Jardin Nocturne

I really don’t have the words to describe this intoxicating concoction but it’s holy grail material for me. It would be challenging for the average nose, yes, there is no denying that but if this is your jam your eyes are going to roll back in your head. First off, this is a very humid, damp, indolic scent which won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. That’s fine for me just slide this tea on over to me and I will guzzle it up for you. There is a very high quality jasmine sambac used here in a very high percentage. If you’re used to smelling jasmin grandiflorum you’re probably going to be wondering where the jasmin is at. Oh it’s in here I promise. But sambac is different from grandiflorum. It’s much more potent, more musky, and less floral, green and fresh smelling. It’s a lot more dirty and sultry. There is probably way more “sultry” in this perfume than a lot of people can handle but again, if you like this type of scent you’re going to break out the credit card quickly. There is also a touch of oud though it’s not overly animalic or overpowering, it really just blends in with the jasmin, sandalwood and saffron creating more of a “whole” rather than noticeable individual notes. You won’t think “oud” fragrance but you will notice the indolic or animalic nature of it. If you love how Maurice Roucel does animalic then you can have a general idea before you even smell it. But...it’s going to be even better than you imagine. This perfume lasts all day on me and it never disappears or ghosts out because it’s not full of those nose blinding aromachemicals. It’s never overwhelming or “beast mode” — there is too much elegance here for that — but it’s always present. Very long lasting, very high quality perfume but it’s very refined and smells like true luxury not “new money”. I could go on and on about this perfume all day. It’s one of the best things I’ve smelled in all the years I’ve been addicted to perfume.

Jardin Nocturne is a sensual masterpiece. Nobody captures sex appeal and the fantasy associated with that type of attraction in it’s raw and sultry sense quite like him. This just might be his magnum opus. Musc Ravageur in its current formulation leans more gourmand cinnamon roll with a beautiful bed of musks than visceral unleashed animalic lust. Here Maurice has captured the tender sensuality of a seducer that has you isolated in their garden and slowly reeling you in. The narcotic jasmine delicately surrounded by a touch of saffron and lifted with musks on a thin layer of oud. Primal, sensual and an attack on your chastity. A scent so beautiful not only will be challenging for someone to keep their distance but also such beauty is a natural aphrodisiac in any situation. It does lean feminine but the sheer carnal nature makes it wearable for anyone old enough to engage. Should come with a warning label NSFW. Other notes: The packaging and presentation are unique with the black bulb atomizer but not very practical and the quality isn’t a 10/10. Pricing for Shalini has long been an issue and kept me skeptical I do think it’s worth the $400 I paid for a 50ml given current pricing trends. I just hope Shalini understands the recent willingness of people to try and experiment with their product is because they haven’t had a price increase in so long that the crazy prices have now become somewhat unreasonable but closer to everyone else. The brand’s fragrances that I’ve tried were all top notch and feel like Maurice was on an open budget with a decent amount of creative freedom. I hope to always have a bottle of this in what I consider a permanent collection. Magnum Opus. Masterpiece.

Jardin Nocturne was my first encounter with the house of Shalini and I was seriously impressed, in fact ‘blown away’ does not even do it justice. This is truly one of the most magical and intoxicating perfumes I’ve ever smelled; it goes far beyond just a want at this point, I need this scent. The composition shows Maurice Roucel at his absolute best, demonstrating how simplicity does not have to smell simple, and that quality rules above complexity. Jasmine is the main player here, one of the best Jasmine absolutes I’ve ever encountered, contrasted by the thick, slightly fecal and dense nature of pure Assam oud. A sweet whisper of saffron helps to balance this out, as it all rests on an ethereal, creamy base of sandalwood and musks, but overall it’s all about the jasmine and the oud. I adore this perfume. It is class and elegance of the highest level, transporting you to a place where all your worries simply evaporate. The confidence that comes with wearing Jardin Nocturne is second to none, I truly believe this is one of the greatest fragrances of the last decade.

This is as good as it can get. My type of scent from beginning to end. The Jasmine (jasmine sambac) here is beautiful and with a very natural feeling. This pair with an amazing Assam Oud (india) and mysore sandalwood makes it very sensual, animalic but elegant and very refined. Fallen angel kind of a scent... The down side of this fairy tale is the performance on my skin, together with its price tag, that keeps my purchase in stand-by... you have 7.5ml tinny bottle, but even so, it's something to think about it. Originality: Medium-high Scent: 10/10 Performance: Average (my skin) Would I but it: No (I will sniff my sample as long as it lasts...)

A gorgeous floral woody musk comprised of some of my most favorite notes in perfumery, this heady offering composed by Maurice Roucel evokes the beauty of a fragrant Indian garden at night, much like its name. The perfume begins with beautiful Laotian Oud and saffron and proceeds to a firmly floral heart of jasmine sambac before settling into a powdery base of musk and sandalwood. Devastatingly beautiful with a refined yet animalic elegance to it, this feminine leaning perfume has moderate sillage and excellent longevity. Pricey but worth it for lovers of exotic Orientals. One of my favorites of all time. Enjoy!