Etoile de Lune

Etoile de Lune was love at first try for me. My eyes widened upon application - a wonderful blast of musky purplish red rose, and while this isn't listed in the notes, I feel like there's something like a violet in this. Out of nowhere, it takes a turn and becomes primarily citric, which lends some light freshness to this. A little sour and tangy, keeping it grounded and exchanging some of the initial light-hearted frolicking with a more sober disposition. It is still enjoyable though. It progresses to a more balsamic jasmine rose. Something that you would inhale and just drift away on the fumes. And then it slowly fades into a musky skin scent that is reminiscent of a star-studded velvet sky. I'm rather impressed at how well everything is leveled in Etoile de Lune! The balance between florals, greens, citric notes, musk, and balsamic notes is fairly remarkable. At times, one aspect may take center-stage, but it never overpowers the entire perfume. It's not a powerful fume by any means, or terribly original, but it's also not a run-of-the-mill floral - feminine but not girly; mature but also projects youthfulness. Projection could have been better as it mostly sat close to the skin. Lasted about 5-6 hours on me.

This is beautiful! Its lush, sweet, fruity, syrupy and floral, I cannot distinguish what florals exactly, but it is balsamic. The amber and musk are not dominant at all, it is blended very well. It actually smells almost identical to the discontinued Alchimie by Rochas.

There are just some releases where immediately after I sniff them on a tester strip, I am utterly confused. What on earth is trying to be achieved here? Something from the start reminds me of the smell of a human who has heavily perspired after applying rose-scented baby oil and taking a rigorous jog. This quickly devolves into a rather harsh, sharp effluence that reminds me of a drugstore white musk body spray that would've been popular around 25 years ago. What is supposed to be an ambergris accord here is rendered as a bit too sloshy and sour, only adding to the slick miasma of oily sputum-like swill and artificial, two-dimensional "jasmine". This is so coarse that it feels quite cynical that the brand would pass this off as haute parfumerie. I've smelled dollar store shampoos with more interest than this. I am absolutely flabbergasted that this comes from the same house as the lovely Il Mythique.

A creamy, rich and velvety perfume. Smells like flowers, amber and powder. I agree, this perfume is balsamic. I would say a strong floral balsamic, sitting right between light and dark. In its dry down smells very very juicy. The notes will not give you a good idea how it smells. In that point Etoile de Lune is rather strange. I dont think I like it that much although I am a jasmine lover.

I am completely mesmerized by the descriptions of these scents (good job, jbells!). Please tell me they will someday make it to the USA. Pretty please?