Sand and Skin

The most credible et legitimate creation in the "beach" lexicon, beating up everything I've ever owned so far. Not only it evokes sun and sand, but it does it so well that it annihilates all its rivals and other competitors. Goodbye those vaguely caricatured monoï and frangipani "sunscreen" fragrances. Dominant Notes: Benzoin, Vanilla, Amyris Secondary Notes: Ylang, Sandalwood, Cistus Subtle Notes: Patchouli, Musk It's late afternoon and the soft sunrays are setting. You're coming out of the pool, and your damp skin is caressed by a light sea breeze. You collapse there, on your warm towel and, with your eyes closed, listen to the waves whispering ancient secrets and cryptic whispers. And you're alone, far from the obscene tourists hustle and bustle. From the first seconds, Ylang unfolds creating a sunny, rich, and enveloping opening. It adds a creamy and slightly spicy touch, evoking salty sweaty skin. The scent of sweat and caraway, sensual. A natural unsweetened Vanilla, distinguished by its authenticity, candor and depth. It is neither gourmand nor food-like, but resinous and reminiscent of the warmth of the sand itself. At the heart of this thickening composition, balmy and slightly smoky Benzoin undulates with Sandalwood (muted but not silent either) forming a harmonious pair, bringing comfort and serenity. Amyris adds a woody and spicy dimension, reinforcing the impression of an unspoiled, wild and preserved landscape. One could almost recognize the minerality (aldehydes and wallflowers) of "Dune" in its personality... like a distant family connection. It's an invitation to dream and languor, far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A fragrance intended for those in need of escape, with its almost tangible amber warmth. That of asphalt and tarmac burning at midday, of bare legs baking in the sun, of skin streaked with salt in the hollow of my neck or stuck to it, of the taste and texture of sand in the mouth ! A tired and lazy body. In short, without being "powdery" on the contrary, it has rough edges but is in no way divisive. Inspired by the 300 year-old meditative tradition of the Sunamushi Onsen 指宿温泉 (volcanic sand bathing) in the Japanese town of Ibusuki, a geothermal site. This special ritual involves wearing a traditional yukata before lying in rows in the black sand, covered in it until only your head is visible. To protect you from the sun, colorful parasols are placed above your head while you experience an exceptional moment of relaxation, lulled by the sound of the waves. The hot sand can reach 50-55°C and this sand bath is limited to just 10 minutes. 🖤 10/10 🖤 My TOP 5 Floraïku: 1: This July Evening 2: Sand And Skin 3: Rise And Fall 4: Sound Of A Ricochet 5: Opening Night

Let me start with the facts, so the reader gets a clear picture right away: – I loved this fragrance; absolutely, wholeheartedly. – Those saying “not long-lasting”, “skin scent” or “YSBB” must not have tested it properly; it has been on my skin for 8+ hours now. – It is not a sunscreen scent. – Not a pure tropical floral. – And despite the name, not a marine fragrance. I’m familiar with the house; their discovery set entered my collection a year ago, and I’ve now added a full bottle. Their style is generally very gentle; fragrances that blend Asian sensibilities with French perfumery, each one paired with its own haiku. But this one? This one feels entirely Western. I couldn’t detect anything “Asian-inspired” at all. What I get is a solar vanilla wrapped in indolic ylang-ylang. It instantly transported me to a very specific moment: You’ve just come out of the sea and stepped into a cool shower. Your skin still carries faint traces of salt. Then you apply a luxurious body cream (something scented with lily, vanilla, and ylang-ylang) and settle into a shaded lounge chair. Your body slowly warms up under the breeze, your head tilts to the side, and you catch whiffs of your own skin: creamy, floral, milky, sun-drenched. Sensual. It’s skin-addictive; I can’t stop sniffing every place I sprayed. The fragrance announces itself early on, but it truly blooms on skin. Voluptuous! I tried it in my hair as well -lovely- but on skin it almost melts into you. That part is difficult to describe; it must be experienced. Although vanilla is the central note, the scent is grounded by woody touches and a subtle leather undertone. Once I checked the note list, it made perfect sense: the leather nuance is coming from labdanum, and it fits beautifully. Despite being a vanilla fragrance, the sweetness is restrained, and the florals (ylang-ylang, lily) feel highly refined; almost like pure extracts. A touch of warm benzoin adds a soft glow without tipping it into heaviness, making the fragrance easily wearable year-round. To me, this is the scent of someone who embraces hedonism yet knows exactly what they want; someone who savors every moment of life. As for the presentation, packaging, and bottle design... no need for long explanations. They’re exceptional. I even uploaded a photo to Fragram. Tag(s): solar vanilla, voluptuous, ylang-ylang, indolic, leathery, creamy, milky, sun-drenched, salty

Sand & Skin took me by utter surprise. A well blended and executed beachy profile without being gourmand or the use of coconut. I also love that they evaded the usual direction of jasmine and instead incorporated ylang-ylang; avoiding the essence of sunscreen. I understand that sunscreen is commonly used at the beach, but sunscreen does not represent the beach. Fragrances that are typically associated with beaches don't usually resonate with me for that very reason. "Like a sunny island dream, Sand and Skin is all about the languor and pleasure of a moment of eternity set on a fine sandy beach". This I can relate to. Dreamy, creamy, warm and even powdery. Tactfully done using only wood, resins, vanilla and one yellow floral note. The use of raw materials is always a plus. Floraïku used ylang ylang fractions and vanilla Co2 in this formula. I have been on a long hunt for the perfect daytime scent for Spring and Summer that is just as easy to wear as it is distinctive. Sand and Skin fits that criteria marvelously.

I received a sizable decant of Floraiku "Sand and Skin" when I purchased an expensive full bottle of Creed "Queen of Silk." In reading, I realize Floraiku Fragrances are produced by the same creative forces and owners of Memo Paris Perfumes. I own and LOVE 4-5 Memo Paris Fragrances. Is it any wonder I love Floraiku "Sand and Skin??" To my senses, Sand is Skin is a dense, borderline tropical, vanilla-centric fragrance with evident spiciness and ylang-ylang. Something in the opening provides a wonderful incense note that adds depth and interest to what might (otherwise) be an ordinary vanilla fragrance. The perfume turns a bit powdery and woody in the drydown. The floral notes really shine in the base. Sand & Skin is really lovely. The price point??? IMHO, the pricing makes the Floraiku line prohibitively expensive for most people...certainly for this person. For this, I'm skeptical... Wish a full-bottle was less expensive. And the bottles ARE beautiful...

Oh how I just abhor the top notes, or the ylang-ylang to be more exact, in this perfume 😅. But that’s only for like 30-60 minutes. And then, then it turns into the most beautiful beachy vanilla, that’s not (too) sweet. And it lasts forever! I sprayed it in the evening after a shower on my wrist and could still smell it the next evening. Spectacular longevity. Not that much sillage maybe (I’m not sure) which is exactly how I like my scents: Long-lasting yes but not beast mode. Now I have to ponder if I’m willing to buy something that’s awful (to my nose) for an hour before it’s wonderful for a day 😄 Edit 2 mo later: Either the ylang-ylang has mellowed or I’m starting to like y-y but I’m now in love with this and I’m looking for a deal/partial to make it mine. Edit 2 more mo later: Got a travel size. Looooove it!!