Molinard de Molinard

This perfume is overlooked for no good reason. It has equal parts "big 80s" and "interesting niche" qualities. Except that it's good that it's overlooked - because now it *is* niche or at least underrated and vintage. I received a vintage bottle from ebay (the blind buy I was worried about most has turned out to be my favourite surprise!), and the Lalique design is spectacular. "Molinard de Molinard" is such a *French* name. . . oooo lala! Today is Easter Sunday and I wore Molinard for the first time in public: to a church service, then to brunch with the family. I dressed in a mint green eyelet shift dress, off-white jewelneck cardigan, white tights, and off-white suede flats. I wore my hair down in waves, berry lipstain, with soft glow makeup mostly from the Naked Basics by Urban Decay palette. I just wanted to be fresh, fresh, fresh, a little bit pretty ;) and a little bit demure but fun! I think I pulled it off entirely since this is how I would describe Molinard! In keeping with the French theme, I wore an oversized flower brooch, a copy of one made in France in 1810 that now resides in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Ooooo lala! Molinard has the potential to be called an "old lady" perfume because of its 80s yellow floral vibe, but it's all in how you wear it. I'm 30, and it suits me just fine for a daytime event in the spring, especially because the fruity notes really work well on my skin. I say "event", because I don't find it to be all that casual. And it's pretty, but not girly; it's womanly, but not sexy... therefore perfect for a lunch with family, church, afternoon tea with friends, or even a wedding. It's classy enough to go into the evening... but it is an original - you won't blend in although you won't offend - make sense? I've been able to smell myself all day and it's so pleasing! Even more pleasing is that my boyfriend was sitting right next to me and I asked him if he liked my perfume - but he couldn't smell it. I was relieved because although the scent gives a big impression, the sillage isn't all that crazy. It does have character; it's a bit demure, but no doormat! Crisp, yes, but not a refresher like another reviewer mentioned. I think of a refresher as a cologne, eau de toilette, or a soliflore Yardley water. The flowers and fruit have been going strong on me all day and I only applied 2 small dabs! It's certainly complex enough. This is real perfume. And it's really lovely. Happy Easter!

I've worn Molinard de Molinard as my signature scent almost since it was introduced. It was actually a replacement scent for me after Rafale, my very first perfume as a young woman, was discontinued. I occasionally alternated with the original Cristalle, but that's another story. The post-IFRA reformulation is weaker. Not doubt because the jasmine, among other ingredients, has been reduced/changed. That said, there is still a bit of that *special something* from the incense, lily of the valley (very strong on me) and green notes. It dries down a lot quicker than before and fades faster. It used to be that it left scent on my clothing and now it's nearly gone by the end of a workday. My comments apply to both the EDP and EDT, by the way. All that said, it's such a classic that I am having a difficult time replacing it with anything else. It's inoffensive and distinct and I have gotten away with wearing it around people who are allergic to scent with no comments whatsoever. How often can we find a perfume that achieves all of that and is so appealing? The fruit blends with the base notes under the florals in one of the most delicious formulations I have ever experienced. *** Update: I purchased two vintage Lalique bottles of the EDT via eBay. They smelled somewhat faded, one more than the other. The less faded one was certainly missing something when I dabbed it on so I thought I'd try layering with the reformulated EDT. First I got the stronger assertion of the floral notes - lily of the valley still the most noticeable on my skin. And 20 minutes in it has gone through a sharper phase and a quick turn of soap. It's starting to settle into some of the familiar softness of the heart and base notes. Editing what I said above, I think there are a few notes sorely lacking in the reformulation but the most noticeable to me may actually be in the base that had such a long life in the original. I will experiment a bit more to see what I can get out of these vintage bottles.

Habanita is so in your face that it is difficult to imagine this house being capable of producing anything soft or fresh. Molinard de Molinard is that freshness I was looking for. This really is a fragrance that deserves far more accolade than is given. I find this fragrance more green rather than fruity. It opens with crisp, sparkling citrus and soapy, green accords. It's a very classic smelling fragrance, like the reviewers have already noted. At first I thought that Molinard de Molinard may be a little one-dimensional, however I was wrong. The floral heart is quite pretty and feminine, though perhaps not feminine in the way you would expect. Lily of the valley, jasmine and narcissus tend to stand out to my nose the most, presented in a rather refreshing and green manner. The most intriguing aspect of the composition are the vetiver and incense notes, which create an earthy and smokey finish, which I personally adore. I love how Fragrance-Magic (on Fragrantica) described it as, "grassy incense", because that's exactly how I see it. It's refreshing enough for Spring and Summer, however the 'incensey vibe' makes me long to wear this in the Winter months too. I find it similar to Chanel No.19, just perhaps not as sharp. It's quite bittersweet in some ways, but lovely nonetheless. Molinard de Molinard captivates me in a way that is difficult to put into words. I don't usually like green scents, but with all that delicious ambery and incensey goodness, I cannot resist.

Molinard is a young, free spirited parisian « bourgeoise » from the seventies who has just come back from a week-end in the country and overslept. Her usually impeccable up do is askew and underneath her string of pearls and silk scarf, her skin is slightly sunburnt from enjoying the outdoors . She is not averse to frolicking in the hay barn when the opportunity arises and who cares if it leaves a few scratches on her arms and legs... If you shy away from wearing classics like Chanel 19 or Hermes Caleche because you find them too serious and sophisticated to be worn on a daily basis in 2015, yet would still love to own a fragrance with that silky vintage touch (and which is wearable in warm weather !), then Molinard is a must try. The green, humid and somewhat bitter( asa foetida ?) notes are what makes Molinard really stand out in my opinion. It smells like nothing else. Hermes Amazone could be a more assertive and formal distant cousin of hers though. Good lasting power, moderate sillage.

“People where you live," the Little Prince said, "grow five thousand roses in one garden... yet they don't find what they're looking for... They don't find it," I answered. And yet what they're looking for could be found in a single rose, or a little water..." I've found mine like a Narcissus finding its reflection in a little water falling in love with its image....Molinard is me in a bottle. Narcissus is quite symbolic here as a main accord note enchanting you with its green, floral voice permeated with deep, woody, earth-invoking vetyver dance. This one is my Rose. Molinard de Molinard is as beautiful as Aphrodite and as wise as Athena, she fills those empty places in your dreams making them breathtakingly ravishing and flawless. A highly sophisticated perfume, the essence of elegance....it's all there, just bask in all that Beauty that glows from one of the most beautifully created bottles. Molinard de Molinard is as sublime and ethereal as a highly lyrical poem.....walking in Beauty...

The fresh and verdant bouquet Molinard de Molinard is crisp, sparkling and soapy. Grassy and almost coniferous to start, it steers into the cool, vernal spring florals that often accompany such a yellow-green chypre: lily of the valley, narcissus, and so forth, rendered impressionistic. Think soft focus, Vaseline on the lens, with a dry feel like Muscadet. It's energy is casual and carefree, all maypole fun and sunny picnics on warm spring days that still have just a sliver of brisk chill in the air. It doesn't quite assert itself as others in its class, but that is its charm. It is a weekend easiness, an ethereal "set it and forget" until it reminds you with reassuring whiffs and wafts.

Some what in the shadow of it's more famous stablemate Habanita but in many ways just as worthwhile owing, different but still as wonderful.and a real find for fans of greens scents It starts of bitter like Private Collection ( galbanum and narcissus ) then the asafoetida cones through and it's the dead spit of Ivoire de Balmain, which makes it darn good in my opinion. It's also where the problem may lie for those detractors, if you can't abide the "Devil's Dung" then you're never going to be able to wear it. For those who LOVE this contraversal note, then it's a must. ( My bottles are the original Lailique b"frieze" style, date from the 80's & 90's and still perfectly fresh )

I just purchased a small (1oz.edt) bottle of this, and its lovely. I don't get a lot of 'fruitiness' from it other than the citrus right after spraying, but the florals are very fresh and green, exactly the way I like them! I have many Molinard fragrances, they are one of my favorite houses - well made perfumes for very affordable prices, and Molinard de Molinard is no exception!

I am at a loss for words to describe this beautiful creation. It is the blonde version of Habanita. It MAY inch out Habinita as my all time fav. I also have Clinique Wrappings and I can assure you that Molinard by Molinard is much more like First by Van Cleef and Arpels or Goldleaf by Thymes.

Oh Molinard how I've missed you...I got into a trading habit for a awhile and I traded this and immediately regretted it. This is a classic green beauty. So fresh and perfect for summer. Wear it with light fresh clothing and you will float on air...

I could forgive almost everything to she who is wearing this...

Late night perfume addiction strikes again. This is not yet a review - one will follow. I just purchased this completely blind, based on several factors. One - I love Molinard. This house just quietly carries on, making gorgeous, quality French perfumes at reasonable prices, and whether I like this or not, I can at least rest assured that it will not be due to any lack of artistry. Second, I have been expanding my collection of green fragrances, and finding that I love them. This newfound love began with Ma Griffe, and they share several notes. Third, I found a full bottle, new and with box, of the vintage version for a steal. I've seen this go on Amazon for over $100. Maybe it's vulgar to say this, but I got it from a reputable seller for $14. It seemed crazy not to take a chance. My biggest concern is that people have mentioned a pine-y note. I do not care for that type of "green", and hope it is not too aggressive on my skin. Everything else sounds enchanting, and several people have mentioned it performs well in the colder months, which is a bonus as I won't have to wait 6 months to wear if I like it. I will let you know how it goes. Fingers crossed... EDIT - Received. Relieved to say that the pine note does not come through, and the green note reads more like galbanum on me. My initial impression is of a fresh, though bitter green opening, somewhat herbaceous, that dries down to a lovely, spring-like green floral bouquet of Lily of the Valley. I think I will be able to wear this through early autumn as well as spring and summer. Similar to Silences in the beginning, but Silences dries very soapy on me (the EDT), unlike the smokier floral I get from MdM. In the end it resembles No. 19. Very pleased to have it in my collection among my other Molinards. Later today: got an unsolicited "Ummmmm... you smell good!" from my husband tonight. So apparently, men do find this attractive! ;)

Evesoho, your review enchanted me so much I had to try this. <3 There is a vintage vetiver green edge to the narcissus and perfect blend of the notes listed. It gives a happy, clean sunshine impression of yellow flowers, and has the added quality of a kind of odd verdant dampness that is Warm in chilly spring air. Some will probably not like this if they dislike vintage chypres or narcissus. For me, this is one of the only fragrances I can wear with that flower dominating, along with Van Cleef and Arpels First. I didn't have difficulty with it as I would with narcissus bulbs, yet Molinard is still true to the real essence. Once more I find my skin loves Molinard and my style does too. If you love fragrance and this brand, even if you find it's not "you", this is a fascinating vintage experience not to be missed! Moderate sillage and longevity.

I had a bottle of this in the late '80s and didn't wear it much. Years later I decided to give it another try, and unfortunately it had gone bad. I liked it, but wasn't crazy about it. Last year I bought a new bottle. Generally new bottles of older scents have been reformulated, but I honestly can't tell any difference between the 80s formulation and the current formulation. It is a wonderful green floral which, on me, takes awhile to settle on my skin. I don't get much fruit, just plenty of green, citrus, a touch of floral and oak moss. A lovely green floral for a warm summer day. I was shocked that it lasts 12 hours and after a shower! Great longevity and good projection. If you love sweets, this is not for you. If you love a green spritzer, yay!

Lovely green and fresh, not getting any fruit as suggested by the description on this page. I have a vintage bottle of Vivara which has lost some of its top notes, and I swear that this fragrance reminds me of my Vivara in her current state. I would recommend this to ladies who like vintage style fragrances which are not sweet and which have a green flavour, are slightly musky and perhaps a little sharp.

A brand with great history with the unbelievable affordable price. With that kind of price tag, I can spray as much as I want without feeling sinful. A classic green chypre of the 70s. Absolute agree it smells wealth and money. A perfect all day scents from office use to evening formal function. This is my Commoner Creed fragrance in my cosmetics cabinet.

I bought a second hand vintage bottle. It is very old Lalique one. I do not like it, it is almost nauseating with its rotting fruity grandma vibe. May be the vintage bottle is not the best representation of the scent. And yes I am ready for the rotten tomatoes now :-)

I heard there is a way to revive old perfumes by adding perfume alcohol. I will try to do it with MdM.

This is a review of the eau de toilette, unfortunately, the eau de parfum or perfume are no longer available. As an aside, be aware that almost every single eau de parfum they used to have is no longer available, from the Molinard website itself. The bottle I have is the large frosted ultra lovely Lalique bottle pictured on this page. Its commonly available with online retailers and its very, very afforable. It would be nice to get any of the notes listed at the top or base(except the black currants), alas, the eau de toilette only seems to have the middle notes. Its a little on the sharpish green side at first, then immediately tosses a bouquet of fresh cut garden flowers and a few black currants at you. They're not horrible or funerary flowers or cloying black currants but light, fresh (even ever-so-slightly soapy) and crisp, which makes Molinard de Molinard a nice, inoffensive little summer perfume. However, I feel it lacks character, which may be due to the eau de toilette problem detailed above. You really have to practically bathe in the stuff in order to derive the scent, and it gallops out of your immediate environment within an hour or two, trailing nothing but a few memories of flowers. The eau de toilette is a pleasant after shower summer refresher, but, alas, nothing special.

Molinard de Molinard is: light chamomile, yellow apple, subtle musky notes, pure lily of the valley, clean fresh notes of mountain air, and yes, little apple blossoms, plus lightweight green herbal notes like galbanum, warm at the end. A chamomile bar soap. Nice and feminine. A jump back in the 70s. Remember me a purified innocent version of Silences. Even is the perfume is very well built I find it a bit dated, a bit, hairspray, a bit bath freshener. Blind buy not suggested. I have it just for the bottle by Lalique. Surely the industry of perfume for house has copy this kind of fresh flowery perfume of the 80s (‘79 this one) to "aromatize" product for the bath, deodorants for the house, conditioner for towels, shampoo, and unfortunately the result is that many fresh fragrances, revolutionary born, year by year, by mind associations, becomes unwearables like a Glade jelly bar that you hide under the W.C. The 30ml bottle I own is satinée on the women relief and transparent under the script and on the neck.