Fleurs de Citronnier, er d'Oranger
In the same vein as the Mercer Island matron who buys art to match her sofa, I needed to review a fragrance that goes with the painting I had posted. (Not deeply aesthetic but hey, that's me.)
Lemon was the question ... and Serge Lutens' Fleurs de Citronnier, launched March 2004, is the answer.
What I like about Serge: he plays against type. I placed the fragrance on my skin and drew a deep breath in ...
What I expect from the name: green citrusy happy smell.
What I get: deep golden, with a mysterious sense of "what IS that"?
Notes are variously listed as lemon blossom, lemon tree, lemon leaves, neroli essence, white honey, tuberose, iris, styrax (balsamic resin? benzoin?), musc, [jasmine, roses -- these I don't believe] and spices, specifically nutmeg.
Reviews quote the Master's inspiration as a Moroccan garden and I'm willing to go with that. A sultry Mideast garden in late afternoon. The fragrance gives off a heat; this is citrus basking in intense warmth.
Not bright, deep. Not green, gold. Not happy, moody -- a bit played out. Jaded. Or at least very experienced.
And today I am all about moody. It's perfect.
Addendum: the Citronnier didn't quite do it for me after all. So I splashed on some Fleurs d'Oranger. Even more heat and spice in this orange blossom, jasmine, tuberose fragrance: much better. I don't mind the cumin on me ... it's soft and peppery rather than stinky. A better choice. Sorry the painting didn't match.
posted by mireille at 7:02 AM
6 Comments:
Yes..it's golden and rich and dense, not light. There's a musky warmth... there's an orchard growing on the hair follicle... there's a syrupy sweet summer drink there too. I couldn't claim it as a frequent scent to wear. It's too heady for me. But on the right day it makes me warm-happy like a soft big sweater worn while crossing the chilly grey bay (to Mercer Island)... O:
~clearing
8:46 AM
Ah that's right...it's the lake, not the bay. How sad that I can't remember these childhood haunts M. Missing my long ago home today.
~c
8:48 AM
Yum, you smell good today ;-)
12:38 PM
I just have to say, M, that you should be in the field of visual arts. You have the most amazing eye for beauty and detail. I love your pictures.
And I am so envious that you figured out how to post them on your blog! I cannot even get anything to work. The tedium of daily life!!! Urg.
12:46 PM
B -- you're too busy arranging marriages to post photos anyway! LOLOLOL
1:07 PM
LOL, M!
Seems I cannot arrange a marriage (although I would love to do so) nor post a photo! Somehow, I can't figure out how to download them. And arranging marriages is not any eaiser, I might add.
7:00 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home