Falling Trees

One of, if not the, most beautiful and embodying fragrances I've ever held in my hands. Captures my happiest memories of escaping to Albion and camping in late summer every year. It's sappy, not sticky, woody but not overpromising. All I can think about when I smell this is being a little girl, staring at the bonfire after a day of surf and swim in the freezing Pacific, with everyone I love sitting beside me, doing the same. I can't see the sky through the canopy of giant redwoods surrounding us but I know the stars are there, dancing like the flames. In the morning the dew will have taken over, descended from the fog and blanketed the bunsen burner and the fly of our tent. But my mother will put on her fur hat and make coffee as the day dawned. My sister and I will find banana slugs, never touching them with our salty fingers. Our dog will bolt out of the tent and run through the woods all day, only returning when he is called for dinner. Maybe we'll go into town and pick out a book, or maybe we'll look for tide pools and peer into worlds tinier than we ever thought possible. All that matters is that we move through the day as a family. And twenty years later, I will smell Falling Trees and be held by these memories as long as an inhale lasts, wishing it were forever.

I find it funny how many fragrances I review that start off with being called into the forest by something, and this is no different! I guess this is just the scent profile I adore the most deeply. Okay, so let's begin again. Falling Trees is being summoned by an ancient forest essence. It's not just a big tree, but all of them... which make up the biggest tree, life. The wood here is something foundational and feels like it molded the land we now walk, camp, and dance upon. It's cosmic royalty, but it also feels like your best friend. It begins a little sharp, with its dainty needles and transforms into something soft, like a billowy, silky incense cloud; a great, long hug. I find it clean in a natural way and could be worn in many different occasions. For example, the office or forest bathing or...befriending gods that are more ancient than your bloodline... Absolutely unisex and I recommend it for all!

Wow! Just one spray and I already love it. It's the first day of October, the air is kind of cool, the sky is pale, this is definitely autumn. And this is the perfect scent for today. It has a woody, piney assemblage of notes with benzoin, incense and myrrh. These are three of my favorite notes. When I think of benzoin I also think of Diptyque's Benjoin Bohème, another "Oriental" Woody. This is definitely a neutral gender perfume. I think it would enhance the masculinity of a man, but it would also increase the sensuality of a woman. It has the power of the forest, of trees, of wilderness, and it goes on so smoothly, like a soft cashmere sweater. A winner to me.

My original review is second to the bottom of this page. That was five years ago, and I was three months into "falling through the rabbit hole" of perfume obsession, so I don't know whether the formula has been changed or has my nose changed after smelling literally thousands of perfumes in five years and narrowing down what I like/love? BUT (you knew there was a but, huh) this is super SUPER strong in either Ambroxan or ISO-E Super. So much so that it takes over the entire scent. It does calm down after awhile, but that is still what I mostly get. I'm kind of relieved as I can take it off my want list now.

Régime des Fleurs truly creates bubbles of softness from iconic yet often sturdy materials. Here's a great example. It's a very nice incense, resinous and "bold", yet woody/coupant/astringent, both understated and very present. I also read a little aspect of freshly cut wood, which is really very pleasant. If like me you like perfumes built around incense, especially for you and to wear close to your skin, this is a very nice discovery, and one of my favorites from their collection (where there is plenty to eat in terms of creativity, even if the base line is consistent).