Labyrinthe Libertin

Imagine a hot early June day wandering in a maze made from boxwood hedges. The sun warms the leaves and the tiny blooms, and what emanates is the approaching summer, exhilarating in their verdant pungency. The redolence of boxwood with the oil in their leaves heated and reminiscent of sharp green citrus and cassis. At the perimeter of the maze grows jasmine and an herb garden with verbena, basil, lovage and parsley. There's a hint of privet in the air as well, a telltale scent of early summer. Labyrinthe Libertin from the long defunct house Le Prince Jardinier is a unique take on greens, trading the usual galbanum for the shiny, resinous and sappy leaves of bushes and vines among aromatic herbs. One can imagine the dusty, sharp tang of ivy on a stone wall, baked by the rays, as one has a languorous stroll through a sultry dream-state. It slowly transitions into a green-pastel powdered fond, with suggestions of musky cedar. It's a treat especially as the balminess of summer approaches.

I found this perfume on my quest to find a boxwood-heavy fragrance, and I really do enjoy this. It is a photorealistic green herb garden with a punchy hit of basil and some elegant soft white florals. The boxwood is present, but certainly isn't the star of the show. This has a bit of a sharp opening but dries down to a more powdery green fragrance. Be warned this fragrance could be a little challenging for those around you who are sensitive to fragrance. Longevity is great and projection is more than adequate. The price is excellent as well. A very nice mysterious french garden smell, perfect for herbal fragrance lovers. I wish there was more boxwood though! 8.5/10

This is one of my favorite green scents, the other being Chanel No 19. I find Libertin very realistic to a forest garden, full of trees, vines, shrubs, grasses, with just a smattering of flowers. The light elements (juicy, sweet, floral) play against the darker elements (bitter, green-woody, dusty/sharp) perfectly to conjure a real arboretum. I think the boxwood note is what makes it so special and unique. Wearing this perfume is like bringing a little bit of the forest along with you; it performs equally well on clothing as on skin. Very pretty and on me, it smells quite feminine.

Edited to add: this fragrance, on me, shines much more in the colder seasons. The basil gets more subdued and the bitter herbs sap note shines more, reminiscent of broken twigs and smashed leaves. In the winter, I do love it! --- Very dry herbal. Starts a juicier green, like fragrant herbs, almost medicinal, but as it dries the vetiver/dry cedar side becomes prominent. Vaguely spicy, but it's the dry herbal/cedar side that stays on top. Completely unisex, and almost a "love" for me. I wish the basil didn't show up so much on my skin, though.

I like the opening very much, because it's fresh, juicy green, airy and flowery sweet. Like a spring fairy tail, but with time passes it comes dryer and sharper with developing of floral notes, even dusty woody, tart... because of developing woody-green boxwood, I think. I love it for the beginning, that is really unique.