White Gold

White gold is absolutely stunning. I don't think I could ever wear it myself because it's very heady, so intoxicating and powdered, it's like the texture of somebody poofing a talc bottle in your face, to the point you can taste it. The florals glide and soar on top of this powder which is narcotic in it's addictiveness. The opening is very floral and full to the brim with jasmine and freesia settling to an exotic orchid which is delicate as the powdery orris root and cashmearan build. The balance between powder and florals is completely perfect and it dances between the two never settling to a linear smell. Despite this balance I'd say casherean is the main player in this scent because it assumes the role of warm, woody base giving it a cozy feel but also acts as a floral booster. It's also very complementary with orris or iris and carnation which are all present in this fragrance. I love perfume and I always like to think I'm open minded and not opposed to wearing ANYTHING. However, some fragrances just scream femininity and I imagine what it would smell like on a woman because that's where I believe it is more suited. This is one of those occasions. What I like about Ormonde Jayne is that they are not afraid to mix the synthetic molecules with the more natural or perceived as natural aromas. ISO E Super, Casherean, synth musks, Abroxan, when used correctly they can boost other notes and make an otherwise ordinary fragrance very special indeed. I think this stuff is a triumph, I sprayed the tiniest amount bearly even there and it was massive in projection and longevity. Please check this out, I thought it was amazing. Update: just realised why OJ are so heavily into the man made molecules due to the fact that Geza Schoen seems to be the nose of choice and even though White Gold doesn’t have a perfumer listed, I’d bet my house this is his handiwork, they all have his style written all over them.

Currently exploring the "Golden Trilogy" of which this one is of course a beaming bulging beauty, brimming with white florals (freesia, jasmine, plus vanilla, orchid and iris). A true floral explosion fit for either a man or a woman. Instead of going through stages of one floral protagonist to have a solo part, before the next olfactory dialogue begins, these flowers sing in unison and boy, do they resonate and harmonize well. It's a mini concert of florals, supported by the warm bass of amber, cashmeran, ambrette, opoponax, tonka, vanilla, and the missing glue and fixative is ISO E Super plus oak moss (one is synthetic and the other natural). It radiates like the sun in Zenith or the flame of a candle: a constant beam and flow of energy from start to finish, just as you pull those curtains away from the window and that warm summer stream of light warms your face and tickles your nose. This tickles quite a bit, in fact I find it quite overwhelming at first, even slightly headache inducing, but once it settles (after 8-12 hrs) it becomes a warm resinous floral closer to skin. This powerhouse just goes and goes and goes, not just whafting but billowing warm balsamic-floral friendliness in the most addictive manner. I'd call it the most unashamedly abstract interpretation of a strong summer sun. I hope O.J. is working on the yellow gold version as I type, for it must be done!! Verdict: 9/10. Near masterpiece for strength, beauty, brightness and sheer exuberance not smelled in a while. Being a fan of botany I was hoping for some isolated floral moments, but they all come at once and constitute an abstract modern floral...some initial headache, but a truly fantastic modern perfume fit for the 21st century.

**Update So I tried this twice and very unfortunately the quality is not in par with other niche fragrances, at least in my skin this does not last more than 3 hours. *One of my favs but for the price this should last a lot longer and it goes away pretty quickly. -------------------------------- Beautiful, stunning and elegant. It reminds me of Coco Mademoiselle except coco is orange and femenine and this one smells like the name, whiter, colder, more grey.....so less femenine, more unisex. It's a unisex crisp floral, white, elegant and smells luxurious. I did not smell any powdery notes [which I tend to dislike] this one seemed pretty fresh throughout and well balanced. An elegant, sophisticated but youthful (I said youthful not young!) A person who is walking on a sunny day with breeze, airy, carrying enough white flowers that when the air passes or moves them one catches the smell of recently cut, fresh white florals... then green notes. I think I found my Coco replacement! which I have been searching for because Coco is now everywhere. Niche perfumes tend to lean towards the "smells strange" route or be love/hate types... generally too artistic and not mass appealing ... this one smells like a niche [expensive and sophisticated] yet "pretty" enough to be liked by the general public [which I was searching for] Sophisticated Fresh White Floral that smells unisex

I really tried to convince myself that this was not worth paying for, because I almost never buy full bottles anymore - not since I calculated that I'll need to live at least another 130 years to use up what I already have. My son will likely inherit a large collection of half-empty bottles at some point in the future, lucky him. In any case, I failed to talk myself out of purchasing White Gold a few months ago - and I have no regrets. It's rich and complex, and due to... "something" in the notes (the orchid, carnation, cashmeran and/or labdanum? I'm really not good at this) it has this consistent "bottled luxury" effect on me that few other fragrances (Cuir de Russie is one) have on me. Best worn in winter maybe? It really agrees with the snow and the crisp icy air.

This perfume is extraordinary, it reminds me of winter, snow,feast days... this is pure elegance. The opening is very fresh and floral, (it seems to me that there is an anise note but I'm not sure) then, after a while the jasmine and freesia evolve, with the orchid and the jasmine that illuminate everything creating a wonderful atmosphere . In the drydown it is more "dusty". I love this perfume Sillage: 9./10 Longevity: 9./10 Scent: 9./10 Overall: 9./10