Fragonard Parfum

I originally wrote a review for this perfume under it's EDT profile back in 2012 because I don't think the parfum version was recognised on this site. However, my original review was all about the parfum version, and honestly my feelings about it haven't changed since then. Years earlier I bought my first 37ml bottle of the eau de parfum when we visited the South of France, and was instantly hooked. We bought a place out there and I continued to visit the factory which wasn't far away. Gradually Fragonard became my key scent, overtaking Chanel 5 which I think I'd perhaps overused for a time. The original and the best of all Fragonard fragrances, the perfume house’s signature EDP is a clever piece of chemistry, in that it presents itself as a simple floral, but I think there is far more going on here than meets the eye. Despite the initial floral blast, this is no "youthful, girly" fragrance, gone in a flash. It needs to be worn by someone who appreciates the journey. The scent comes out strong and kicking, enveloping the body with an incredible headrush of sparkly honeysuckle and jasmine, ably supported by deeper tones of heavy white lilac; the first notes of which are reminiscent of En Passant by Fredric Malle, which I also adore but which sadly disappears off my skin in less than a couple of hours. Eventually those delicious warm, lingering amber base notes come through. The combination of this and the lilac hugs the skin all milky-musky and piquant, strongly reminiscent of the head of a sleeping new-born baby - there is just no other way of describing it! This is the stage I love the most, it is both delicious and addictive. Be warned - the EDP is a deception. Don’t spray around other people, unless you want them all to be wearing your scent - it will be distinctly noticeable from a good distance away for a very long time. And despite its strong initially standardised florals; the smooth evolution into new and equally powerful heart and base notes, and its sheer scent longevity (7-8 hours +) makes it so much more than a one or two note teenage romance. Fragonard is a very sophisticated scent, when seen through to the end. I continued to buy a new bottle of EDP direct from the factory in Eze at least once a year up until lockdown. The EDT used to be stocked by M&S in the UK - great if you are looking for a quick fix between visits, which I was during that period. Sadly, it wasn't there when I last checked a nearby store a couple of months ago. The EDT is great if you were only after the initial floral hit. But if you want pick up those marvellous milky, musky base notes, don’t go with anything less than the EDP. It's worth the extra effort for this reason alone. A traditional smelling classic in the realms of Channel 5, and still my go-to perfume for chic and classic.

I remember being at the airport in Nice, France, and trying to kill some time. I walked into a store which had a whole display of Fragonard perfumes. At the time, I knew nothing about Fragonard, but once I started spraying the various frags, I fell in love. The hardest choice to make was which one to buy. I loved them all. I settled on Fragonard. I m sorry I did not buy them all. They are so well priced. The depth and complexity of Fragonard speaks to the quality of the scent. Upon first spray, my nose picks up the lily and the jasmine. The wood is a delicate complement, without being overpowering. Great sillage and it lasts for hours.

I just adore the house of Fragonard. Most everything they have is of high-quality and affordable. Everyone asks and compliments what I'm wearing when using their products. This particular fragrance, their namesake, is a glorious representation of spring to me. I’m here wearing it in the dead of winter, trying to bring a little spring into my day. The predominant note is floral (hyacinth) with a hint citrus and orange blossom. Only after hours do I begin to get the musk at the very end on the skin. A little goes a long way and you can use this sparingly and still get great results.

💘At first blast, I can understand why 1 reviewer posted this as a more male fragrance, wait for the dry down. Always swirl your perfume bottles never shake when stirring the natural oils. The initial spritz I was blasted with a strong sour woody aroma. Within 20 minutes, this lovely niche fragrance turned into a beautiful floral bouquet of flowers, the green notes are definitely prominent. Within 2 hours, the musk and amber nestles into the skin. Floral forestry, to me, this epitomizes femininity. Longevity depending how many sprays, I did 6 blasts 1 ankle included, you continue to get whiffs of greenery & florals. Best for spring. Unsure why, but I get a tiny hint of aquatic mixed with the greenery. I could smell it for 6 hours in total on my body. 1 spritz back of neck, humid where I live. 🥰 Another Fragonard hit.

Traditional, classic and sophisticated perfumery. Unfortunately, my miniature is a little bit old and lost its precious top notes, so I can't say much about the initial spray, but about the rest - I can feel the opulent, almost incense-y, softly green-ish florals: animalic jasmine, vintage, unclean, not deprived of anything lily, classic, bitter galbanum as in Miss Dior original formulation, heady hyacinth. Together they firstly smell quite bold, but later take a little soapier, milder turn and develop softer and softer to a musky drydown. For lovers of vintage, past times, warm, opulent perfumery.