Gardenia Grand Soir

Just as I thought I had already found the best gardenia scent ever (V&A Gardenia Petale), I came across this one....and I really wish I had not come across it because it lead me to parting with my hard earned cash for this stunning beauty. This is THE gardenia I have been looking for, pure woody green gardenia shrub, scent almost identical to my Gardenia Grandiflora absolute oil. When comparing it to V&A Gardenia petale, they are quite different. Gardenia petale is light and sparkly, mixed with other white florals, it lingers on clothes and has good longevity. It is an ideal summer scent. Gardenia soir, on the other hand, is heavier, thicker and more heady. I know some of the previous reviewers did not find particularly creamy but I feel it is very creamy on me. It could be worn during winter time but might perhaps work better in summer months. When I put it on, I feel like a big white gardenia cloud has surrounded me. Sadly, the feeling does not last long as the longevity isn't great on me and the scent becomes quite faint after couple of hours. Still.....it is simply fabulous, very heady and very lush but not too queasy due to being mixed with sandalwood. I fell head over heels for it and so there goes my cash as I just HAD to have it. Despite poor longevity for such an expensive scent...I HAD to buy...and so I did. Sigh!

Smitten! Gardenia Grand Soir has stolen my heart! I'm addicted! This fragrance vibes very much like Serge Lutens Fleurs de Citronnier (one of my top shelf fragrances), but more buxom, yet still radiating that gorgeous, clean, soapy white floral in all its natural glory. Initially, I almost dismissed Gardenia Grand Soir as it blasted opened with a strident green note that bordered on cheap bathroom air freshener. Then I recognized freshly snapped branches like petitgrain that quickly became leathery like dark leaves, crushed and releasing a bitter, milky sap. Green bitterness, smooth sandalwood base, velvety white gardenia petals, luscious, captivating, brisk, clean, minimalist, abstract, natural, milky, sexy, woman, man. Oh... the thought of this scent on my man......... I have a few more gardenia scents to test before settling on a purchase but I have a pretty good feeling I'll circle back to Pierre Guillaume's little bottle of floral excellence.

I love the blast of lemongrass-like note in the opening. This is a radiant rendition of the gardenia, so there is nothing mushroomy or creamy about it. I also detect a lot of tuberose in this. I suppose it's one of the notes used to create the illusion of the "gardenia". It's a very interesting take on the gardenia and worth a try.

161) Remember a flower Joli gardénia très réaliste, à la fois crémeux et suffisament vert pour ne jamais devenir repoussant. Comme souvent (toujours) avec PG faible évolution, faible tenue et faible projection. A realistic pretty Gardenia, both creamy and sufficiently green to never become repulsive. As is often (always) with PG weak evolution, weak longevity and weak projection.

A woody, fresh, green gardenia... realistic and quite earthy. This is not the creamy sweet style of gardenia perfume at all. Its interesting, I am partial to natural realistic scents, though this is probably not my ideal style Gardenia, I appreciate it nonetheless. Test first!