Jardin d'Ombre (Fortnum & Mason Exclusive)

Here is the description from the sample order page on the OJ website. "The sumptuous windows of Fortnum & Mason are filled with all aspects of a sybarite’s delight; you enter into a kingdom of visual feasts. Jardin d’Ombre is a beloved scent inspired by walks around this exotic experience. The fragrance is created by using very high concentrates of sandalwood for softness and patchouli for intense spiciness. Harmonic notes of flowers, Moroccan rose for sweetness, orange absolute for warmth. Finally, amber for underlying sensuality that serves to fix the whole potion together creating a mystical Jardin d’ Ombre; Fortnum & Mason in a bottle. Head: Orange Absolute, bergamot, Sicilian lime Heart: Orris, Jasmine, rose, orchid oil Soul: Sandalwood, musk, amber, patchouli" I am not sure how to comment on the idea of a perfume based on a shop I do not know but its shifts and swirls do recall walking around markets, souks and some of the more exotic old fashioned shops and cafes `i have known (In Yorkshire this would be 'Bettys' and 'Lewis and Cooper') The patchouli is pronounced and is perhaps the nicest I have ever smelled and the sandalwood is a huge feature, infinitely smooth and deep whilst the iris - a tricky note for me - is beautifully restrained and green. This is warm, inviting, lush and yes, a bit exotic.

Skilled all-round player but not perhaps a master in any one field. Because this is beautiful all over, though not particularly distinctive in any particular dimension. Overall it comes over as an opulent, upscale, characterful amber with that distinct Ormonde Jayne herbal pepperiness (exceptionally classy patchouli, I guess) and just enough citrus and leaf notes to stop the sweetness from cloying. Still not quite as distinctive or lovely as some more decided, more odd products of the house (thinking of OJ Man & Woman and Tolu here) and not even close to the barnstorming originality of its beasts like Montabaco or Nawab of Oud. Longevity's fairly impressive - at first I thought it had mostly faded out by 4-5h, but in fact was still puffing out the occasional whiff of lovely as late as 8-9h in. So this adds up to a truly adaptable and welcoming comfort scent that's firmly reassuring, without ever getting bland. Its horrendous price might shatter your calm, though - and it's not as unique as all that. Worth trying if you are trying to pin down exactly what kind of amber works best for you.

A very transparent citrus-floral (lime, bergamot, neroli) with green facets and a nice lift of anise and aldehydes. Refreshing and diaphanous rather than deep. A bit hard to pin down; more of an abstract "smell" than reminding me of any place or thing. Though much of the note list makes this look like it's a heady, opulent scent the vibe I get here is sheer and weightless; a descendant of sparkling floral chypres like Cristalle, Odalisque, and Promesse de L'Aube.

A nice, if uninspiring mix of citrus and amber, with weak performance.