Privee No5

As an avid lover of narcissus, I wanted to love Louis Vuitton Coeur Battant. The flower was definitely present in the composition. However, she was muted. The perfume quickly moved to a base of finely milled patchouli, fluffy cosmetic ambrette, and a modernized, clean, oak moss accord. It was lovely, and whispered of feminine professionalism. It wasn't what I wanted, though. I wanted daffodils. Enter Privee No. 5. It scratched my itch for a good narcissus perfume. No, it isn't an equivalent clone to Coeur Battant. It is much more floral, and in my opinion, better. The fragrance opens with a blast of pear. The pear here is sparkling, green, fresh and juicy, tinged by notes of fresh grass. Then, my favorite flower emerges from the grass. Daffodil is intensely yellow floral here, with nuances of hyacinth, tempered by honey nectar sweetness. Jasmine then joins the party: clean, musky and shampoo fresh, not at all heady or indolic. A suggestion of Ylang appears last, containing salicylates, adding a discreet solar note. The perfume stays fruity and floral throughout it's dry down. The notes of jasmine, daffodil and pear dance with one another, taking turns as the lead. A soft ambrette doesn't appear until hours later. It is clean yet vegetal, it's fragrance oscillating between fresh musk, carrots, and amber. It is slightly earthy, but not grounded. It is the perfect compliment to the pear and narcissus, elevating the composition. The inclusion of Cascalone, an aquatic aroma chemical, gives the perfume an overall dewy quality. It does not smell at all salty, marine, or melon, like the aquatic fragrances that I'm used to. I picture an outdoor flower market somewhere in Europe. There are several vendors selling freshly cut bundles of Stephanotis and Narcissus flowers. There are also wooden baskets full of fresh produce: juicy green pears, rhubarb spears, apples, carrots, mangos, and watercress. To prolong freshness, the vendors have hosed down everything with water. A breeze blows through the market, and a mist of beautiful fruit and flower essence wafts enough the air. This is the image that Privee No. 5 gives me. It is botanical, joyful, refreshing and sunny: perfect for spring. It is delicate in it's floral complexity, yet astoundingly long lasting, projecting with radiant freshness for hours. I would consider this unisex, and I relish wearing such an unusual floral as a man, with no apprehension. After all, this exquisite flower was named after a man, was it not?