Ormonde Woman

Druidess of the HEMLOCK TREE, this witchy women scent is also a shape-shifting gender bender that could easily be worn by anyone. Opens with a burst of grassy green spiced with coriander & cardamom that deepens into a tsuga-violet-jasmine heart, resting on a tree-sap base of cedar-sandalwood, vetiver and amber. One part vintage oriental chypre, one part green vanilla and one part amber-spicy. To my nose this falls somewhere between the soft presence of Gypsy Water Byredo, the amber spiciness of Mania Armani 1999 & the green & sweet tree scent of Un Jardin En Mediterranee Hermes. My first impression a year ago was that this is a 'Chanel-styled' chypre, opening with faint spicy notes. However, just when you feel you're about to deep-dive into a warm spicy pool, you instead skate gracefully around the pool's infinity edge and back again, leaving a trail that wafts gentle spices that dissolve into powder. I had initially got this about a year ago because it was reviewed as similar to Mania Armani 1999. Back in the day I had a sample of Mania Armani 1999 but when I went to purchase it, it had already been discontinued. For those looking to replace a long lost favourite, Ormonde Woman may not provide a satisfying experience of this nature. Before I got a vintage bottle of Mania Armani 1999 I didn't think these were similar, but now when I compare it to the vintage they are quite similar. AM has a bolder approach but there are similarities with coriander & resins. A year later, my bottle has had time to mature, and I've come to appreciate this scent more. This remains a present but understated scent to my nose, in the manner of scents like Gypsy Water Byredo, although with a different profile. The opening burst of grass & spices overlaying the tsuga-violet-jasmine heart reminds me of a green, leafy fig and the opening of Un Jardin En Mediterranee Hermes. The drydowns are different however, with UJEM getting a sweeter ripening fig, while Ormonde Woman has some sweetness but goes in more of a tree-sap direction with cedar-sandalwood, vetiver & amber. Both have a faintly soapy note within the green tones. Overall: This is a versatile & beautiful, well-balanced scent with good longevity & a quiet projection. Perfect scent to wear for channelling the Tuatha de Danann. it's a love for me. Enjoy!

This is a review in Defence of the Ormonde Jayne line, in particular OJ Woman which is in my opinion a sensitively and well crafted perfume. There's a legend about a Uighur princess who became the Qing dynasty Emperor Qianlong's concubine. It is said that when she was born, a mysterious fragrance emanated from her skin; a kind of natural skin scent that exuded from her pores. Such a cultural treasure was the princess that she was given to Qianlong in a political marriage, where she earned the title of "Xiang Fei" - the fragrant concubine. She is an actual historical figure, one can visit her mausoleum today, though whether her skin gave off an organic aroma is another matter. When I wear OJ perfumes, this is exactly what I'm reminded of. The nose behind this perfume is Geza Schoen, the perfumer who made Molecule 01. If one takes into account OJW as part of the oeuvre of Schoen, it's much easier to understand why the sillage is so soft, why people are generally underwhelmed by its effect. As with Molecule 01, I believe the philosophy behind OJW (and some of the other soliflores in the collection) is that perfume should be conceived as another layer in one's personal Aura. This is perfume as aura, not perfume as perfume. This perfume will not announce your presence even before you step into the room. This perfume will not be so distracting you feel like you're talking to the perfume rather than to the person wearing it. This perfume is not a presence on par to its wearer, like a disembodied being following its wearer around. Rather, it extends your presence, adds another sheath to your aura, rainbow-fying you, sprinkles a bit of gold dust to make you shimmer. A close skin scent that you detect only when engaged in a personal face to face conversation. It makes you go, "This Person smells wonderful", rather than "This perfume smells wonderful". It's a very subtle but important difference. Hence, I can see a special spot for OJW (also Tiare, Champaca, etc) in any perfumista's collection. Even though this is not my favourite perfume house, there is definitely a place in my heart I can find for it. (A spritz of OJW survived a 40 minute walk in tropical weather, followed by a strenuous and extremely sweaty power yoga class.)

28F. Blind bought 10mL of the new 'maximum strength' formulation as it sounded like something right up my alley based off all the reviews describing it as the perfume a hedge witch would wear – and that's indeed the character of it! The first couple of sprays from the bottle straight out of the mail took me aback, it was like LOUD BLACK PINE at room-filling levels with not much else, so I shelved it for a few weeks hoping to get some of that depth others have raved about. Now that I've come back to it, I'm in love. It's much smoother, with more moderate sillage than the initial pinebomb I got, making it wearable in any setting. The fragrance itself is a sophisticated foresty blend led by the hemlock, with a melange of aromatic woods, tree sap and greenery dotted with violet blooms playing in the periphery. It conjures the image of a proprietress of a herbal apothecary on the edge of the woods, arranging her assortment of potions and tinctures on wooden countertops. If you've played Hogwarts Legacy, this is what I imagine the lady who runs the Dogweed and Deathcap shop on the outskirts of Hogsmeade would wear. It's mystical and feminine, but in a dignified and grounded way, as of a woman wise in the workings of nature – there's nothing naive or girlish about this scent. It's rich and refined, yet not 'dark' – if scent were colour, this would be a deep warm velvety green. Although named Woman, I'd find this perfume equally intriguing worn on anyone of any gender. In summary: get this if the words "forest", "magic", and "wisdom" resonate with you. Ormonde Jayne Woman has easily become one of my favourite scents that I see myself repurchasing whenever I get close to running out.

A wonderful friend who knows I’m going through a lot gifted me a sample trio of “grass/hay” note fragrances in the hopes I would find a replacement for my beloved signature, Grass by The Gap. Two of the three scents were not for me, and then there was Ormonde Woman. While it smells almost nothing like Grass, the sensibility is extremely similar. There’s this kick of fresh, damp, sweet grass in the top that gracefully melts into a warm but soft woodsy sweet tea vibe as the juice settles into the skin. I don’t get anything too dry or pungent or bitter or smoky here; there is only freshness, warmth, and dew on leaves. It is similar to Replica’s Tea Escape and Gucci’s Memoire D’une Odeur in terms of “fresh green” at first, but to me, Tea Escape has a much drier, more powdered matcha finish, and Memoire is a little sweeter and more floral on me. Ormonde Woman is warmer, smoother, and more inviting, yet it somehow manages to avoid hitting a masculine or heavy note. It is a versatile, clean, soft, and yet not boring scent, and although it is not a powerful blast of fragrance by any means, I get a waft of it here and there for hours whenever I wear it. I believe almost any age group could wear this well, although it feels “grown up” to me. I have said about a million times that I might have a new signature scent with this perfume or that one, but this IS my new signature. I feel beautiful and intriguing and warm whenever I wear it, yet it never feels like I’m trying too hard to be different OR to fit in. I just somehow feel like me but better, and that’s the best kind of signature to leave. Now all I have to do is get a full bottle.

This is absolutely a favourite of mine. It’s evergreen, amber, sugar, incense, and everything good. Honestly, the feelings it stirs in me are indescribable, but I’ll try. It smells a lot like christmas to me. Like going to see the nutcracker with your loved ones and having a day out in the snow. Like spun sugar and incense and sugarplum fairies. Ornaments and cashmere. It’s so hard to put into words, it’s nostalgic and rich, and everything I wanted as a child. I could go on and maybe I’ll add another entry later when I’m feeling more coherent, but this is easily the most beautiful scent I own and when I’m older I would like for this to be my signature, or something I wear around the holidays. To clarify this is not at all an immature scent. It's so sophisticated and poised. Just give it a sniff! Update! I’ve worn this scent so much since I first wrote this review. I have to say it still has this nostalgic idealistic feeling. Actually, all the things I felt in the first review I still feel, but those were also very specific memory triggers, and my relationship with the perfume has changed a bit. Now what really stands out to me is how self-assured and intelligent it is. It’s spicy and green and incense. It reminds me of museums and botanical gardens. It’s very independent and balanced, someone who can take care of themselves, and cares deeply for others. It reminds me of the whole ‘fill your cup first and allow the world to benefit from the overflow’ proverb. I’m not sure if it’s popular or not but when I wear it, I’m reminded of that. It’s very calming and meditative. Still a favourite <3