Reine de Mai

It is now only March, but yet I seem to look ahead to May, ...and April too. If only reading the name of Charrier's Reine de Mai, most would likely imagine a fragrance full with the notes of temperate spring blossoms, ...but indeed, the actual fragrance bursts with tropical fruit instead. So much for either intuition or logic entering into perfume marketing decisions. Regardless of name, the brightly aquatic fruit punch of Reine de Mai does make for a refreshingly pelasurable fragrance, especially in summer, ...or spring. Though six fruit notes are listed, peach and guava seem most prominent and definable, perhaps also the tart tang of pomegranate. There are also light floral nuances (freesia?). The musk and ambrette of the base is only lightly anodyne in its effect. ___________________________________________________________________________ In addition to Charrier's contemporary scent of Reine de Mai, I also find myself in possession of a vintage bottle of Caprice d'Avril, also by Charrier (or rather Charieres), ...but produced fifty or sixty years earlier! I mention it here, because it does not yet have its own Fragrantica page, ...and judging by the site's priorities for that which is new and expensive, it likely might never have one. Even more than with Reine de Mai, the scent of Caprice'dAvril strongly belies its vernal moniker, for this fragrance Exists mostly as bitter civet and oakmoss, with some harsh nuances of smoke and forest greenery. A light suggestion of honeyed immortelle does come in later, but only slightly. Of course, in truth, it is likely that its more mirthful top or midnotes have vanished with time. Caprice d'Avril was always an obscure fragrance, and now many years later, very much more so. While happy to share what experience I can still sense, I know it can no longer be vivid or complete.

Wauw I never saw a perfume with more tropical notes altogether in one perfume!!