Jardin Blanc

(A review originally posted on MakeupAlley in 2005, I wanted to re-post it here now because I do not use MakeupAlley anymore [but have many fond memories of using it] and I am trying to get back into writing reviews, using old 'work' as inspiration...): I think I have found my first holy grail....in the most unexpected way and the most unexpected of fragrance categories: white flowers, jasmine and tuberose to be more precise. Nestled away in the corner of Amsterdam's Shu Uemura, trusty SA Carien has done it once again, saw me sniffing the pure Jasmin from MPG and produced the only product I had not yet smelled: Jardin Blanc. The name would not draw me, the fragrance family would not draw me, nothing about this fragrance had me written all over it. But it is the strangest fragrance experience I have ever had. My nose has been developing over the past year's quest into fragrance, and the one thing I thought I could not wear was white florals. Too intense, heady, headache inducing on me. But this one is a stunner. A perfect fragrance blending jasmine, honeysuckle (finally discovered honeysuckle in a perfume!), tuberose and lilac, with a vetiver and tolu base, adding spicy sweetness and earthy grounding...the stems leaves and roots of the plants...The reason I am writing this review is that I thought it was the worst fragrance decision purchase I have ever made, but now realized that I had simply just stepped outside of myself and discovered something so close to me that I was ignoring it--Mandy Aftel describes how jasmine is an antidepressant and aphrodisiac, and I think she must be right. No matter how much I spray it on it just blends right in with my chemistry and being, it FEELS like me. Notes in composition from Aedes.com: The enchantment of jasmine, honeysuckle and tubereuse. Flowery. Top Note: Mandarin, myrtle, leafy green; Middle Note: Ylang-ylang, clove, jasmine; Base Note: Sandalwood, tolu, vetiver. It is a beautiful and ethereal composition, the highest chakra, and for someone who shies away from white clothes and tight high end fitting garments I think I've finally found something I would have never thought to add to my collection, something that has taken me by surprise, it doesn't scream or shout, it simply says "me".

Jasmine and tuberose, but greened up and freshened with a watery, dewy aspect. A beauty and I’m a bit smitten. There are so many perfumes in the fresh white floral category. This one has a cool dewiness along with the counterpoint from syringa and green notes (is that blackcurrant bud too in the slightly off-key opening?) that give the perfume breadth and room rather than being just a tsunami of white flowers, differentiating it from Diptyque’s Olene for example. It’s more of a garden with jasmine and tuberose dominant and that dewiness setting it apart over a transparent base. And It’s more powerful than it first seems: one spray is all that's needed. Jardin Blanc shares the long-lasting, watery blackcurrant bud-syringa-hedione aspect (I’m guessing) of other Maître Parfumeur et Gantier florals, which also dates it a little though that doesn’t bother me. I love it and I think it's rather overlooked in their line-up.

Jardin Blanc is like a walk amidst waves of warmth and freshness brought by flowers. While wearing it I imagine myself in a forest lighted by sunrise, in the middle of treading a brook barefooted. The tidal movement is caused by the single notes in this beautiful scent: the coldness of jasmin paired with the warmth of tuberose; a fresh wave of green notes supported by the warmth of the spices; the warm embrace of ylang-ylang coupled by the fresh breeze of citrus. Woods all beneath supporting each and everyone. I wish this scent were more famous, it would be a joy smelling it in the people around us. I am happy I discovered it years ago and have started using it again now that autumn has come and intense scents are more appropriate for day wearing. Sillage is great, lasting power is excellent, very complex development. What do you ask for more?

Beautiful fragrance. So white, transparent, strong and sensual all at the same time. It's like a good girl trying to be a courtesan. Subtle yet powerful.

beautiful sweet white floral that is tuberose intense, ylang and some jasmine; that's mostly it

This is so tuberose-forward, it's hard to stomach. You can smell a faint bit of jasmine in the background, but wow. This is just so strong and not at all dynamic.

I happened today to bump into acompelling post on media saturation (back in the '90s) and oversaturation of social media today. Equally interesting has another post on the consequences on 20-something year-old kids of this social overexposure. In this climate, a perfume house is running a policy of not being part of this saturation phenomenon: no aggressive marketing, no scent releases one after the other, no reposts, but always kindly thanking any review done for their scents. This is something we should all think about. As usual any comments is much appreciated. Jardin Blanc is a very classy and classic jasmine scent. Have you ever walked during a end of summer night on a lushious garden? In thise times were summers were not so this prelude to Dante's inferno? That feeling of warmness, yetthe air starts to chill to the point that you need a light juniper to walk through the night? The breeze is carrying those very green notes that are common in many creations of this house (see Route du Vetiver for instance) together to the aroma of flowers. This is Jardin Blanc. It opens very refreshing with green notes that render the flowers masculine in feeling. There is no myrrh contrary to what fragrantica lists, but myrtle: crisp and uplifting, with a leafy aroma that evokes a Mediterranean garden; perhaps a little sharp and canforaceous, but this is what makes the floral bouquet interesting. Bitter I would say. The floral is an ensamble of 70% kind of indolic jasmine, with a touch of ylang and honeysuckle that enhace the other floral protagonist: the tuberose. It is lattiginous and narcotic, but not oppressing. The wonderful base of creamy sandalwood and resinous tolu balsam is rendered more edgy by a splash of vetiver. IG @alexolympia6

I live in an part of Southern California that had acres and acres of orange trees before the city grew to surround us. When the trees bloomed the whole area was awash in the scent of orange blossoms. Although Jardin Blanc has no orange blossom in the ingredient list, that is what I smell when I first apply it. Gradually, tuberose becomes more prominent. Although I generally dislike tuberose, here it is supported by other florals and the heavier base elements to produce a heartstoppingly lovely effect. Like a young bride on her wedding day.

Love it! I am not an expert in perfumes, I only know this is a beautiful fragrance!

It's a smoky crunchy tuberose with a low-key hairspray vibe.

Have this for sale, can ship in Europe :)