New Orleans

Those who've smelled 'natural perfumes' only at the local health foods emporium will be pleasantly surprised by Ayala Moriel's perfumes. In an era when famous fragrance houses have eliminated high quality natural essences in favor of cheaper synthetics, many people's noses have become accustomed to chemical approximations of treasured natural florals, mosses, woods, citrus notes. New Orleans, the perfume oil (I have not tried it in EDP) is deeply fascinating, very wearable. Notes of cypress, festooned with gray Spanish moss, catch my attention in the base, also vetiver. Despite rich basenotes, New Orleans perfume is exudes youthful romance. I don't think I've come across a more successful rendition of magnolia into a perfume. Mystere de Rochas and 'Magnolia' by Lucky Scent most nearly succeeded in presenting the glorious fragrance of magnolias blooming, but Moriel's "New Orleans" is the real deal, possibly because the supporting players provide 'context'! AFAIK, 'context' is not a term used in perfumery. But perhaps it should be. Does rosemary complement Meyer orange? You bet it does(!), whether in perfumery or cuisine. ;) Mandarin orange, white grapefruit, serve as playful ingenues to the well known floral star players, Tea Rose and Osmanthus (aka sweet olive or tea olive). Osmanthus, related to tea and camellia plants afaik, is the Dragon Lady of perfume ingredients. The pointy cluster of little white flowers slightly resemble ligustrum flowers, but smell strongly of ripe apricots, and jasmine tea. Patou 1000 and Kheil's China Flowers fragrances include osmanthus, but somehow the note comes across troublingly in both, to my nose. Again, the context seemed wrong. When made comfortable, a Dragon Lady can become sympathetic, helpful... Myrrh or frankincense isn't mentioned as an ingredient Moriel's New Orleans, but as I'm nearly 2 hours into wearing the oil, I'm being comforted by a whiff of notes reminding me of Christmas Midnight Mass in a warm chapel. This incensy note doesn't overpower the star players but contributes more depth to a the drama. Who can wear New Orleans? Anyone of taste, from your 20s through eternity. ;) New Orleans is pleasing to wear in the morning, through the day and evening. You control the strength by how much you choose to apply.

New Orleans begins with mild, mossy and woodsy low notes reminiscent of the picturesque oak trees hanging with moss in New Orleans. They're balanced with an aura of floral notes including magnolia and osmanthus in addition to an oceanside scent like a spray of mist from the sea. The feeling is approachable, open, and truly marine-floral. All with the quality that is only found once discovered in natural perfumery.

Can someone please tell me about their experience with this scent?