No.09 Vallée de Farney

The complaints about this smelling like an old man nearly scared me off...but I had a great gut feeling and I'm glad that I heeded my hunch, because I think this is beautiful. It's definitely more traditionally masculine, but I don't mind wearing some male things if they're not overly "blue" or full of bay rum. I don't feel uncomfortable in the slightest wearing this. In fact, I'm wearing a dark olive colored shirt, and it matches the synesthetic impression I have with this scent, it's a dark green. This is just really heavy on the vetiver, so it smells rustic and outdoorsy. However, the grapefruit included alongside the vetiver (these two notes are made for each other, it's almost unbelievable how well they pair) is absolutely perfect. There's a bit of geranium too, which clearly emerges distinctly, though I cannot claim the same for the rest of the notes here. *HOWEVER *; the issue might be my nose, because vetiver feels peppery to me anyway (I sometimes like using straight essential oil, and it has a peppery quality). If black pepper is here, it's deployed in a genius manner, because it doesn't overpower anything and helps to assist the vetiver, which is clear the centerpiece of this composition. Same with the patchouli, it's a supporting feature and it doesn't jut out even as this dries down. This is just...evocative to me, which is a determining factor sometimes between me loving a fragrance or merely liking one. This is grounding and naturalistic, I think of a chilly breeze during Indian summer, toward the end of September. It's cleansing to the palate, and it's going to be perfect for me if I'm ever weary of gourmonds. It's also quite gorgeous on my skin...if I do say so myself, it works with my chemistry. I love things like this. Beautiful perfumery without smelling overly complex nor overly blended and *perfume-y* (though I like that style too sometimes), it puts my mind at ease. 💚🤎💚🤎 (Cross posted from other entry.)

I went to Sephora one day a few years back and was introduced to this wonderful house. The sales associate told me that based on my preference of lighter fragrance at the time that I would enjoy this and I did. It is just a very comforting cozy and beautifully blended work of a fragrance. A little fresh citrus and black pepper open the composition that blends in with a smooth nice patchouli vetiver and soft musk. Very delicate soft and impressionable. Let it sit on your skin for a few minutes because it does have a strong scent of alcohol in the beginning. But then the darker notes come out especially after about a half hour to an hour. I would wear this definitely in the daytime in the spring preferably. During the fall it would work as well. The longevity and silage is very good for a lighter scent. It also would be a great signature scent given it’s safer clean vibe. This is unisex for sure and smells just as great on women as men imo. Some say it’s more masculine but always test before buying. Will definitely be trying more from this house.

This is special. I have 3 perfumes from this house currently and they all give you a more personal experience, but are great performers with longevity on your skin. Vallee de Farney is a seamlessly curated soft citrus on cedar. I also get the vetiver, and musk through the whole wear. It’s unisex/ leaning masculine. I do get an almost aftershave element that’s delicious and raw, but clean. I wear this openly whenever I’m in the mood, but I secretly imagine myself wearing my dark red framed eye glasses, messy curls and tailored blazer, with a crisp white button down. I live in a large New York residence and am trying to answer emails and finish my coffee simultaneously before running out the door, BECAUSE I’VE GOT PLACES TO BE !!! Lol...but in all seriousness, it’s that I don’t care, but go ahead and tell me how good I smell, smell. Absolutely recommend and I intend to get the entire collection.

A blast of citrus out the gates, which quickly dries down into a delicious, creamy, soapy sauna scent. To me it smells like cedar shingles that have been soaked in a fog of luxurious soaps. It's the platonic ideal of a sauna to me, with none of the chlorine or sweat that usually comes with it. It's like staying in a luxury resort where there's a wooden cedar bath on the balcony so you can overlook the turning leaves while steeped in a soapy haze. It has a small hint of spiciness that transports it from a spring to a fall fragrance to me, especially when the base notes pull on the golden amber smell to balance out some of the green of the higher notes. Unisex leaning masculine. Very work safe in my opinion but could also be dressed up. Easy reach for me, will be upgrading my sample to a full bottle ASAP.

I love this fragrance. I wore it for a few years on and off. This was around the time I became obsessed with Aesop Resolute lotion. When I layered both I’d get compliments of smelling like a spa. It was herbal and bright and green with pings of woody vetiver. Depending on body chemistry I can see this leaning either way on the masc / fem scale. On me it ran more masc. I would say it is more on the mature side and aimed at an audience over 30.

I didn't think I was going to like this scent at first. It's a lot more floral/green than what I usually wear, and the geranium seems a bit overpowering in the beginning, but once it dries down it transforms into a beautiful, feminine, earthy patchouli scent. It's pretty summery and fresh to me, and I think it would be great as a business scent. I wear this when I want to smell feminine, natural, and clean.

Dry down is an earthy citrus custard. Opening is a slightly challenging ammonia-esque grapefruit. Once the earthy Vetiver and creamy amber come through, it is gorgeous. 4-5 sprays gets me about 6 hours with 2 having nice projection. This is perfect if you want some citrus in the cold weather, or some amber in the hot weather. Very universal and pulls compliments.

Bright, aromatic, and up-lifting. I love this fragrance so much, it opens with a sharp freshness and stays green throughout. The wooded musky amber is light, creating a unisex profile. Smells like walking through an orange orchard on a warm sunny day. Good for casual wear and special occasions. One of my favorites from this house.

Imagine biting into a ripe Granny Smith apple- the bright, tart juices flying out as its skin is broken. This scent lets me enjoy that moment because all I get is citrus and patchouli, with the citrus dominating everything else. I wouldn’t mind trying this again in the future.

If a more natural, vegan Terre De Hermes sounds appealing to you, then this is right up your alley. This is my dumb grab. Love this juice! When I’m dressed well, this really makes me feel sophisticated and cool.

Very fresh and complex. A good signature scent that could pass for anything from work to fancy. I throw the oil on when I dont want to think too much but want to smell amazing.

i 🫶, it's a mature kinda scent and makes me feel cozy and pretty, it smelled really zesty at first but the dry down go more into that woody feeling

This is Terre d’Hermes for her. Very nice. I love it on my wife.

Woody, zesty, and herbaceous - more herbaceous than spicy IMO - with a lathery undertone like classic bar soap. Maison Louis Marie's approach to fragrance seems to entail a certain wistfully pastoral quality that I quite appreciate. I tend to favor bold and elaborate fragrances, myself, but if a fragrance is going to go for an Anne Of Green Gables/Little House On The Prarie/timeless-and-natural type of vibe, then what I want is for it to be sincere about it, and it seems as though Maison Louis Marie is sincere about it. There isn't a bunch of modern, gender-targeted notes thrown in here in an attempt to make it a viral, mass-market hit. It doesn't feel like cheap pastoral cosplay to me. Its composition is spare, intuitive, and natural. It smells like a broken tree branch, the rind of a grapefruit, and a wooden bucket of sudsy water pitched briskly into the garden.

Oil Rollerball Version: Soapier and richer than spray version. I get a little more citrus. I can smell the actual oil in this, so it's not as great up close (until it melds into my skin more). Application creates a really lovely scent bubble to enjoy all day (9-5!). Consistent and linear throughout the day. Spray Version: A little sweeter, but not as smooth as the oil. Green, fresh and still really lovely. Truly unisex scent in both forms. I love the geranium. Light and airy. I get a slightly leathery note...? (Not sure which notes combo is doing it). Really beautiful up close. Both are clean and woody. I'll have to wear more often to figure the seasons and which form I prefer. The little roller version is perfect for carrying around with you, and I love the simple packaging.

I guess Vallee de Farney smells "masculine" but I think it's just the vetiver making it feel that way. There is not any standard masculine accord in this perfume like in many typical men's fragrances. For me, vetiver is unisex, so this perfume is actually perfectly unisex. It's dry but also bright and fresh. Instead of straight grapefruit, the combination with geranium is actually smelling more like kaffir lime to me - there is a different distinct bright and sharp citrus twist that really reminds me of the kaffir limes my father in law grows in his garden. The citrus sweetens up on your skin in the drydown and the geranium comes more forward. I have never smelled Terre d'Hermes, but if it smells like this, then I am quite sure I would like it. Simple, but lovely.

It's a perfume oil so it STICKS. it lasted for 8 hours for me and probably longer if I didn't take a shower. the sillage level is only intimate - moderate. It can be a bit too green and spicy at first, but it slowly gets better. It's great for a casual business setting during the day and it's gonna last all day. It smells very french, very professional and romantic at the same time, like a powerful boss woman that people fear but also respect. At night it will wear down to a more sweet, deep, rosy and womanly scent which is perfect for a night out or a more intimate event. The overall mix is very complicated and interesting, makes you curious, wanting more. And even though i didn't like it that much at first, it really grows on me.

A lesser-appreciated fragrance from this house, this is almost as good as their popular Bois de Balincourt. I love how fresh, woody, and botanical it is - truly a bottled forest. The tart citrus, cedarwood, and geranium project most strongly with the other notes adding depth. This is reminiscent of a dapper men's aftershave, but only because of the traditional associations conjured by its main notes. It's too natural smelling to come across strictly gendered.

Peppery grapefruit with a vetiver base. There are quite a few variations on this formula so I initially liked this but found it a bit less interesting the more time I spent with it. I get the feeling this would make a good handsoap/room scent rather than perfume, but that’s my nose. Would be refreshing in warmer weather.

most of the top and middle notes are pretty much gone in a few minutes. whats left is a woody, vetiver musk smell with a hint of floral/ citrus. my covid nose is finally improving so ig this is what it actually smells like. i used to think it was more sweet and citrusy. pretty ok for a vetiver (i dont usually like these)