Folavril

Have you ever rubbed or crushed tomato leaves? If not, you really ought to. They give off a scent that announces "garden" to me, strong deep green, terpenic, verging on acrid, even acidic, but so addictive to my nose. In Annick Goutal's now legendary creation, Folavril, the tomato leaves are surely vivacious, combined with what seems like hedge privet flowers, especially as some of the violet and berry ionones begin to fade from its opening stage. It is the scent that best fits these hot late June days we are experiencing here in New England. Its heart is full of the fresh, sour leafiness of the tomato plant with flowers in its periphery. Eventually, Folavril begins to ease its assertiveness to shape into a refined tomato leaf-and-privet scented soap, something I can picture in my head: its oval, embossed with "Savon de Provence" or something of the sort. Remnants of its sharp, sour freshness are still discernible, but the dry down mostly smells clean and almost laundry-fresh in a way I haven't experienced in another fragrance. I took a gamble with procuring an older bottle as this one seems to have a reputation of turning—I guess I got lucky!

Yesterday I have used this perfume the first time and I am inspired! First I had also the smell of "laundry" in my nose... but then I could smell the interesting green-planty-notes and ... I like the mango that ́s really not sweet... yeah! Spring is there! It is only March and I am in love with... Folavril!!! LOVE FROM LOUVE! ;-)

This was one of my earliest fragrance loves and the one that turned me on to the artistry of perfume making. I'm quite sad to learn that this has long been discontinued. It was such a special perfume.

A gorgeous fizzy fruity floral always a happy scent to wear.

I really like the tomato leaf note in Folavril; like others have mentioned, it's not truly realistic, but it gives this otherwise nice but unremarkable spring floral an original edge of green, clean, slightly sharp soapiness. Which is a little startling at first, but it grew on me quickly, and I like it very much now. Longevity is impressive on me, almost a full day, and this soapy clean aspect is what dominates from start to finish. The name really is very fitting - it's spring in a bottle, quite feminine in a none-sweet way. Then in the drydown there's also this wonderful fizzy, cold, sparkling vibe - hard to describe, but it reminds me a lot of my signature from when I was around twenty, DKNY Women. That one also had tomato leaf as the main player, and I've missed it since it's been discontinued, so I'm glad I found at least that part of it again in Folavril. Although I think I heard this one is discontinued as well, so I guess I better get a bottle soon so I don't have to make my little decant last a lifetime!