Laurali

At first, I wanted to write a statement, but the few characters simply wouldn't do justice to the fragrance.

Testing this scent was purely by chance, and I must admit that I didn't like it at first. Normally, spicy, resinous sweet scents aren't really my thing (Grand Soir, L‘ambre des Merveilles, etc. were nice, but I don't like to smell them on myself. Maybe that will change too).

The fragrance starts off sharp and peppery with ginger and pepper. Those who enjoy spicy scents will find this immediately appealing. This initial burst put me off during the first test.

But then (!!!), after a few minutes, a spa opens up for my nose. So balsamic, creamy, warm, and yet somehow fresh at the same time. Incredibly beautiful.

When I spray the fragrance today, the following thoughts come to mind: a long walk through the autumn woods. The sun is already low, illuminating the trees that shine in magnificent red and orange hues with its last rays. After a longer trek, you spot a beautiful rustic wooden cabin. In a small annex, the sauna is already preheated, where an aromatic infusion awaits me. After a relaxing sauna session, quickly wrapping a towel around myself, I dash through the cold air to the main house, apply some lotion, put on cozy warm clothes, and settle into the large old leather armchair by the fireplace with a good book and a cup of ginger tea, while outside it gets dark and the fog spreads between the trees.

L'Ambre des Merveilles is once again one of those fragrances that transports me back to my childhood.

Do you remember the feeling when you were a child and it was THE season you looked forward to all year long? For me, it was (at least) the summer, during which numerous fairs were held, and I could hardly wait to try out every single attraction (of course only the child-friendly ones) and to collect as many sweets as possible.

Now you’re probably wondering how I came to the conclusion that L'Ambre des Merveilles smells like a fair, since most reviews that mention a fair refer to scents that smell like cotton candy. But not this one!

This fragrance does not smell at all like cotton candy, lollipops, popcorn, or roasted almonds.

This fragrance smells like glucose bracelets. Yes, indeed!

Freshly sprayed, I am greeted by a glucose scent of the finest kind. But not sharp and overpowering, rather sweet and creamy. So more like how these bracelets smell, not how they taste. Tell me you understand what I mean?!

After a few minutes, it becomes warmer and more sensual. It becomes cozy and hugs the skin perfectly without being too close. It doesn’t radiate as strongly on me, but it is still noticeable to those around me. I can perceive it on my skin for about 4-5 hours, and on clothing even longer.

I find it hard to categorize it into a season, because despite its warmth, I don’t find it too heavy, which means it could also work well on a mild summer evening. And of course at a fair to compete in smelling like glucose bracelets.

A quick note: I am not a typical horse girl (anymore). My time of riding is long gone. Sometimes I look back with a tear in my eye, but my sporting interests have changed, and that’s okay.

Nevertheless, I can still vividly remember the beautiful summer evenings I spent at the stable. After a long ride, cleaning the horse and bringing it to the pasture. To finish off, sitting on a hay bale with my best friend, watching the sunset and chatting about everyday life. The scent of dry grass mixed with the smell of hay & straw in my nose and the warm evening sun on my skin.

Once home, I would first rinse off the horse smell in the shower and quickly apply cream - with diaper cream. I love the scent of baby products. Shampoo, bath foam, body cream - all found in my bathroom.

But now to Mémoire d'une Odeur:
Just like my described typical day at the stable, I perceive this fragrance - in the same progression.
It starts off hay-like/strawy through the chamomile, but after a short time, it develops into a powdery direction. The musk makes it clean and cozy. It smells exactly like diaper cream to me. All of this happens on my skin within two hours. Unfortunately, I can hardly perceive it afterwards, which sadly does not make it a candidate for purchase for me.

Nevertheless, it serves as a small reminder of the beautiful summer evenings at the stable, and when I want to be reminded of it again, I will rummage through my drawer for the little sample, spray it on, and indulge in memories.

Have you ever been on vacation in Bulgaria?

When I was little, we went to Bulgaria a few times. Of course, not to the party mile - but to family resorts, from where we could take the typical tourist excursions. I remember those vacations as if it were yesterday.

In the evenings, we went to restaurants where there were shows. The Bulgarian women danced in their traditional costumes, and the Bulgarian men performed fire shows. Very exciting for me as a child. But one excursion always stuck in my memory. The trip to the botanical garden. Today, I can't really say if botanical gardens are something special for Bulgaria? And whether it is a "classic" among tourist excursions or just the personal interest of my parents back then.

The highlight of these excursions was always the little souvenir we brought back. A small wooden tube, with an engraved rose and a lid that resembled dome roofs. The contents of this tube was a small glass bottle with a transparent liquid. And this liquid smelled of pure rose! Until the day I received Florabotanica, I had never smelled a fragrance that resembled this Bulgarian rose oil so closely.

I will always associate it with my childhood vacations. Florabotanica embodies for me one of the greenest and most authentic rose scents I have ever smelled. It is fresh, a little spicy, beautifully green, and so clean. It lasts a very long time on my skin, as well as on my clothes.

So, if you are longing for a vacation in Bulgaria in these times and love rose scents, you should get Florabotanica.

Pure Musc by NR was recommended to me during a shopping trip where I actually had a specific goal in mind. I confidently strutted into the perfume store, determined to buy ONLY the fragrance I had set my heart on. But as it often happens, the saleswoman approached me and offered her assistance. It can't hurt to be brought up to date, because maybe I could be missing out on some new scent?
She sprayed Pure Musc on me, and I must say, I was shocked! Until now, all NR fragrances have been exactly to my taste. There hasn't been one that I didn't like. Except for the classic 'For Her', which I do like, but I just don't want to smell it anymore. This is probably because you can smell it on every corner now, and it has become slightly annoying for me.

But Pure Musc?! It opened up to me with a grandma note that smelled so piercing and musty. I had the urge to wash my arm as quickly as possible. This can't be NR's serious offering?! I took the fragrance I had intended to buy (I was quite proud that I actually managed to stick to my plan... that doesn't happen often in a perfume store) and headed home. Still in the car, about 10-15 minutes after spraying, I had a soft clean note in my nose that was so cozy and snuggly. Could this really be Pure Musc?! Yes!! It was! Incredible. Maybe the bottle was new and when I first sprayed it, I still detected the strong alcohol note. After multiple tests, it had to join my collection.

I really enjoy using this fragrance in spring and summer. Whenever I feel the need to make myself comfortable. If I had to describe Pure Musc in a picture, it would be a large fluffy white cloud. The NR musk is used so beautifully here, as in all of his other fragrances. The white flowers and cashmeran give the scent a floral freshness and a cuddly factor. Absolutely top-notch! And I can't say anything bad about the longevity either. On my clothes, it lasts for days, and on my skin, up to 8 hours.