Patchouli Eau de Parfum

Surely patchouli deserves more love, compassion and understanding than the peacenik stereotype it generally garners. The enhancing power of this ‘green leaf’ continues to enrich perfume blends with its resinous, dark, musky, earthiness that resembles metallic, peppery wet soil; yet it barely receives any enduring love apart from being a retro comb-over for cannabis odours and hippie naturalism. More in part to its scent intensity, even in diluted form, a bit of patchouli does have a vigourous pull. Truly, its testament lies as a fixative note that often extends the life of other starring notes of the spectrum... Here from Molinard’s “les éléments exclusifs” line, we have a featured patchouli theme conveniently placed in the heart of the bill that is genuinely balanced. Molinard Patchouli upgrades itself as an EDP concentration that is pleasing, sensual and mysteriously androgynous. The opening kicks off with the soapy, honeyed blossom of neroli and the rosy green nuance of geranium bursting out of the gate, snared heartily by the engrossing star patchouli that culminates into a hypnotic, coppery aura; a truly, deeply, madly kind that resonates throughout the accord, revealing sexy leathery nuances till a base layer of a sweet musk, a dusty sandalwood, and a tasteful vanilla transition towards a ghostly cocoa finish. What remains is an alluring shadow play of magic that is seductive, bewitching and measured. Aww, to be tantalized!

Molinard presents a very enjoyable patchouli that satiates my senses. This frankly culminates into a straightforward scent but has some deep nuances: Patchouli, yes, woody, a bit raw to start and very subtly sweet, then drying smoothly with nuances of something like cacao/coffee with a slight edge of soil-like acidity. I feel like I'm sauntering into sommelier territory and over stating the subtleties -- I don't want to mislead you into expecting this to smell like chocolate or coffee. But it has an alluring shadow hovering about it. I don't get any obvious citrus nuances from neroli or orange, however because of the radiating balance it brings it reminds me a little of an old love, Prada Intense, but nowhere near as sweet. Geranium adds a little herbal touch that compliments this natural facet of patchouli. Sandalwood gives a little accent to the dominating patchouli, and a whisper of musk sands the edges just enough without stripping the beautiful woody texture. This is refined, an easy unisex wear and deep enough to be sensual. Big love.

W O W!! This is the patchouli perfume I have been looking for, for over 30+ years. I am beyond in LOVE!! Patchouli and vanilla are my two fav ingredients in fragrances. There are lots of great vanilla scents to please my palate, but I have a very hard time finding patchoulis I love. Most of the time it is either too "hippy", too dirty, too strong, too earthy, too medicinal, too much incense..... Molinard Patchouli is THE ONE!!! It is an balanced earthy and natural patchouli, blended with the perfect amount of sweetness and incense. It also lasts and lasts, but is not overly strong (as long as you do not over spray). The first 10-15 mins, there is that noticeable "medicinal" or mint scent that patchouli can give off, and honestly I do not love that with any patchouli perfumes, but luckily the medicine/mint/antiseptic note fades quickly, and then this scent smooths out and sweetens up, but retains everything I love about patchouli and loses everything I dislike about it! I am absolutely in LOVE with Molinard Patchouli!!!!

I love patchouli in all its forms, from amber/chocolately like Horizon from Oriza L Legrand, classic like Santa Maria Novella and dusty vintage like Hove New Orleans. This is an easy to like scent because its got some facets to it but undoubtedly patchouli. Blind bought, and the first time I sprayed I was kind of disappointed - it disappeared in a half an hour! So I sprayed some more. Then about 30 minutes later it came ROARING back! lasts all day and fab drydown (the tiniest hint of Horizon, which can be a lot sometimes....).

My first bottle quickly became a bit of an obsession. I found myself just putting a squirt on my wrist at bed time so that I could wake up during the night and have a little sniff and drift back to sleep with a smile on my face. I want just nuts about this fragrance. But when the 2nd bottle arrived, it was completely underwhelming. I can't really explain it - it was just way less appealing to me. I've just order Intense in the hope it might reignite my love of this fragrance with its slightly different blend.