Hiya people of the POSSE! 1000 Flowers seemed to spring up out of nowhere and then after a brief moment in the light it went totally quiet. I remember distinctly that there were two amazing, critical success fragrances and then it felt like zip. When I went to have a look at the 1000 Flowers website though it seems to be humming along nicely and there are six fragrances to choose from now. When I first knew of the house I sampled todays fragrance and Narcotic Flowers, loved them and then bought 15ml bottles of both. Well Fleur No 1 has st in a box ever since, so today I opened it to relive the magic…
Fleur No 1 by Jessica Buchanan for 1000 Flowers 2011
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Green notes, galbanum, narcissus, hyacinth, iris, magnolia, violet
MMMMMM Galbanum and spring bulbs, I think narcissus absolute is the star in the opening. So green and slightly feral and backed by a lovely dollop of galbanum. The opening 5 minutes are quite big and with all that green going on I think it could be challenging. Imagine the cool opening of CHANEL No 19 without the softening sweetness of citrus. In Fleur No 1 it is cool and stark, refined and utterly elegant. After the initial fireworks the whole fragrance takes a step towards muted and I smell the violet/iris coming through, slipping in and sitting up the back of the room.
The galbanum plays softly through the heart, while a very background chorus wafts through and around. Fleur No 1 is very light, a whisper of clean green freshness that hangs around for a while and after about 2-3 hours it fades beyond my ability to smell. At this price though a respritz is no hardship.
Photo Stolen Flickr
What I found with Fleur No 1 was that splashed or dabbed it just didn’t last so I’ve decanted mine into an atomiser and when I spritz more juice gets on me, it seems to have a bigger scent and lasts way longer. A one hour respritz will lengthen the fragrance life to about 5 hours but don’t expect Fleur No 1 to be a BIG scent, it’s not.
There is no way on earth you could skunk anyone with this fragrance so I’m deeming it a perfect work or dinner scent. In Australia we are just cooling into winter and I love how the ultra green works in conjunction with the cool weather but for you guys up in the north this will be the PERFECT summer scent.
Photo Stolen Pixabay
Further reading: Unseen Censer and Australian Perfume Junkies
1000 Flowers has $28/15ml
1000 Flowers has a Sample Set: $20/ 2ml x 5 fragrances
IndieScents stocks the rest of the line
Have you tried the 1000 Flowers range? Specifically, did you try Fleur No 1? Do you like green scents?
Portia xx
In general, I’m not a fan of green scents, because my skin turns them sour. There are a couple of exceptions, like Cristalle EDP and Vent Vert. I love Reglisse Noir from 1000 Flowers. It is a high-quality, true licorice fragrance. It is not heavy, but it has a surprising amount of staying power.
Portia! So glad you highlighted this one! I have it and love it, also puzzled it hasn’t got much notice on other blogs so merci!
I wore it a few weeks back for date night with my husband and as I walked into the room my young babysitter sniffed the air and exclaimed “mmmmmmmm! That smells really good!” I find dabbing provides enough projection for me. Very elegant, great for spring and summer.
Have you tried Ode for Him? I bought that for my husband, also excellent! So glad to hear Jessica has some new eaux coming out…
Ooh I like green scents – this sound like I might love it! Right now my favorite greeny floral is Tokyo Bloom – which I know you also love. So if you love this one too, perhaps I would as well!
AHHHHHHH Tokyo Bloom. Sun Mi. I love it.
These two are quite different but both lovely greens. I will await your response if you do try it.
Portia xx
Hello everyone! Thank you Portia for this lovely review! It is always so nice to hear back from those of you who wear 1000 Flowers creations. I also wanted to address some of your comments about 1000 Flowers seeming to have faded into obscurity since the first big launches. In fact, I am still here, working hard in Grasse, France, where I live full-time, as an independent perfumer (still), and working more and more on perfumes for other brands. This has proven to take up so much time, that my own brand has become a tiny bit neglected. Your comments made me realize that I must find some time to update the blog, and make an appearance from time to time! 🙂 I am working on two new fragrances, eaux fraiches, to launch in the next couple of weeks. So that will be fun! Thank you all for all your enthusiasm and support, and I wish you all a great summer! (or fall/winter!) 🙂 ~Jessica xoxo
JESSICA!! I am so honoured you would reply. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule. 2 new fragrances! Colour me intrigued, I’ll be checking the site.
Good luck with them,
Portia xx
I just added this to my list! …You had me at Galbanum 🙂
Hi Michele42,
If you like galbanum then Fleur No 1 could definitely be up your alley. I hope you get to try it.
Portia xx
it seems like something that may remind one of vintage Vent Vert
Maybe it would Fazal. I did smell VV at the Osmotheque last year but now I can’t recall it to make a comparison, we just sniffed too much.
Portia xx
I really like this one and could never understand why it doesn’t get more love on the blogs. It smells like spring in a bottle to me.
Hey Poodle,
YAY! We snap!
Do you like anything else in the line? I really enjoy Reglisse Noire and Narcotic Flowers.
Portia xx
Reglisse Noire was a blind buy for me and I used that up pretty quickly. Love that one too. I have yet to try Narcotic Flowers.
Oooh, oooh, Portia — I’m into green like Kermit the Frog! My eyes (nose) lit up at every one of these notes, except maybe not so much for the violet. Thanks, dear; this has just shot to the top of my must-try list!!
Woo Hoo Ann.
Me too. I love a good green. I would love to read how you went with Fleur No 1 if you get your sniff on it.
Portia xx
Love green florals and galbanum in particular, so this made my nose twitch.???? I’ll have to hunt down a sample. Sounds super. Thanks Portia!
Hiya DinaC,
If you love GREEN then the opening of Fleur No 1 will have you gasping in joy and wonderment.
Portia xx
Count me in with those who love green fragrances. Why I’ve never tried this one, I don’t know. Just ordered a sample set. Can’t wait to try it when it arrives. Thanks for the heads up.
Hi there Tatiana,
Great to see you.
How good value is the Sample set? I really love it when the smaller houses do this because it means I can try the whole lot reasonably. The prices for full bottles are very reasonable too if you do fall in love.
Good luck.
Portia xx
Green scents were my first love, and I do really like Fleur no 1. Thanks for the suggestion to transfer to an atomizer–it disappears quickly when dabbed. Also enjoy Narcotic Flower and Reglisse Noir, but the line does seem to have become obscure. It must be hard when there are zillions of new launches & niche perfumers coming out of the woodwork seemingly every day!
Hi Caroline,
You’re welcome. It’s still no lasting heavyweight but it does help to spritz.
Even some of the biggest houses launches don’t get any traction, I can’t imagine how hard it must be for an independent.
Portia xx
I FORGOT all about 1000 Flowers!!! I love green fragrances!!! I’m buying Fleur No.1 stat! Thanks, Portia! Yipee! 🙂
Hey Holly,
It’s weird. 1000 Flowers opened with all guns blazing. A huge hoopla and three ringed circus and then silence.
I hope you enjoy Fleur No 1 as much as i do.
Portia xx
Portia, I love green fragrances; Chanel No. 19, Ralph Lauren Lauren, Hermes Un Jardin Sur le Nil and a vintage Floris Edwardian Bouquet among my favorites so Fleur No. 1 seems like a must-try. I could really use a fragrance that I can wear to work–my collection is heavy on the winter frags.
Queen Cupcake, I think you’ll love this baby. She is a bit more stark and angular than your other choices, REALLY green. I find it absolutely gorgeous and after it’s initial super green rush a lovely whisper of green.
Portia xx