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.

La Pluie (the rain).....I love this perfume and let me tell you why....I love summer rain, I love it since I was a child. I love to feel the raindrops falling on my face - it has always made me smile (maybe I’m odd, but I avoid to use umbrella when it rains ;-)). And I love the smell of wet earth, trees and flowers, the odor of dusty raindrops and the sensation of warm humidity all around you....La Pluie is all this, perfectly captured in the bottle... La Pluie is gentle, but complex. It opens with damp woody lavender-vetiver and evolves into sweet powdery ylang-jasmine-vanilla composition. I do not detect it aquatic in any stage, it’s humid, wet but not aquatic...I would categoeize it as aromatic floriental perfume. It has a bit similar vibe as Apres l’Ondee, but less severe. La Pluie's wearer loves rain, enjoys it, while who wears AlO waits the rain be over (I love both, though!)... Silage moderate, longevity 6 hours.

Blind bought, and not regretting it one bit. Somehow the flowers manage to be warm and cozy as well as seem fresh and in bloom at the same time. Not just for women, I feel this is a floral a man can wear very comfortably if he would be inclined to do so. I know I am. Personally I do not pick up on the aquatic part. Like someone said earlier I too was kind of afraid of this being aquatic like some designer scents for men are, but nope, I'm not getting any of that. There is some sweetness to it, but it seems to be just the right amount. Almost feels like the natural sweetness from the flowers even though there's the very, very subtle vanilla in the drydown. Really enjoying this one. Glad I got the bigger bottle, because this one will be seeing a lot of use this summer and coming fall.

I love this scent, and I'm not even a ylang-ylang fanatic. But it's rendered here beautifully, and the dry-down is where La Pluie really happens: a slightly dirty rain, definitely a humid summer rain, with an expertly blended vanilla and vetiver base that is well-balanced. The vanilla doesn't go syrupy and the vetiver doesn't go harsh. It's just a gorgeous humid aromatic floral. I wear La Pluie in warm rainy weather, and my cool rainy weather scent is L'Ombre Dans L'Eau. They're incredibly different but they both evoke a dampness, just in different ways. I love having go-to rainy day scents that seem to complement the weather. For me, neither are at their best in hot, dry weather or extreme cold, so I look forward to the rain since it's a treat for me to splash on these favorites!

No idea why this is categorized as Floral Aquatic. Vanilla Floral or Yellow Oriental or whatever is more like it....Thank goodness the aquatic horror word didn't stop me from taking a chance by ordering blind. La Pluie is a warm fluffy vanilla ylang ylang cloud, a balanced composition that reminds me of a warm tropical yet not necessarily humid environment. It feels pleasantly powdery on me. During the first hour or two, projection was noticeable but then it mellowed down to a skin scent. I don't get much of a green or wet vibe here. It's a snuggle up scent, sophisticated - if I didn't know I might have mistaken it for a Guerlain. One of my best blind buys ever (and I made many) as well as a Miller Harris that blows me away.

Donning La pluie in a rainy and grey morning, perhaps, is the most sensual experience one can have. Green, very green opening of ylang ylang then a dash of warm vanilla, yet won't suppress the delicate dry vetiver. Imagine waking up in the heart of a rainy tropical jungle, seeing mosaic of the blue and dark green atmosphere under the old trees, hearing the water slightly dripping on the thatched roof, maybe thunder rumbling somewhere, smelling big rotten pieces of wood wafting in the humid air, and feeling the warmth of your beloved... A scent that is both self-indulgent and inviting enough not to make your lover feel left out. La pluie is a beautiful scent indeed, and the nose behind it is truly a genius.

I’m so pleased to see a large spray sample and I’m able to spray it on vs. daubing. Ylang Ylang can sometimes come across like a cheap cocktail, but in La Pluie it’s mixed evenly with other notes. In particular, the vanilla used makes this perfume feel creamy and full bodied. Lyn Harris is an underrated perfumer, she’s one of my favorites. La Pluie is a stunning, fresh, tropical floral scent.

Beautiful and mysterious fresh floral, the unisex part is due to the vetiver note I guess. The scent comes and goes for a long time and is very work friendly, not loud or tiring at all. What makes La Pluie most interesting is a certain - discrete - "sourness", which is better understood in humid weather. A love and a must try for me.

Despite the name, I'm not getting anything watery or aquatic at all - and I'm totally fine with that. I get fleshy white florals, humidity, tropical flashbacks and sweetness. When I wear it, it feels warm and lived in, as though I put it on yesterday.

two words: ylang ylang it is lovely... like looking at a beautiful female statue sparkling in a fountain on a hot day. a truly beautiful rendition of ylang, jasmine and green woods. yes aqueous. wet flowers. it is not turning into a floriental on me (phew!) the vanilla is light and fixes the greens in the composition, and lifts the florals. it isn't adding sweetness that isn't already there. there is the green sweetness from the ylang, but nothing gourmand going on. it doesn't smell like "Petrichor" = "the smell of earth after rain". for some reason, i expected this...mostly because Harris's l'air de rien smells like petrichor! there's no sweet musty hot damp/dry soil vegetal thing going on. this is indeed rain. summer rain...in a flower garden, dripping over massive wet shiney leaves in a steamy place where the flower scent lingers all day long. ylang is used for relaxation, balancing hormones and lifting dark moods, as well as being considered rather romantic. so if you love ylang, then you truly must give this a go! enjoy....and relaaaaaxxxxx....whilst listening to the pitter patter of raindrops. EDIT: i've been wearing this non-stop since it arrived...it seems i cant get enough of that Ylang Ylang. what a perfume! day or night. This is different to all the other florals in my collection. unusual and really pretty, yet slightly intoxicating (in a good way). i love the Miller Harris perfumes i have.

Well, it doesn’t smell like rain of in any way ozonic or watery. It is an interesting, quite mild mannered yet complex scent, where its difficult to focus onto the individual notes. On me, It does not change much from the initial spray. It sits close to the skin, if it is rain its more like a sudden spring shower that rains just long enough to make the leaves wet. Its quite private, discreet, like a private moment in your conservatory. I can’t smell the citruses at all, I smell the wheat and a bit of lavender, but the lavender is not the sharp lavender you often get, its all very soft. There is a certain unisex quality to it. Its almost like the perfumer would have wanted to re-create a memory, a moment in time to be put into a bottle. Its like walking through the wet driveway and the foliage to your house, carrying fresh baquettes and all these different scents somehow come together. Its not very flowery, the flowers are in the garden and you just walk past them, and because it just rained you smell them even less. Its more of an impressionist painting. And it almost smells like it was not quite finished, a few more brush strokes, another layer of colour could have added more. Am I making any sense?

I blind bought this one. Again! This is not something I would have bought with prior testing but it has grown on me a lot. That perfume has a colour and it's deep yellow. At first I can detect damp wheat grass and florals. I lived half of my life next to wheat fields and I can detect something in there that reminds me a wheat field under intense Summer rain. Then comes the tropical accords, Ylang-ylang, jasmine, all softened by vanilla. The vanilla note makes this perfume easy going and friendly. The only "rain" aspect in this perfume is the damp wheat grass. La Pluie as a perfume name can be misleading. This is an abstract perfume, not something straightforward. This is a refined tropical-floral-yellow (it's all mixed up) perfume that is quite long lasting. 1 spray in hair, 2 on body and you'll smell strong for a day. For an office setting 2 sprays in my hair and it's heavenly.

Finally found a bottle of this one! It's more woody than I thought it would be. I can definitely smell ylang ylang mixed with wheat accord. I guess wheat gives that woody undertone. I wanted to have this perfume because I saw people voted that this one reminds them of Rain Cloud by Perfumer H (which I'm absolutely obsessed with it) but I don't find them that similar. Yes they are both ylang dominant perfumes but with different takes on it. Rain Cloud is more floral, pollen like and La Pluie is woodier and "drier". (I prefer Rain Cloud) When I smell La Pluie I'm not getting any association with the actual rain but rather hot summer day near wheat fields.

As a few already mentioned, the opening is very green, it takes me back to early spring when the first tiny leaves start to show on the birch trees. Very fresh and quite safe. Then something happens. I just smelled my wrists again and the white flowers have just come forward. They are very subtle and there is something smokey to it too. A very nice every day scent.

On my skin it's a more powdery and subtle version of Chanel No19. Not as sharp green, but mild, cold, natural powder. Very nice!

Miller Harris is one of my current favourite fragrance houses (along with Penhaligon's and Guerlain). Although not as bold or surprising as some of their other gems, La Pluie shares what to me is MH's defining characteristic: a kind of damp dustiness, usually green and aromatic. Judging by many Fragrantica reviews, perfumes certainly seem to us enthusiasts to have personalities - or at least, to magnify facets of their wearers' personalities - and La Pluie reminds me of a kind and gentle friend; a good listener who is both calming and cheers you up. La Pluie is sweet and soft, warm and comforting as an everyday scent, but still unusual enough never to feel boring. Dies down quickly to a skinscent, which lingers the better part of a day as a sweet and slightly spicy ylang-ylang. I wish the wheaty opening lasted a bit longer. This is a scent I reach for on autumn and spring days, in the rain.