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.

I absolutely adore this patchouli perfume! You definitely have to love patchouli to enjoy this. I get the patchouli, vanilla, a little balsam and sandalwood. It is divine and I am always going back to this one. For true patchouli, for comfort and coziness, this can’t be beat.

This is a sexy earth mother --- starts out mossy and woodsy then evolves into a beautifully skanky sexy and soothing fragrance. This is a romantic autumn hike in a beautiful valley with its earthy patchouli turning to smooth vanilla musk. Love it!!!

Sooo goooood i agree it smells like antique dust, the best description, smells like museums, as if i've put my head in a huge ancient amphora :) when it settles on your skin its very nice,a bit sweet powdery, lasts for hours! i want this

My collegue wears a lot of patchoulis and this one I like best on her, maybe because of the musk and vanilla. Starts with a bourbonsmell to me, when that ambery smell disapears, lovely powdery patchouli remains.

Update :-) Of all the perfumes I use, this is the only one that always gets me compliments! As mentioned before, close to your skin, it's a little bit bourbon. But the sillage...Wow!

Delicious, hauntingly good Patchouli. Wisps rather than billows, but what fulsome wisps! I delight in it & have already bought a back up...essential to every Patchouli lover.

A lovely dark and earthy patchouli, with a yummy dark chocolate note. A bit masculine, but not in a harsh way, it's great to wear to bed and fall asleep sniffing my arm :)

Smells like an antique wooden pirates cheast with dusty Patchouli drenched in booze. Really cool. (I have the older bottle, with the cerubes).

The best Patchouli ever! I love this winter fragrance! Patchouli, Tobacco & Chocolate mixed together...BOOM!

As many of the reviews on Luckyscent mention, this really does have a musty opening note. In fact, on me, it is bordering on downright mildewy! But strangely, it's mildewy in an endearing, nostalgic way...reminding me of memories made while playing with my cousins in the attic of their summer cabin. Eventually, after not too long, the mustiness fades and I am left with a soft, powdery, sweet patchouly. The intensity of the base is similar to what I find in Imperial Opoponax. I like this scent for the memories it evokes.

From a batch of samples this one has stood out for me as a nice re-interpretation of my old favorite patchouli oil. It is interesting and layered, beginning with a cool mossy patchouli and warming up to a sweet amber in the drydown. Very nice, enjoyable to wear and I would definately buy this one, especially as it's marginally better value than other niche lines for a good sized bottle. Sillage is close to the skin, longevity 3-4 hours.

A very nice deep and powdery patchouli scent with good lasting power and very good sillage. Though when I put my nose to my wrist the scent is somewhat oldish and heady, the whiffs I get -and the others who were next to me in dinner last night- are so much better:-) Warm and comforting and just a little bit naughty. Fot its price tag, it more than delivers.

I can see exactly why this is called Patchouli Antique. because it dries down to vintage powder. this smells vintage. yes it's patchouli. but a well balanced, well behaved patchouli. earthy, woody, slightly sweet and resinous. and although perfectly lovely on its own, i think it might be a good one for layering. lasts 12 hours on me.

Love this- green and smokey in the beginning, then fresh, dark and almost minty. And the drydown is exactly like Ambre Precieux (Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier!

It's an interesting scent - I think that's the kindest thing I can say about it. I received it by accident as I had ordered Imperial Opponax from a French company and they sent me this instead. It makes me think of dusty attics and cobwebs and stale cigarette smoke. I imagine being a child and finding clothes from 80 years ago that still have the faint scent of perfume on them - that's the smell that I get. It's evocative in a way but if I want to smell like this and I could live in a damp house with a bunch of smokers, wear Opium to bed and get up without showering and go out. Not my thing really.