Heya Posse. A couple of weeks ago I was talking about Une Vanille by Obvious Parfums. That reminded me of one of my Best of 2021 wishlist items; Une Verveine, also by Obvious Parfums. Fortunately, I had to go into town last week to get another long term wishlist bottle from Libertine Parfumerie. Yes, Fleuve Tendre by Les Liquides Imaginaires is also finally mine. The brand is being DCd in Oz and I grabbed the last bottle they had PHEW! So while I was there it made sense to grab Une Verveine.
The Obvious Parfums brand creator David Frossard has the idea of blending simplicity and elegance with environmental protection. The packaging are as recycled and recyclable as is possible today.
Une Verveine by Obvious Parfums (2021)
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Verbena Bergamot Lemon Wormwood
Heart: Juniper Berries Ginger Cardamom Galbanum
Base: Haitian Vetiver White Musk
Perfumer Amelie Bourgeois is one you’ve probably smelled work by before. She has created some very popular niche perfumes for brands as diverse as Jovoy, Le Galion, Aether, BDK Parfums, Frapin, Les Liquides Imaginaires and Mendittorosa. In the Obvious Parfums range it feels like she is doing a pared back, less tapestried line. They are soliflors, but extended soliflors. Plenty of ingredients built towards the main note. They go towards making something that’s already beautiful sparkle. While that is true for so many perfumes it smells obvious (pun intended) here, especially in Une Verveine.
So, how does Une Verveine smell? An initial rush of almost photo realistic Lemon Verbena. We used to have a straggly plant in the garden growing up. I never saw Mum do anything with it except grab a couple of leaves and crush them in her fingers. She’d breathe deep and get us to do the same. It’s funny, though I’ve loved the L’Occitane Vervain body wash for years it never elicited the same happily jolting memory. It’s a sharp, fizzy citrus kind of green. Instantly refreshing and awakening. The opening lasts much longer than you’d expect. I still get soft whiffs of the Lemon Verbena well into the heart.
After about an hour the fragrance softens and a green over white musk dry down lasts for another couple of hours before fade. It has a wood or nut twist depending on the day. Low key and understated.
Totally unisex. Longevity is about 4-5 hours and projection moderate then low. One surprise was that in Oz the 100ml bottle comes in at a whisper under AU$200. That’s less than a 100ml Lancôme La Vie Est Belle EDP.
Originally I thought Une Verveine would be summer only but wearing it in Sydney winter has been beautiful too.
Does it read like a fragrance you’d wear?
Portia xx
Oh my this reads right up my alley..
Tom, I think if you don’t already have a good verbena then this is a fab place to start and finish. It’s a wonderful wear.
Portia xx
Hey, babysnakes!!
I’m always on the fence about Lemon Verbena but when I find a winner I fall head over heels for it.
Our winters being so much colder than yours, I don’t think this would fare well then – but ya nebber know!
xoxoxo
Ah Musette, not knowing your parameters I can’t say you would. I definitely did.
HA! You win understatement of the week.
Portia xx
Oh my goodness, I would LOVE this. I adore the smell of lemon verbena. It’s just such a pretty, refreshing, unpretentious smell, I bet you smell fantastic!
YAY March,
You’re right. It really is all that.
Smells beautiful.
Portia xx
Sounds really pleasant and easy to wear. I’d give it a try for sure. Thanks Portia!
Hey DinaC,
Yes, it’s both.
If you do I’d love to read about it.
Portia xx
I made the mistake of reading an article about the economy here before reading this review. Fragrance sounds nice — but what I really like is their attitude about recycling/upcycling, etc.
HA! Cinnamon, you are funny.
In my life it’s mighty important though. Yes, people pooh pooh the micro savings when put against the large corporations destruction and wastage but I figure even if my little bit is a drop in the ocean, it just takes a lot of drops to make an ocean. So I keep doing the small things I can and hope others do the same.
I also do some pretty terrible stuff like plane travel and buying too much perfume et al. So I think of it as a balancing act.
Portia xx
It’s a good balancing act, P!
xoxoxo
Thanks Musette.
Consider my interest piqued! Right up my strasse!
Sadly not available in the UK. Flannels have Obvious in the sale but not Une Verveine. Same with the online UK stockist.
Brexit can go where the sun don’t shine
YAY for interest piqued Alityke,
BOO for not having Une Verveine.
Brexit can totally stick it.
Portia xx