Cornaline

It is thrilling to anticipate what an independent perfumer can do with raw materials, especially if they are as talented and creative as Anatole Lebreton. The liberty of using whatever quantity of naturals the perfumer sees fit can open up a composition that a scarcity mindset may not do (unless one is as skilled with minimalism as JCE, that is an art in itself). Lebreton flawlessly softens ylang ylang into soft, pliable orris root here without the latter supplanting the former. An old-fashioned geranium is always a welcome addition for me, with its delightful rose mimicry sheathed in green, aromatic overtones. The real climax here is when a fuzzy peach gives friendly bumps and nudges to the ylang ylang as the lactonic and the heady ripeness converge. This is all sweet through the powdery, voyeuristic veil of benzoin. It gets hazier and muskier over time, a tryst fading out of view so it doesn't quite allow us to get to the part where the knickers are down in the cottage garden. Denying that gratification is a stroke of genius. I love the pants-down perfumes, but this is all foreplay, the liminal space between innocence and maturity—it's all so beautiful.

Love it. Contrary to Lebretons description, I find no sun, joy or fire here. This is infinite sadness, a lover scorned, the quiet blue light of an English garden at dusk (despite the ylang, I know!). The same feeling that L’heure blue brings, with no other similarities. Rather linear, there is a creaminess with that sweet carrot note that i find deliciously gourmand. More carrot the cake than carrot the veg. I’m picky with the sweet stuff since even the slightest bit of amber makes sweet go sour on me. Here though, the sweetness is cold and milky. I dont really get fruit, but rather creamy floral notes. Not in an Iris way but as in liquid cream, orris maybe. It lasts nearly forever on both skin and fabric and can be reapplied generously without gerting dirty. A romantic scent, a modern take on what a lonely Jane Austen lady would wear. Not strict, classy or officey, but free spirited but also earthy somehow. Raging master piece in my book!

The finest facets of Ylang-ylang for everyone to smell! I think only Anatole could've made my favourite floral fragrance based on a flower that i usually borderline hate when it's the focus of a composition. This is the widest and most complex Ylang-ylang i have ever smelled, everything added in here has a role in building the scene. Tropical and fruity, creamy and powdery. Dark and animalistic (little bit pissy even), luminous and sweet at the same time! A floral masterpiece, if You have a chance, then do Yourself the pleasure of trying this.

It smell more like velvet, a velvet red dress. Lipstick. Not so morning sun in the summer, maybe a red sun of an Autumn's sunset. It has also bitter dark soapy sides. It is serious for a sexy woman equipped with self-control. Remember me a bit of Heliotrophe by Molinard.

Very feminine, nice for spring and summer. I can smell ylang ylang, iris and peach. The longevity and sillage are correct. This scent is powdery and mysterious. 7/10

The ylang ylang geranium combo give this such a vintage feel. I do love peach, orris and hyacinth, but I don't personally enjoy them with the ylang ylang and geranium in this scent. Blind smelling, I was getting ylang ylang, coconut, peach and geranium (no coconut listed, but there's something slightly coconut-y to me).

Sharp roses & peaches. Sharp peaches, roses, and carrots was that i got at first spray. When you sense get deep within you will detect the balmy, creamy orris, hyacinth, and sweet ylang. hints of peony is there. The blend settles in a creamy orris, carrots, peaches, roses, & ylang which gives 80s vibes in a contemporary way, the fruitti blend with slight earthy notes. I struggled with this blend as this is the 3rd time testing it, first was i thought it has that oily type of orris, the second time it was quite confusing with an over sweetened note, and now i realized the magic it held. It's quite interesting and 10ml would be the perfect size for me.

I am mind blown...why is no one finding the beginning to dry down of this to wear identically to Jean Desprez's Bal à Versailles? BaV's top notes of Bergamot, middle notes of Ylang-Ylang, Orris Root, and Hyacinth (in lieu of Lilac), with the base notes of Civet, Amber, Benzoin, Vanilla, and Musk should make Anatole Lebreton's Cornaline blush in exposed embarrassment. Don't get me wrong, I love Cornaline...but BaV is the OG version of this. I dare you to wear Cornaline on one wrist, and BaV on the other...and try as hard as you can to find any real difference...

I blind bought Incarnata and got a sample of Cornaline. 1 week later I also had a full bottle of Cornaline. This is such a divine perfume! It's very ripe peaches and the softness and warmth of a sun heated body in a Mediterranean place surrounded by terracotta tiles and a flower garden. The sun heats the flowers and all the scents mingle together in a great great concoction. A redhead in the sun. LOVE IT!

This is one of the greatest feminines I’ve encountered in a long time. It begins cute and modern with a fresh, chilled peach and orris, then warms up a bit with buttery ylang. Finally, the orris continues joined by a benzoin and soft vanilla oriental drydown. This description doesn’t do it justice as the whole thing, every stage is more abstract. The notes could say sandalwood and I’d beleve it.