Camelia Intrepide

Camelia Intrepide "Collection Metal" FRAGRANCE NOTES (via Atelier Cologne): TOP-Sicilian lemon, Calabrian bergamot, Javanese nutmeg HEART-Chinese camellia leaves, Moroccan iris butter, violet leaves from Grasse BASE-Turkish rose absolute, white leather & amber *18% fragrance concentration* Full Bottle Prices (Camelia Intrepide) are as follows- 200 ml: $325 USD* ($1.63/ml.) *includes a 30 ml with engraved leather case 100 ml: $250 USD ($2.50/ml.) 30 ml: $130 USD ($4.34/ml.) The above prices do seem a bit steep; that is, until you realize all the Metal flacons are plated in a beautiful metallic finishes (Camellia is rose gold) and that almost all of the raw materials used in their construction are of the highest quality and sourced carefully from around the globe. On the initial spray, of any Metal or Orient fragrance, it's obvious the luxurious liquid inside the bottle truly matches the opulence outside! *The free 30 ml that comes as a gift with any 200 ml bottle can be any scent (other than the three exclusives) and you get to choose the leather case's color and engravings* ATELIER'S BEST KEPT SECRET... Upon speaking with a delightful sales associate at the Brooklyn Atelier, I learned that they also offer a boxed set of SIX 30 ml bottles at a substantial savings. These can be purchased in the boutiques or via phone orders. Originale, Matriere and Azur 30 ml set of 6 = $275 US ($70-$85 each for 30 ml bottle) Metal and Orient Collections 30 ml set of 6 = $450 US ($115-$130 each for 30 ml bottle) Considering six of the Collection Metal (which now numbers seven scents) could run $735.00, the asking price of $475 allows you save $260! That is enough to go out to dinner and a show in NYC...while smelling utterly fabulous. This, to me, seems the way to go: more jus, less money and you have a variety to choose from, and aren't "stuck" with a huge bottle of only one or two. NB: Rendez-Vous (Exclusive line) is not available in the coffret deal and is now sold only in the stores in Paris & NYC. Musc Imperial and Sous le Toit de Paris are available in stores & online in all three sizes (30, 100 & 200 ml.); however, I did not ask if these two were available in the coffret offer... I was too busy trying to figure out whether to complete the Metal collection first; or get all five in the fabulous Orient collection and one for a gift for me mum!!

I wrote this only once since I'm going through all the 35 Atelier Cologne samples. I don't review all of them but I wanted to do one on this one since there aren't many here and since I think that this deserves more love. This was an immediate like for me. Then after 5 minutes I had to correct myself. It was a love. And after another 10 minutes it was a very strong love. It's more or less linear, the floral notes get lost a little after 30 minutes and and it starts to get very sweet. This smells very close to authentic camellia. At first I confused it with camille, because it really had such a green camille smelling vibe. And I understood why it reminded me of camille. Because it smells like honey sweetened green tea. Because it reminded me of tea. But it doesn't only smell like tea, it's green floral and during the first 5 minutes it smells like if you're putting your nose directly into a flower (the typical atelier cologne mimicry). It's so well blended that you'll have trouble pinpoiting the notes. Especially after the drydown. I can smell everything in it though except the violet leaf. Usually I hate violet leaf, so that's a very good thing. Unfortunately, I'd rather smell this on a woman. Would be perfectly suited for a happy, innocent looking good girl type of girl. It's still unisexish though, but leans feminin. Can't tell anything about the longevity, but the projection during the first hour is definitely half an arm length to full arm length. Definitely one of the better and more unique atelier cologne fragrances. EDIT: Now it's been 3 hours and unfortunately the smell started to begin changing. It's noticeably weaker and somehow it's now a little bit soapy. The floral thingy is almost gone, so it smells like sweet luxury soap with a little bit less tea than before. I don't expect this to last more than 3 more hours but we'll see.

Oh, this is delightful! A perfectly uplifting rose, leather, violet leaf and citrus scent featuring the Atelier signature of cologne lightness (yet edt strength here) which does not ground this fragrance in any heavy or oppressive manner, quite the feat given the notes are each singularly capable of playing out very strongly in a perfume. The notes come and go at will, rose and leather to begin with for me, then violet, citrus and amber yet interestingly the leather gently remains throughout. This isn't heavy oily leather, nor is it sanitised or remotely boring. The kiss of rose against leather on a blue skied, chilly, windy day. I don't know what camellia smells like so am wondering whether some of the floral lightness can be attributed in that direction (along with the beautiful lemon and bergamot). The description given in the blurb is quite apt, imho, the dual combo of being at once away with the clouds, dreaming, yet somehow lightly brought back to earth with no fuss or intensity by a more stable, solid partner. Love it. The only danger for me here would be in using it up way too quickly.

I almost hated this at first. Historically, Atelier Cologne's peppery and spicy notes tend to pull really nasty on me. I'd tested this on paper, enjoyed it, got a sample to take home with me. Immediately on skin I was hit with a strange pepper-leather explosion. Yes, the floral notes were there, but everything else was drowning it out. I smelled like someone had sprayed perfume all over a suede boot heel. The dry down (3 hours in) was so much more appealing, and I can say I do like this fragrance now. Another reviewer said that it smells like honey green tea - I completely agree. There is still some spicy aspect pulling through but it really does smell like a refreshing tea drink. And I think the pepperiness or leatheriness of the fragrance is only obvious to me when I put my wrist up to my nose. When I'm moving my arms about just doing my daily business, I get this lovely waft of white floral mixed with green tea that's also a bit watery. It's heavenly. I normally use Iris Rebelle for work, but I'll definitely start using Camelia Intrepide too now.

It’s not often these days I’m conpletely bowled over by a fragrance, especially one I definitely should’ve already tried. However, Camille Intrapide is utter magic from start to finish. It has a similar subtlety to something like Santal Carmine from this house, soft buttery, with classic perfume touches that elevate it to something beyond the average. Citrus opening then turning to a delicate floral smell, with a iris/orris smoothness. This is where the drydown becomes one of the nicest, softest, most realistic and well realised leather notes I’ve had the pleasure of sampling. It reminded me of cuir sacre from Ann Gerard but much more unisex and generally more appealing, certainly lasting longer too. I’m surprised not to see sandalwood listed in the notes, not that it’s prominent but it has a creamy woods to it. The leather smell is so good, I sprayed a card as well as myself and I can still smell the gorgeous, soft, buttery leather on there....this fragrance is quite something I definitely want a bottle for sure.