Mandarine Glaciale

A new presentation from Atelier Cologne last year (2015) one of four in their exclusive Collection Azur release though Sephora (also available Atelier Cologne’s website), Mandarine Glaciale is a summer time fragrance perfect for a snowy winter day by which to conjure up the warm sunny shores of the Amalfi Coast in Italy. It is romantic, enticing, and filled with passion and desire. All the things we find so appealing when the weather grows frosty. Not to say that Mandarine Glaciale is not right for the spring and summer. Well in fact this spicy bright as sunshine over Ischia fragrance is perfect all year round. It splashes across the skin in stunning opening notes of Delicious Mandarin orange, tart, succulent Sicilian Lemon, and bitter green Calabrian Bergamot all of these together are so reminiscent to me of the smells one gets in the spring and summer along the coast of Italy from Castellammare di Stabia to Positano. The heart of this fragrance is where we get a spicy bite, the romance of the fragrance dwells here. There is a sharp almost peppery Ginger that shoots into the air like Italian fireworks, a creamy Jasmine adds glamour, and greet sharp Petitgrain from Paraguay keeps it lively and sparkling. In the dry down there is a grassy earthy touch of Heart of Vetiver, a rich dark Oakmoss adds depth and weight, and it is all topped off with a very subtle touch of White Amber. This Amber gives a creamy sophistication to the ending of the fragrance leaving you wanting to spray it on again. The nose behind this stunning fragrance is Burgundy born Jérôme Epinette who was educated in the art of perfumery in Grasse at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery. He is known for such creations as Bal d’Afrique by Byredo, and Fougere by Jovoy Paris. He has done seven fragrances for Atelier Cologne as well including Sud Magnolia. Mandarine Glaciale along with Sud Magnolia, Figuier Ardent, and Cedar Atlas all presented by Atelier Colognes in their Collection Azur. Each fragrance was inspired by places in the south warmer climates. From the American South to Morocco, Southern Italy and the south of France. So there is certainly more beautiful fragrances to explore in the collection. For me it is a perfectly blended pure perfume not a cologne as is often the common mistake people make when it comes to Atelier Cologne’s fragrances. The pure perfume therefore gives it a fine life on the skin of about six to eight hours. The sillage is moderate but when you get up close quite enticing, inviting and invigorating. Mandarine Glaciale for me is a winner for any season. A Beauty that will be a part of my collection for years to come. Mandarine Glaciale Five Gold Stars ***** (FOR THE STORY INSPIRED BY THIS FRAGRANCE CHECK OUT MY BLOG SCENTS MEMORY AT WORDPRESS)

Like mandarin on ice... Although I only have a small vial-sample, this was love at first sniff for me. While many citrus scents shed their citrus facets while drying down since citrus notes are usually the quickest to burn off (for example if you add lemon juice to pasta sauce just before serving it's more present, but add it at the beginning or middle of cooking and you may not notice it). This scent, however, manages to keep the mandarin going throughout the life of the scent. Opens with a burst of sparkly mandarin supported by multi-faceted bergamot and lemon, that deepens into a ginger heart resting on an amber-vetiver base with faint oakmoss nuances. The mandarin here is maintained thoughout - 'frozen' in time, and never turns too warm, and seems to continue throughout the drydown, riding atop ginger and then vetiver. Overall I get a mandarin & ginger vibe that is versatile enough to wear year-round, and the ginger aspect reads almost candied to me and would work for the holidays. Contrast to 4711 Acqua Colonia Mandarine & Cardamom: These are different, but this is the most similar scent to MG that I've smelt, but the mandarin in MC doesn't continue throughout the drydown but evolves with more cedar-spicy nuances. MG is more ginger forward, while MC is more cardamom forward as its name implies. Roughly equivalent performance, or slightly better performance with MG, but MC can be layered over its matching body lotion to improve performance. Overall: Beautiful scent profile with above average performance for a citrus scent. I could see myself wearing this during the holidays, when mandarins are in season, but could be worn year round. It's a love for me. Enjoy!

As we come around the bend of winter, and spring beckons us through the heavy veil of wind and rain, many of us turn to thoughts of citrus--and this is a pretty good one. I agree with "No-fi" below, except that a heavy hand with most of the Ateliers is not going to get you into trouble (unless it's Oud Saphir--monster beast). This is mandarin, very fresh, bitter, spicy with the other citruses coming into play 10-15 minutes later. I try not to look at Fragrantica when I'm going for initial "sniff" runs, and I swore that while this is NOT Serge Lutens Mandarin, a "star anise" quality popped out immediately which reminded me at first of some SL qualities (though SL Mandarine is AMAZING TLF!). "Star Anise" fled and left petitgrain and bitter citrus accords behind (any floral and amber is just not there for me). When I read the notes, I realized that "ginger" must have been that "top note"--but more like "Chinese spice shop, dried ginger." When the petitgrain arrives, the ginger transforms into fresh, peeled, "lemony" ginger. I already have my citruses lined up for the coming swelter in a few months, so I"m set, but if I didn't, I'd buy a FB to freshen up and tap into some energy when it's too hot to move. Silage is low--longevity good.

nothing--NOTHING--about mandarine glaciale is something i'd be drawn to on paper. but, while i find it to be a bit out of left field for me, i find it to be an absolutely delightful fragrance ! most citrus heavy scents are objectively fresh and pleasant, but to my nose fall into a rather generic and underwhelming realm through their ubiquity. this gem, though, offers something different (something....dare i say...."fresh" ? forgive me). the mandarin is there, of course, but that is not what makes it special. it's the lemon and fresh ginger on a bed of oakmoss and petitgrain that keep it earthbound but with a sharp upward ZING. in fact, the oakmoss in particular, though rather subtle, helps it bind with and melt into the skin, helping it last longer than just about any citrus-leading fragrance (and a cologne, no less!) i've ever experienced. because of this and the icy (and perhaps seasonal) quality of the ginger, i actually really like this for a different take on a winter fragrance. i can understand why it's polarizing--it almost has a plastic quality at times--but i implore anyone to give this one a try. it may surprise you.

It’s a nice sweet pleasant smelling citrus, but I have a few other much better and longer lasting citrus frags. And as with all Atelier frags, they don’t last long. Half hour of a very nice scent then it’s a skin scent and then an hour later it’s all gone. I’ll use up this 15ml bottle but not buying any more.. I don’t know what these ppl are talking about smelling a celery note. I don’t get any celery or weird sweat smell. I guess some ppl skin brings out weird smells or maybe they got a bad batch or even a fake. Idk The ONLY problem I have with this fragrance and this Atelier house is the longevity and sillage is very very poor. I guess if u really love Atelier, buy the 15ml size and keep it in your purse or pocket and keep reapplying every half hour. I’m not willing to do that. Thats like the guy who keeps a comb in his back pocket and is always taking it out to comb every hair in its place, if you’re THAT guy, then this is for you....lol