I think these are the best things that L’Occitane has brought out for years – certainly the best fragrances which are based around little known or forgotten flowers that the brand has brought back to life. They’re all new to me, I must admit but the front of the box tells you a little about them, such as blooming times and where they’re harvested. The packaging is really something new – I can’t think I’ve seen a fragrance that puts the main graphic on the side of the box with all the writing on the front. The bottles, with their colourful wooden lids, are perfect.
The packaging is really something new – I can’t think I’ve seen a fragrance that puts the main graphic on the side of the box with all the writing on the front. The bottles, with their colourful wooden lids, are perfect.
I’ll start with Melilot because it’s the one I tried first and like the best. Milky is really a strong trend in fragrance and that soft, gentle note is very present here with a backdrop of oatiness. It’s cocooning, skin like and enveloping in a comforting sort of way – you’ll smell snuggly and ethereally floral. The fragrance starts with a fresh note but the dry down is all about a sweet and sleepy tenderness that’s just delicious. Melilot is a member of the pea family and its otherwise known as Sweet Clover.
Barbotine is more commonly known as the Golden Button Flower and it’s a glorious blend of mint, bergamot and lily of the valley. It’s sharp and fresh with sweeter notes swirling around – I immediately got a hint of Mojito at first spritz but the dry down is beautifully mellow with some down notes of chamomile and warm woods. It’s a fresh flower meadow kind of a scent – or at least what you hope a verdant flower meadow might smell like.
Noble Epine is a representation of May Blossom – the first spritz for me was all almond and powder but also a little hit of Play Doh which I loved! Notes include almond, pear, may blossom, peony and magnolia which in combination give an easy wear floral that is just allowed to be gentle but not powerless. The surprise is how well the magnolia comes through to offer a delightful creaminess while blond woods and musk amplify the sweetness of the pear.
Really, one is as lovely as the other, depending on taste – I think I’m pretty set in my fragrance ways but these are very vibrant, supremely creative and if you pass a store please grab a spritz! Otherwise, you can find them HERE for £69 (50ml) each. There are various iterations in the form of shower cream, soap and hand creams etc but a tidy offer on the fragrance set which includes a shower cream and hand cream as well as the 50ml fragrance for £79 HERE.
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