Eau d'Iparie

I love this....it’s such a unique, lovely rose. It smells clean and earthy, soothing, abit mystical. The florals are subtly sweet...and there’s a touch of soapiness, just a touch. Patchouli here is quite noticeable, but it’s a tame and gentle one. Myrhh adds an element of intricacy to the composition, a very subdued smokiness. It’s very different from anything I’ve ever smelled, yet it’s so easy to wear. As a Middle Eastern person, I think this really suits me! I’d wear it anytime, anywhere, all year round, it’s great as a signature scent. I think a man can definitely pull this off too and smell very elegant. To my nose, it’s a unisex scent that leans feminine. It smells very niche and refined, a steal for the price, it smells better than many niches I’ve tried that’s double and triple its price. Longevity is very good, lasts 6-7 hours on my skin (days on clothing!), and sillage is perfectly moderate. This is L’Occitane’s best fragrance in my opinion. A high quality masterpiece!

I bought a bottle of this a few years ago and gave it to a friend because she adored it, saving a 10ml decant for myself-- I slightly regret my generosity! I agree with other reviewers that this is absolutely unique and stunningly beautiful. To my nose the incense is really only a low hum in the background, and not at remotely churchy- more of a honeyed, gourmand incense. It's a gentle, sweet myrrh layered with a strong, very sensual spicy rose and a tamed, liquid amber. This is not a girly or too-feminine perfume, but an eccentric, mature, enigmatic scent that would work beautifully on both sexes. My only frustration is that I know people who have tried the original and maintain that it was slightly drier, and didn't have all of the sweetness of the reformulation, which admittedly could be too much for some people. I would still recommend it for anyone who loves complex, sexy and bold orientals.

I just bought a brand new bottle of this reformulation. It was a blind buy because I was looking for a sort of liturgical incense scent and I love rose. I haven't tried the original so I can't compare, but this one smells mysterious and ethereal yet bright and crisp. It is a little out of my typical olfactory comfort zone as I expected it would be, but I still really enjoy it, everything just works so well together. It's something to wear in quiet meditative moments I think. Alone in nature on a darkly overcast day or at missa privata, if that's your thing. Update: it has great sillage and it's very long lasting, I applied 2 sprays on my arm in the early evening and it's still a skin scent the following morning even after a shower.

I don't know how they do it but L'Occitane has two of my favourite fragrances: This one and Néroli & Orchidée, and as clemmy said below, you can't find anything similar, not even among niche fragrances. This one's predominantly myrrh, olibanum and rose. Contrary to what happens with most other resinous fragrances, I can wear this in summer and the weather actually compliments the fragrance, which I find amazing. And it always reminds me of Acre, Israel. I like to think that Templars left bags full of myrrh under the Levantine sun, behind the walls of Acre, resins are cooking, but not for a long time: They'll be carried to Europe after a long and arduous journey.

I'm happy to report that this is the same formulation that they used to sell in the old style bottle before it was discontinued. Except for the first few minutes where a sweet, fruity note like plum dominates. I don't remember this in the old bottles but luckily it fades very quickly on my skin leaving way to the glorious scent that was and is Eau d'Iparie. Sillage is still monstruous and longevity really really good. L'Occitane can get things wrong very often but they did very well in keeping the original here. As a side note, the other two classics in this line are also unchanged, and are now clearly marketed at both men and women. Well done :)