Reve Etoile

Ever curious about natural perfumes, I contacted Shantara, and received samples of all three releases...and they are actually very nice! I wanted Isiris most, but Reve Etoile stole my heart!! This beauty begins with a sweet and woody fruitiness, and then opens into a wonderful floral wave of sensuality and freshness. It is obvious at first sniff these perfumes are 100% natural, and their purity makes sense since they are also 98% organic. This reminds me of that magical time just after dusk when the flowers release their sweetest scents and the trees, still warm from a day soaking up the sun, exude warmth and vigor. I can see the stars emerge...and begin to dream, as the earthy patchouli and sandalwood creep over me. As I lay in the grass, the stars twinkle and I am at peace... Sillage: good Longevity: very good Overall: 4.25/5 I was amazed at how quickly this company responded to my request for samples, and I believed that they were in Europe somewhere. My parcel arrived from San Diego, CA-so they must have some retail outlet somewhere in the States. They are pricey...but worth every cent!

Shantara REVE ETOILE is a rose and dirty patchouli perfume with enough darkness and complexity to count as a chypre, it seems to me. I would be surprised if among the many (30) notes that this composition boasts labadanum were nowhere to be found, although I should confess my ignorance of what precisely nard smells like--could very well smell like labdanum, for all I know! I like REVE ETOILE and recommend it to anyone who likes dirty patchouli floral fragrances. The rose is definitely dominant in this variation of what appears to be a popular theme in natural perfumery. There is not a huge amount of development here, and the longevity is so-so, but it's definitely nice while it lasts.