeze had turned into a sweetish muskiness, the translucent white had become a muted 'matte' - just like the bottle's transition from opaque white at the top to clear glass at the bottom (a coincidence?). For some horrifying moments, I even felt a slight resemblance to the orange lollipop of Le Couvent des Minimes' Eau Aimable, which I cannot smell without a headache. In the end, however, SE Neroli, with its orange milkiness, remained on the safe side without crossing the sugar line to become too bothersome.
I wouldn't withhold SE Neroli from any gender; if worn in appropriate doses, it could be enjoyed as a sweeter and less fresh alternative to the classic Eau de Cologne, with surprising longevity.
The brand seems to have changed the packaging by replacing the thread attachment with an imprint. It is unclear if the scent itself has undergone any changes. There are also rumours that production has been discontinued. Should this happen, the brand will certainly miss a unique fragrance in its perfume range.
Originally written 7/8/2015
Edited to add: As of autumn 2019, the whole Secrets d'Essences line was discontinued.
It was also one of the fragrances to prove to me that circumstances such as temperature can indeed influence the development and perception almost beyond recognition.
When tried in the cooler season, I was immediately repelled by the bitterness of a disinfectant or sunscreen and searched in vain for something that even remotely resembled nature, be it the orange or the flower. The next time when the temperature rose, the spray nozzle was already emitting a delicate orange scent. While the association of swimming pools was undeniable because of the white cleanness, there was a hint of something nostalgic that I could not put my finger on and that was associated with my grandmother in my childhood - a ladylike composure without going in the direction of soapy stiffness, a soothing breeze in the humid heat... it may have been a whiff of 4711 caught on a midsummer's day. At this stage, I could not imagine how this fragrance could ever be considered 'too sweet' by some reviewers.
I was enlightened on this matter when the orange blossom finally appeared after two years. The fresh, almost tangy breeze had turned into a sweetish muskiness, the translucent white had become a muted 'matte' - just like the bottle's transition from opaque white at the top to clear glass at the bottom (a coincidence?). For some horrifying moments, I even felt a slight resemblance to the orange lollipop of Le Couvent des Minimes' Eau Aimable, which I cannot smell without a headache. In the end, however, SE Neroli, with its orange milkiness, remained on the safe side without crossing the sugar line to become too bothersome.
I wouldn't withhold SE Neroli from any gender; if worn in appropriate doses, it could be enjoyed as a sweeter and less fresh alternative to the classic Eau de Cologne, with surprising longevity.
The brand seems to have changed the packaging by replacing the thread attachment with an imprint. It is unclear if the scent itself has undergone any changes. There are also rumours that production has been discontinued. Should this happen, the brand will certainly miss a unique fragrance in its perfume range.
Originally written 7/8/2015
Edited to add: As of autumn 2019, the whole Secrets d'Essences line was discontinued.
Anessa
