Sur Ma Peau Dries Van Noten 2022

Sometimes it is the quiet fragrances that leave the greatest impression on us.
So it is here.
My expectations were not high, as with the increasing number of tested fragrances, there are fewer and fewer that truly excite me.
And the other scents from the brand left me rather unimpressed as well.
But here...wow.
This fragrance really gets under my skin.

The zesty opening with a very delicate lemon immediately transitions into a warm gourmand note that has come to stay. A very unusual blend that I have not smelled before. This gourmand note is not overwhelmingly sweet or edible, but simply soft, cuddly, and cozy. The cinnamon is very dry and completely reminiscent of the scent of dried sticks, but it stays in the background and does not push itself forward.
Tonka bean and vanilla enhance the coziness that the fragrance radiates. A scent to feel good in when you don’t know what else to wear, and a real soul warmer for me.
Of course, I am also influenced by the name, but Sur Ma Peau does indeed have something skin-like for me, something human, and embodies for me a shoulder to lean on. On days when I don’t feel well, the embrace of a loved one often helps the most, and Sur Ma Peau is that feeling of embrace in a bottle. It wraps around me like a protective cocoon.
In times when the call for loud fragrances with a massive sillage is increasing, this little gem absolutely flies under the radar. Nothing here is loud; however, the longevity is quite remarkable for such a reserved scent. Sprayed in the evening, I can still perceive a very delicate trace on my wrist in the morning. And that, considering the fragrance is listed as Eau de Toilette on the Dries van Noten site.
Perfumer Quentin Bisch writes about his inspiration for this fragrance that he wanted to create a scent of contrasts, and I think he has succeeded quite well. The fresh notes complement the warm ones and vice versa, without the fragrance feeling uneven due to the oppositions.
I am really very taken with it and am still grappling with whether I should really get a whole bottle, as there is only the giant 200ml bottle, which I probably wouldn’t finish in my lifetime. However, I really like the bottle itself, and I find the price per milliliter of €1 quite reasonable. So, I’ll wait and see; if I continue to reach for my decant so often, I will soon need a refill one way or another...