Soussanne

Since the weekend, summer has broken out. Quite suddenly and right in the middle of May. I stifle the anxious question of how long it will last this time and instead give in to the strong desire to wear a wonderful summer fragrance. I spray Donna by AdP into my hair, my ultimate holiday mood scent.

I can almost taste the citrus fruits on my tongue, real lemon is caressed by powdery spiciness and cushioned by ginger and fine, fresh musk. This is what summer smells like! Jasmine and magnolia enter into a delicate liaison and remain subtly in the background. An almost green, yet light-footed woodiness gives the fragrance a foundation. Longingly, I think of the Mediterranean, the turquoise blue of the water, the warm sea air, the incredible light. Herbs grow on the mountain slopes and, stimulated by the warm midday sun, they release their aromas. I am drawn out onto the home balcony, which must now serve as a substitute domicile. It is pleasantly warm, a light breeze plays with my hair and envelops me again and again in clouds full of holiday fantasies. Novamenco is playing on the radio. Hhhhmmmm, I close my eyes, just let me dream...

After the extraordinary comment from Profumo, I almost hesitate to share my impressions of this wonderful fragrance. I hope a brief assessment from a female wearer is permitted here, as this is one of my absolute favorite scents.

That the fragrance line from Frapin-Cointreau features hints of fine spirits is not really surprising. However, I was taken aback by 1697 right from the first test, when I noticed the strong liqueur notes in the opening, which are so beautifully embedded in smooth, gourmand substances. I pondered for a long time about what this reminded me of, as the mentioned rum doesn’t quite hit the mark in my opinion. Now I know, I associate it with a wine cream like zabaglione. Yes, that captures it quite well. Individually, it’s hawthorn, plum, cinnamon, cistus, tobacco, and vanilla that enhance the overall impression of a delicious dessert with a kick. Addictive, yet grounded by transparent wood notes and fine leather, making it absolutely wearable by both men and women.

However, the leather presents a puzzle for me. I experience it on my skin with varying intensity, sometimes subtle and then again so strong that it’s almost too much for me. And this changes depending on my daily condition and regardless of the amount of fragrance I applied. It’s possible that my skin chemistry changes or my nose is in a different mood.

All in all, 1697 is for me a very rounded, balanced fragrance that does not present itself significantly differently on test strips and my skin. Despite its opulence, it possesses a certain lightness in my opinion and retains its character until the end. The longevity is quite decent, while the sillage is rather subtle for me. I enjoy wearing it for special occasions. I find the bottle simple and elegant; I am a proud owner of a numbered edition of the first, slightly more angular version (see picture above), although I have mixed feelings about the limitation as a marketing tool. I just had to have it! By now, the fragrance is also available as an EdP in the “normal” Frapin bottle.

I have no idea, the ladies and gentlemen have not been introduced to me yet. But I have an idea of what something so disreputable should smell like. So outrageously daring. Almost forbidden. Well, well, maybe not as much today as in the past, but it's definitely a hot topic. And BA flirts with it quite unabashedly.

Now I want to get to the bottom of this and indulge in the intoxication. Boldly, I let the Afgano come close, a spritz on my skin will have to suffice for now. Wow, is it strong! Then suddenly alarm: cyanide! Or rather the aroma of bitter almonds. This can't be, it's not in the fragrance pyramid. Is THIS cannabis? I had imagined it completely differently, somehow more wicked or smoky. Quickly, something sweetly vanillic joins in - could be the tobacco - and a floral hint of an indeterminate nature. I perceive the resinous and woody notes only very subtly. You should know that my skin generally tends to act as a gardener. That means: the roots buried in the earth and the flowers reaching for the sky. And that even when there shouldn't be any in there.

Slowly, the Afgano is getting closer to me, now it's becoming a bit too intrusive. The spirits I called... And he even brought a buddy along. Allow me to introduce, my name is Thierry M. and my primary task is to ensure that the woman who is with me is not overlooked, uh, over-smelled of course.

The two of them stay and stay and stay. Bye guys, I have to go to the kitchen and make dinner. Yes fine, we’ll come along and keep you company, it’s totally fun, the three of us cooking! Well, if you insist, sigh, too many cooks spoil the chef, or how did that go again? My handling of pots and pans doesn’t throw the two off their game. Not even when I start frying onions. They remain close to me and what can I say, now I’m actually grateful to them for sticking around!

Thierry leaves before dinner, his wife has also cooked and can get her appetite somewhere else, but eating... you know how it goes. I can't bring myself to chase the Afgano away. Tonight, when I go into the bath, that will probably be the end of us both.