Les Indes Galantes

Personal: 10/10 – It’s a winter masterpiece unlike any other. It’s absolutely to die for. Mass appeal: 9/10 – Everybody will enjoy you wearing this fragrance. It’s safe, easy to wear, and smells like old money. Just don’t go too heavy on the sprays. Performance: 7.5/10 – It sticks around as long as you need it to, but not more. For the dark, sweet, resinous kind of fragrance it is, I’m a bit surprised it doesn’t last longer. Value: 5/10 – It’s hideously expensive, which should earn it a 2 or 3, but it’s so good that, to me, it wouldn’t be the worst use of a few hundred dollars. I can name a dozen PDM fragrances that are similarly priced that I like infinitely less. Uniqueness: 8.5/10 – Takes familiar DNAs (Spicebomb, Layton, Tobacco Vanille) and makes them richer, deeper, and more polished. SCORE: 80/100 Full bottle buy? YES, absolutely. Even if you own all the above mentioned fragrances, it’s still a great, though similar, addition. Blind buy? YES, it’s as safe as Spicebomb, buuuut make sure that you like the fragrances I’ve mentioned and know what DNA you’re getting into. For its price, it’s an expensive mistake. Recommend? YES, 100 times yes. Even if you don’t buy a bottle, a 2ml decant of this would be well worthwhile. Date night? YES, absolutely—warm, resinous, and luxurious. Office safe? NO, too rich and resinous for a professional environment. Pros: Wintertime perfection, one of the best winter fragrances out there. Amazingly wearable, and it carries itself so well. It’s beautiful. Cons: Particularly expensive, but you get what you pay for at least. Wish it was slightly better performing. For my fifth review, let’s talk about one of my absolute favorite fragrances. This takes everything I love about Spicebomb, marries it with some Layton vibes, and makes it 3x better. It’s sweet, it’s spicy, it’s super resinous and it’s GLORIOUS. It’s got some frutiness that pairs beautifully with the vanilla, woods, and sweetness, but doesn’t give off the same dried fruit smell that Tobacco Vanille does. To me, this might just be THE winter fragrance. It’s loud, it’s proud, and it smells amazing. I cannot rave highly enough about this. If you love Angel’s Share, Tobacco Vanille, Spicebomb, Layton, and other similar fragrances, you’ll like this one at the very least, if not fall hopelessly in love with it, as I have. One of the most beautiful fragrances I’ve ever smelled. *Review #5 in my fragrance journey – this fragrance I own as a decant*

Based on the previous reviews, this one seems to be polarizing. I will start by saying that I understand the negative responses; it is entirely true that this starts out smelling alarmingly like a Christmas candle. The sour fruit, sweet notes, and spices initially combine to create this odd impression, BUT once the sour fruity top notes wear off, Indes Galantes turns into a comforting spiced vanilla that smells a lot less like walking by Bath & Body Works in December and a lot more like a proper oriental fragrance. In fact, once it dries down, it is quite addictive; the powdery and resinous facets become a perfect counterpoint to the sweet spiciness, making Indes Galantes feel so ever so cuddly...and quite a bit more perfume-y than it initially appears. I definitely see myself snuggling up with a cozy blanket and good book in front of a fireplace in a sweet soft cloud of this powdery loveliness. That said, while I will happily finish my sample, I don't see the need for a full bottle. It does perform reasonably well, lasting a full day of wear (and a shower!) with soft to moderate projection, but I have plenty of less costly cuddle fumes...but this one is hard to beat in terms of projecting QUALITY

A very evocative perfume that recalls Christmas and gives emotion. A combination of spices and sweetness of orange, almonds and many sweet things in the air... sure creates an atmosphere of celebration and serenity around you. This scent warms the soul, the drydown is truly unforgettable,romantic... I have nothing else to say, hard to describe. I love it! Sillage: 7.5/10 Longevity: 8./10 Scent: 9./10 Overall: 9./10

I am a man who normally is not into gourmands, yet I am obsessed with this gourmand leaning perfume that is marketed as 'feminine'. Yes, it starts out very cinnamon croissant like, but later the cloves and benzoin take over and I can't think of anything else anymore than putting on a warm sweater, playing old vinyls and drink chai tea.

Thanks to a generous perfume fairy, I now have a decant of this and it is perfect . Just a beautiful, perfect spice perfume. To those whom it didn't work for, feel free to send it my way, haaaa!

smelles like mulled wine, 10/10. super nice christmas gourmand!

Based on the reviews below, I expected to dislike Indes Galantes. In hindsight, I should have remembered that my olfactory system usually reacts to warm, sweet, spicy, gourmand vanillas with delight... The notes of "Indes Galantes" are indeed those commonly associated with Christmas season in certain parts of the world. Although the sticky orange marmalade is particularly dominant during the first 30 mins, it gradually disappears as the perfume matures on skin. Always strongly present, however, is the honeyed gourmand vanilla and the baking spices (cinnamon, cloves...). To me, there is also a VERY prominent note of leather and a noticeable hint of incense. In short I like Indes Galantes! A lot! It's not a Tihota-grade love (Tihota has been The One for years), but I would certainly love to wear this occasionally during the colder months. Longevity is stellar, especially if sprayed on clothes, though sillage is low to moderate.

An almond opening, but it just seems a bit off. A bit of orange zest. Then, the balsamic sweetness of benzoin and labdanum incense. A vanilla sweetness. It's very light for this type of perfume. The spices never really project, just stay in the background. A vanilla, nutty, and slightly spicy incense...soft. The leather picks up in the drydown. Vanilla labdanum sweetness. Buttery, spiced almond by the end. I really like it, but it's just not strong enough.

Yeah, initially, it smells like a Christmas scent, but that part doesn't last long. It eventually morphs into a Shalimar-like oriental before settling down to a saof and spicy vanilla base. I love MDCI. They use quality ingredients, and it shows in every MDCI scent I've tried.

Smells deep and sensual. Warm, sweet, and spicy. Smells a little like christmas cake as mentioned below or gingerbread that's light on the ginger. That said it's so spicy and woody that I think people who don't like gourmands would like this one. -

Carnation and clove dominate. Warm and multifaceted, quality perfume.

Les Indes Galantes is a jewel-bright glossy berry tart with a sweet almond filling. It’s juicy and creamy at the same time. There’s a moment that feels like a phantom stewed peach, too. It only gets sweeter over time — very vanilla —but manages to hang on to a rich creamy texture all the way to the end without going tinny or harsh. I generally find sweet gourmands too tacky/silly to wear, and you will definitely smell like dessert wearing Les Indes Galantes. But a very high-quality French dessert. (Don’t look for spices or even a touch of “Indian” aesthetics. Despite the marketing, this is 100% patisserie.)

Oh my... I didn't read the review by Arabian Knight before trying this perfume, but he/she is spot on with the Yankee Candle/yuletide spices comparison. Les Indes Galantes (The Amorous Indies) smells EXACTLY like all that. I can't imagine even Santa's helpers would want to smell like this! Just wow.

A syrupy mush of Yankee candle vanilla, cinnamon chewing gum and garish yuletide spices. Tacky, cloying and charmless, less perfume than a Christmas tree fragrance oil. I'm surprised that MDCI would produce something like this. It's obnoxious.

Warm spicy with a freshness of leather and coriander. It's a no for me. I have a 1 mL sample if anyone is interested.

Overly candied cinnamon. It is a sticky cinnamon blend with kind of cloying sweetness. It has sticky vanilla, overly sweet sticky syrup, cinnamon, oranges, bits of almonds. I can't detect cloves, benzoin, or incense cause the cloying syrups are ruining the blend quite big! I can't say it's awful cause i remember in nov 2017 i had it on plotter and when i visited it again (after 3 hours) it was mellowed and quite beautiful with a very balanced sweetness, and mild spices. The question is, does it worth waiting 3 hours to reach that balanced smell! Everytime i am trying to purchase a full bottle of MDCI (Peche Cardinal, or Cuir Garamnte) i just step back after applying them on my skin and doubt my choice to having a full bottle and i believe it's because of 2 main things: 1+ When first applied, it goes quite impressive and charming for a certain time. After around 20 minutes, it stays quite powerful and it does slightly change a bit within it's frame and become kind of boring yet powerful & suffocating. 2+ It doesn't worth a 100 ml bottle, if it were 30 ml i would definitely go for one. After all it's a nice brand, but there is something wrong is happening in their line! they will be quite smart if they start producing 30 or 50 ml of their fragrances.

Looking at these notes, I was expecting something much heavier, more gourmand and syrupy, but that's not to say I'm disappointed - quite the opposite. It is like a delicate, airy Christmas cake, recipe perfected over the years, with just enough subtle spices (cinnamon and clove very light to me) fresh lemon zest, almond essence and candied fruits and barely any sugar giving it the perfect balance of spices and just a whisper of sweetness. The goal being to appreciate the subtle harmony that will delight - and not overload - your senses. That said, the dry down is more clove and incense dominated, but still understated, (and that's in warm weather!)

This is like nothing I have ever sniffed before; totally original. It's worth noting that this is a straight up masculine fragrance; I would be frightened of the woman who would try to pull this off. That said, if I caught whiff of this from a man my first impressions would be: high maintenance; commando not briefs; top shelf not beer. Let's talk about cinnamon. I have a hard time liking this note and I don't know why. I love food sprinkled w/ cinnamon, but I don't love the idea of walking around emanating a food item. To me, Les Indes plays as a smoldering, suggestive spice, and now we are back to high maintenance man...

• Les Indes Galantes is vanillic sweet, but not "classic" sweet cinnamon as I thought watching on a listed candies, vanilla, orange, raspberries etc. • Now trying a sample it's understood why Les Indes Galantes is listed in aromatic spicy group and not gourmand one. • LesIG is more dark and thick pure essential cinnamon, clove and benzoin oils scent and I would listed very prominent leather note more on a top for sure. • This is vanillic pure aromatic spicy cinnamon in a real leather jacket pocket :)

This is a very sugary sweet fragrance, with a bit of coriander and spice. Smells like some kind of orange candy to my nose. Not unpleasant but incredibly heavy on vanilla and other sweet notes, some might find it cloying or juvenile. A bit of the incense and leather peeks through but not enough sadly. Leans very femme due to the sugar overdose.