Bouquet Ideale

I got this today as a blind buy and I am very happy with my purchase. This is probably the best, most feminine woody scent that I've smelled. So many woody scents can lean masculine and this fragrance does a beautiful job at staying feminine, balanced, and sweet while being a wood forward scent. I definitely smell the vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg but I also get fruity notes on opening, maybe plum? I also get floral notes on the dry down so I was surprised to see only tobacco blossom and labdanum, which really is categorized as a resin. I love that it is a gourmand but not a traditional gourmand and it doesn't smell like anything else that I've come across. Never smelled Oud Nude or Raghba. It is very balanced and not too spicy, not too traditionally gourmand with vanilla and edible scents, and not an overly strong woodsy scent either. I can see many people liking this scent as I think people who like florals, woods, spicy/Orientals, gourmands, and vanilla scents will like this one. I can also see this being very versatile as it is appropriate for day or night, and good for winter, fall, and spring. Not sure it would be right to wear in the summer, but hey, you do you. I might combine this with Angels Share and see how they layer together as this one stays very pleasant for the entire time I'm wearing it and Angels Share, while I adore the opening of it, fails to fulfill my nose past hour 2. I also have Amber 01 from Swiss Arabian that needs something to pair with and I think this one will go very well with it. I read people stating the bottle was tacky and I disagree. I like the bottles from the Casamorati line. There is something whimsy, antique, delightfully Italian and old-fashioned about them. Also, I LOVE the box it came in. I got both Lira and Boquet Ideale and both the boxes look like books and really help set a mood for the fragrances so my hat's off to Xerjoff and Casamorati.

The blogger Olfactoriastravels has written a beautiful review where she described this as somewhat "shallow" when smelled on paper - not until it touches skin it gets fullbodied and "whole". I couldn't agree more. On paper this is somewhat peppery in a way that reminds me of an empty shell. A little peppery and a little woody - that's about it. The opening is medicinal, especially if you put your nose close to your wrist. But in cold weather, after 15 minutes - BOOM! It's as if my skin starts to GLOW!!! It isn't sugary but it's sweet. One reviewer thought it smelled like raspberry icecream and while I don't agree, I definately understand the berry-icecream-comparison (i.e. sour-sweet). The vanilla isn't evident on paper - on skin it is; a superb sweetness; the special "not-too-sweet-nor-too-raw"-vanilla I've come to associate with Xerjoff. It's a little peppery, but it's not primarily a spicy fragrance. Woody? Mhm, but I don't know how the heck they managed to get woods from Avatar's Pandora. Am I making any sense? How can one ever describe this THING? It blows my mind. And my heart. To sum it up: I'm so grateful. This is liquified magic for cold and snowy days. Subtle spices and woods, yet neither spicy nor woody. Edit: I crave this fragrance in a way I seldom do; for the past weeks I've worn it almost every day, I long for it every hour I'm not wearing it. However I'd like to make a change in my review: there *is* musk in this, quite a hefty dose of musk; almost ozone-like in the opening. So - alas - finally - dear fellow sniffers: this is spices and woods and vanilla and musk. A mesmerizing blend.

I am seriously impressed by this sub genre from Xerjoff. The Casamorati line has yet to disappoint me, and the ones I have tried are not even the most popular. I'll be honest. After smelling this fragrance, I purchased the entire line. I have tried I think 4 out of 15 so far. Each one is excellent in their own way. This particular fragrance is balanced extremely well. It is not overly spicy, but spicy enough to notice it. I have noticed that every person that reviews this particular line has a hard time describing exactly what makes these fragrances smell extraordinary. I fall into this as well. It's a very emotional experience. These fragrances conjure up memories, particularly from childhood. You immediately create a bond. That's all I can say at this point. I received my masters degree in art and design, and I have learned repeatedly, it doesn't matter how you create art or what you create; you have succeeded if you instill emotions or honest feelings inside someone. If that statement holds true, this entire line is a work of art. I have one more thing to add. It really is a shame department stores do not carry this line. And if they do, they don't carry the whole collection. This fragrance in particular, Bouquet Ideale, is unbelievably sexy! It's the perfect mix of spicy gourmand and elegant wood. Completely different than what you would expect, am I right? Hot take. This is better than Musc Ravegur or however you spell it. It's about $50 cheaper too. I don't know. There's a new kid in town. And he's not hyped up by Estée Lauder.

Ooo this one is seeeeexyyyy! To me it's a feminine leaning fragrance that sits perfectly somewhere between vintage, modern, lively, comforting, femme-fatale, complex, approachable, daytime wear, and good 'first-impression' type vibes. This is a fragrance with a lot of personality. It suits cold weather (autumn/winter) but doesn't feel heavy or cloying at all. The spice, smokiness and dusty tobacco scents all make an appearance supported by a powderiness and PERFECT sweetness (maybe one of my favorites). It's a fragrance that calls you to be put together when wearing, lipstick on. It's not office friendly, but the person wearing this would be someone you'd want to hire. It's memorable, urban and energizing, but also feels timeless. The spice and smoke leap out in the opening and hangs in the air where you've sprayed oh-so pleasantly, and as it dries down a more comforting, romantic, sensual feeling takes effect. The performance is moderate and satisfactory. Nothing fades out completely to only the sweet notes or vanilla, this was crafted with meaning. I feel like a good age range is late teens to anyone who feels spunky and young-at-heart. I imagine if I had an auntie who wore Bouquet Ideale, wool coats with scarves and a raspberry beret... when I would hug her I would always remember and treasure those moments.

This is truly beautiful. Bouquet Idéale is a blend of spices, woods, slight tobacco (emphasis on slight) and a shy vanilla peaking through in that order. The whole composition (on my skin) is quiet, gentle and very comforting. I feel very happy when I wear it, probably because of the spices as they remind me of the Fall and the holidays? You know, 🎃 🦃 and 🎄 I do not necessarily pick apart all of the notes in this fragrance but the cinnamon and the vanilla are definitely there. I do not smell a whole lot of sweetness in this but each nose is different. I wouldn’t call this fragrance a gourmand scent. It’s more of a comforting scent to me. The woods are beautifully blended and there is an overall tobacco-ish note that stays throughout the whole wear on my skin as well. Longevity: 6-7 hours on my skin and eternal on clothes Projection: shy to mild (which is my favorite) Season: Fall/Winter months (personally) Price: yes...price wise, it’s not funny how expensive Xerjoff bottles can get...but hear me out...I had this one on my radar for M O N T H S and I finally got it at a heavy discount for less than $150 USD so to me, this was a win!! Bouquet Idéale is a joy to wear and I am super happy to have added it to my little collection!! ♥️✨🎃🦃🎄✨♥️