Château de Velours

I tried this fragrance at JOVOY and I was immediately intrigued... in a very good way! I had been looking for a fragrance that is different to everything that's available on the market, and Château de Velours was it! A charming wine, grape and chocolate fragrance, that doesn't smell like any other. If I am to compare it to other popular fragrances, the ones that come to mind are Cafe tuberose by atelier cologne, and maybe l'instant de guerlain ... now this is neither inspired nor similar in notes to those I mentioned, but it does give me similar vibes! I absolutely love Château de Velours and I am glad I found it!

Where have you been all my life? You’re wrapped in a warm blanket enjoying a slice of black forest cake with a glass of red on the side. A little bit cough syrup-y on first impression, but it melts down into this really pleasant tartness. I was looking for a balanced red wine scent and this is just perfect. Super unique, immediate favorite. Just love.

UPDATE: Not exactly perfume related, but I’m a US resident and a few months after purchasing this fragrance, I got hit with an insane customs fee! To any other people ordering outside of South Korea, just be wary, haha.

Château de Velours opens with a soft, sweet chocolate note that gradually blends into a woody grape finish. The chocolate-and-wine pairing is surprisingly successful. However, because the fragrance flows so smoothly (almost velvety, true to its name) it lacks some of the tannic bite and bitter chocolate nuance I was hoping for. A touch more dryness or astringency could have added welcome tension to the composition. Even so, it remains distinctive and thoroughly enjoyable.

As a huge cherry lover I was really excited to smell this due to the notes and others reviews. I’m sorry, but there is no detectable cherry here.... No Black Forest gateau (which is my fav cake) as described by someone else. This scent opens with patchouli... this is followed by the red wine note, maybe a hint of synthetic faint chocolate and a mix of berries. I get 70% Patchouli and 30% mixed berries here, nothing else. This is more of a perfume, than a gourmand. This is nicer and more interesting than Pink Sweats which was diabolical for me, but this is still a skin scent. It has similarities to Coco Mademoiselle EAU DE PARFUM (which is a scent I loved in the very early 2000’s before it became popular and ruined it for me) and something Britney Spears released from her Fantasy line in the 90’s. I’m somewhere in between saying I like it and it’s just ok. Its a pass for me regardless. If you want cherry and chocolate, opt for Venom of Love by Navitus. This is not it