Un Jardin en Méditerranée

EDEN BEFORE THE FALL. This is the most original fig scent IMO since Olivia Giacobetti's industry changing and much copied work with Premier Figuier L'Artisan Parfumeur & Philosykos Diptyque. In contrast, UJEM signed by perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena has an edenic quality of a luscious garden with waterfalls and succulent, ripe figs still on the vine with their leaves, while Giacobetti's work had a powdery, creamy, & faintly-smoky/dusty quality. This has a sharpness, like the prick of a consciences, in the opening, and the soapiness of an outdoor shower. One could imagine a scuffle, whilte-milky juice spilling from broken tree branches, while Adam & Eve in sewn fig leaves are kicked out of Eden by the flaming cherubim. UJEM lacks the dusty, milky and faintly smoky aspects, instead bringing forward a fruity greenness, making it more 'Eden before the fall'. Contrast to Un Air de Samsara Guerlain: These have quite different note cascades, but to my nose, they're more similar than the contrast below, with a green, oriental floral vibe. UAdS is a light wearing, green version of the original Samsara. The similarity to UJEM is more in their openings, but UAdS dries down more in keeping with the Samsara range, while UJEM dries down with a sweet, fruity fig. Contrast to Philosykos EDP Diptyque: These are very different, and they're in different lanes, although they both have a prominent fig leaf note. Philosykos, together with Premier Figuier L'Artisan Parfumeur, are Olivia Giacobetti's industry-changing work in rendering a whole fig tree, and overall a more forward creamy woodiness. UJEM doesn't acquire the smoky, soapy & near-coconut/coconut facets present in PF & Philosykos. Contrast to Fig Extasy Mancera: These are different, and this scent is in a different lane, although both have a prominent fig leaf note. Fig Extasy is distantly inspired by the work of Olivia Giacobetti in Premier Figuier L'Artisan Parfumeur & Philosykos Diptyque, although FE is a steroidal version, bringing the smoky & soapy aspects even more forward. Overall: Well above average performance, with a beautiful & original fig scent. This is the perfect scent to wear when reminiscing about what could have been, and my favourite fig scent ATM, so naturally it's a love for me. 10/10. Enjoy!

I really love Un Jardin Sur Le Nil, its a wonderfully sharp freshie for the summer and its so easy to just grab and spray without thinking too much when I have no idea what to wear. Recently I went to John Lewis and saw the Jardin line testers and decided to have a try of them all, well, not exactly all since after sampling this I prematurely ended testing and grabbed a bottle. Un Jardin En Mediterranee is a unique blend of soft, fresh citruses, delicate florals and fresh smokey, woody nuances which makes for an unusual, refreshing summer or easy reach scent, its far removed in my opinion from the ubiquitous "lemony" type summer scents and has some real guts to it thanks to a sappy fig leaf note and cypress. The opening is a cooling fanfare of lemon, bergamot and orange, but I also get a hit of greenery from the fig leaf straight from the get go, as time passes, I start to notice a fresh yet dainty orange blossom and another floral note which I can only assume is white nerium oleander; but I don't just get the florals, I also get more of the fig leaf but something smokey and maybe a little bit medicinal, possibly the cypress and red cedar mixing with juniper and possibly the pistachio, the way that this scent dries down is seamless and it never really loses its brightness or cool/cold feel, it also still smells as fresh in the later stages of the drydown as it does upon aplication. The longevity is great with it lasting on my skin between 6 to 8 hours from 4 spritzes and a moderate silage, Mediterranee is so wonderfully versatile; it wears excellently for casual wear whilst giving off a very "put together" vibe and can be worn more formally as well. I've been wearing this during the UK winter and despite it being more of a spring/summer scent, it doesn't smell or feel "wrong" in any way, one reviwer mentioned that this straddles the lines between being playful and smart, which I 100% agree with, its a staple scent in my wardrobe along with Un Jardin Sur Le Nil for the warmer months, but, I actually think I'll keep this out year round since it just works so damn well! Repurchase? for sure!

One of my first "hidden gems" that i came across when I started my journey years ago was this fragrance. A masterful composition by one of my favorites Perfumers, mister Jean-Claude Ellena. He arrived at Hermès in 2003, and the first fragrance that he created was this one. This is probably one of my favorite spring/summer fragrances and even after these years and hundreds of fragrances tested, this is still a staple and a must have in my collection. My girlfriend steal it sometimes, cause she loves it too. So what it smells like? Basically, a fresh, green, Mediterranean breeze in a summer afternoon. It starts off with a tomato steam accord. Very bitter, green but, still, with juicy and fruity elements. There's a cypress note that helps accentuate the green aspect and some nuttiness that camera from nowhere. Some would say pistachio, but i don't smell that. Above this, and as the perfume develope, the fig tree and the leafs came to play and make this even more summery and refreshing. A true Mediterranean feel. I live in a place where Fig trees can easily be found and i also a big fan of the smell and the fruit itself. This, although not the perfect reinterpretation of the Fig theme, it's definitely in the top 10 and, as a fresh-green scent, is probably one of the best. I love all the facets. The green cypress and fig leafs, the nuttiness, the refreshing tomato steam accord, the overall summer afternoon feel. A very good company on a summer afternoon walk after beach. If you don't know this fragrance and love fig trees and wish for summer holidays in Italy, test this one out. Grab your sunglasses, put on your favorite flip-flops, a tripped t-shirt and some shorts, close your eyes and enjoy the Mediterranean breeze that this fragrance creates in the air. Just a sidenote, the performance is not the greatest but it's decent. 5-6h with good projection in the first hour. PS: I would give it a 5* rating but we have to be honest, objetive and unbiased. A very recommended one and my favorite from the line, with Un Jardin Sur Le Nil being a very close second.

This is one of my all-time favorite perfumes. I must be made for it, as it smells good on me at any and all hours, in any season, though especially in the three warmer seasons. I discovered it shortly after it came out. We were told that it would be only a Special One-year Limited Edition! So I bought 10 bottles! Good thing, for the price has risen dramatically, and the shelf life of my 10 bottles is admirably long! Then, everybody and his dog fell head over heels in love with this exquisite jus, and not only did Hermès keep it going, they expanded the line with the three more recent "Un Jardin" series. There were two very dark years in my life when so many things went awry. At many a moment, I felt that the deep, optimism of this sunshiny glorious scent was like a life-line for me. It kept me going. I always had a small bottle in my purse, and used it quite liberally as a mood booster. Which it did! It always makes me smile when I spray it on and waft it into my being. Such joy, and such fortitude. This is real aromatherapy. Now that life smiles with me again, I still use it, and am delighted that it brings new joys, without bringing memories of a very sad phase. Admirable! All through that period, I imagined writing to J.C. Ellena to let him know what immense good his wonderful efforts had brought to me! Never did it! But maybe now I will anyway! From a sheerly normal standpoint, I can say that I have always received RAVE reviews from all those near me when I wear this scent. Total strangers come up to me to say, "Madame, Your perfume is marvelous! How well it suits you!" It doesn't get any better than that!!!!!

This is the first designer fragrance I've bought in twenty years. I don't intend to snub designer scents but they never seem to fulfill what I'm looking for- niche always proves to be the only route for me. Now, this. This is masterful and it's niche and I'm sticking to this assertion. I know Ellena is a living legend, but, until now, I have never loved his creations. I'm certain that is my fault, of course, millions of people who adore his work obviously are right. I always wanted to try the Jardin range and the others left me indifferent but this was a blast, a love at first sniff. So much so, that I didn't wait a couple of hours to see how it performs, I bought it straight away, something I never do. Now, on to the juice itself: this is within the general family of Fiore D'Ulivo, Philosykos, Caligna, that is a true mediterranean grove experience (rarely does a fragrance hold so true to its name). This is an ultra-sophisticated version of citrus fruits with a soft flowery mist lingering among them, all on a bed of pine wood and fig leaves. It has a light, polished feeling but is robust in accords, and remains complex for hours, something I need from a fragrance. The projection is moderate, the longevity as well. I wouldn't personally buy this for someone below 35-40, as it evokes a more mature feeling. This could absolutely be unisex. Office-safe but also night-appropriate as it's beautifully unique but also not offensive. I would give it an 8.5/10 solely because I would prefer better performance. But the concoction itself is a 10/10.