12/02/2022
Elysium
809 Reviews
Elysium
4
Métamorphose de Narcisse
Illusionism describes a painting that creates the illusion of an actual object or scene or a sculpture where the artist has depicted a figure in such a realistic way that they seem alive. We often use the term specifically concerning Baroque art buildings, especially ceiling paintings, where the artist uses perspective and foreshortening to create, for example, the illusion that the ceiling is open to the sky and populated by figures such as angels or saints. Such effects are also sometimes referred to as “Trompe legal,” a French term meaning “deceives the eye.” Modern art theory they have frowned illusionism upon because it denies the fundamental truth of the flatness of the canvas. However, Surrealist artists such as Salvador Dalí and René Magritte have used it to evoke the alternate world of the unconscious mind. And Voile Doré also used the same effect to deceive us in a good way. Let’s discover together what illusion lies behind this perhaps somewhat diminished perfume.
Doré is a spicy, woody, and earthy fragrance; upon spraying, it fills the air with a spicy and sharp aroma. Nearly harsh, medicinal, minty, and balmy, the darkness of the patchouli leaves sits in the first row next to a dewy rose and supported by a frail lemon. I catch a camphor mothball edge with a rosy and blueish tinge in the middle of this tumultuous opening. It might be because of some cardamom pods with fresh, slightly camphoraceous, very aromatic spiciness. Perhaps some roses and lavender blossoms strive to ooze. The aromatic and herbal edges come clear to my nostrils. It has a minty vibe behind the opening, which is very appealing, and I would not exclude some star anise seeds. Pungent at first and last for a few hours, becoming softer without disappearing completely. Classy, the opening is mystic and has nothing to do with ordinary design colognes, but it deserves a niche quality. The cinnamon is subdued, adds a bite of spiciness and warmth in the overture, but does not dominate as in Potion Eau de Parfum, for instance.
The more Doré grows, the more it gains shape and strength. The opening has some spice notes, and the dominant chord of dirty woods soon overwhelmed a hint of cinnamon. Behind the resinousness, I catch the oud shade, not as strong as in Middle Easter formulations, not a punch in my face. It is smooth, and perhaps it is just an illusion. Like Dalì’s The Metamorphosis of Narcissus (Métamorphose de Narcisse), this scent is surrealistic and uses patchouli and musk to create the illusion of rosy oud. The scent turns a little powdery, with a gasoline-like nuance, which reminds me of violet leaves. You must be fond of Fahrenheit Eau de Toilette and the petrol vibe to appreciate this untamed beast. Meanwhile, the balmy rose petals, black roses, float and pursue their journey. The heart exudes a green and dewy odour reminiscent of rosy geranium leaves and stems.
For me, it starts with a sharp citrus zest and cardamom seed blend and then goes straight to tart woods. On the dry-down, Doré assumes a dark patchouli-musk aroma akin to Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum, not a clone but a similar vibe. The comforting warmth of patchouli fuses with the enchanting scent of musk and forms a sort of second skin veil that lasts for hours throughout your day. So it seems to me that the scent of musk is not transparent in the soft, soapy, or powdery sense, but rather an animalic scent of spicy leather with woody and earthy facets. Well blended, nothing comes across as very synthetic in smell.
Voile conceived Doré in the oriental style, and a brave woman could wear this potion, even though it always exudes manliness. Lean more on the masculine, but this could be unisex. It is a very nice spicy-woody scent which is great for cooler weather. It has moderate sillage and longevity, half a day, and then moves close to the skin. So, it can be ideal for the office if sprayed sparingly, but I recommend it for evenings and nights out. As a side note, I bought it with Voile Rosé, and since they pleasantly surprised me, I decided to buy the others from the same collection as well, but apparently, they are out of stock or impossible to find. Have they already discontinued them just two years after their launch? That would be a real shame.
I base my opinion and review on a bottle I have owned since November 2022.
-Elysium
Doré is a spicy, woody, and earthy fragrance; upon spraying, it fills the air with a spicy and sharp aroma. Nearly harsh, medicinal, minty, and balmy, the darkness of the patchouli leaves sits in the first row next to a dewy rose and supported by a frail lemon. I catch a camphor mothball edge with a rosy and blueish tinge in the middle of this tumultuous opening. It might be because of some cardamom pods with fresh, slightly camphoraceous, very aromatic spiciness. Perhaps some roses and lavender blossoms strive to ooze. The aromatic and herbal edges come clear to my nostrils. It has a minty vibe behind the opening, which is very appealing, and I would not exclude some star anise seeds. Pungent at first and last for a few hours, becoming softer without disappearing completely. Classy, the opening is mystic and has nothing to do with ordinary design colognes, but it deserves a niche quality. The cinnamon is subdued, adds a bite of spiciness and warmth in the overture, but does not dominate as in Potion Eau de Parfum, for instance.
The more Doré grows, the more it gains shape and strength. The opening has some spice notes, and the dominant chord of dirty woods soon overwhelmed a hint of cinnamon. Behind the resinousness, I catch the oud shade, not as strong as in Middle Easter formulations, not a punch in my face. It is smooth, and perhaps it is just an illusion. Like Dalì’s The Metamorphosis of Narcissus (Métamorphose de Narcisse), this scent is surrealistic and uses patchouli and musk to create the illusion of rosy oud. The scent turns a little powdery, with a gasoline-like nuance, which reminds me of violet leaves. You must be fond of Fahrenheit Eau de Toilette and the petrol vibe to appreciate this untamed beast. Meanwhile, the balmy rose petals, black roses, float and pursue their journey. The heart exudes a green and dewy odour reminiscent of rosy geranium leaves and stems.
For me, it starts with a sharp citrus zest and cardamom seed blend and then goes straight to tart woods. On the dry-down, Doré assumes a dark patchouli-musk aroma akin to Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum, not a clone but a similar vibe. The comforting warmth of patchouli fuses with the enchanting scent of musk and forms a sort of second skin veil that lasts for hours throughout your day. So it seems to me that the scent of musk is not transparent in the soft, soapy, or powdery sense, but rather an animalic scent of spicy leather with woody and earthy facets. Well blended, nothing comes across as very synthetic in smell.
Voile conceived Doré in the oriental style, and a brave woman could wear this potion, even though it always exudes manliness. Lean more on the masculine, but this could be unisex. It is a very nice spicy-woody scent which is great for cooler weather. It has moderate sillage and longevity, half a day, and then moves close to the skin. So, it can be ideal for the office if sprayed sparingly, but I recommend it for evenings and nights out. As a side note, I bought it with Voile Rosé, and since they pleasantly surprised me, I decided to buy the others from the same collection as well, but apparently, they are out of stock or impossible to find. Have they already discontinued them just two years after their launch? That would be a real shame.
I base my opinion and review on a bottle I have owned since November 2022.
-Elysium
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