Sombre Douceur

I like fig fragrances, but this is a fig bomb! Can't get past the fig and black pepper bomb this fragrance is, wow on performance! I will say this for the fragrance of fig it is a nuclear bomb so if you love woody figs with tea (I go in and out with fig) this one you should check out. Edit: The more I smell this one the more I do like it. My husband can't stand fig, and I keep trying to find a fig fragrance that he can tolerate. I have two fig perfumes one from Provence Sante, and one from Floris London and he can barely tolerate those, and they are not the fig bombs this one from Elysian is. I would wear this myself (the dislike emoji on top is because my husband can't tolerate it) I do like it. This is a green fig on top that dries down to a very woody and smoky tea fig. The fig gets sweeter as the fragrances goes along but still remains somewhat green. I honestly don't get a lot of irises here because the fig, woods and tea are so very strong but with a balanced sweet amber. Disregard the dislike emoji, I was disappointed that my husband didn't take to this more but he has loved many others from the brand. This is a like and a very good fig fragrance. For true fig lovers only.

Sebastian "The Perfume Guy" did a review on Elysian Perfumes, which sparked my interest. Based on Sebastian's review of Cafe Avellana, I blind-bought a full bottle x 50ml. Because of my immediate love for Cafe Avellana, I purchased six fragrances, each in a 3ml vial with atomizer: Blackwood & Bourbon, LaBelle Vanille, Charmante, Temple of Echos, Sombre Douceur and Black Gardenia. Among other reasons, I added Sombre Souceur to my fragrance choices because I was curious about the fig note. Fig is a funny note to wear and pull off. So honestly, I didn't know WHAT to expect when I applied Sombre Douceur for the first time. So, to my nose Sombre Souceur opens as one big, huge, giant, colossal, vegetal, green, FIG BOMB. Unripened, freshly picked, green fig is NOT my favorite note. But the opening fig DOES quiet down and gives way to pleasant, ethereal wafts of the loveliest floral bouquet. The mid-notes are actually very welcome! The mixture of gentle florals smells like a freshly cut, floral garden bouquet. Unlike many floral fragrances that develop with cloying white florals, the mixture of florals in this perfume is gentle and subdued...this phase is my favorite part of this fragrance. To my nose, Sombre Douceur is another dry, woody fragrance. At times, it appears the fragrance may morph into the "green & fresh" perfume category. But it does not. I think the floral blend, along with the exotic woods and benzoin keep the fragrance in the aromatic woody category of fragrances. IMHO, Sombre Douceur is a feminine leaning scent. And while I'm unsure that this fragrance is full-bottle-worthy at upwards of $285 USD per 100ml, Sombre Douceur is my second favorite fragrance from my sampler!

I was super excited to sample this, but on my skin this smells like a citronella candle mixed with a heavily mentholated Carmex chapstick :( unfortunately a very nauseating combination EDIT: After like 30 mins the stinky menthol mosquito candle smell completely went away, and it's actually quite nice now! Don't let the initial smell scare you off

I disliked this when I sprayed it but couldn’t put my finger on it. My husband sprayed it and said it smells like jalapeños. He’s right. Jalapeños without the spiciness. Very, very vegetal.

Fig is always hit or miss with me, but the fig in Sombre is so creamy & easy to wear thanks to the addition of creamy jasmine, vanilla, neroli, & spun sugar. The fig is never sharp, and the overall fragrance is light & creamy, yet dark & moody. Creamy black tea with a splash of fig milk, powdery iris, and warm amberwood. The cedar base is soft & smooth. There are beautiful florals throughout, but they never steal the show. It’s cozy & so unique.