Interdit

I honestly never bought into this number and all the fuss and ahhh, ohhh about it. This is a caramel, sticky toffee pudding fragrance with a hint of bitter note on the opening. I was expecting much better! It is good, but nothing really special or an outstander, this I mean.

Sillage very poor, longevity very good (6 hrs) as skin scent. This works better sprayed on clothes than on oneself, as it projects better - and for longer.

I have to give it a 6. Nina here created a nice juice, but a bit more rose and less caramel would have made this a one of a kind scent. Perhaps this will perform better in the heat... will wait for a summer test, though it is a bit on the heavy side of fragrances for that.
I am left unimpressed.

Nice, but too oudy.

The lychee is not prominent, here all that can be perceived is a somewhat softened oud, yet just that.
It is not super sharp, though in the cold a bit of metallic is present. Perhaps hotter days will help this concoction which I can say is rather agreeable if you like intense woody notes (well, the name warned of this!). Still too Easterner than Westerner for my taste, it's on that exotic, dry vibe (not exceedingly dry, but dry nonetheless) which doesn't particularly fulfil my personal favour in scents.

Sillage average (won't project at arm length, thank God or else it would be too overbearing) but longevity remarkable. The bottle is just AMAZING. Honestly, it's beautiful, sturdy and lovely to look at. Ain't looking for a bottle to adorn my shelves with though, so will wait for hotter days, test again and then sell off if nothing changes.

I would give this a sound 7/10 - considering the quality overall, of ingredients and packaging. Luxurious and definitely a must have - IMHO - for anyone loving oud.

Well done.

This is an absolute delight!

Upon first spritz, the cassis takes centre stage, crisp and green but softened by the musk which is just about perceptible - and for this, all the more a pleasant note here.
The magnolia is dancing around it, the flowery hint present but not overpowering. Here these two are waltzing around in perfect harmony, with the musk backing them suavely.

It is a crystalline combo, fresh and cozy at the same, somewhat soft. It really works and the balance is truly surprising. And it's not your typical flowery, non descriptive scent. It's a very distinctive one, though it vaguely brings to mind another fragrance I wore many years ago. Cannot put my finger on it, so in any case this is really unique in its own right.

I can see myself wearing this all spring and summer, and winter too when I need a reminder of what's to come with warmer, sunnier days.
It makes me want to go somewhere up on a mountain in full spring, basking in the bright sun and green and flowery scents all around.

Projection is 3 feet - impressive! And the bottle... sturdy and beautiful!

I give this a full 7 and will run right now to buy a back up bottle.
Well done Mauboussin, an underrated house deserving to be recognised.

To my nose, she is vile.
I rarely go this strong with my opinion on a fragrance, but this one is atrocious a mix!
Smells like a cheap, super synthetic toilet spray.

Every note here is harsh, badly matched. It is not a nice stroll around a garden, more like a stop at a highway's petrol station toilets. No gentle tuberose, or gardenia. Just lemonish, harsh toilet bleach.
Pass from me, I won't even rate it as I spent 10 minutes trying to rub it off for it gave me headache.

No woody notes, or green. No "white flowers", just a soft gardenia and a tuned down grapefruit note.

It is pleasant, but I most definitely get better results in both longevity and sillage from the Absolu. I would have to layer them both to get the perfect balance, and at the price tag the pure parfum goes it's a big disappointment. I was expecting way more projection, intensity in the accords, but they are subdued and too timid.

Personally, a pure parfum so weak it's not worthy the price. But as it goes, I have them both now and will layer pure over absolu.
It's a 5 out of 10 from me: keep your money and buy more absolu if you enjoy the woody grapefruit with faint flowery vibes. I honestly cannot believe how weak this extract is.

Btw... interestingly, Jour pure works wonderfully with Bottega Veneta (the orginal). Try to believe! :-)