Le Chant de Camargue

Le Chant de Camargue was such a pleasant surprise for me: I got a little decant because I just couldn't resist this wonderful, evocative name, but I wasn't expecting much from it based on the list of notes. That's always a good set-up for a potential Discovery, and that proved to be the case this time: instead of the generic, slightly chemical scent that I associate with notes ending in "-one", I got a bottled cool summer day in a maritime nature reserve. It kind of reminds me of Un Jour d'Eté by Keiko Mecheri: the note lists look nothing alike, but both of them combine fresh, natural summery notes with a salty maritime edge, creating the effect of a secluded seaside summer vacation. And although this one is much lighter and the vacation is a little further from the beach this time, it inspires the same kind of spring fever in me: it makes my heart beat faster, and it makes it possible to imagine the end of winter on this dreary day in February. In this case, it's the really great, sparkling bergamot note that provides the freshness, and then (now I'm just guessing )I'd say the rice note combined with the slightly salty sandalwood and/or those synthetic notes calls to mind the landscape of Camargue (although of course I never would have guessed that without the name, and I'm a sucker for marketing like this, I still think it's particularly easy to go along with it in this case). However it's done, it's making me sniff my wrists all day long every time I wear it, and that's always a good sign. I wouldn't be surprised if my little decant turned into a larger amount in my collection at some point... and I'm in a hurry to try the others in this series now, as well.

Le Chant de Camargue is something of an oddball... First, I think the name is a bit misleading. I've never been to the Camargue region, which the internet tells me is made up of marshy plains, so I can't comment on how appropriate the scent is to its character. However, the fragrance is far more subtle than I would expect the heraldic song representing a region to be. What I smell instead is my childhood blanket, which, through much time and love, absorbed the smells of gentle moisturizers applied after bath time and before sleep. I believe that this lotion effect is probably accomplished through the use of the molecules paradisone and hedione. The savory milkiness of the rice and sandalwood enrich this scent, and the citrus touch of bergamot lifts it every so slightly into a sheer, fluffy cloud. Partway through the opening, I'll be honest, I get a bit of a baby wipe smell, but the more creamy, salty elements eclipse it before too long. I can even imagine the faintest hint of nuttiness. If you are looking for the ultimate lotion scent, look no further. Although it is a soothing scent, the performance is quite good. I get moderate sillage that sticks with me through the whole day.

In the store, this stood out in the Les Paysages as incredibly feminine, soapy, lotion-y and soft. I've been searching for AGES for a perfect, milky sandalwood that avoids going too milky (turns sour on my skin) or too herbal (too astringent and mentholated on my skin). And this is the one. When I saw the perfumer was Alberto Morillas - it absolutely made sense. This is classic Alberto Morillas - think Luxury by Mizensir. Feminine, creamy, soapy, luxurious beauty products. I actually don't get the bergamot at all - this is all rice and milky sandalwood to me. I get what people are saying in that it smells "old-fashioned" and "too powdery" - but that's exactly what I like. I like the old-school, mature Chanels as well, and this goes along a similar territory. Scent: 12/10 - I put this to my nose in the store and went "Oh my God." Projection: Soft Longevity: Poor to average (my bottle needs to macerate) Polarity: Feminine

Soapy, sandalwood milk that reminds me of a bubble bath (as it dries down, it’s almost similar to my natural skin scent straight out of the bath or shower - a very specific scent that I’ve always wished I could bottle up, lol). If you like the scent of the Dove pink bar, this is like a perfume version - obviously a bit more complex with the slightly spiced sandalwood milk & the creamy florals. It’s ethereal, almost. Such an underrated gem from L’Artisan; the perfect cosy, clean, fluffy scent for everyday (and is also LOVELY to wear to bed!)

I was very curious about the rice element so sought this out. I loved it immediately because it was elegant, creamy, white, atmospheric beauty. I haven't smelt anything else quite like it, so it fits nicely into my fragrance wardrobe. This made me immediately more classy by a factor of 50 and one other perfume does this for me, that is Bvlgari Omnia. It turns out that Alberto Morillas knows how to make people feel elegant just by the perfume they wear, thank you! This is great to wear anytime, anywhere.