Sable & Soleil

Sable & Soleil (Sand & Sun) by Pierre Guillaume for Phaedon This scent opens deliciously with a sweet citrus note, some creamy coconut, accompanied by sparkling lemony green notes (Geranium and lemon blossom?). It’s sweeter than Creed’s “Virgin Island Water” (which I LOVE and wore the whole summer), as it doesn’t have the lime and rum notes of the latter. Some described “Sable & Soleil” as “salty-white floral”, but I don’t get saltiness or even a sand note as you might think according to the name, not as for example in Costarela (Carner Barcelona). What I get after a few minutes is jasmine, vanilla and tonca bean, but still blended with something powdery and lemony... after ca. 15 minutes, the vanilla notes get stronger and a milky, rich sandalwood note emerges. In the final dry-down, it smells like a better suntan lotion, but not cloying as in typical cheap coconut suntan lotions which stick to your skin like melted cotton candy (candy floss). It’s more like a modest, tender and sophisticated version of suntan lotion. Don’t expect much depth though, after it reached the vanilla-suntan-lotion-stage, it pretty much stays that way (at least for my nose). I also recommend wearing it before buying it full size (get a sample)... it smells differently when your nose catches wafts of it all the time as when you just spray a small amount on your hand or wrist. If you are not used to vanilla / coconut it might get a little annoying. Sillage and longevity are both soft to moderate for me, I can smell it well the first two hours on myself, others not as much. Might also turn out more salty or musky on a men’s skin than on a woman’s skin. Conclusion: A mouthwatering scent for easy summer and holiday times, when you forget which day of the week it is - it’s only the sea, the sun and you which matters, while you are lying in the sand on the beach, dozing off, being lightly sunburned, carefree and tired from doing nothing. And a scent which reminds me of the song “Sonnencremekuesse” (in a bad translation: “Suntan lotion kisses”, by Wise Guys). Lovely!

Wow! There is a lovely fresh burst when you first spray this onto skin. A sharp green, lemon-lime note followed by a breezy salt smell like the opening of Vanilla Vibes by JHAG. I find it exhilarating and pleasant! Then as it softens, as reviewers have noted below, the gentle coconut, sweet and floral notes emerge. I love this. It’s so unique to me. I disagree with a reviewer who said this scent is common. There are similarities in certain notes, but the whole is quite unique to me. I would love a FB for this summer! Edit: Ok, I just sprayed Vanilla Vibes and the salty sea breeze note is so similar. Vanilla Vibes doesn’t have that acrid green note, more soft floral and vanilla.

For me this smells like holiday with a lot of warmth and sunshine. Last year I took this perfume with me to a beach holiday and it was just perfect! Goes well together with the salt on your skin and sun lotion. After a couple of hours there is still a substile skin scent, but don't underestimate its performance and silage. For me the jasmine really stands out, but also getting a bit cucumber like notes, maybe it is Calone although I don't see this mentioned. Love to sniff the bottle once in a while during winter time and think back of warmer days. Love it!

I ordered a sample to try and out of all the summery scents I tried, this was my favorite. It's truly luscious and tropical smelling. I totally get the beachy, salty, tropical florals and fruits. Like Summer at the Beach in a bottle. I didn't care for the opening notes that much but the best part of this is the dry down to a soft warm coconut amber and something i can't put my finger on that's addicting. It is truly Lovely. I am addicted to the smell, I have a sample and I'm going to have to splurge for a full bottle, it just won't leave my mind.

Opens with an oddly vegetal marine scent, something savory and almost rotting laying atop a bed of flowers. It's very reminiscent of Serge Lutens L'Eau Froide, which is very offputting for me. However, within 10 minutes this rotting smell of plant corpse goes away to reveal a bed of salty, milky jasmine off the coast of a beach, absolutely breath taking. It's not too hot outside and the salty wind swirls around you the peaceful scent of water and jasmine, well done Phaedon.