Infanta en Flor

Infanta En Flor’s a great example of benzoin being used to back up the flightier notes in a floral composition. Alongside the oriental notes of cistus and the bitter vanillin of tonka bean the benzoin smells slight, like it’s not immediately noticeable but the beauty of the material is its unparalleled fixative properties.

The thumb of god smudged the Moorish moon across the twilight splendor of the eastern sky, and Spain wept. The very soul of Spain wept for the lady Jimena. Donna Jimena sat alone and imprisoned in in the cold stone garden of the nunnery waiting for Don Rodrigo’s return from exile. She worked at her needlepoint absently. A small tapestry of the battles of her husband to unite Spain and drive the invaders back to North Africa. Her hand wavered and stopped its fine work and she recalled how when she was just a girl,she had loved him upon first sight of him in her fathers house all those years ago. The scent of immortelle blooming on the hills beyond her father’s garden blended in the honey gold noon heat with the orange blossoms all abuzz with bees. She held a small goat in her arms and brushed it to extract the lovely labdanum from its wool. A deep baritone laugh drew her young eyes to the gate where a tall striking man clad in rough leather stood talking to her father. His cerulean blue eyes slid over the flowers and the fountains to find hers and in meeting awakened the girl to womanly desire. In his quick crooked smile she knew him to his core and recognized her destiny. Now years later and separated from him by civil war and King Alfonso's betrayal and treachery, she waited and prayed that once more he would be victorious. He would return with his armies of Christians and Spanish Moors to free her. He would come to take her again into the safety of his arms. Arms that felt like home to her. But until that day, the day of the return of her lord, all of Spain wept for the lady Jimena, and her lost love for El Cid. ****************************************** Infanta en Flor by Arquiste is a lovely romantic perfume created by this wonderful house know for gorgeous niche perfumes each with a great story attached. The inspiration for Infanta en Flor was the border of Spain and France in 1660 and the meeting of King Louis XIV and his bride the Infanta of Spain. But for me it seemed a medieval fragrance and all about Spain. No hint of France at all. Romantic, melancholy, a perfume full of longing and loss but with the promise of reunion breathing life into its soul. It smells to me like what I imagine a 12th century perfume might be like. Simple and elegant and something a lady of the court of Spain might wear. The perfume opens with clean bright notes of orange water and immortelle flowers. There is a richly smooth leather, Smooth polished and old. Not suede but real, heavy duty expensively worked leather that is rounded out nicely with a sensuous slightly skanky labdanum. This takes what would ordinarily be a soapy clean ordinary floral to an interesting place. Yes it is “Fresh” but not laundry fresh but rather nature fresh of the flesh. It is a liner simple fragrance tha strays true to itself from first to last. A fine silage that gets attention and lasts well on my skin up to about seven to eight hours. This Infanta is a lady fit for any lord as well, but one with the cojones to sport a floral in a Aqua Di Gio world. FIVE GOLD STARS *****

I smell florals with a certain dryness, which I can only guess is the leather note. It's a serene scent that's happy just to "be" on the skin. No fanfare required. Just the thing if this is the thing for which one is searching. edit: expensive as heck, but i managed to find a small decanted amount to have a smidge of this stunning creation

I just got a free sample of Infanta en Flor. First sniff and it's very soapy and "orangy", then ... baby powder. Strangely addictive. A light leather note reveals itself after some minutes, and it changes the vibe of the perfume... it feels very musky, ... hmmm, nice. Nice scent bubble, moderate sillage, huge musky dry down.

Aldehydic, soapy floral with a bite. Chanel No. 5 lovers may like the fragrance.

A sophisticated baby powder scent. It's not offensive, but it is not for me.

It’s laundry day soapy florals, linear with aldehydes

I loved the name and the story behind it and that was mainly the reason I decided to sample it . I also love the orange blossom note and leather so I thought that it would have been an ideal combination . Leather doesn't even exist in this fragrance , as much as I try to convince myself that behind the big orange blossom note I ll sniff some leather , it just doesn't happen . To me Infanta en flor is a powdery orange blossom scent . It opens with a touch of citrus and sweet orange blossom . I don't smell any immortelle or anything else . The drydown is powdery orange blossom which is sweet so do not overspray .. This fragrance as the name is innocent and childish in a playful , angelic way . The only thing I am not sure is if it justifies the high price .Ingredients are high quality but the fragrance remains too simple without any uniqueness to convince me buying it . It reminds me of Esprit d'Oscar by Oscar de la Renta , they share the same innocent powdery drydown although I have to admit I prefer Esprit d'Oscar more ..

I really wonder how do people differentiates between this one and the Russian leather category fragrances that supposed to be doses of neroli, citrus, and cedar! "Infanta en Flor" in particular is like a fresh cologne (that supposed to be dozes of leather by sniffers) with a hint of mild jasmine for the slight animalic (rancid) part. It's quite light and soft with a hint of animalic and it mostly stays close to skin most of the time (after 4 minutes of applying it). It remains soft and pleasant all the way. Edit (7th Jun 2020) I came back to it once i read a review few days ago about this brand here in fragrantica. Where is the jasmines! i do sense jasmine, musk, orange blossoms, and soap. It's the kind of Russian leather blend, very very vintage and quite interesting. It reminds me of "Detchema" by Revillon somehow. I really enjoy that this brands are making small bottles which makes it affordable to enjoy the blend and see if you will go for full bottle later. Interesting floral vintage blend.

A heavily yellow floral based scent, Infanta en Flor by Arquiste pays homage to the virginal beauty of France's King Louis XIV's princess bride of Spain. Not being a huge fan of yellow florals (not to mention floral and leather combos), I had low expectations for this fragrance. Fortunately, I was somewhat surprised. Immortelle is clearly the star here. Its waxy, soapy, and dry amber accord is showcased to great effect. The yellow flower is radiant and sunny in its atmosphere, pairing well with the indolic "orange flower water" note. Cistus labdanum amplifies the amber facets of the immortelle with its resinous scent profile. The Spanish leather note pairs nicely with the cistus, as it too has a leather tonality. The leather accord is thankfully used in a subtle manner, allowing the floral notes room to breathe. Overall the fragrance is warm, ambery, and satisfying. Not one of my favorite from the Arquiste line, but definitely an original composition. (160)

Such a beautiful take on orange blossom. I had my teenager smell this on a strip of paper and his eyes lit up. "It reminds me of something! I can't put my finger on what exactly but it's bringing back memories of daycare when I was really little!" I didn't have the heart to tell him that it's probably a diaper cream scent... I worked in childcare long enough to know that orange blossom is quite frequently the scent of choice for diaper creams and other baby lotions. That's not to say you'll smell like a diaper wearing this. It's a very soft and soothing orange blossom. Paired with the immortelle it creates a nostalgic and addicting fragrance. That immortelle is the star here because it keeps the orange blossom from being soapy or too sweet. It adds a warmth, making this white floral on the unique side.

On first spray, I was a little surprised, as this isn't a floral fragrance, but a slightly animalic leather fragrance right from the start. The immortelle is very apparent, and is definitely of the curried sort. The orange blossom is there, but it plays a lesser role. As it dries down, it becomes more resinous and a little sweeter, but retains that sharp, savory, almost saffron-y feeling from the immortelle. I liked it more the longer I wore it, but it's not something I feel any urge to rush out and buy. It does remind me of two fragrances I tried in the past year: Balenciaga Extra: a spicier immortelle with a sticky sweet resin base and Bisch-mode performance By Kilian Can't Stop Loving You: Beautiful orange blossom over sticky labdanum and leathery oakmoss

This fragrance reminds me of holidays in Spain when I was younger, it took my a while to figure out why exactly, but I think I have figured it out. This fragrance makes me cold, it reminds me of visiting old churches and the coldness experienced when going in to the cool shaded church after being out in the hot sun to long. I don't know if orange flower water is used in churches in spain or whether it was just the scent the local women lighting candles wore but that mixed with polished leather from the church pew cushions and fabric softener is what this reminds me of. I love the idea behind this fragrance and enjoy other perfumes by this brand but do find this one to linear with too much aldehydes and not enough depth to hold my attention for long.

Notes I love - check. An interesting story, nice packaging - check. Positive reviews - check. But what should be perfume heaven is an unholy mess on my skin. I smell/feel: neon citrus (like those orange and pumice industrial hand cleansers) floating over a bed of something scratchy, woody, and very uncomfortable (Iso E Super? White musk? A combo of the two? I don't know exactly, but I encounter it often and it is like fingernails on a chalkboard to my nose.) I don't smell suede and I don't smell that curry/maple-y thing I associate with immortelle. I am so glad I didn't blind buy this. Note to self...NEVER, I repeat, NEVER blind buy!!

Refined, subtle and romantic. With a note of nostalgia. The watery note emphasized by immortelle “switches” a wide landscape panorama with wet and lightly cold meadows around, a lake also. I think it reflects the “state” of Maria Theresa’s soul that day June 1660 on the Spanish-French border. And now this scent is very suitable for any romantic case... not for nostrils of partner but for a lady herself. The scent is close to skin, the sillage is very modest if not shy, not long-living as every real romantic emotion. Very noble. So for usage with tenderness and for the very special occasions only.

The strongest thing Arquiste has going for them is uniqueness. This is a fresh daisy or yellow grass flower. It's giving me memories of sitting in the grass as a kid. There's something innocent and youthful, but it is not crazy sweet. Something is also giving me a pool water note. I don't think this is heady. It projects but it's not cloying or screechy. Just a gentle little flower, maybe even a little dewy. If you read their brand artist statement on this fragrance, I think they nailed it.

I agree with the reviews below mine. There's not a trace of leather here. I get a sweet orange blossom, slightly bitter, with a soft creamy 'hand lotion' texture. That's it. Very simplistic and considering the outrageous price, is not worth testing.

This fragrance is really lovely. Flowery and fresh with a hint of leather that keeps you wanting to smell this again and again. Lasting power seems weak but I haven't fully tested it yet. I highly recommend trying this fragrance.

I wore this beautiful fragrance on my wedding days. I love the white floral accord. Many people commented on it so silage was good on me. I now wear it each anniversary as a reminder of a special day.