Fhaldara

This is another Jean-Claude Ellena creation I love. It's classed as a floral chypre, but it is a very green one. It opens with citrus and galbanum, very sharp and right on the verge of bitter especially as the tomato leaf appears. It turns a bit sweeter in the heart with jasmine and lily of the valley, basil keeps it green. The patchouli, vetiver and oakmoss give an elegant base. It's a grassy herbal fragrance, and you get the entire country meadow - grass, weeds, herbal vegetation and a whisper of wildflowers. I do wish it had better longevity, it lasts about 2 hours on me, however when I use the shower gel and body lotion with it I get 4 to 5.

I purchased a vintage bottle of this, which smells wonderful. It opens with fresh citrus, leading the way for the beautiful honeysuckle and jasmine heart. I get a bit of the cedar in the drydown, the myrrh is not noticeable as a scent, but definitely shows its excellent quality as a fixative. Reminds me of sitting on a porch in a swing on a very hot summer day, with a sudden breeze bringing the scent of honeysuckle in full bloom. This is a simple scent, if you love honeysuckle, you'll love Chevrefeuille. I've heard there is a new version of this, which I've never smelled but I think its a pity that the older one has been discontinued. I find it to be VERY similar to Annick Goutal's Le Chevrefeuille. Longevity and sillage are average on me.

Despite her pink bottle, Miss Rocaille is a very green floral. The opening features a distinct basil, fresh and green with tangerine and orange blossom adding a 'fruity' hint, then a lovely green lily of the valley which presents strongly on me. Water lily and sea note keep the heart moist. Pistachio gives a tiny bit of nuttiness to the base, and the musk is very soft. Reminds me of a spring garden with new grass, plants just starting to flower, and the sea close enough to smell. Longevity and sillage are average on me.

I loved this at first spray. Opens with a big burst of orange and green notes, then goes just a bit grassy - I think the clover, basil and violet leaf blend very well with the galbanum, and these notes are all favorites ! It has a beautiful mossy drydown, with just the right amount of patchouli. It gives me an image of coming out of an orange grove and finding yourself in a meadow with woods just beyond it. I definitely get the comparisons to Eau d'Orange Vert which has always been my favorite in this type of fragrance, but Trefle Pur is a serious contender.

The scent itself is quite enjoyable, but I don't find it all that wearable - it smells very much like a fresh garden salad complete with an oil, vinegar and herb dressing. While true to it's garden name, this scent is just a little too sharp and sour for me to wear. The lavender and violet notes are sadly undetectable on me, were they more prominent I think it might have made a difference. Tomato Leaf remains my favorite from this brand!