Figuier & Osmanthus

This is lightly sweet, fresh and natural-smelling. The fig makes it unique without being strange. I find it quite lovely. I pick up very little of the woody and green accords, which suits me because usually I'm not a fan of those. Rather I get gentle and authentic fruitiness, plus some flowers. Not really Osmanthus though. F&O is feminine and very easy to wear. It's soft, low-sillage, and doesn't last well, but it's really delightful while it's there.

That was a lovely limited edition fragrance by L’Occitane. The freshness of fig together with the floral scent of Osmanthus made it a very lovely fragrance. Something that at the time it was launch I couldn’t stop spraying on me and was getting permanently compliments. I wish they could bring it back like so many of their fragrances they have discontinued over the years.

This is all blackcurrant, fig and little musk for me. As pink bulldog said, could barely detect the osmanthus. Quite one dimensional for my tastes. Reminded me of a room spray.

I bought this yesterday after a hectic day trying on more perfumes than I should have. After a while, it all became a scented blur. I start of with the best intentions of limiting myself to 2 or 3 so that I can truly appraise them. Then, it was all downhill as I become beguiled by yet another fascinating name or bottle. I had gone to the perfume section of a large department store with the intention of tying only one perfume - Frederic Malle's Dreis Van Noten. A friend had tried it on during another 'perfume hunt' and had been given a sample. She loves it and is thinking of buying it. Very expensive but she thinks, worth it. I really couldn't remember it. I was swamped by a spray of Cartel Rose at the time, so all else had fled in fear of this amazing but overwhelming perfume. I dutifully sprayed on some DVN and waited. It really smelt just sweaty and damp on me, a bit salty. I don't mind that on men, it can be attractive but I can't abide it on me. The notes in it sound wonderful but none of them seem to develop on me. Then my eyes were captured by all of the Xmas packages - Ellie Saab, Balenciaga, even Robert Piguet had given in and there were Xmas specials with Petit Fracas and Visa with body lotions. Even tried Mitsouko for the 1000th time because I want to love it but it doesn't love me. Nahema? Yes, why not! By the time I left - even I knew, I had gone too far. As I was dashing to the station, somehow I ended up in the L"Occitane shop. This EDT attracted me because I love the smell and taste of figs. I bought it not really knowing what it smelt like because my nose had closed the gates on any more olfactory offerings. When I first sprayed it on the next day, devoid of the melange of perfumes from the previous day, it smelt like a yummy caramelised fig croissant - buttery and warm. Now, a few hours later, it's a very gentle floral with just a hint of fruit. None of the base notes are apparent it. I really don't know what osmanthus smells like but I'm guessing not as strong as jasmine or similarly strong white florals? I actually like it. Not expensive but it does develop and is long-lasting on me. Many of my more expensive, famous EDT's and EDP's disappear on me after a short time or descend into the base notes way to quickly.

If you like fig scents, this is a nice soft one. But if you're buying it for the Osmanthus, as I was, you're likely to be disappointed. My search for a lovely Osmanthus scent with some longevity continues.