Gourmandises

Keiko Mecheri Gourmandises This perfume REALLY grew on me, to the point of going from a lukewarm ‘like’ to a strong ‘love’. This is a candied rose, but with depth. Lots of it. It won’t smell candied or even remotely gourmand next to the tooth-achingly sweet sugar-gourmand roses and fruitchoulis of the 2010’s however, and I think that accounts for quite a bit of disappointment when it comes to this fragrance (and also for those looking for a true gourmand, not necessarily super sweet, but foodie). This is actually more along the lines of MFK Oud Satin Mood, though this has no oud and is lighter/airier (Oud Satin Mood is already pretty airy for a sweetish oud-rose if you haven’t smelled it, to give you perspective. This stuff is REALLY airy. You can definitely smell it, it’s just very “translucent”, like it kind of smells like it’s wafting in the breeze even when you smell it up close and directly). BUT, once you stop thinking of this as a GOURMAND-gourmand and approach it more as just a straight-up rose perfume, THEN you really start to notice the sweet and gourmand aspects, and you understand why it was named as such. It’s kind of like how after you stop eating sugar for a while, you can notice, taste, and appreciate the nuances in a subtle sweet dessert, as opposed to needing 500 grams of sugar in everything for it to taste “sweet enough” because your taste buds are so worn out and blinded from the constant influx of sugar that they have built up a tolerance. And that’s when this stuff really starts to smell like a true rose-soaked Turkish delight. Almost all the Turkish delight/loukhoum fragrances out there focus on being SUPER sweet, including KM’s own Loukhoum line, and rose seems to be more of an afterthought IF it’s even perceptible or present at all. This is all sweet sugary (but not TOO sugary) rose, with a powder sugar dusting coat and while there’s no literal chocolate note in here (though I suppose maybe that could be the praline note?), the depth of this scent somehow does an amazing job of creating a sort of illusion of a hint of a dark chocolate note, kind of like how TF’s Noir de Noir does it but even more toned down, quite significantly so, but it’s still just enough that it’s there and you feel it and it adds to the overall impression of Turkish delights smashingly well. The light powderiness of this perfume really contributes to the powder sugar dusting feel without resorting to using a more literal-and extremely sweet-sugar accord. This is the perfect loukhoum perfume for someone who doesn’t really like gourmands or very sweet perfumes. To me, it feels equal parts sophisticated/elegant and fun because of this; you have on one hand a very well done, classy, elegant perfume that you can wear day or night but always feels like you should be well-dressed and stylish in expensive clothes when wearing this, while on the other hand it cheekily reminds you of Turkish delights and smells enough like them to keep you smiling throughout the day whenever you catch a whiff, all the while projecting an image of utter sophistication, offset by a cheeky and flirtatious wink. That’s what this perfume feels like to me. Backup worthy.

This is a ridiculously good, grownup gourmand. This is the smell I imagine would greet me walking into Victorian woman's boudoir, or even a classic 1940's hollywood starlet's. Her room is full of rose bouquets from admiring suitors and there's a light dusting of her powder in the air. It starts off as a lightly sweet rose, but it's warm and lightly musky/woody, as if the woman who wears it is both ladylike and strong. Then the powder sets in, that light dusting of femininity. And is that a hint of berries? The more I smell it the more I don't think so, but there's a light sweetness that gives it the rose jam feel others mentioned. It's not cloying or syrupy, though, and I don't get the medicinal note whatsoever. The musk and praline are there but their presence is just enough to add a hint of mystery, not to take it into candy territory. It's like an intoxicating bouquet of dark red roses. The woman who wears this would be a woman worth getting to know. All I know is I'll be saving up for a full sized bottle.

I just got this yesterday and I wore it a full day before writing a review. The name of it is super confusing, as this is really not a gourmand, but rather a very rose and powder-forward perfume. When I say powder I am not comparing it to Loukhoum in any way, they are nothing alike. I would put Gourmandises into the same group as JHAG Moon Dance and NR Musc Noir Rose (not saying they are the same, just the similar vibe). However, Gourmandises is simply gorgeous to wear, and my husband asked me at least 3 different times what I am wearing yesterday, saying it was beautiful and classy. I think I love all of Keiko's creations. I am dying to try Tuberose, just because of all the negatives, so I can judge for myself! I refuse to believe there is a KM perfume out there that can be that bad to warrant all those negative comments. As a side note, I also got Lunea, and it is freaking marvelous! If it matters, all my Keiko perfumes are original formulations in old bottles.

A lovely, powdery rose that manages to be sweet but not cloying, even though praline is such a dominant note. It reminds me a bit of Piguet's Calypso, though far from a dupe. Both silage and longevity are pretty decent,, especially if one considers that it's a Keiko Mecheri offering. It will take some time to determine if this is just a Like or a Love, and given that summer is here, I'm not sure that the warm weather will do it any favors, but I spend most of my time in a climate controlled environment, so I should get a pretty good idea. I have to admit though that I'm already thinking how good this will smell on a crisp, autumn day, wearing a big, cozy sweater. I now own three Keiko FBs - White Petals, Myrrhe and Merveilles, and now Gourmandises. At this point, M&M remains my favorite, but with its superior performance, Gourmandises is a real contender.

A very unexpected find for me. I wasn't even aware of this scent, to be honest, but I saw this listed by a frequent and trustworthy seller and it drew my attention. I could immediately tell from the bottle that it is a discontinued scent, so I had to jump into it. On my skin, all the notes are balanced and in such good harmony. The powderiness gives a soft, rose-flavoured Turkish delight touch to it (which most presumable loukoum scents lack, unfortunately. The majority smells like candies to me). I think it definitely embodies the name "Gourmandises".

Gourmandises is a light, sweet rose fragrance with a hint of soft musk. To be honest, the rose does not seem to play much of a dominant role here -- in fact, there is more of an overall fruitiness (sort of a peachy-raspberry note) that seems to dominate. I am surprised there are no fruits listed in the official list above! The sweetness (supposedly praline) is a more straightforward vanilla to my nose -- I definitely don't detect anything that reminds me of candy, per se. The saffron (and am I imagining a tiny hint of cumin?) wafts in and out, lending a faint sensual spiciness. The dry down is a subtle, sweet musk. Gourmandises is actually quite reminiscent of Serge Lutens' Santal Blanc (which I also recently tested), particularly in its fruity-muskiness. Santal Blanc has a more potent spice note than Gourmandises does, but it's a similar vibe, nonetheless. I think I actually prefer Santal Blanc to Gourmandises, because it has a bit more overall "oomph." That said, Gourmandises is a lovely, highly wearable fruity-floral-gourmand that would appeal to those looking for a perfume with a sweet, delectable quality (but who would rather not smell like an actual cupcake or bonbon).

A very surprising take on rose; a much-needed new spin on an old classic. The first whiff of Gourmandises was a complete turn off. It was unexpectedly sharp in an acidic or tangy way. All I could think was why would any perfumer believe that this would be a nice way to open a perfume? BTW, it's not particularly powdery, not enough so that the first accord listed above should be "powdery." As time progressed, a fresh, realistic rose appeared. The rose soon became much more sugary than any natural rose could ever smell. I suppose this is where the "gourmand" part kicks in. It reminded me of a delicious rose confiture I brought back from the French Riviera. Amber develops beautifully in this perfume. It's quite strong and gives an impression of incense or saffron (as another reviewer mentioned)...or both. Sometimes I think I smell cannabis (giggle). This is perhaps the most unique rose perfume I've ever encountered. Definitely considering a full bottle and definitely worth the first acrid 10 minutes.

Several years ago I wanted Serge Lutens Arabie so badly I could taste it in my dreams. I wanted something with that type of enticingly rich gourmand treacle that makes you feel damn near edible...but with nutmeg or cumin or saffron...not cotton candy. When I went to purchase Arabie, by chance I tried Gourmandises, and believe it or not, I lost my yearn for Arabie. I went head over heels for the saffron and bought Gourmandises on the spot. (Mind you...Arabie and Gourmandises do not smell alike at all. So don't go buying Gourmandises unsniffed because you love Arabie.) Gourmandises tempts with delectable, nutty praline, but it quickly melts into rose petal jam and that amazing saffron. Gourmandises is alluring but subtle. It almost teases you into demanding a deeper whiff of it because it clings to skin. It smells unique, and memorable. There are times when you want people to notice something in your presence but they can't put their finger on what it is. It's a scent like Gourmandises.

Intrigued to check this one out. I like the Roses and candied aspect as previous reviewers have decribed. For sure Rose right away, accented with sweet pralines. Pralines take over a bit too much, but since it reminds me of Betsey J's perfume, I used to wear back in the day, it's dear to me:) This one is more complex, there's aldelhyde aspect, candied rose is more sophisticated, it carries complexity and it changes with time, which I really find interesting. Almost as Roses and KM's touch of Lhoukhoum, much lighter and more of a floral vibe composition. Rose flavored hard candies. Bonbons back in the day, with floral touch offcourse. Again light, too light 2-3hrs, spray some more. I can smell it on my clothes but it's too faint for my liking. Even the perfumes that are light and wearable in indoor places need to have some power wearability wise.

I find the rating quite low for what this is, which is not fair. This is a very soft, beautiful, and feminine perfume. On the first 3 minutes all I got was "generic soft gourmand", seemed like something sweet and easy enough to wear, but without personality. Then I got a light rose, good for those (including me) that hate notes of rose - this is too light and soft to offend. The sweetness nearly disappeared, the scent becoming a floral musk. It is not powdery per se, but there is something about it that screams "powdery!" in my head. Overall, this is inoffensive and pretty. If you enjoy floral musks (liking rose or not) you might like this, but you probably won't love it. For the price tag, I'd go elsewhere.

Gourmandises is mostly a syrupy sweet rose and musk scent. The rose is jammy - raspberry jam specifically. There are subtle hints of powder but it's not a makeup powder scent. The powderiness seems to give it a lightness and keep the syrup from getting too cheap smelling. It is a very sweet perfume though. As for the praline, I get a vague nuttiness and maybe a hint of dusty, unsweetened cacao, but without the notes in front of me I would not list chocolate or praline as one of the components. Gourmandises is better than some of the other rose syrup and musk scents out there but it's not a super unique gourmand. I like the raspberry jam aspect. Good projection and longevity. Mild like.

A lovely rose scent lightly accented with vanilla and some other floral and spicy notes, fairly linear throughout, but with the rose dominating toward the end. Fairly strong and long-lasting with medium sillage. This seems like a very feminine fragrance that evokes a romantic bouquet of yellow roses.

I received a sample of Gourmandises as a hand-me-down from my boss. She's a sweet vanilla-oriental kind of gal and thought this smelled like cough syrup. While I don't get cough syrup, I do pick up rosy soap tinged with something medicinal (I'm thinking it's got to be the mallow). Sadly, I don't get any of the praline which I was really looking forward to as it's one of my favorites. So, I really wouldn't classify this one as a gourmand or sweet oriental at all. It's pretty much a clean rose floral, not much else. It actally smells almost identical to So Pretty. Pass for me, especially at the price.

Funny frag, this. The first time I wore it was at home where the air is...maybe not damp but humid enough, and I thought Gourmandises was kind of nice for such a sweet perfume. I smelled rose and a clear note of raspberry jam. Very yummy. Now, sitting at work where the air is AC:d to death and so dry it hurts my nose all I get is a cloud of powder and a rose that's well past its prime, like a week-old bouquet that ought to be thrown in the trash. It makes me think of the basket of dried roses I kept in my room as a teen. Nah.

I'm one of those people who gets a cough syrup/medicinal smell from this perfume: it's really just that and POWDER for me. This was a little decant sample that came with a Luckyscent order, and I think I'll be enclosing it as an extra in a swap or part of a Spray It Forward package.

What a wild ride Keiko Mecheri GOURMANDISES is! I would not go so far as to say that it is a novelty scent à la Serge Lutens, but it does offer a range of contrasts, none of which is unpalatable, but none of which beckons me for a full-bottle. I could definitely wear this creation again and enjoyably, but it is so event-like that I would only want to have it around to wear for myself, I think. Although I hasten to add that I can understand how someone might develop an addiction for this scent. GOURMANDISES opens rather sweetly, with what seems to my nose to be a raspberry jam note. There is always a dark jam fruitiness from start to finish, but the opening is especially fruity and jamlike. What happens next is that the ambrette begins to shine through until at some point it seems to be just as strong as the fruit. This is an eccentric use of ambrette, it seems to me. Certainly it's nothing like the use of ambrette in perfumes sniffed by me before. I'm thinking of, for example, DelRae MYTHIQUE and Bond no 9 HARRODS ROSE, neither of which is sweet. Unbelievably enough, by the drydown, this perfume starts to seem downright sexual. Very suggestive. I don't know how this happened but GOURMANDISES started in the kitchen and ended up in the bedroom!

This is too woody for me and the rose note is harsh and bitter. I have never smelled saffron, so I am assuming that it is a note which does not particularly appeal to my olfactory senses. The initial blast is very boozy to my nose and the fume is rather harsh. I expected a soft and sweet vanilla based powdery juice but this smells like a brewery at last orders. Sorry folks but it's all about body chemistry at the end of the day and my body chemistry cannot deal with the mix of these notes. The drydown is better than the initial spritz and I get shades of Estee Lauder Youth Dew! I know this may sound really crazy but that's exactly what I can smell. I strongly advise that one tests this or gets a sample first because the notes belie the actual scent. The longevity is stupendous, I really couldn't lose this scent even after bathing and the projection is very good. I am going to give this one a second chance before I discard it because I think that it needs time to appeal to my nose.

Interestingly, reviews about this are all over the place and I think it's because the notes are blended in such a way as to make it difficult to really define and it plays out differently on everybody. But I have to agree with cristinezorc as my experience was similar. On me this is not sweet, powdery or gourmand in any way. What I'm getting is something tangy and more animalic, even a little "skanky" as they mentioned, which I was totally surprised by and I like it! I sampled this without reading any of these reviews first and my initial impression was that there was a bit of oakmoss, but that may be the effect of the saffron interacting with the rose. And, like AveParfum, I also got a hint of cannibis. Dries down to a woody, dried rose, nice! I had this sample laying around for 10 years and out of the blue, something compelled me to try it again today and I'm glad I did, because I'm definitely considering a full bottle of it.

When I first tried it I was so disappointed and chafed that I was to write a really bed review of it. I felt strong, stinky burst of alcohol, no jasmine, nor rose, nothing from the praline or jam-note - listed by Luckyscent. So now I have to see that this scent is not as bad as I thought. The beggining is still very strong and farfetched, syrupy, clammy, and has a bad-Lutens-like-frills, like a spoiled marmalade made by good old Granny, and it takes an hour for the whole juice to carry of the final stage. And than..... It is really like a rose-jam. Not sweet, a bit acidity is swinging back and forth, a bit oldish, it is definitely not my cup of tea, but I can see the meaning of it by now. And unique. No doubt.

I also have problems at the beginning - for me it is too powdery, especially on warmer days (like today so it wasn't a good choice in the morning). I don't smell any praline in the perfume, rose and saffron are the leading notes until the woody notes arrive at the end. It is definitely NOT my favourite KM-fragrance - I have a small amount in an original bottle but I think it will last long for me. But sometimes I like to wear it especially on cold rainy days.