Nemea Les Folies du Parfum 2024

I don't often write reviews, as statements have become my familiar territory - but I simply have to do it here. This fragrance deserves it!

Some time ago, I heard about an Italian perfume house called "Les Folies." I didn't think much of it and organized samples of all their fragrances - at a stand called "Nemea."
And that's where everything began ...

The fragrance ...
I have never smelled anything so exciting, complex, and deep. Dark, mysterious, lovely, bitter, fruity, complex, sweet, smoky, full of strength, incredible development, heavy ... the fragrance brings everything and does so WITHOUT being too penetrating; intrusive; annoying. Amazing! Almost no one has achieved this before.

The burning question ... how can one imagine the scent? I must clearly say: Definitely test it on the skin! But for the bookworms, here you go ...

Opening: The starting shot is a slightly sweet, fruity note. This fades back significantly after a few minutes, leaving a fine trace in the background. You can tell: It's there, but watching from further back, observing the upcoming fun.

Development: After just a few minutes, a clearly herbal-woody note with smoky nuances joins in, accompanied by lovingly woven sweetness. The exciting teen note is now present, which will accompany us for some time.

After about 30 minutes, it becomes cozy warm, you feel comfortable ... between tea-incense and the very well-balanced sweetness that never becomes too much. In the background, a woody base resonates, but without any animalic or other "barn" notes. It strongly reminds of high-quality wood that has just been freshly cut and is now drying on the skin.

After about four to five hours, you can strongly feel how it increasingly becomes balsamic, spicy, and zesty. The sweetness recedes significantly here, and the fragrance transitions from warm sweetness to a lively freshness. The teen notes, coupled with the fresh ginger, come into their own beautifully and invite you to awaken to life again with the radiant sun.

If I could depict it visually: A relaxed, dark, and rainy Sunday, I sit in front of the fireplace, watching the fire and the smoke, and enjoy something sweet with a glass of tea. I feel cozy warm and drift off to sleep peacefully, without a guilty conscience. After a while, I am abruptly awakened, as the sun is shining outside and the world is full of joy.

Towards the end, it becomes sweet, warm, and cozy again. The sun slowly sets, bids farewell, and leaves us with a pleasant campfire, fresh wood, and a rewarding glass of rum-cocoa. Important: It never becomes alcoholic (from the rum) nor too sweet.

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So, about the fragrance, now to the rest. The fragrance comes in a very pretty and almost high-quality wooden box. The cap is magnetic, but made of cheap plastic. The glass is adorned with a frottage - only noticeable up close. It looks quite chic to me.

The price is often a major point of criticism for me. You can tell how much effort has gone into this fragrance. Super complex, yet many notes are clearly recognizable and you long for a second round in the development, which you also get! The initial sweetness is also found at the end.
Everything is super balanced and simply perfectly coordinated with each other. I have rarely experienced something like this before.

A little over €400, hmm, does it have to be? I think you'll never use up a full bottle. The fragrance captivates you with its 50% fragrance oil content and remains joyfully on your skin for 18 hours - reapplying is unnecessary! If you have the chance, buy a leftover bottle of about 25ml.

To a good fragrance journey!
Yours, Rosalie