Nouveau Monde

It almost felt like a confession to admit to myself that I love Ombre Nomade as much as I do. I hated it for months - on me and especially on others - and then it grew on me like the first tender fingers of the dawn across the periphery of the night skies. Before I knew it, the sun was well and truly up for me and Ombre Nomade and it is one of my all time favourite fragrances now. It is one of those few that I sometimes sniff from the bottle when I walk into my bedroom just to smell it, without spraying it on myself. Just smelling it to smell it. Proper fragrance collectors reading this will be able to relate. It is one of those scent profiles where I don't know why I love it or why I am addicted to it. So when I heard about Nouveau Monde - specifically that it is a "more wearable version of ON" I had to go to Dubai Mall to check it out. Unlike OM, NM was an instant love. It is indeed lighter and more wearable but has the ON DNA on display all the way. The heady combo of the animalic, super high quality oud and the redolent leather, lifted by the rose in the background is all there. Whereas ON has the raspberry running through it making it go a little sour at first (not in a bad way but it can be challenging for some), NM has vanilla, patchouli and these resinous amber accords in it adding a sweetness that stops the cacao from going too bitter and dark. The fruit in NM comes from some blackcurrants in the base notes. Eyes closed, I drifted off right there in the shop, carried away by the way this smell sings to me. When I opened them the shop assistant was staring at me with a look of surprise on her face. Before I could say anything she remarked: "You really like that, don't you? I see it in your face." She was spot on. I do love it. I really, really do. Fast forward a couple of weeks to Doha airport for my flight to London and it was one of the most satisfying shop purchases I've ever done for a fragrance. There is something to be said for really wanting a fragrance and having to wait a few weeks until you can go buy it, rather than just idly sniffing some testers, picking out a couple and then buying them. I got to the gate for my flight and couldn't resist a quick spritz before boarding. Exactly in the same way ON does for me, I found myself addicted to sniffing my wrists when I have this on. It just sings to me. I cannot explain to you why. If I had to describe it to you, I would say that NM is Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud taking the core DNA of Ombre Nomade and sweetening it up in a way that takes it in an almost minerally direction, quite apart from the resinous, dark textures of the woodgrain, oudy Ombre Nomade. The result is the daylight to ON's night, its light to its dark. It is every bit as strong and long-lasting as Ombre Nomade but fresher and doesn't leap off you in resinous clouds the way its dark master forebear does. The projection is there but it is less forceful, less aggressive somehow. Neither are compliment monsters as they are both a little too polarising but both smell wonderful enough to me to the point where if I was the only person on the planet who liked them and the other 7.999999999 billion-odd people hated them, I'd still wear them and they'd both still be amongst the favourites I have across my entire collection. Nouveau Monde is different enough to Ombre Nomade to stand up on its own and honestly I'm amazed more people aren't taking about this fragrance. The term "masterpiece" is banded around too much in these hype-addicted short term times but that is absolutely what this fragrance is. That this is so slept on, certainly in comparison to Ombre Nomade, is, along with the inexplicable adulation and hype that Pacific Chill gets, one of the great mysteries of modern perfumery to me. I simply cannot get my head around it. Ombre Nomade is olfactory art. It was and is more than a fragrance; it is a state of mind and an evocative glimpse into something profoundly different to how most of us live. It is proud to be a bit challenging for most. Nouveau Monde is taking that art and its thinking and making it into a ridiculously wearable, complex and indulgent daily wearer fragrance that pays homage to its parent but does not copy it. Three Word Summary - The Ultimate Expression Scent - 10/10 Drydown - 9/10 Sillage - 8/10 Bottle/packaging - 9/10 Performance - 10/10 46/50.

My latest addition to the collection is Nouveau Monde, and honestly, it’s delicious. After owning several LV scents and sampling the rest, I finally pulled the trigger on this one because it fills a gap in the lineup: a truly autumn–winter fragrance that’s far more wearable than the darker, smokier Ombre Nomade. The first hit of oud instantly took me back to the Maison Crivelli oud series; Stallion, Maracuja, and especially Oud Cadenza. In fact, Nouveau Monde shares more than just oud with Cadenza: there’s cinnamon, saffron, cacao, caramel, vanilla, and a subtle patchouli undertone that creates a familiar warm&spiced sweetness. The two fragrances definitely echo each other, not only by scent but also by longevity, projection, and sillage. That said, Nouveau Monde is one of the most underrated and overlooked Louis Vuitton releases. It never gets the hype, but it deserves far more appreciation. While many people try to pass Imagination, Météore, Pacific Chill, Afternoon Swim, and Symphony as “all-season,” let’s be real: they are fresh, citrus-driven warm-weather scents. Nouveau Monde is their opposite, not fresh, not cooling, but warm, sweet, cozy, and enveloping, perfect for cold fall winds and winter nights. If you imagine real oud being refined, smoothed, and elegantly blended into an amber gourmand profile, that’s exactly what this fragrance delivers. It’s beautifully crafted, undeniably unisex, though the first hour or two can come off a bit strong and slightly masculine before settling into its plush, comforting warmth. Performance is solid: strong projection and sillage for the first several hours, with 8+ hours of longevity on my skin. Verdict: Nouveau Monde is a standout in my LV lineup. Distinct from most of their fresh leaning creations, gorgeously composed, and undeniably high quality. Is it blind-buy safe? Absolutely not. But if you enjoy Oud Cadenza, chances are you’ll fall head over heels for this one. Update 1: After 9.5 Hours of Wear It’s been nine and a half hours since I applied six sprays early this morning, and Nouveau Monde is still very much alive on my skin. Colleagues walking into my office keep commenting on the scent, mostly picking up that rich oud–leather combination that defines the dry-down. What surprises me most is that the fragrance is still projecting at about an arm’s length nearly ten hours in, something I rarely experience with many other LV releases. Overall, this is impressive performance by Louis Vuitton standards, both in longevity and projection, reaffirming that Nouveau Monde is one of the house’s sleeper powerhouses. Update 2: After 12 Hours of Wear It's been fading by now but after 12 hours, i can still smell it on my skin. This is amazing.

Yes similar to ombre nomade but just because both have that same ‘oud’ note with a leathery note vibe. Ombre nomade is darker more smoky and has the raspberry note which nouveau monde doesnt in fact nouveau monde i would say its the more ‘gourmand’ version of ombre nomade i would own both since they work for different things yea similar but both unique in their own way in nouveau monde i find the ‘cacao’ note more predominant like a dry cacao smell similar to the cacao powder used in baking this also adds a slight caramel and sweet smell that for example ombre nomade doesnt have This is deff 10 times easier to wear fragrance than ombre nomade... but this is deff weaker with ombre nomade i can get performance of 2 days no joke and fill any room the first 15 hours with this is maybe 16hrs performance and 5 hours proyections still a beast but nothing like his older brother But i do like more this scent profile than ombre nomade one, love both but this one is just more my style since i love sweet gourmands... not exactly a gourmand or cloying sweetness but a smoky dark sweetness... elegance and quality at its finest! Is this like tuscan leather? No, i think tuscan leather can compare more with ombre nomade rather than nouveau monde... and still tuscan leather has its differences i do like tuscan leather more also than ombre nomade and nouveau monde together... but thats just my taste all 3 are top tier fragrances Is it like onekh from bvlgari? Similar but not exactly again, i do think onekh is more similar to nouveau monde than what tuscan leather is to ombre nomade... onekh is a leathery scent but also has that ‘sweetness’ not as dark as nouveau monde but brighter, leather is more prominent on onekh and the spices that onekh has i get mostly a cinnamon stick spice sweetened... i like onekh a lot its on my wish list but i like nouveau monde more since it think it has more developing and onekh is more simple straight to the point less ‘sexy’ you could say Similar to oud satin mood? Not at all but there is that same vibe that you get from satin mood in nouveau monde dont know what is it maybe the rose? Listen both are super different smells but if you have smelled both and smell nouveau monde while thinking of satin mood i think you’ll get what i mean Solid fragrance prob my next buy from LV 9.5/10

My pet peeve right now is "gratuitous fruiting," i.e. using a fruit note to unnecessarily sweeten oud fragrances (and usually tossing in jammy rose to boot) to enhance the oud scent's approachability and to make it smell better on test strips. Tuscan Leather does it and so does Louis Vuitton's Ombre Nomad, among so many others. While those two fragrances aren't bad at all, when fruity sweetness shows up in a rose and oud fragrance it just feels so obligatory and thoughtless. Anyway, I love Nouveau Monde because it smells great and lacks gratuitous fruit. It is therefore interesting in a way most designer oud scents aren't. The opening is heavy on cardamom (which ought to be in the notes pyramid) with hints of saffron and a briefly fecal oud. Almost immediately, the roughness in the oud disappears and the cardamom slowly fades. This progression allows the saffron to shine in a way that is reminiscent of Aramis' underloved and sadly discontinued Calligraphy Saffron. After 15-30 minutes rose emerges, but the rose is not very sweet. It works exceptionally well with the saffron. As the heart notes get going in ernest, a delightfully subtle interplay between patchouli and cacao works to undergird the now pronounced, smooth Western oud. There are some wood notes in the base along with a vanilla note that lends a sweet amber accord to the leather forward base. This fragrance is incredibly refined, luxurious smelling and has great longevity and moderate projrction. The sillage of Nouveau Monde is among the best in the Western designer oud offerings I have smelled (FWIW-I now own more than 20 such designer ouds along with a similar number of niche bottles and several Middle-Eastern ouds as well. I've been on a huge oud kick since fall 2020). Bottom line: this is a really great, interestingly atypical oud fragrance and the more I wear it, the more I discover in it. Bottle and presentation is LV mass market luxury and seems appropriate to the price point. The atomizer is very good. Definitely worth seeking out a sample if you can. Worth the price? For me, definitely; you may feel otherwise. Highly recommended.

Oh my.. Unlike others, I don't get much of the soft drydown of this fragrance, or any softness whatsoever. I don't smell much of that sweet vanilla people are talking about. Instead this smells like the most luxurious, refined and somehow perfectly balanced bonfire to me. As if you were burning LV bags sprayed with the most beautiful fragrances and you couldn't care less because money is no issue for you. Not only that, but it's also super potent on me. Half a spray lasted me an entire day easily, without ever becoming too weak. This fragrance is absolutely unique, not only in the LV lineup but also in what's out there at the moment - niche excluded. I get something that slightly reminds me of Gucci Guilty Absolute but it's so different at the same time.. it smells much more rounded, oud-ish and burnt, while Gucci just smells very leathery, almost medicinal. Not only does this impress with performance but also with uniqueness. However, I don't think this is for lighthearted people who just want a pleasant perfume in a beautiful bottle. This will not get you crazy amount of compliments, nor will it only draw positive attention. Those who recognize what a great work of art this is, will tell you. It's harsh, it's strong and it's unique, but it's certainly not for everyone so sample before you buy! Before trying this, I expected a nice, soft and friendly scent because of the orange bottle. However, I do believe that not only the orange suits this very well because of the autumn-ish theme with the fire, but I also believe the name is absolutely perfect. I can not even begin to explain how absolutely amazing this fragrance is. This is exactly what "by the fireplace" should have been. There, I said it.