Rimbaud

I am working my way through my Celine discovery set, and it has been such a treat so far. The perfumes are consistently excellent, and are in keeping with the style of the house, incidentally one of my favourites. Understated but beautifully-composed, they are utterly chic. Rimbaud is no exception. A lavender-iris-vanilla marvel, this is compelling from its opening. It is an unusual combination of notes in my experience, but works really well here. It is most reminiscent of Chanel Jersey to me, but this is more iris-forward. Rimbaud opens with a bright, bracing lavender note, aromatic and realistic, bringing to mind Provençal lavender fields. Some citrus enhances the freshness nicely, but is not the focal point. I love lavender, but it feels quite masculine to me when prominently featured in perfume. Not in this case. The lavender here grabs the attention before mellowing into a smooth, powdery orris-lavender accord. As it develops, smooth white florals emerge, adding body and enhancing the iris-lavender accord. The white florals are softly sweet, with neroli giving it a soft orange nuance. Some powdery vanilla emerges as it dries down, complemented nicely by dry, woody notes. Sillage and longevity are moderate. It is a unisex, year-round daytime scent. A deceptively simple scent that is as cohesive as it is compelling, Rimbaud is beautifully-composed. Refined yet relaxed, sensual yet breezy, unusual yet wearable, this is French elegance, bottled. Another gem from Celine. 4.5/5.

Yes, Rimbaud is being discontinued, as confirmed to me in an email from Celine. New discovery sets are being made without it. Me, being smitten with almost all of their fragrances that I tested, and realizing that the notes of Rimbaud sound dreamy, ordered a bottle immediately. I kind of expected to return it (they always send a sample of the fragrance you bought), because with the amount of perfumes I have, my standards to add to the collection are very, very strict these days. Nope. Celine has done it again to me. Their unmistakable DNA is me in a bottle. This gorgeous orris/vanilla motif that is present in all of their perfumes, and that makes Celine fragrances absolutely unmistakable, is here as well. Rimbaud is such a gorgeous take on Lavender. It is, perhaps, one of the few feminine leaning lavenders, or at least the one that doesn't scream "Men's". Incredibly soft and calming scent, a bit sweet. The absolute best part is the first 20 minutes or so, when the lavender is the strongest... like a sweet lavender tea with milk a a touch of lemon zest. I wish this stage lasted longer! Overall though, it is VERY long lasting. This gorgeous, lightly smokey lavender (yes, it is still very much detectable in the drydown)/vanilla/orris is eternal.

Much lovelier than I expected or first experienced even at the initial spray. It opened as a pleasant, slightly sweet combination of Bois D'Argent and Eau Noire. The lavender note is the same herbal, green, slightly candied note found in Eau Noire (totally minus the immortelle, coffee, etc.). This rests upon the orris root, Iso E Super/Ambroxan/Dry woods accord of Bois D'Argent. This is all undergirded by a dry, sweet vanilla. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, though, and the final drydown is an addictive mix of vanilla, lavender, amber, orris, woods that wafts a beautiful sillage that is delicious but never too sweet. I get the comparison to the "ur-vanilla-lavender fragrance" that is Caron PUH, but this is woodier, more ambery, and smoother and not quite as powdery and opaque. Going through my travel spray quickly. Edited to add: I've been wearing this almost exclusively for a week or so now and I find it a really beautiful, accessible, and still interesting "easy reach." The far drydown that lingers on shirts is a crisp, sweet lavender tonka that is just beautiful.

Rimbaud is perhaps the most calming fragrance that I've ever sprayed in my life. It is on the sweeter side of the Celine offerings, which I love. I would rate it the second sweetest after Zouzou. The opening of the bright citrusy lavender and sweet florals is exceptional. Just when you think it is gone, you get a faint whiff of an airy, cool, dimensional vanilla. The lavender is more of an earthy supporting role, vs. a full on blast. On par with usual Celine performance, but this is so special I don't mind decanting into a travel bottle and applying a few times per day, or just overspraying. It also smells amazing on clothes... 200ml bottle worthy- I regret not getting this ahead of other Celine offerings... This should be rated much, much higher.

This is the first “your skin but better” scent that has actually lived up to the your skin but better idea. The blast of neroli and lavender are intense at first spray, but what I end up with is a soft delicate cloud of vanilla lavender citrus goodness that floats around me and lingers on clothes. I have gotten compliments with this. It’s sweet but not gourmand sweet. For such a tender fragrance this has surprising lasting power, even in the summer heat. This is full year worthy, full bottle worthy. I think it can be worn casually but absolutely feels chic enough to dress up. I can’t wait to see how it performs in the dead of winter. So happy I have this in my collection.