Rosenliebe

I had the pleasure of being in Paris at a friend's place over the New Year 2019/20.
She raved about the Fragonard perfume museum and how she got to participate in a perfume workshop and create her very own scent.
Wow. I quickly booked a German-speaking tour and dove into the wonderful world of fragrances and their mysterious and interesting production.
Back then, I was completely enchanted by the whole ambiance. It is truly worth a visit, and #Etoile came back to Germany with me.

Now to another fragrance from this house:

Mélodie (2024) Eau de Toilette reminds me of a summer morning.
Strolling through the garden after a fresh shower, the roses are blooming, the sun is slowly rising and warming, everything is still covered in dew. Over to the berry bushes to fill a bowl with ripe raspberries and currants for my muesli, snacking in between, letting my hair dry slowly in the morning breeze, my skin feels warm, my face towards the sun...

Mélodie (2024) Eau de Toilette is initially fruity for me. Grapefruit, currants, and raspberry make the opening, gentle and thankfully not squeaky-sticky.
Quickly, the roses open up and the scent becomes more floral and softer.
In the end, it becomes creamy, delicate, like freshly showered and moisturized, a lovely finish.

The fragrance develops pleasantly but remains close to the skin, a great scent to start the day fresh. Ideal for everyday wear, leisure, and sports.
For special moments and going out, it is too tame.
It lasts about 4-6 hours close to my skin before I can no longer perceive it.

My discovery at DM a few weeks ago and I am in love.
Actually a total Chloé girl, I really like the fruity opening here, which is not too sweet, and the delicate floral yet fresh progression that ends creamy.

An association that comes to mind for me would be: "fresh out of the shower after a hot, sticky summer day, sitting on the edge of the bathtub, indulging my still damp skin with the floral-scented body lotion, inhaling the cool freshness of the absorbing lotion from the jar."

Seductive Blue Eau de Toilette is overall a summery, subtly fresh-clean, and gently aquatic scent.
For days when the summer thunderstorm is looming in the distance, the wind picks up, and you long for the coolness on your skin after the oppressive heat of the day, inhaling the accompanying scents of the nearby garden with a deep breath.

After the first testing, a
feeling of cleanliness arises, like fresh laundry in the closet or the clarity of the garden after a summer rain. The simple, translucent bottle in turquoise glass fits very well with this. It is compact and handy, with a good closure. Nothing happens even if the bottle sinks into the depths of a lady's handbag.

Seductive Blue Eau de Toilette starts, according to the description: with pear and bergamot.
I initially smell the pear quite pleasantly, not too sweet and not overripe. Rather warm from hanging on the branch in the sunlight, but the first raindrops are falling. The bergamot gently follows, but remains in the background. One senses a citrus note, but it stays very moderate, and I perceive more of a light freshness that could also be sensed as aquatic.

The top note does not last long for me (about 10 min) and is quickly replaced by the heart note that unfolds gradually.
According to the description, one can expect blue freesia, peony, rose water, and alpine violet here.
I actually smell a pleasant bouquet of rose, peony, and freesia. But not intrusive, rather washed out and reserved like in a cooling body lotion.
For me, it is very pleasant and refreshing, like after a summer thunderstorm when you open the windows wide to the garden to air out and let the coolness in. Do you know that feeling in summer when you can take a deep breath afterward?
The heart note lasts for me 2-3 hours and I love to keep sniffing my wrist and shirt.

The base note consists, according to the description, of patchouli, amber, plum, and musk.
I smell warm, creamy, nourished skin. A cozy finish after about 4 hours. I am not sure if I really perceive the individual components, definitely not plum, rather a good composition of all 4 fragrance notes.

The scent is no longer detectable on my skin after about 4 hours. However, it remains perceivable on fabric or clothing, still good 1-2 days later according to my husband.
Sillage is low, but at this price, you can reapply more often, which I gladly do.
A light, unobtrusive everyday scent for spring and summer.
Wearable during the day, at work, in leisure time, on afternoon outings, and I also like to wear it "when going to bed" on the pillow... mmmmh...

Here I need to elaborate a bit:
I remembered the fragrance name from my youth.
Back then, it didn’t appeal to me at all; I found it terrible. It might have been #Chloé from 1975 |Karl Lagerfeld.

I believe it was just as dreadful as having to spend a day in the garden, surrounded by lavender, warm grasses, roses, especially the special ones, the richly filled ones, with a citrus-fruity scent. I couldn't distinguish between peonies, hydrangeas, or hostas, let alone the scent of freesia or evening primrose, lily or jasmine. It was just a floral scent. I stoically pulled weeds and watered the ephemeral treasures under my grandmother's watchful eyes.

I couldn't understand my grandmother's love for the garden, who adored all of the above and weekly arranged her bouquet from her own garden. I politely followed her enthusiastic descriptions or explanations about the new acquisitions in the garden, but with only half an ear.

Today, I completely understand her! The nose and interests change over the years. Now I love the garden just like she did, spending a lot of time there every day and soaking in all (olfactory) impressions. I regularly stroll through garden centers and, for example, absorb the scent of early bloomers, which is indescribably wonderful in the mass of the sales display.
Or I am on the hunt for that one rose that is citrus-fresh, fruity-spicy, and knocks me off my feet. I love roses with an enchanting scent. It must be citrusy.

And then came Chloé (2007) Eau de Parfum.
We were on a city trip and accidentally ended up in a lovingly curated perfumery. I personally had nothing in mind; in the lightness of vacation, I tried a few things here and there.
Including Chloé (2007) Eau de Parfum.
At first, it seemed trivial and unremarkable; I didn't really notice what was happening on my skin. But gradually, the fragrance developed, and I was happy. I had to keep going back to the shelf to sniff. The many flankers arranged around it impressed me less. This one Chloé (2007) Eau de Parfum had to come with me.

Chloé (2007) Eau de Parfum is so different from what I remember of the namesake fragrance from back then. Now I find it stunning. Chloé (2007) Eau de Parfum reminds me of carefree early summer days in the garden when everything is blooming and smelling sun-warm. Butterflies flutter, bees buzz around inviting blossoms. The scent reminds me of my yellow scented roses, which enchant me time and again and lovingly make me think of my grandmother and her love for the garden and nature... which I probably carry within me through her.

Chloé (2007) Eau de Parfum is my absolute signature! My "always-goer". My pick-me-up in the morning. My spring and summer scent, happily also in autumn or winter when it’s dreary and moody. Oh, what the heck... always!
Citrusy-spicy refreshing upon spraying, then floral-rosy and carefree lightness, and towards the end warm and cozy like a hug. Ah ....

The fragrance La Vie est Belle L'Eau de Parfum is, in my opinion, not an everyday scent, yet many wear it daily, always...and often overdo it.

After the fruity sour opening, it quickly becomes warm and sweet for me, vanilla-like and chocolaty.
The floral notes are only briefly present for me and are quickly skipped over. Or perhaps I am so looking forward to the delicious praline nuances that I might "tune out" the floral trio in the heart note.
A box of pralines to snuggle into.
Only much later does it become more subdued and then powdery, creamy, as it fades close to the skin.

Overall, it feels quite heavy for me, and I tend to use it more for autumn/winter outings and special occasions.
Definitely not an everyday scent for me!
It makes me think of an elegant box of pralines filled with exquisite truffles with vanilla and fine chocolate, delicious fillings of cassis, pear, orange liqueur, and tonka bean.
Maybe also like a creamy and very rich body butter winter/Christmas edition that wraps you warmly and vanillay sweet.
S/ S very good. Therefore, it is really only usable in moderation so that it doesn't overwhelm the surroundings.
I only spray once in my hair because it can sometimes be too much for me on my wrist or décolletage. I do enjoy the scent of "La Vie est Belle L'Eau de Parfum | Lancôme," but I prefer it to be soft and subtle whenever possible.

I had the pleasure of visiting a friend in Paris over the New Year 2019/20 and experiencing the turn of the year there.
A lot of activities were planned to make the most of our time in Paris.

She raved to me about the Fragonard perfume museum and how she was able to participate in a perfume workshop and create her very own scent.
Wow. I quickly booked a German-speaking tour and immersed myself in the wonderful world of fragrances and their mysterious and interesting production.

At that time, I was completely taken by the whole ambiance. It is truly worth a visit.

I would like to briefly comment on Bel Oranger:
The scent initially takes me back with a tickling nostalgia of 4711, reminding me of when my grandma would hand me a single handkerchief for headaches or refreshment as a teenager.
Then it develops into a spicy, woody fragrance with green orange peel, freshness, and in the background, something herbal and slightly bitter. Perhaps a hint of sweetness...

After a few minutes, it becomes softer, more powdery, warmer, and the 4711 character fades away. Patchouli remains pleasant, cedar comes forward, and it stays woody - spicy, warm.
For me, it’s more of an autumn/winter scent that remains very warm and powdery on the skin.
But surely many will find it refreshing and zesty in spring and hot summers.
Fortunately, tastes vary.

Not my favorite among the Fragonard works. It reminds me of visits to old aunts with their very own fragrance preferences like Tosca.