Bucoliques de Provence

Leather and iris fragrances aren't wholly uncommon, and why should they be when the two notes complement each other so well. There are many beautiful examples too, Chanel No 19 EDT is always the first that comes to my mind, but then more recently Byredo's 1996, Dior Homme and Penhaligon's Iris Prima. These fragrances balance the iris and leather pairing in different ways, with No 19 keeping them light, green and soapy and Homme, 1996 and Iris Prima wrapping them up with sweeter cuddly notes, benzoin, cacao, amber. Bucoliques de Provence takes a different approach and lances the iris and leather with a clear and bold lavender. This striking lavender note opens the fragrance with a clean burn, in its own way piquant and soapy, ready to meet the powdery iris and soft leather head on. Bucoliques is, more than anything, a lavender fragrance. If I want iris, I'll reach for Bois de Iles, for leather, Cuir de Russie. But for lavender it has to be this one. Bucoliques de Provence's lavender opens strong and maintains throughout it's duration. I've always been partial to lavender as a note in men's fragrances, however, while Bucoliques is definitely unisex, the iris here places a gentle hand and guides this fragrance in a softer direction. The iris is flowery rather than rooty, and adds a soft blue haze over the top of the aromatic lavender. I'm strongly reminded of the iris in Hermes Gentiane Blanche - the use here is very similar. Where Gentiane Blanche has an incense note which wraps around the cool toned iris, Bucoliques has some definite spice, which at first to me seemed to have a slight cinnamon feel, but increasingly smells to me of the hotness of cloves. Cloves are one of those interesting spices which feel both hot and cool at the same time, and this two-toned spice note that prevails throughout Bucoliques also made me think of my beloved Vanilla & Anise from Jo Malone. The astringent lavender, powdery iris and the interwoven spice blend make for a scent which you can almost feel; the crumble of lavender flowers, dry crunch of cloves and silky iris petals. But the leather note, which feels much more suede-like in this composition, anchors it all down and melds it into your skin, giving such a natural, shower-fresh feeling - if one showered with exquisite natural soaps. And this is another pleasant feature of Bucoliques de Provence - that crystalised lavender is at once reviving and relaxing. I'm really very pleased with this fragrance - it's comforting and yet quietly complicated. I like that the spice of the lavender has been played up rather than down and that it wasn't overwhelmed by the other dominant notes, which could have made for a much less interesting scent. Really worth a sniff for lavender lovers, but also for those looking for a blue-toned scent without orris root or too much in the way of the sweetness of purple flowers. I could also see this appealing to vintage lovers, the strong lavender giving its best Victorian repose and in its own way, another interpretation of the blue hour.

Bucoliques and Mont de Narcisse are my bedtime staples. The leather is so cozy with the herbs and dried flowers. I purchase back up bottles of this when I find them discounted, and have noticed a distinct green herbal top note (basil or marjoram?) in two different bottles with batch code ED220Q. This note is absent from my original bottle, which was a 3 year old hand-me-down when I received it. I saw another reviewer mentioned “tomato leaf” which sounds similar to what I’m noticing. It doesn’t bother me, I actually enjoyed the added complexity but just want to make sure it’s authentic. Answers much appreciated! Thank you. Edit: After a bit more research I’ve realized that the sharper green note is most apparent right after shipping and then blends quite subtly as the fragrance settles. I have heard this is common with L’Artisan- and experienced it myself with several orders straight from the website. They smell different (or like nothing) directly out of the box, then improve with time after getting some air.

So ephemeral and sheer - part of it's beauty as well as a problem. It's just a whisper. The performance is much better in the warmth of the sun, but lately I've found it perfect to wear to sleep due undoubtedly to the soothing properties of the lavender. It really is a lovely scent, and it has grown on me quite a bit since I purchased it blind in the cooler months. I don't own anything similar. I'd say Memoire d'Une Odeur comes closest due to it's herbaceous nature, though they don't really smell alike. Right now, I'm about to drift off and I sprayed some on. I think that I am going to wear this a few times this week to see if I can sense anything beyond the three listed notes. I will say that the three of them are perfectly balanced! I really love the L'Artisan brand, and own quite a few of them. I've wanted to get my hands on Passage d'Enfer for years, and now that it's back in an Intense version, I need to grab it. Perhaps my next purchase?

Reading through the reviews here and how there are several different iris/leather fragrances mentioned for comparison or contrast, I am compelled to add my two cents worth. Alaia Extrait is hands down my favorite leather/iris. As rustic and charming as Bucoliques de Provence is, Alaia Extrait is is very urbane and sophisticated. It's also available online for significantly less than the EDP, which I also adore but not as much as the Extrait. I am amazed that it is so unsung here on Fragrantica, and torn between trumpeting it's glory vs keeping it to myself! As for Bucoliques, my review is bellow and still holds true.

I LOVE!! Not my usual scent profile at all. Shes my first “purple” fragrance but I’m obsessed. It’s so unique and cozy. I’m wrapped up in a blanket as I write this after spraying. It’s so comforting, and powdery. The lavender is indeed a main player here, but I think the subtle leather guides it into a creamy sophisticated fragrance instead of a spa like. I don't think its a safe blind buy necessarily, but I do think its worth a try. as far as weather goes, its 70 F spring time in april in the carolinas so I’m not sure how it wears in the heat or anything

This beautiful mixture is a perfect combination of violet and lavender woods, powdered iris, and something aromatic and sweet, infused and leathery. Very natural, and somehow retained, from bucolic to melancholic, the frontier is thin. The result is cold and pure, with an assumed loneliness, and a blue silence surrounding the scent.

Very soft and light like fresh Provencal village air. Excellent sleep fragrance. Don't expect a punch.

Whatever is admittedly in it, it feels reminiscent of Fleur de Narcisse - and that's fabulous.

Bucoliques de Provence opens with a beautiful lavender note. It's aromatic, herbal, and moderately earthy thanks to the subtle rooty aspect of iris hiding underneath, yet at the same time, it smells clean to me. Thankfully, the clean effect here is not due to the metallic, screechy faux-lavender note routinely dosed in many commercial fragrances' top notes, but is achieved through a steamy, fluffy white musk layered over everything, like applying a blur filter to create a soft, dreamy ambiance on the picture. The leather and the iris here are the faithful companions to the grey-purple lavender. The bridge between lavender and leather is built around the hay facet present in both, which at times smells even a bit spicy. Iris also fits seamlessly in the picture, thanks to its velvety texture linking to the leather and its earthy characteristics shared with lavender. Sometimes, when the violet facet of iris meets the subtle herbal spiciness, I can even smell a vivid herbal violet note popping up occasionally. With time, the boundary between these notes become more and more blurred. After about 2 hours, Bucoliques de Provence becomes a sensual, musky suede skin scent. This supple, slightly powdery white musk and suede actually remind me of the dry down of Hermès Cuir d'Ange, but this time with the aromatic, hay facet and the earthy rooty nuance humming in the background. The sillage of Bucoliques de Provence is initially moderate during its first hour, and then drops to the proximity of the skin for the rest of time. It lasts about 8 hours on my skin. Starting from Bucoliques de Provence, the recent releases from the main line of L'Artisan all seem to favour a more straightforward structure with a naturalistic, bucolic style. Here, the lavender field in Provence and the leather representing the historic glover industry in Grasse make a solid alliance with iris as the witness. Each accord has subtle yet rich nuances to evoke a natural sensation, while the fragrance as a whole is easy to appreciate and exudes an effortless elegance thanks to the precise dose and choice of the clean yet skin-like, plush white musk. I would definitely recommend it as a refined lavender fragrance with a delicate iris-suede undertone.

I blind bought this fragrance and my impression of it has changed completely over the past few months from a dislike to a love. At first impression I was simply bored. The three listed notes are really the only ones worth mentioning, and in that order. Lavender, iris and leather. Being a fougere fan I’ve smelled my fair share lavender, but this has very little of the peppery quality it often delivers there. This lavender is translucent, ethereal, and mildly sweet; it’s the pollen of the flower caught on a gentle breeze, and my favourite element of the fragrance. It seems very natural and of a very high quality. The Iris is used mostly to amp up the purple, it never really goes powdery or creamy, and there is none of Diore Home’s Intense’s makeup feel. It’s not until the end of the journey that it really comes forward. The leather is what grounds everything and is most pronounced in the opening and is perhaps supported by a very slight hint of an unidentifiable spice. The leather too is gentle, a soft grey suede that is mostly gone by morning. This at no point goes spicy or green, and I don’t get hay or any of the extra countryside notes other reviewers have found. This is a feminine leaning unisex, a bit too soft and demure for me to wear out comfortably, yet despite this it’s become one of the most used fragrances in my growing collection. I use this to relax before bed and it’s perfect for that. A few spays into a tshirt and it will stay with you until you wake and keep you feeling fresh and serene. This is admittedly a bit pricy to be used with such frivolity but I will have a hard time not replacing it when I’ve emptied this gorgeous 100 mil bottle. It’s become almost addictive, the way it’s worked itself into my nighttime routine. This is a minimalist fragrance but intentionally so and for that reason it also layers very well. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a high quality scent to relax with.

This was a response to the revered Justin Copeland from YouTube on my take on this fragrance @stayfreshproductions although a very apt fragrance for this rainy season we have had (spring), this scent focused on a smooth but quiet leather that blended well with Iris. This iris added to the smoothness and added to a bit of a floral aspect, but that's where the lavender picked up. The lavender adds the aromatic bitter and teensy floral aspects to the fragrance. Ultimately this fragrance added up to be a glorified lotion scent. Is it smooth and faintly nuanced, yes. Is it a scent that is palatable and inoffensive, yes. Does it evoke any emotions, no.The lotion aspect and it's mediocre performance made me sell my bottle. I am a huge fan of Iris and leather and possibly expected something more exciting than what the fragrance aimed for. So yes it wears close to a second skin, but it isn't something I found worth keeping. O unknown by Imaginary Authors is a far better scent that moves creamier and adds more character. Although it is a different scent it filled in the same spot in the fragrances I owned (10+ in the Iris category)

I've been wearing my sample of Bucoliques the Provence all week; it's been a hard one to make up my mind about. In the end I agree with MajaGordon below me: it's a wonderful scent, but so transparent, so light and airy, that it tends to disappear in daily life. It's the intimate kind of fragrance that will get a surprised "oh, you smell good!" when someone gets REALLY close. The scent itself is very soft as well, very delicate - smooth suede and subtle florals, slightly sweet and very elegant. I like it a lot, and in some situations it might be perfect: not only the more intimate kind, but also in the heat of summer when you crave something super light but not fresh, as far away from overbearing as you can get. And it has to be said, for all of its lack of projection, it does stick around close to the skin all day. But most of the time, I do prefer to notice my perfume more throughout the day, so I think I'll leave it at sampling, however lovely it is.

This perfume is part of a collection that draws inspiration from different regions in France. It is based on the concept of Grasse, which is the heart of French perfumery. The perfumer chose lavender and leather notes to be the main players in this fragrance, as Grasse is famous for its lavender fields and leather industry. The combination of these two notes is quite rare, making this a unique perfume. It is also slightly soapy and powdery. This fragrance is well-balanced and refined. It has good longevity, but it is gentle and has a close-to-the-skin type of scent. The lavender notes give it a more masculine touch, while the powdery and iris notes provide a feminine touch, making it a perfectly unisex fragrance. This one was created based on principles of real French perfumery style. If you're looking for a clean, gentle, refined, niche, yet wearable fragrance, especially for daily use or office, this could be a great option for you. 7.5/10

I get an impression of pale blue flower—could easily be iris—with an herbal edge which must be the lavender, though otherwise the lavender is on the light side. Not much in the way of leather to me, but then, I’m used to some heavy-hitting leather scents. Powdery in a pleasant way, like iris can properly be. Ephemeral, in the usual L’Artisan style, but a lovely early-spring scent.

My first impression was the sudden recollection that I don't care for lavender, and I thought I wouldn't like this fragrance. In a matter of minutes I had to change my mind, though. It's a lovely, balanced composition. Completely agree with Odor Aeternitatis below.

To me it's a soft, gracefully elegant yet comforting and warm unisex scent, I love it. It' like wearing smart casual on a weekend in France. I love the bottle and the label as well.

This is a total mess on my skin. I'm SO confused, because I thought this was the one I smelled several times, once at Bloomingdale's and once at ZGO?!?!?! Where is the vote for confusion? Out of the box there's a sharp, thin smell that's hardly lavender at all. It smells like damned Tomato Leather by Cognoscenti, ugh. Like a fugging tomato!!! I'm going to give a few weeks to settle from shipping and try again, but I'm thinking this one is going straight back to the hell from whence it came... FragranceNet!!! No leather. No iris. No lavender. Tomato.

I was so close to pulling the trigger on purchasing Bucoliques de Provence this year. The stress of lockdowns and the fear of COVID spreading had me craving more soothing, lavender-centric scents, so naturally, this fragrance caught my eye. Bucoliques de Provence is a beautiful fragrance, albeit rather weak in regards to projection. Had this fragrance been stronger, I may have considered owning this scent. The violet and lavender are the featured floral accords in Bucoliques de Provence, and neither of these notes overpowers the other. A suede-type leather provides a deeper, richer drydown, but for the most part, this composition is quite linear. I adore the L'Artisan Parfumeur line as their fragrances sit really well on my skin and last for hours. Bucoliques de Provence is the type of fragrance I would enjoy more as a candle or a room/linen spray. It smells incredibly soothing but a little one dimensional for a signature perfume. It was created by perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin as an honorary nod to the lavender fields in Grasse, France. If you're seeking a pristine, uncomplicated blend of clean lavender and iris, this is the fragrance for you. The projection is weak to moderate, and the longevity approximately five hours. I would recommend this fragrance for Spring and Summer, and casual wear. It would also make a beautiful bed-time scent due to its discreet and aromatic facets.

For 2 hours I’ve been catching amazing whiffs of this, and I’ll admit I did overspray a bit (8-10 sprays). For starters this has to be one of the most pleasant and clean leather fragrances I’ve ever experienced. It’s airy, bright, and clean, the leather accord blended masterfully in conjunction with the iris and lavender..it’s almost believable that’s all that was used crafting the fragrance. Its simple non-hectic character only lends to its elegance, but you can still rock a clean casual look wearing it. Absolutely unisex and a warm weather heater with a touch of a clean laundry vibe so if you are a fan of such DNAs this is definitely one to test out imo. I ultimately found performance satisfactory, a few extra sprays will help with that, and for what it is it accomplishes what it wants to very effectively. It’s meant to be fresh, clean, and elegant, and this is definitely something you could wear for formal occasions or even just out and about on a beautiful day. The different leather tinges you get during wear are so nice too, at times more distinct, others a touch sweeter with the lavender apparent and the iris always there cleaning up and balancing the composition.

Finally!!! A leather fragrance for women they can officially call daddy. Also, this is how a human should smell after taking a shower. Bucoliques is a low fat leather fragrance and when i say low fat, I'm talking about 2%. It's not enough cowhide to satisfy those LOOKING for some real-time leather but it's the Charmin Ultra Soft quality that will win people over. If you're NOT LOOKING for leather or expectations, you could very well like/love this. The reviews for this one is overwhelmingly positive but let me add some much needed perspective for those that are intrigued by Bucoliques. Don't get caught up in the whirlwind of "It can't get any better!" The truth of the matter is that it CAN get better. That "BETTER" i'm referring to is none other than the mighty mighty Cuir Ottoman which has been ruling the iris/leather empire for many moons. In an attempt to intercept the poppysmic to follow, I will gladly tell the public that Bucoliques is one of the best fragrances to spray on sweaters.

This opens with a very realistic, raspy dry lavender before settling into a very nice, soft, dry iris (not powdery), which persists through the dry down and is the main act in this evolving play. I also get black pepper and bergamot in the opening, though the notes are not listed. There is some dry grass in the heart of it. The leather in this is subtle and hangs in the background and never becomes the focus of the fragrance. I also get mint in drydown which feels like a cool soft breeze after the pepper and assertive lavender. This is a bit rough around the edges but very likeable, kind of like your country cousin, not the Parisian one. The name describes it perfectly. Completely unisex, average longevity (4-6 hrs), settles down rather quickly with minimal-moderate sillage.

I love my job, I'm a cashier at Whole Foods. My customers mostly women, love chatting about perfumes. I started a conversation with a lovely woman and few weeks later she leaves me a small sample of this lovely scent. I instantly love love it....before I wrote this I placed some of this on my arm and let is sit..I kept smelling my arm and kept wondering...Why do I like this so much??? OH OH it has similarities to SJP's Covet perfume. Some might disagree. Now its not as heavy of a scent, but it DOES have similar notes as Covet. Now I need to decide if I would like to get a decant of this or just use my bottle of Covet.

This is a very interesting composition. It fools the nose because Bucoliques smells more complex than it is. But it also has a distilled simplicity that has a certain utilitarianism to it. It's a practical, unisex daily driver. On me, I get a very dry floral scent with spicy, herbal leather. Not powdery, not soapy, and not bouquet. In fact, it's a little neutral, like an alluring skin scent! I don't know if I would wear it that much, but got compliments nonetheless. This could easily be someone's signature.

This is a stunning fragrance, Unfortunately, it sits so close to the skin that sometimes I wonder if I am anosmic to it. And then, here and there, I’ll smell it on my skin, my clothes, my sheets, almost anecdotally, and I am always left craving more than I get. This is what Prada Infusion d’hiris, Bottega Veneta, and Bvulgari Eau de the Bleu (I have owned them all) all wish they were and none come close! And then you have the let-down in the sillage/projection! A travesty and a tragedy, all at once!

If anyone has tried the Le Printemps candle(spring), which is still available on LP's website, you will easily see the resemblance/inspiration.

Beautiful! The lavender is very smooth and the iris is amazingly NOT powdery! This is a very soft, intimate scent. Very pretty,

Iris, lavender and leather! Can't get any better!