I was told by someone “Barney’s has the bell jars in” which I took to mean that the Barney’s in Beverly Hills had them. So of course I have to make a dash down there to see it for myself. Unfortunately, I think the person telling me meant that they were available online, since I was told that they were at the Madison Avenue store and that is no timeline for them to go anywhere else. Grrr..
Cruising the L’Artisan display, front and center was the new, limited edition: an orange concoction named Sèville à l’Aube.
I like L’Artisan, but somehow it’s a house that I never managed to totally click with. With the exception of Dzing! I’ve never been completely lured in by their scents to actually commit to a full bottle of them. Oh there were ones that came very, very close like Al Oudh or Traversee de Bosphore but there were other things I already had. It’s not them, it’s me. I need a bit more oomph, a bit of theatricality, even a touch of the vulgar sometimes to get me hooked. Perhaps because my preferred style of dress is so preppie (yes, I do wear LL Bean, even down to the shoes) that the only freak-flag I really fly is an olfactory one.
Sèville à l’Aube came close to being a love. It opens with a bright orange spray mixed with orange blossom and pepper, then adds in a very nice earthiness as it dries down- a quiet, contemplative scent that Patty loved but just didn’t catch my fancy.
It is apparently a limited edition, which also rather annoys me. So I will stick with the bottle of Mandarine Mandarin I already have.
$165 for 100ML at the usual suspects. I asked for and received my sample from Barney’s
Image: Barney’s
Orange Blossom by Bertrand D, What’s not to love???
The lavender kills this for me, it smell like really good bathroom freshener on me. too bad, I was really looking forward to it.
Yeah, it’s just something that’s not quite there..
I totally adore this scent! Love the green opening and the sweet orange blossom drydown. Am already contemplating a backup bottle especially since it is LE.
I’m glad you liked it! I just prefer mandarine mandarin, which I have a bottle of. I’m just not buying anything these days I guess..
After reading so many glowing reviews, I really wanted to love Seville A L’Aube, I really did. But my experience was kind of like Kandice’s. I liked the opening, but the drydown was just too sweet on me. I kind of thought maybe it was a season thing too, that this just isn’t what I want for fall, so I will probably revisit my sample in the spring and see if my feelings change.
I’ve only tried a few L’Artisan scents. I think Traversee du Bosphore is well done, but I don’t like it. It’s a good loukhoum scent, just turns out I don’t enjoy smelling like loukhoum. I like Dzing! and Safran Troublant, and I need to get a sample of Premier Figuier because I’ll probably like that too (I like fig). So far my favorite L’Artisan is Timbuktu. I still have a little bit left in my sample, and while I can’t usually lay out the $$ for a full bottle, I think I might see a decant in my future.
My problem is that there’s a Lutens that does the same stuff, but work for me better. I guess I click more with that house than with this one. But It is a great house..
This is the first of the L’Artisan scents I’ve tried. I was so excited when I heard about this because orange blossom is one of my favorite scents. I ordered a sample to try and was very disappointed. Like with others, the opening was pretty but the rest just sort of fell flat on me. Glad to know I’m not the only one this didn’t work well for.
I don’t know if I’m glad, but I am sort of glad that I saved the better part of $200 for something that won’t be around that long..
Tom, I am glad I am not the only one who just can’t get on the L’Artisan bandwagon. I want to find one of their scents that I love and have to buy a bottle of but, so far no luck. Just today (before I read this) I was in Harvey Nichols and they finally had the Seville (I have been asking about it since July) so, of course I had to immediately try it on. I love the opening but, the rest got sort of lost which, seems to happen with a lot of the L’Artisan line on me. And I completely agree, perfume is my way to stand out so, I want something more unique and amazing if I am going to splurge on the FB purchase!
I’m glad I’m not the only one! If you ever get to Los Angeles, shoot me an email..
It was always aggrivating about the Serge Lutens bell jars that when they were/are avaiable in the US, you still gotta pay a fortune. L’Artisian is one of those perfume houses that I respect but don’t quite get along with. I adore Havana Vanille and have a bottle of that. Voleur de Roses had an interesting beginning but fell far short.
Eldarwen22
http://realmofeldarwen22.blogger.com
The price is darned high on those bell jars. But if you factor in exchange rate and shipping I guess it’s a wash..
I liked your comment about “freak flag”. Perfume is a fun and sneaky way to be subversive. Well, if you’re a little introverted like me.
I am rather introverted, as far as fashion. I’m actually introverted as far as scent as well. I try to make sure that you cannot smell me unless you are really close. Like you’ve just given me a big hug. I used to test if regularly on a co-worker who I believe I turned into a perfumista..
Hi, Tom! I agree with you — very frustrating about the bell jars. It’d be nice to admire them in person before you purchased. Glad you liked the Seville. I got a nice decant in the Posse Swapmania and I’m really enjoying it. For (and on) me, it’s beautifully bittersweet. Must try the Mandarine Mandarin one of these days. Have a great weekend!
You can get a decant from Surrender to Chance of MM. I had a pal who was going to Paris and she nabbed it for me. If I didn’t have MM, I would likely fall for Sèville