The chypre family of fragrances are back in the spotlight - which is perfect timing with winter on its way, says editor Trudi Brewer. Who adds, find out what makes this newbie from Lebanese couture designer Elie Saab so unique.
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Elie Saab Le Parfum Essentiel, 30ml $120.
What’s in it?
Created by French perfumer Maïa Lernout she calls this scent a rich and sophistication chypre. Why? Allow me to explain. The chypre fragrance family is complex. However, they all start with a citrus burst, that is the first thing you will recognize. With this perfume, it's a blend of mandarin and orange blossom. Next, comes the cistus labdanum, or the earthy resin, which is the heart of a chypre fragrance. But not in this case, the heart features a bold white flower, and one of my favourites - gardenia. It is one of the hardest scents in perfumery to get right - it can go from being velvety, sweet, and enveloping to cloying within minutes, but in the case of Le Parfum Essentiel, Lernout has nailed it. Finally, a mossy-animalist base completes a chypre scent, and with this perfume, it's a blend of patchouli and Lebanese cedarwood. The perfumer Lernout says, “When you wear this fragrance, it will bring you a peaceful, blissful confidence.”
“The fragrance you wear should silently say something about your personality. It’s the one impression you can leave behind without uttering a word. ”
Why do I like it?
The fragrance you wear should silently say something about your personality. It's the one impression you can leave behind without uttering a word. This new fragrance is bold yet feminine, thanks to the addition of exotic gardenia, and for me, it's the reason I like it so much. Does it bring me peaceful, blissful confidence? I am not sure, but as someone who has spritzed on more scents than I can count, it positively affects those around me. Everyone from men to women, even strangers, have complimented me when I wear it - but don't take my word for it; try it yourself.
Another designer expression of loving our true selves.