Saiga

Certain things need clarifying here, the actual notes are Rose Centifolia and Blackcurrant Bud. So, that is Provence Rose and Blackcurrant leaf. To say that this is just fruity is misleading. Apparently, Le Couvent was home to an earlier Royal Botanist and Ellena uses this as a source of inspiration, hence the drawings on the box. Why antelope on this one? I have no idea! It reminds me of early Lutens and those long surreal essays. I think it's meant to evoke its elegance, or maybe it's velvety fur?! It's much more than those two ingredients. There's a complexity about it, and a freshness as well. This being Ellena is just class.

I've been BLIND buying every single one in JCE "Eaux de parfum singulières" line. I have 6 out of 7 (still have to buy Theria). It at started when I found PortoBello, Fort Royal and Heliaca at Douglas six years ago and was captivated. JCE can do no wrong in my eyes. Each one is a little gem, a work of art. I might like them or not, to wear them for myself, but I've been doing the exercise of training my nose with this collection. It's fascinating! About Saiga: I agree with the "candy like" quality others described. It's sweet but not cloying. It's a perfect rose fragrance for those of us who "would never wear a rose fragrance". Not because I don't like them, but because I love true rose-flowers' fragrance so much that I can't stand the disappointment of human attempts. However, it's an uplifting flower scent, that makes me instantly happy. It has an uplifting effect quite similar to Aqua Sacrae (floral too). Makes you feel like it's spring, even if it's raining or you are at work in an office with no windows. It's like walking in a flower shop and you don't know exactly which flower you are smelling! Jean-Claude Ellena says: « La collection des Eaux de Parfum Singulières s’inscrit dans la lignée du bestiaire du botaniste royal Louis Feuillée. »

Blind buy that I got dirt cheap. The first thing I got from this when I sprayed it on paper was that plastic smell you get from brand new pool floats so I got a flashback to my childhood and days spent on the beach with my orca floatie, lol. I don't really get that vibe as much when spraying on skin though and it's only in the first minute or two. Okay so I have to start off with that this is not a fragrance that I would normally go for so even though it's not a fragrance for me I can appreciate the quality behind this. To me it's pretty one dimensional as the notes suggest but well blended, I don't have a super developed nose so don't take my word for it. This feels like quality stuff, pretty long lasting and ok sillage. It does have a bit of a soapy vibe, but definitely a luxurious soap. I feel like you can't really go wrong with this one, you will smell elegant and put together but it's not a fragrance that someone would chase you down the street for if you get what I mean.

A lovely rose fragrance for someone who thinks they don't like rose scents because they recall it from the days of rosewater and granny smelling rose powders and lotions. I've been looking for a rose that captures a sweet warm rose with the slight green note of its leaves. This blend of rose and current leaf does this perfectly. I also have Aqua Paradisi and the rose is very similar to Saiga. AP is the fragrance I love to hate--I find it somewhat repelling but find myself craving it again and again for some reason. Saiga has all the qualities I love in AP minus the fickle ones that you have to be in the mood for. A somewhat simple fragrance but lovely. Le Couvent really produces quality natural smelling fragrances at an irresistible price point.

Strawberry milk paired with soft cotton candy musk. It registers as gourmand and my 6 year old says it smells like 'candy.' It's sweet yet not cloying (an impressive feat given most candy-like scents are nauseatingly cloying) and the very subtle rose gradually develops as the strawberry fades. If you enjoy this scent profile, you will absolutely appreciate it done with high quality. This isn't my preferred kind of scent and yet I am a definite fan of Saiga. It's something I wear when I want to feel particularly girly and flirty.