Patchouli Precieux

The scent of patchouli oil is described in Kraft et al.'s "Scent and Chemistry" as composed of three main elements: woody, earthy and camphoraceous/minty. After testing several patchouli dominant fragrances, Patchouli Precieux is the one that maintains the best balance among those three elements to my nose. It's also simply a beautiful perfume, my favorite patchouli. However, if you're in search of a perfume that emphasizes one of those elements over others, particularly if you're looking for a less-sweet interpretation of patch, there are others I'd recommend first. For a patch very heavy on the earthy-chocolatey element, I'd recommend one of the Reminiscence patchoulis (more similar than different to my nose, with the earthy smell of a headshop). If you love the minty/camphoraceous aspect, try Farmacia SS. Annunziata Patchouly Indonesiano. If you're looking for a woody, unsweet patchouli, I'd recommend either the Villoresi or the Nobile 1942. But on to Patchouli Precieux. It opens with a dry woodiness that softens into a simultaneously earthy and minty heart. All three of those patchouli scent-elements are very present. The drydown is so cozy: mildly sweet and vanillic. All three stages of development delight me, earning Patchouli Precieux a spot in my very small and curated wardrobe. **Note: this review is of the current, reformulated perfume named "Patchouli Precieux". Les Nereides's prior version of this fragrance came in the same bottle, similar color juice but with a different name: "Patchouli Antique". That version was heavier on dry/woody aspects of patch, lacking the refined balance of the current version . It also is one of the very few older perfumes to give me a skin reaction. I definitely prefer the reformulation, Patchouli Precieux.

I welcome this loud powerhouse as it marks its territory. It jolts you into awareness with definitive presence. The Patchouli goes on strong but tame. Fresh earth and authentic wood tickle my cilia as I struggle to wait for the drydown. My senses are heightened as this breath of clean, dirty air takes me back to a walk through the arboretum where I deeply inhaled the earthy smell of compost, soil, and mulch. Imagine being at the summit of a roller coaster and swooping down into the serenity of safety. This is what you will experience when you cross paths with Patchouli Antique. Although this fragrance is not complex, it stands out because it is aggressive and docile simultaneously. Patchouli Antique is a warm, feminine, beautiful representation of what fragrance lovers seek when they want the real deal. If you have the courage, take the plunge, just Be Prepared for a wild ride.

This was a blind buy (I was intrigued by the name and the very good price): I am so glad that my intuition worked so well! It starts as a very strong, sharp, earthy and woody scent, and it could be a great masculine fragrance at this point; but then it turns into a delicious musk/patchouli/vanilla scent (but nothing like the dissonant "Angel" notes). It smells so cozy and yummy! As another reviewer said, it is great when sprayed before going to bed, so you can fall asleep surrounded by this beautiful fragrance. The staying power is more than 6 hours on my skin and even longer on clothes (be careful with spraying it on the clothes as the juice itself is dark brown and could stain the fabric). Even though I was very happy of my blind purchase, I would recommend to test it before buying it because the top notes are very powerful so it surely is not everybody's cup of tea.

Beautiful. Warm, comforting, earthy and completely unisex. A very well rounded and smooth patchouli: cocoa powder, earth, something almost moldy like an old stone house, woods, leaves and the feeling if warmth and nature. I have a sample and really enjoy it. -- Update: tested it twice already. When I am wearing it, I can't stop sniffing it. I really, really, really like this one. Warm, earthy, and makes me feel both safe, comforted and hugged, and bigger, larger, stronger. I think I need this one.

splendido patchouli, onesto, solido, persistente, caldissimo. inizia con sentori affumicati per poi assestarsi su sottotoni più ambrati e terrosi, con un tocco di sensazione canforata. l'evoluzione smorza questa austerità per approdare su un territorio morbido di fave di tonka e un lieve odore di cacao. per me è un profumo che si colloca a metà strada da ambre dore di maitre parfumeur et gantier e patchouli inoubiable di reminiscence, richiamando a gran voce gli attar mediorientali. buonissimo.