La Pluie

Ooops, I did it again! Saw a good deal online, read a few reviews on Fragrantica and then went in for the kill. Well, the blind buy, that is. At the same time I blind bought Arpege, thinking it's one of the classics I should give a try. When will I ever learn? You may think this is a prelude to a general lamentation on the failings of blind buys in general and La Pluie in particular. Actually that is not the case. Blind buying is probably unwise, but can be strangely satisfying, pretty much like indulging in chocolate. When the parcel arrived, I sprayed La Pluie on one wrist and Arpege on the other. As they settled, I noticed that they were in fact sisters, or at least cousins. Arpege was full bodied and bold, while La Pluie was delicate but of strong personality. It was as if Arpege had leaned down over a pool of water to catch her reflection, and found - La Pluie! Just like so many others, I find nothing acquatic about this fragrance. It is the strong ylang ylang combined with jasmine and white flowers which define La Pluie, and that's also the source of resemblance to Arpege. I decided to bring my bottle of La Pluie to work, thinking this would be the perfect scent for office: Soft, remarkably energising and with moderate sillage and longevity. It turns out to have been a brilliant move, since I have never received so many compliments ever. Just the last couple of days, colleagues have said things like "I followed your trail of scent down the corridor; it is absolutely amazing", and "What's that skin lotion you're using? It is so lovely!" Apparently I underestimated the sillage? UPDATE September 2018: Still my most complimented perfume ever!

What does smells the rain? Maybe La Pluie Miller Harris. La Pluie means rain in french. Here it is summer rain, gentle & floral. To me thus smells a lot flowers after the rain. I must say also that the scent has a smooth flowing sounding : bergamot, fresh Provence lavander and citrus notes gives an ozony airyness. And an accord of wheat creates summer warmth and loveliness. it's like lying in a field in high wheat where near the ground grow mellow strawberries, sage and camomiles. And you inhale the smell of wheat, wildflowers and of the ozone pre-rain wind. It smells expensive and extremely natural. (In general this brand it has naturalistic sounding ) Que sent la pluie ? Peut être La Pluie de Miller Harris. Ici, c'est la pluie d'été, un douce et un floral. Pour moi, ainsi sent beaucoup de fleurs après la pluie. Je dois dire aussi que le arôme a un lisse de sonorité : bergamote, lavande provençale fraîche et notes d'agrumes donnent la légèreté de l'ozone. Et l'accord de blé crée la chaleur et le charme de l'été. Comme si vous couches dans un champ dans un haute blé où près de la terre elle-même pousse des fraises mûres, de la sauge et de la camomille. Et vous respirez arôme du blé, des fleurs sauvages et du vent d'ozone avant la pluie. Cela sent cher et extrêmement naturelle. (Générale, cette marque a un sonnant naturaliste ).

Such a pretty fragrance - like the fresh breath of a garden after the rain. Without having seen the note list, I was sure that this was absolutely packed with orris butter and that's where the bread-y/yeast-y aspect was come from. Instead it seems to come from actual wheat! I'm scratching my head trying to smell the ylang. Perhaps the simple fact that I love this is enough to indicate it's presence, as ylang is by far my favorite floral note. On me, this was fresh (maybe this is what they mean by "aquatic"?) sweet and floral, light and simple. It didn't seem to evolve much but is one of these durable, unperturbable accords that that smells unique, quietly beautiful and fresh for hours regardless of circumstance. Edit: Wearing this again at a more standard dosage rather than my tiny testing spray and all I can think is "How Is It I Didn't Smell The YLANG?!?!" This is almost a ylang soliflore. I guess it speaks to how different perfume smells at different concentrations and expectations. It's still very beautiful. The pairing of wheat and ylang is pure genius. It smells like ylang but distorted by the wheat in a way that removes all the rubbery weirdness and emphasizes the fresh prettiness. Such a love.

La Pluie is such a beautiful floral fragrance. The ylang reminds me so much of my vintage Samsara, but a more versatile, softer and more natural composition that can be easily worn to the office or in close quarters, keyed way down. I find ylang ylang such an alluring flower with its rich, buttery headiness and indolic vegetal, green undertones, much as icecube describes as dandelion leaf. It's humid, fatty, voluptuous, but then tempered with white flowers and a soft, airy vanilla. The lavender and citrus notes are not overt but add some aromatic interest that lifts La Pluie into sweet, dynamic vapor. Cassia bark (cinnamon) and vetiver also balance this fragrance with a little earthy dryness so that the florals don't languish heavily. Wheat is not discernable. Perhaps it adds a romantic allusion like the sweet aroma from a fresh baked loaf of bread. In any event, La Pluie is that romantic scent -- beautiful, alluring, feminine, lush, wearable, floral, woody, balmy, vanillic, magical.

I really like this scent. It is intriguing. Unusual. Ylang ylang is quite a strong note but it is tamed by the wheat, vanilla and tangerine. The tangerine is second only to the ylang. Ylang with mandarin orange zest. Gradually the vetiver surfaces along with the mock orange blossom and lavender. The ylang has disappeared along with the wheat off into the distance. It is now more of a light aromatic scent with a curious wheat aspect that stops it being too aggressive. It now reminds me of the smell of sun warmed plastic toys or swimming pool inflatables. Before you know it Pluie has evolved again. Now there is the oriental lily scent. I kid you not! Extraordinary stuff. I can see why folk speak of Miller Harris genius. Is it unisex?. If you want something a bit different then this is it. Do test before purchasing though. I get moderate sillage and longevity in this warm room. I can see myself wearing this one on warm evenings. It's a casual wear number but it is also alluring.