Do you know the artwork of (Roman) Venus, who stands in a shell covered only by her hair, without any clothing? A painting by Botticelli. Very famous, you’ve probably seen it before.
If I had to name a perfume that fits the situation in the painting, I would immediately mention this one.
I don't imagine that Venus smells like this, but rather the entire situation. This scent must have lingered in the air there.
Moving away from art, let’s talk more about the perfume itself.
WOW, I have never smelled anything like this before.
In the top notes, you immediately sense the mandarin, which provides the citrus, the pepper note, which adds freshness, paired with rose for the floral aspect, leather for the powerful touch, and the animalic quality of civet for the wildness. This blend remains prominent for the first few hours; later, these notes fade into the background, and the musk and incense become noticeable, with the sweetness coming from the tonka bean.
The longevity is exceptionally good for a blue scent; I can still perceive it on my skin after 6 hours, and my girlfriend can still smell it after 9 hours. On clothing, it lasts a week. The sillage, on the other hand, could be stronger, but it doesn't need to be here. As it is, it fits perfectly.
The bottle and packaging are among the most beautiful ever and definitely niche-worthy (I’m used to different standards from Creed or PdM). My girlfriend says the bottle looks like it’s straight out of the movie Alien. The logo is engraved on one side and the name "Fleuve Tendre" on the other. I’m always debating how to turn it so it looks best in the collection. The cap is metal on the outside and plastic on the inside. The box has a sliding mechanism, and the bottle comes in a small fabric pouch. Very nice. Everything is also secure with me, so I have no issues there.
The price for this perfume is currently €200 MSRP for 100 ml. I bought it blind and saved a lot through sales and coupons, getting it down to €80. I would spend those 80 euros again and again. Having also smelled some perfumes over €200, I can only say that many of them are not as good as Fleuve Tendre.
I look forward to smelling more from this brand and definitely purchasing more.
