Cologne Precieuse

I don't know what the original cologne was like, I have the EDP current version. I suspect it is an effort to update and correct past issues with performance. They succeed. Yet, this still qualifies as a cologne type fragrance for its citrus freshness. I am becoming a big fan of this house. Having the skill and confidence to tackle the 'cologne' genre is no easy task in such an oversaturated industry. They do this with panache and a certain quality that has made me adopt a few of their colognes as my current go-to's, especially now that is late spring/early summer. Neroli, bergamot (creamy) and musk (the lovely fresh kind). It has replaced Chanel Allure Sport Cologne as my summer cologne and that's the best compliment I can give.

Cologne Précieuse was released in 2014 and aims to convey a sigh of orange blossom. The concept talks about a mist, delicately fragrant, in the middle of the Orange grove. Its composition brings notes of bergamot and basil, on top; orange blossom and rose, in the heart; white musk, in the base. Still, it has those common chemical compounds, such as Eugenol (clove oil), Limonene and Hexyl Cinnamal, which can be naturally found in the essential oil of Chamomile. On the skin, the result is unusual, even more if compared to the other two perfumes from the same year. And although Cologne Précieuse has the same output of Cologne Rare, with bergamot and basil, the fragrance is completely different, right off the bat. The orange blossom brings the neroli, which is dominant in this creation. And the rose brings a metallic nuance, which confuses the senses. We have, then, a citric scent that disputes space with a floral, touching the skin in a mixture of old soap with some current cologne. It is weird, it is complex, it is divine! Cologne Précieuse seems to play with the barrier of time and brings distinct eras: the feminine floral from yore, hand-in-hand to the masculine citric that never goes out of style. After about two hours on the skin, it becomes softer and more comfortable, giving space to the clear and milky nuances of musk. It's unisex, but unlike Cologne Noble, I would say that this one has a certain feminine appeal, although perfectly shareable. It has excellent projection and median durability. Cologne Précieuse is much more than a sigh of orange blossom. It's a journey between eras, such as opening the silk paper of an old soap, bathing yourself in milk and having fragrant clothes by a fresh water. A fragrance different from everything that I've been feeling lately.

This is an amazing and unique perfume. It starts out with the best blast of neroli/citrus I have yet experienced- it puts all the others to shame. However this is very short lived and soon, it becomes smoother and more floral, but the orange blossom and rose are very well blended, giving the impression of being surrounded in delicate layers of pink silk. However, in the background, there is greener note which adds a piquancy to the dreamlike florals. A bit later, I get the impression of creaminess which is almost nutty - like powdered almonds or perhaps hazelnuts although I know that these aren’t listed. I think creaminess is an aspect of the white flowers and it adds a warmth, and makes an interesting juxtaposition against those green notes. This is really a difficult perfume to classify - is it a freshie or a floral? I can’t really tell. It’s a unique experience better suited to spring and summer. Unisex leaning feminine. Sillage moderate, longevity moderate