Myrrhe & Merveilles

Like bel.gravia below, I too am mesmerized by Myrrhe & Merveilles. It took me some time to write a review and to determine whether I liked or loved it. If hasty, it could be very easy to write this off as No. 5 dupe - or let's say an homage to be more diplomatic. I don't know how Keiko manages to evoke the smell and feel of aldehydes without actually using any, but I will chalk it up to the magic of the craft. Having the opportunity to smell something that conjures up the No. 5 of my youth - the perfume specifically - is a treat in itself, but Keiko brings us beyond that initial impression. It's a bit of a cliche to say that a fragrance is so well blended that it's hard to pick out individual notes, but in this instance its true. It's almost as if the intention isn't to highlight any one or two particular notes with the others lending support, but rather to combine the notes in such a way as to create entirely new accords. I don't smell myrrhe specifically, or jasmine. What I smell instead is some type of entirely new resin, with orange adding a slight sweetness and aromatic quality, and musk rounding it all out. As for the almond, I can't really say much. As I've already said, it's just another note to me contributing to the creation of something. M&M is that rare thing - something both new and familiar at the same time. Is M&M a masterpiece? I am sure that many more people than not would say "No way!", and perhaps they would be right. But does it deserve more love and respect in the fragrance community than it has generated? In my opinion, that would be a resounding yes. There's no doubt that this is a serious love for me.

(A review originally posted on MakeupAlley in 2005, I wanted to re-post it here now because I do not use MakeupAlley anymore [but have many fond memories of using it] and I am trying to get back into writing reviews, using old 'work' as inspiration...): I love this fragrance. I cannot recall exactly the La Myrrhe from Lutens, except that I remember it being sweeter somehow with a different drydown. This Keiko Mecheri M&M is redolent of dry, sweet (bitter) roasted almonds to me, it is a musty masterpiece, all I smell is almonds and myrrhe. I have just written a review for Etro's Messe di Minuit en these two seem to compliment each other nicely. My husband finds it almost irritatingly plastic and again musty (not his favorite), but this is exactly what I love about it. It has a fascinating quality that keeps me sniffing my wrists or back of my hand where I often spray perfumes to test them--waiting for it to develop further, a mystery to puzzle. I think my favorite components are the way almonds are captured in this, like an insect in amber (there is a hint of orange in this concoction too...). It's a very vivid perfume and strangely calls to mind open fields under blue sky for me, as it is full of promise and comfort somehow, as all my favorite perfumes are. Sweet, exquisite, delectable...regal. Cannot wait to get a full bottle.

Absolutely huge scent. I have the black bottle and was lucky to buy a near full older bottle from a trusted local seller. To my nose this is more like No.22 more so than No.5....the resins are very intense and slowly swim up and emerge through the crunchy and powdery aldehydes like golden pinecones being revealed through a dusting of snow (odd imagery but that’s what I get) - white, amber and shiny gold. This moves from cool to warm always holding a crispness about the shoulders. Clean and elegant I find it unisex with a slight lean femme on my skin. Eternal and very strong I wear this with some caution. I have decided I don’t need to buy No.22 while I have this baby and have weeded out several other beauties in the same vein. Amouage Gold Woman remains :) (edit 04/2026 vintage Gold Woman departs but vintage Dia Woman remains)

This is one of the most extraordinary fragrances I own, and I love it dearly. For me this is aromatherapy in a bottle, it's almost like an anti-depressant. The first minute the smell is VERY strong with acrid and sparkling aldehydes; so strong that it actually stings my nose. But it settles very quickly into the clean-sweet and fresh aroma of tangerines surrounded by wonderfully sweet myrrh and light resins. The longer I wear it, the more I notice some aromatic spices come to the foreground. They give the fragrance depth and make this a very warm and aromatic smell which lasts nearly all day on my skin. I do understand the negative reviews as well. This perfume has such a unique personality that you either hate or love it. I think there's no middle way.

Even though the note pyramid seems completely different, this smells identical to my mum's vintage bottle of Chanel No.22 ! Think of No.22 with the top notes dulled down /deteriorated and the floral aspects more towards the background and blended in rather than on the foreground, and this is what Myhhre & Mervilles smell like. Long lasting and great silage, very comforting and opulent in a old school glam sort of way. If you're into aldehydic, powdery, make-up style powdery boudoir sort of scent, this is recommended.