L'Orchidee Terrible

Oh lord, I love this beautiful weirdo, but I have to avoid using it as I only have a tiny bit left in the bottle and that will be the end of it, since it was discontinued years ago. This perfume is an aldehyde BEAST and it fizzes, sparkles and crackles right out of the bottle with a metallic, ginger ale-like POW. If you've ever rubbed raw silk against silk, it's smooth to the touch but catches and almost vibrates against the other piece of fabric when they touch. This perfume is like that - sweet and feminine, but literally vibrating with energy which, once sprayed on skin, then settles like ripples in a pool. The drydown is still aldehydic but gentler - a fizzy white floral musk with a touch of honeyed sweetness. It's mostly clean, but with an edge of dirt and I'm sure some notes that aren't listed. A wee bit of oakmoss maybe, or patchouli. Hard to tell because it's just an undertone. Absolutely lovely and unique. But weird. I can see why some people don't get it. By the way, if you want a more polished, refined and complex version of this, I recommend Roja Dove's "A Midsummer's Dream". Which is classier, has a more interesting arc, and is far more subtle... but still packs a similar aldehydes-sweet-dirty punch. I don't really know of any other perfumes that fit into the same category. In case the "book" description disappears from the internet, here it is: 'A stunning portrait of Paris in the fashionable 50's, Audrey Blavot's L'Orchidée Terrible tells the story of Honey Martine, a young girl from England who, while on holiday with her family in Paris, is discovered by a fashion designer and thrust into the glamorous world of haute couture. Her mantra “I'll try anything once” leads Honey from one adventure to the next and stirs in her an insatiable lust for trouble. Although the true identity of Audrey Blavot has never been revealed it is rumored that she was, herself, a model or designer of the era. A post address in the 8th Arrondissement is published in each of her books but no one has ever been seen coming or going from the residence. Fans now leave orchids on the doorstep as a tribute to the elusive author.'

Clean, dirty, soft, loud and weirdly wonderful! My favorite kind of “soapy”, clean with some funk. It’s sort of harsh initially, but in a good way, and it seems to be on purpose. Unique fragrance and my new favorite from IA. Too bad it’s been discontinued. I think maybe this fragrance was misunderstood. Love at first sniff for me.

I just ADORE this lovely scent- and it is very out of character for me! I am saving to add this to my growing Imaginary Authors collection. Thank you Josh!

Dislike the opening but LOVE the drydown.. so I'm really torn about this.

This was one of the hardest Imaginary Authors fragrances for me to review. It took me a few hours to figure out WHY I was having such a tough time reviewing it: I knew I appreciated L'Orchidee Terrible, but I wouldn't personally wear it, and that's been my experience with quite a few fragrances. However, L'Orchidee Terrible is an aldehyde-based fragrance, and I know I don't really care for aldehydes. So I actively avoid them. Hence, my knowledge of aldehyde-based fragrances is comparatively limited, and I felt less prepared to write about one. However, I think I can provide some insight on this scent. Straight off the bat, you're going to notice that most Fragranticans who have tried L'Orchidee Terrible have disliked it. I think these people, like me, purchased the entire sampler set from Imaginary Authors, and they were not seeking something like this. Out of everything IA makes, this is definitely one of the most "niche" fragrances: it will not have broad appeal and will only suit select tastes. The aldehydes in this fragrance are incredibly strong. They're a mixture of the "classic" perfume scent and a certain chemical fizziness that's often related to more modern perfumery. The orchid and lily-of-the-valley (listed as "muguet" in the official notes) are also there, a soft, somewhat clean-smelling floral. Honey adds a touch of sweetness. There's a very nice texture to this perfume, like soft bed sheets or a fluffy coat; I think the satin and musk notes add to this impression. It's incredibly feminine, to the point that I--champion of the "Ignore the Marketing and Wear What You Want" club--cannot imagine a man spritzing this on. As the day wears on, L'Orchidee Terrible slowly changes in to something powdery and sweet, then a pleasant musk with floral overtones. It's incredibly potent stuff: it lasted for over 12 hours on my skin and stayed on my wrists in full force after a shower. One or two spritzes will be enough for most people, given the powerful projection. If you do not like aldehydes or powdery florals, you will not enjoy this. But L'Orchidee Terrible fits the imagined author and her story to an absolute tee. It is the sort of fragrance mysterious models from the 1950s would keep on their vanities. If you like classic scents like Chanel No5, L'Orchidee Terrible may be right up your alley. PS: The bottle for this one is probably my favorite from Imaginary Authors. I love the surrealism!

The opening is bruised metal, sharp and soapy, confusing, clean. This certainly has less broad appeal than most I.A. offerings, but at the very least - it's not boring. It's puts me in mind of what a classic, vintage floral might smell like if recreated hundreds of years in the future, by people who've never actually smelled flowers. It's harsh, post modern and challanging. Performance is quite good, sillage is strong, longevity is decent. If you can wrap your brain around this strange beast it's more than worth the excellent price-point. Still, a definite 'try before you buy'.

Props to Imaginary Authors for creating a scent that does not smell similar to a hundred other fragrances already on the market. While this has some ordinary sweet/floral notes it also adds aldehydes (which yields an unusual metallic vibe). Would I want to wear this often? Probably not...but at least it was interesting to sample and made an impression. Longevity was moderate and sillage soft. When I get in a "funk" of more common scents I would use this to mix-it-up for a day.

I'm getting primarily LOTS of aldehydes, which run slightly metallic, especially at first, and a little bit of orchid and musk. I'm not getting the honey in this one at all! I can see this scent going along with the story that the perfumer has created. It does smell like the inside of an elegant fashion atelier. It has mild to moderate strength. It has a very "cold" feeling, as if the person wearing it cannot help but be aloof and mysterious.

Actually not bad. Very nice. Sharp, vibrant, fresh , none cloying Its a pity the language of scent can be so imprecise. I like it 4/5

Now this is really unusual with a note that I've not experienced before. On spraying on my skin, I get a very offbeat light green dryness like metallic lillies--I guess that's the closest I can come to describing it. Or some type of synthetic aldehydic accord that is supposed to represent raw, cold satin. Perhaps a subtle suggestion of musk in the background, but mostly aldehyde, lily and metal. It smells like bathroom spray atomized from a cheap, tin can. Astonishing at first, then curious, perhaps even barely likable with somehow being disturbingly clean. Unfortunately a pass for L'Orchidee Terrible for me.

This fragrance is the worst from IA and is one of the worst I have ever owned. Thank god It came in the sample collection as this is certifiable garbage. It literally smells like a urinal cake. Smells as bad on skin as on paper. It is bad. My Score: 1

The aldehydes is very strong. Then I just get a soapy and a very synthetic smell (must be the satin thing). I do not get any orchid, honey or lily-of-the-valley. I wil pass on this one!

Gosh, Josh, this really is terrible. Is there any orchid in here at all? I smell only white noise. Looks as though I'd better stick to satin clothing, not perfume...

This smells like a wet towel from the pool.

I bought a sample of this long discontinued fragrance for my sister (based on the note list it seemed like something she would love). I'll admit that idk what sort of chemical changes this perfume may have undergone since it was bottled, but its opening was horrendous - straight synthetic/metallic makeup; I almost want to say it was a cross between a day at an overchlorinated pool and freshly applied nail polish remover. The only reason that this is not a hate is that most of that feel began to take second fiddle to the floral aspect in the drydown, but it is beyond me that someone would willingly sit through a couple of hours to get to that destination. Needless to say, I tossed it. 2.5/10

This is a strangely beautiful fragance. I wear it as an evening perfume and when I go out on dates. It's mysterious and abstract, so only certain women could pull it off. This is for a mature group of about ages 28 and 35, but of course age is not an issue if you're a girl who likes exotic perfumes and if your body chemistry and skin can handle HONEY. This has a lot of honey. I love honey in fragrances. This is a lot of things at once: sweet because of the honey, harsh because of the aldehydes, and sensual because of the satin. The orchid note is not a real orchid so let's get that straight. It's a chemical orchid an thus comes off as pretty metallic and cold. But that's the thing about it. You get that dulcet scent of honey and something meant to recreate an orchid, but then you get something that to me feels like a glass that is near the edge of a table about to break into a million pieces. The story behind this fragrance is that of a conservative and demure young woman in the 1950's who experiences a loss of innocence and indulges in hedonistic pleasures in Paris, recreating herself as a sort of Dovima, who was the most popular and flamboyant of 50's fashion models. This doesn't really take me to the 50's in the way that the original vintage Miss Dior does, nor vintage Jolie Madame by Balmain (launched in 1953) Those were actual fragrances worn by women of the 50s who were fashionistas and bought haute couture by Dior and Balmain or Givenchy. This doesn't wear anything like a vintage because it's way too simplistic. This is still a beautiful fragrance. The honey and orchid note almost, almost falls into Lady Gaga Fame cheapness but the strong aldehydes really keep it classy and like a Chanel fragrance. The aldehydes are boozy like bubbly champagne. I love the satin because however they did it it really does feel like a lot of satin on my skin like I'm wearing a satin evening gown and I'm on the runway in 1955 in Paris. This wears like the movie FUNNY FACE starring Audrey Hepburn. It's like you're going to Paris for Fashion Week to model, buy a lot of expensive clothes, and you're having the time of your life drinking a lot of champagne. You're giddy and having sexual relations with hot wealthy French guys in hotels like the Ritz and George V. It does have the feel of a fragrance for a COURTESAN or high class hooker. But it's not cheap it's very classy and very sexy. It's not me at all but sometime I want my perfumes to smell like that LOL Even so there is something interesting about this fragrance. That strong metal quality that people are quick to discover for me feels like death, like this poor heroine who went to Paris to model and fulfill her dreams is NOT FULFILLED and she is dying on the inside, or dying of some venereal disease she caught. I love IMAGINARY AUTHORS fragrances and will continue to explore them. This one is my favorite so far. If you're looking for amazing niche indie fragrances try this one and also ETRANGE by STRANGE INVISIBLE PERFUMES. Read my review there as well. Thanks and Merry Christmas.

In an age when you can have lunch via twitter or skype with a friend who isn’t there, you can also wear a scent inspired by a book that doesn’t exist. The perfume house of Imaginary Authors is all about just such an imaginative approach to perfume. Each scent is named after a book and has a back story centered around the book and its author. Now that is taking the idea of fragrance as a story in a bottle to the maximum level. What could be more fragrant fun than that? Josh Meyers is the nose behind the house and I am happy to report that his work is beginning to find a lot of love with fragrance bloggers and YouTube reviewers. The big hits right now are Memoirs Of A Trespasser, and the just released Cape Heartache. Both are lovely to say the least, but I want to give some love to another in the line. The tragically beautiful L’Orchidée Terrible. The “book” on which this perfume is inspired by is the tale of Honey Martine, English fashion model on a glamorous downward spiral in the fashion houses of Paris in the 1950’s. And it quite possibly could be a thinly disguised autobiography of the author Audrey Blavot. Now what more could you ask for from an inspiration? High Glamour, high tragedy and haute couture are the order of the day. The perfume opens with a nod to Ernest Beaux and the French Style with brilliant streamlined and modern aldehydes which do not fizz like champagne but pop like flashing paparazzi flashbulbs to announce the arrival of a star to center stage. Clad in the synthetic but lovely note of Satin our star slithers over the skin awash in notes of golden honey, with a spray of muguet in her upswept hair. This is all in service to a sweet powdery orchid whose beauty is undeniable and the star note of the perfume. What holds it all together and keeps it from careening into what would be a tragic over sweetness is the base of clean and warm white musk. It is scrubbed in white musk. It is very unique and at times angular, like the legendary supermodel of the 1950’s Dovima. The angularity of this perfume is what makes it so modern and fresh. L’Orchidée Terrible is all high cheekbones, poise and chic with a hint of danger in the undertones. It remains linear on my skin and after the first hour moves in close lasting about seven hours. Like most niche perfumes L’Orchidée Terrible is marketed for both men and women. But to me it is walking the catwalk in heels and a ball gown. But I suppose on the right guy on the right occasion it can be white tie and tails. Where ever it falls on the gender scale with your nose it is a beauty that should be explored. In fact the entire house of Imaginary Authors invites discovery and exploration. L’Orchidée Terrible Five Gold Stars ***** (FOR THE STORY BEHIND MY REVIEW CHECK OUT MY BLOG, SCENTS MEMORY)

I never thought I'd be a fan of this fragrance based on the notes and the love/hate it gets in the comments, but I'm glad I tried it on myself out of curiosity. I have never smelled anything like L'OT before - it has a metallic feeling and soft texture all at once. I "see" light pinky-grey satin when I smell this and can "hear" little "tink-tink" sounds when I inhale - like delicate silver bells chiming in the wind. Many Imaginary Authors scents have a kind of signature "matte" note to them and it shows itself in the drydown of L'OT. I feel like a young czarina when I wear L'Orchidee Terrible - polished in appearance, refined and demure; draped in the finest fabrics, with my neck enhanced by jewelry made of smooth pearls and diamonds and an impressive crown fashioned of the same precious stones. The musk notes in this composition feel light and slightly dusty - like a silver silk coat trimmed with the whitest ermine... This fragrance is actually very easy to wear, despite that above description possibly making it seem that it might be a tricky fragrance to pull off on the regular. It is fresh but unique; the more I choose to wear L'OT the more I like it. Excellent longevity, like all I.A. frags. It's been discontinued, sadly. Better stock up!

orchid satin honey lily of the valley aldehydes and musk. Ok so the notes sound like they wouldn't go together and I had never bought an indie perfume before and I remember thinking this stuff was going to stink or smell weird. But for the first time last year I wanted something weird. This surprised me. It's really beautiful. It starts with old fashioned aldehydes. I like aldehydic openings. The lily of the valley is very pronounced and it turns metallic. I don't know why a flower I know is so soft and delicate can smell harsh and strong here. It must be the aldehydes that make it that way. There's honey and it's very sweet and warm and it develops into a skin scent. It smells like warm skin that although clean smells like it has been out in the sun. The satin note is the attraction here. God knows how they did it but it feels like satin on your skin. It feels like you put on a satin dress. The honey-satin combination is what most dominates this fragrance especially at the last phase of the perfume's life. It has only a few notes but wears like a traditional perfume with head-heart-base notes. It smells so good, sexy, sweet, feminine and like others have pointed out, like expensive satin. I'm very pleased with this purchase.

I don't care personally for the effervescent 7 up/light ginger ale note in this, but I am sure some people would really like it. For me, this fragrance is saved by a springy, buoyant, not-too-sweet vanilla eraser note that appears after a minute or two(must be the honey). To me, since aldehydes aren't often my thing, in L'Orchidee it smells like the better perfume is hiding behind expensive soap. Like when I try on a perfume I like and then forget and accidentally wash part of it off my wrist with a careless hand-washing using scented soap. My favorite aspect of L'Orchidee, though, is that it comes across as less brutal and less synthetic than most aldehyde perfumes on my skin. Imaginary Authors has already changed my perception of what unisex perfume is and has coaxed me into loving a citrus perfume(Falling Into the Sea). Now it is teaching me that aldehydic perfumes can be soft (not weak, just soft).