Neroli Eau de Parfum

There are two fragrances that when they disappeared they left a hole in my heart. This was the first one. I loved this fragrance so much and wore it daily for years. It had a vintage quality with its simplicity but it was also classy with an aromatherapy like quality. The bottle design really captures what this fragrance was like. I recall the opening was somewhat off putting (I recall it being a dark, heavy with a fresh cut lumber note) but once it opened up you were enveloped by this warm neroli and woody scent. No citrus here, no orange blossom (as we find it in current fragrances), just neroli. I was late to learn it had been discontinued--I was running low and decided to get a backup bottle and discovered it was gone. If only I had known sooner I would have stocked up. I still long for this fragrance and continue to search for a replacement to no avail. Please L'occitane bring this back!

I haven’t thought about this fragrance for some time. I discovered it around 18 years ago, in fact my husband bought it for me at a L’Occitane store in Sydney...it was practically my signature, I wore it every day, I took it for granted. It was such a luscious syrupy neroli, no other neroli has ever come near it. I had finished my bottle and thought I had better buy a back up, this must have been around 2005 or so. I remember I was in Brisbane at the time, walked into the L’Occitane store and discovered it was no more. After that I scoured every L’Occitane store in Asia - Bangkok, HK, Singapore, with no avail...it was lost forever. Super longevity, intoxicating sillage, it really was a dream. Yes we should start a petition. I think L’Occitane have some neroli orchid thing now, it’s pallid compared to how this used to be.

This one is an absolute dream for me. I was blessed to receive a bottle for free from someone who just didn't like it. Had no idea then that it was discontinued. Anyway, I've been searching ever since for a dupe and I have been amazed to find that Cologne of Love is close. It lacks the deep creaminess in the dry down and is brighter on the neroli in the opening. But if you aren't comparing them side by side, they are very close and in the absence of Neroli, CoL is a wonderful dupe.

L'Occitane en Provence - Néroli Eau de Parfum (Le Marchand d'Odeurs Collection) The story of Neroli. Anna Maria de La Trémoill, the 17th century Italian princess of Nerola, introduced the essence of bitter orange flowers as her signature perfume to scent her bathwater and fine leather gloves. From then on the orange blossom became the emblem of the Nerola clan. This perfume captivates the senses by releasing the euphoric and seductive note of Neroli essential oil.

Powdery, sweet, herbal, bitter, unctuous! This is just SO GOOD! I got a 1.7 oz bottle with about 5 ml left for $.99 at a thrift store. I see a full bottle goes for about $300 on ebay and I can understand why. I've never smelled anything like this--it's sensual and aromatic at the same time. Unisex to the standards of 2022. If you're lucky enough to find this somewhere and feel you can afford it, I'd highly reccomend it to any lover of neroli scents.