Apothéose

My Honest Review - Oriza LeGrande - Apothéose EDP My skin type - warm toned and normal-oily skin. Perfume usually has a hard time projecting on me. My usual preferences: Chanel 5, Chanel 19, Reve D’Ossian. First impressions: wow! The top note has a topnote. Super aldehydic. Crisp. Fresh. Classic Chanel - instantly. Not No.5 but a sister fragrance to it. Then it settles into the real topnotes: White woods, and light crisp fresh spice. Definitely eucalyptus notes but not medicinal. Not “fishermans friend” strength eucalyptus. More like a breeze of eucalyptus. Expertly blended. Later impression: over time the aledhydes fade, return, fade again. Similarly to chanel classic perfumes. They are always there keeping a fresh feeling. They lighten up the musk notes. Nothing feels too heady. And there is a rose and white flower note too and a faintly cinnamon note - presumably benzoin toward the end. Very faint but it does brilliantly keeping the fragrance away from being a “cold” smelling perfume. Lasting impression: Sillage remains at arms length for an hour before pulling close. It is a truly beautiful perfume. I can see this on a wedding day being a surprise contender for a bride. Its classic. Fresh. And different enough that it feels like something new on your shelf. Is it worth it: Absolutely. Its beautifully complex, its fresh without being one note. Its floral without being a bouquet. Its spicy without being a stick of incence against your skin. It feels stylish and the bottle is (as always) gorgeous. If, like me, you are a classic chanel fan. Then you will more than likely love it. Edit: if you like New Look by Dior, you may well love Apotheose.

I love the immediate effervescence of Apothéose from its aldehydes, black pepper, and the light camphor of eucalyptus. I welcome this penetration of my senses as it lashes me until it transforms into a rosy caress and light nibbles from ylang ylang. Voluminous, mother-of-pearl musks are at the core here: I am reminded of Nivea cream, the slightest eager perspiration wearing a freshly laundered shirt starched with Niagara, and the cotton that's used to keep pills in a bottle fresh. Mind you, all of this is a positive in my book. The gauzy musks may prove to be vertiginous to the more fragile of noses, but for those like myself, who will gladly smother themselves in their large, globular molecules until left in a stupor. If you can survive through "sparkle, Neely, sparkle" (I have faith in you!) get ready to float in the powder-dusted magic bubble up to Cloud 9. If fragrances like Chanel 1957, White Linen, Creed Royal Mayfair, or Les Indesmodables Musc des Sables make your heart skip a beat, it would behoove you to get acquainted with the rousing Apothéose.

Opens as an effervescent ginger ale and bright floral bouquet. A dry, light amber grows to give everything an impression of higher-pitched solar incense. This is due more to the wafting effect of the fragrance than smoke (of which there is none). The effect is similar, in my memory, to Tauer’s Incense Extreme. Amber, light musks, talc-y powder, etc. in the drydown push into a seriously opulent, sultry, addictive territory. I feel emotionally attached to this phase, which lasts and lasts. Despite following a supposedly historic formula, Apothéose registers as far more avant-garde than I would expect from this house; a voluptuous high-modernism maybe? I like to think that Kiki de Montparnasse would have worn this. I didn’t think I’d like Apothéose at all based on the stated notes, but have been committed to trying as much as I can from Legrand. I was pleasantly surprised to have this enter my top-three house favorites.

As soon as I learned a new Oriza fragrance was out, I rushed to the boutique in Paris. I was not disappointed. Apothéose reminds me of a softer, rounder Chanel n°5. In fact, I once had a soap of the latter which, after some use, still smelled like n°5 but with a soapy note taking over the perfume notes. Apothéose smells exactly like that to me. I don't know why but the smell also reminds me of the marble chimney I had in my parisian bedroom as a child. It's very clean and soapy.

This one should really be listed with an aldehydic accord.

smells a lot like a herbal pharmacy with tons of teas and dried plants. reminds me of now extinct de tuinen in the netherlands. i love it but i dont want to smell like this. very unique however and it does not smell like eucalyptus essential oil which would greatly simplify and cheapen the experience. theres much more going on than the notes would make you think. not necessarily musky, and i really cant detect ylang ylang or rose. benzoin adds a resinous warmth but its not vanillic or ambery. Herbal shop is the best way i can describe this. its also a bit dusty which could be the pepper note. i detect other dried herbs as well. not kitchen herbs like rosemary or basil, but more tea like. I dont detect the aldehydes everyone mentions and i dont find it soapy at all. also not at all similar to chanel no 5... idk where they got that from but alright. longevity is great and performance is good. not loud but if this was any louder it would give headaches. its not fresh or sharp but TRULY dusty and dry. 8/10

This fragrance instantly transported me to the world of vintage green-and-white Marseille soaps; clean, pure, and nostalgic. It carries a faintly medicinal, sterile freshness, yet feels elegant and alive, as if luxury and simplicity coexist within the same breath. Beyond its unmistakable French character, it unexpectedly took me somewhere else entirely: a hotel room in Florence, perhaps from the 17th or 18th century; walls adorned with Florentine paintings, gilded frames catching the light, and a white bathtub placed right in the center of the room. The scent evokes that scene so vividly that wearing it feels like stepping back into that memory. I’ll reach for this beauty from time to time just to relive those moments and if I ever revisit Florence, this will be the fragrance I take with me. Edit: In the drydown, it develops a subtle mastic-like nuance, maintaining its freshness while revealing depth. Longevity is notably strong for such a clean composition. Tag(s): Sterile, soapy, apotheke, medicinal

I'm having a soap and aldehyde moment this wretchedly hot summer. I just ordered a handful of samples and this was one of them. I love the Oriza aesthetic and their retro and apothecary sensibilities. I don't own a single one, lol! This one has 2 distinct phases- a cool, aldehydic top note phase followed by a musky, somewhat waxy sweeter drydown. This is the 2nd perfume of theirs where I suspect they use the cold, churchy Relique d'Amour and then add a different base (the 2nd is Reve d'Ossian). I love Relique but I always thought of it as an isolated accord rather than a completed perfume. The top "Relique" moment is a whoosh of cool and fizzy aldehydes, somewhat soapy, similar to Chanel no 5 EDP or Le Labo Aldehyde plus the cooling, almost ozonic frankincense. The drydown which follows shortly thereafter becomes a musky/waxy/chalky iris-y thing. I was wracking my brains to figure out where I smelled this before, and it's been years, but strong resemblance to Stephane Humbert Lucas Kohl de Bahrain.

A perfume I almost bought, vol1 Once upon a time I ordered a sample of Apotheose. I gave it several tries and meanwhile it became a like, it didn't become a love. Opens with a mix of sharp and fatty really oldschool aldehydes and eucalyptus. Interesting, different and exciting. Where I lose my enthusiasm is the drydown where a funky musk note starts to peek in, and no, I don't have a problem smelling like slightly pissy musk in general, but in this case, the skank is not blended well enough with the sharp clean notes, at least not according to my taste, and the sum of its parts stears my brain towards the mental image of someone trying to cover up the smell of bodily fluids with air freshener. It's based upon a great idea though and I definitely think everyone should give it a try who likes the juxtaposition of aldehydes and animalics, it might be just right for you. I stick with Rogue 40 though, as long as I can find it on the market.

Luxury Fabulouso. Aldehyde explosion. Smells like fantastical fuschia blooms — think: the land of oz. It’s wildly soapy and clean, yet feels libertine and experimental. A mysterious and beautiful woman with big brown eyes and a crown of voluminous curly hair. That’s who I imagine when I smell Apotheose. Someone gregarious but graceful; ethereal but down-to-earth. Oriza has a way of picturing these oxymorons in the language of fragrance, with compositions that envelop you in a familiarity that feels altogether brand new. EDIT: not for my skin. the pepper turns a little bit dirty and it ends up smelling like febreze covering up a bad smell. So sad because it’s beautiful on paper. 😭

I always admire Oriza L. Legrand: who else would think of putting eucalyptus and benzoin together with black pepper and aldehydes? The result is a zizzy, sweet accord that isn't too syrupy, thanks to the black pepper. This is kind of an oddity, even though the house has tried to compare this to the classic aldehydic Chanels like No. 5. I guess it's more like that than anything else, but it's so much it's own thing there would be no mistaking the two, thanks to the camphor from the eucalyptus. You'd certainly stand out wearing this, but I doubt it will become a big favorite for many all the same because it is so unusual. To me this is more to be admired than it is a must-have.

Vintage Chanel vibes. Aldehydic and fizzy. I typically don't gravitate to this type of fragrance, but I like it. Not a love, but I think people who like Chanel no. 5 will like this a lot.

I don’t see the resemblance to Dia or No.5 as this is much more unusual, challenging, standoffish and unisex. The eucalyptus/pepper combo gives a green bitter/sour note that isn’t sitting well with me. Add benzoin and musk to this and it gives a fluffy cloud of marshmallow sweetness that makes for a sickly mix. Interesting but I can’t wear this for too long.

This one is really aldehydic floral soapy to my nose, not a sweet floral but more... astringent? The pepper is present adding to the sharpness without really adding spice. I didn’t get to the dry-down, I washed it off since it was giving me a headache. Not my cup of tea reminded me of the taste of lilac soap as a smell.

To my nose, the juxtaposition of pepper and eucalyptus smells like bay leaf on initial spray. The dry down mellows down to a dove soap like scent. Interesting but not a full bottle for me.

Veryyyy looooong lasting. My husband says at smells like Voltaren.😅 very particular parfym, not the cup of te of everyone.

Oddly, I don’t pick up on much of what the notes are suggesting aside from the benzoin which anchors the fragrance. On the initial spray, I get a mix of tea, and powdered makeup, and bubble bath. There’s also something reminiscent of some sort of candied citrus. I can’t think of anything I’ve smelled i could compare this to, except maybe ‘Muguet Fleuri’ which shares that same bubbly quality, but leans much fresher and airier. After about thirty minutes, the benzoin becomes overly warm and saccharine. It starts to feel suffocating. I ended up washing it off after an hour or so. This isn’t a bad fragrance, it’s just not in alignment with my tastes. I prefer Muguet Fleuri much more.

Sophisticated dove soap. High quality musk.

I SCOURED the internet to find more reviews on this because I blind bought it for a steal (a perfumerie was closing down and they had 50% off everything) but knowing what it is now, I would happily byy this again at full price. I am amazed this isn't hyped more. This is decadent. It is super sweet but still fresh and it is STRONG but not vintage smelling at all. It smells zingy/zesty and musky and a tiny bit powdery (like the Australian candy, musk sticks with a hint of zest from the ylang ylang), it is super aldehydic so it forms an ethereal cloud around you. I didn't have enough spring/summer scents and no 'clean scents' because I am an alternative girlie and I dont want to smell just like soap or fabric detergent and this is the perfect quirky clean scent for me. Oriza can have all my money, No.1 perfume house hands down 🥰

Apothéose! (deific exaltation; ...because who has time to be humble?) Derived from a 1900 Oriza L. Legrand formula, Apothéose! opens with a sublime accord of powdery amber, resin, and spices. A sweet cola note is also prominent. It is sheer delight to breathe in such richness. Clearly, the listed note pyramid is overly minimalized. There are many more nuances to be found here. Interesting coincidence: just a short while ago, that wonderful, old techno version of Carmina Burana by Apotheosis (Belgian remixers) played for me randomly (well, ...algorithmically).