2013 Résidence d'Artistes

2013 Residences L’artistes is predominantly woody like raw sandalwood with a fresh violet, musky natural peach (not bitter like the pit or rancid), slight spicy-leathery scent. The musk similar to how Le Labo does theirs, especially in Another 13, Gaiac 10, and The Noir 29. Very pretty in a niche way. Love the sillage. The projection is good on me, but light after some hours. I wonder if that’ll change overtime. Regardless, I just love stumbling over the perfect amalgamation of other loved fragrances including Ex Nihilo Cuir Celeste that blends its leather, violet, and ambrette similarly but in a fresher, ozonic way. It’s an all-for-one special. Glad the cumin musk, a note listed on the website, doesn’t amplify on my skin in a pungent way because I can see how that would be polarizing lol. It's really aired out and works so well on my skin, coming off like a hint of spice. Not too peppery and not herbal. What makes this for me is the violet, which is usually done in a very powdery and candied way. However, in here it's done fresher, slightly green like the violet leaf which connects with me more and makes the peach, a fruit I don't really like in fragrances, work in here. The clean leather married with fruit and fresh floral reminds me of a few works I loved from Hermès.

I actually really, really like this. Very much unisex, and can be worn at any time of the day and in any season. Opens with really lovely citrus and cardamom/light spice and it mellows down quite gracefully into a slightly powdery, yet unapologetically woody fragrance. The citrus stays in the background which is why I think it's unisex. It's a dry, cold fragrance so I'm excited to try this in winter, but it doesn't project amazingly and longevity is about 5-6 hours on myself. Got this half price at £80 for 100ml, otherwise it's about £150-160 for 100ml which I'd say is overpriced. Can't stop sniffing my arm where I've sprayed it for that amazing wood and citrus spice. Nothing like it in my collection, but it's not entirely unique either. Could imagine a top designer house making something similar and doing extremely well with the right marketing. Would give it a 4/5 purely based on it's lack of projection and longevity as I like beast mode fragrances, but definitely a beautiful scent in it's own right.

This is one of my favourite fragrances ever. It gives me a sauna vibe with natural purity of plants and it creates a little cloud around me, as if it's almost breathing on its own. It helps me concentrate on things and it's kind of empowering, even though that it's not a beast mode frag. I might say that it's a beast mode for the meditative fragrances. I might edit later, as it gives me constant joy and I'll always want praise it. I didn't smell something with a similar effect before, but if you happen to know, feel free to dm me :D PS: I'm going to dive into Dorothee Piot's creations as I am sure she composed many other gems.

This is such a glorious scent! Yes you smell like you’re sweating in a sauna, but I kind of love it. The spices and plant smells are so good here. In a way I hope it doesn’t project too much like my beloved Proust which I just stop smelling on myself after 10 minutes, because this is what’s going to make me very happy smelling but don’t want to put off others in case they don’t like this... but they should!

The most expensive sauna in the world. Pillowy peach, dry hot wood, warm skin, a delightful sparkle on the surface. Definite Feminite Du Bois vibes, particularly in the dry down - this one is less spicy, more peachy. Divine.