FumeHeaven

Quintelline is an underrated gem in the Les Classiques’ lineup. I get a powdery lipstick/makeup vibe in the initial phase, with a slightly fruity (more peach than plum) undertone. Later on, I detect violet, rose, and sandalwood blending together to offer an almost leathery tone accented by subtle sweetness. Very well done and a joy to wear.

L’Instant de Guerlain Parfum is an utterly stunning powdery floral with a vanillic/ambery base in true Guerlain style. The primary note to my nose is magnolia, fresh and dewy, drenched in the sweetness of honey. Iris highlights the powdery elements of the scent, and the composition is enhanced by vanilla/benzoin in the base. The scent feels vintage with a modern twist.

The Parfum has excellent longevity on skin but the projection is limited. I prefer to wear it during the fall and spring seasons. The scent profile is traditionally feminine, but if you enjoy powdery florals, this is worth a try. Overall, the Parfum is an extremely classy, delicate, tender and warm scent, and is an absolute joy to wear.

Perle de La Route d’Emeraude (Extrait) is a perfume I was not expecting to fall in love with but it absolutely blew me away, and I ended up getting a bottle earlier this year. There are two major phases with this scent. Initially, the exotic white florals dominate, with narcotic jasmine, voluptuous curves of milky and sweet tuberose, honeyed orange blossoms, and fruity and seductive ylang-ylang combining to create a harmonious blend with spicy undertones (coming from cinnamon likely). The second phase is an intoxicating and sweet vanilla/amber base. Here, we have a balsamic marriage of warm benzoin resin, and smooth and creamy vanilla.

The end result is a rich and luscious floral-amber perfume, with Isabey remaining faithful to its original DNA (initially created in the 1920s), while giving the scent a modern twist. Perle de La Route d’Emeraude is another triumph in classical French perfumery, unapologetically feminine, and an ideal wedding day perfume.

Mrs. Y is arguably the most beautiful and elegant perfume I have ever smelled. To my nose, it is a floral bouquet where jasmine, ylang-ylang and iris (detect rose at times) are the most prominent, and in the base, the florals are supported gracefully by tonka bean and vanilla. This is an incredibly complex yet smooth composition, with unmatched quality and craftsmanship.

Mrs. Y is part of the exclusive and prestigious Les Toupies collection and is housed in an absolutely stunning flacon - extraordinary crystal cut glass made entirely by hand, and composed of a pattern of handcrafted angles and planes, whose facets capture light like a glittering gemstone.

Mrs. Y is an example of French perfumery at its finest. A timeless beauty!

Musk Oil Gardenia (MOG) is my absolute favorite gardenia perfume. This is a soft, clean and powdery fragrance. The gardenia note is quite delicate here, accentuated perfectly by the other florals and blended harmoniously with a heavy vanilla and white musk trail. The sweetness of gardenia and vanilla is mellowed by the white musk, so that it wears like a subtly floral second skin. It can be used for layering or worn by itself. In my book, MOG is another hit from Henry Jacques.