Smells Like Falling in Love
I've tried a few different perfumes featuring linden blossom: some good, some bad. This one definitely falls into the former camp!
While I would not necessarily consider it a true soliflore, linden blossom is very much the dominant note, followed by a cuddly cashmeran base. The neroli, cardamom, ginger, and jasmine are subtle, really only there to brighten and lift the linden. Speaking of which, it's remarkably faithful to the source material! There's even a slight powdery pollen note that tickles the nose as if one was sniffing a sprig of the real flowers.
Overall, it's a very romantic and feminine fragrance that is easy to wear and lasts throughout much of the day. Projection is moderately high, but by no means overwhelming. As an added bonus, it's fairly affordable for a niche fragrance nowadays at $130 USD for 100/mL.
An Old Favorite Revisited
I bought the solid perfume version of this at a health food store as a teenager and used every little bit of it. I was under the impression that it was discontinued years ago, but I was elated to discover that it's still available online through the Pacifica website. It's just as lifelike and lovely as I remember: still easy on the wallet, too. If you like the scent of lilacs, get yourself a bottle: you won't regret it!
Maybe I Do Like Vanilla?
I have a confession: I don't care for most vanilla perfumes. I find them either childish and cloying or bland and boring. I much prefer greens, fresh florals, and chypres. Fragonard perfumes are tricky to find here in the US, so I had to do some real searching for samples. My original decant of this was a rather stingy 0.7 mL, not exactly enough to really get to know a perfume. I found it rather nice, but put it on the backburner: I opted to use my included coupon for a bottle of the lovely Grenade Pivoine (also a Fragonard perfume). By chance, I was able to find a larger decant option and promptly ordered a 3mL. It arrived today and I'm wearing it as I write this review.
What a beauty! It satisfies my green floral cravings but provides warmth and sweetness that make it more suitable for the fall weather. The opening reminds me a little of L'Ombre Dans L'Eau, but without the aquatic aspect: no urine note whatsoever in the blackcurrant, just smooth, juicy berry. The earthy green musk of the angelica is also fabulous. If you find most vanillic fragrances too sweet like I do, I'd highly recommend trying Belle d'Amour out. Once my decant runs out and I've finished/sold a perfume or two I already own, I'm quite certain that I'll purchase a full bottle of this one. Whether or not I'll have the self-control to wait, however, remains to be seen.
From chance discovery to signature scent
When I first discovered Nomade, I wasn't seeking it out specifically, or any other perfume for that matter. I hadn't worn perfume in a long time, and was simply walking around bored at a Sephora. I thought the bottle looked pretty, and quickly looked up the fragrance notes. "Sounds interesting," I thought. I sprayed some on a tester strip and was utterly enchanted. Then, I sprayed it on my wrist: it was more beautiful. After a couple days, I made up my mind: I needed it! I've never worn a fragrance that feels so much like "me" if that makes any sense.
But enough about me, let's talk about the perfume.
Nomade is quite unique among modern mainstream perfumes. The fruity floral top and heart notes are thankfully free of the sticky, sugary sweetness of so many modern women's perfumes. Instead, the top and heart are crisp and refreshing. The chypre base is downright addictive. It's not the same as those of vintage and/or heftier chypres of course (darn IFRA!), being cleaner and more subdued, but it is lovely all the same. In summary, Nomade is the perfect balance between the modern and the traditional, effortless elegance that stands out without being loud and obtrusive. It will always have a place in my collection.
Why Didn't I Try it Sooner?
I'm always on the hunt for a good green floral, a fragrance genre that's practically an endangered species nowadays. I heard a lot of negative things about Anais Anais in online reviews: too bitter, too sharp, too powdery, outdated. I'm glad that didn't stop me from testing it at a local perfume shop.
Contrary to the common criticisms, my experience with Anais Anais has been totally different.
On my skin, it's the dreamiest grassy hyacinth-rose-lily bouquet with a cool, earthy vetiver-tinged moss base. I of course had to buy a bottle a few days later, and it's quickly become one of my favorites. It has great longevity for an EdT (7-8 hours, with perhaps a little touch-up to extend the projection) Sillage is neither too much nor too little, and it doesn't cost a fortune. What more could one want in a perfume?
