Hey Posse. Do you know Maria Candida Gentile? She doesn’t get a lot of chat on the scentbloggosphere nowadays. It’s a shame because her fragrances are so bloody good. The packaging is nice, sturdy cardboard without being a ridiculous wank. The bottles are comfortable in my hand, hefty, and feel like they hold something of great gravitas. Sometimes they do. Other times they hold treasures full of fragrant whimsy. Todays offering Barry Lyndon is a happy coming together of the two. With the success of January New Idea I was allowed to buy anything I wanted from one retailer/etailer. One of our Aussie crews LKNU was having a run out sale on Testers and I grabbed Barry Lyndon (plus a couple of others).
Barry Lyndon by Maria Candida Gentile
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Grass, Green Notes
Heart: Heather, Artemisia, Arnica
Base: Vetiver, Leather, Vanille
Barry Lyndon is such a cool name, taken from William Makepeace Thackeray’s 1844 novel and Ryan O’Neil’s portrayal of the character in a 1975 film. The Maria Candida Gentile site says: “Barry Lyndon is a sophisticated and irreverent eau de parfum, a shirtless knight galloping over the Italian Alps.” On reading the synopsis he sounds like a jerk but I’ll reserve judgement till I see the movie or read the book.
How good do the notes sound? It’s like they lined up a bunch of my faves and then added some extra interest.
So how does Barry Lyndon smell? The very first thing I smell is the vanilla with a green layer over the top. Intriguing. This soon gives way to ALL THE GREENS! Soft, herbal, sharp, bitter, fresh, humus rich and damp. It’s all there in in the most unusual way. This almost feels like a natural perfume trying to evoke the Empress card in Tarot. Effulgent is the world that keeps coming into my head. A shining, radiant green.
The underlying vanilla reminds me strongly of JPG Le Male. It’s not the same but very referential.
Unisex but veering very traditional masculine in the first 30 minutes, this may be a little too much of a familial reference point for some too. Once the super green fireworks blow off though Barry Lyndon becomes as warm and inviting as a hug. It still has some freaky greens for interest but the cozy base is mainly vanilla with leathery green hints. Longevity is quite good.
Does Barry Lyndon sound like a fragrance you’d like?
Portia xx
I’ve sampled the McG library and most are really not for me, but oh how I love Noir Tropical and Syconium
Syconium VerbenaLuvvr? I’ve never even heard of it.
Thank you,
Portia xx
I would also like to add two more fragrances by MCG that I blind-bought and love: Elephant & Roses and Noir Tropical. They’re both very interesting and evocative of what their names imply. I hope someone else here has smelled one or both of these masterpieces and enjoys wearing them (and smelling them on yourself off and on as the fragrance slowly melts into your skin)!
OOOOH! I’ve not tried these Shelley but am excited to read another fan.
Portia xx
Barry Lyndon sounds delightful – I do love the notes!
But not as much as I love the word ‘effulgent’.
And not as much as I love you!
oo
HA! Yay for effulgent. It seemed to fit.
Love you right back.
Portia xx
I think too masculine for me if referencing JPG Le Male; however, I love and wear Burlesque from this house.
Interesting Kathleen,
Le Male never felt very manly to me. Even though so many manly men wore it.
Portia x
I do love my greens, especially galbanum.
My parents bought me Chanel No. 19 EDT for Christmas in the ’80s from the long-since-defunct Jordan Marsh New England department store. I was a teenager and didn’t realize how fortunate I was until I priced it myself many years later. (So happy that Jacomo Silences continues to be such a bargain — knock wood).
Anyway, Barry Lyndon: A base of vanilla with hints of green leather? I’m going to set aside enough from my tax refund for one perfume at full price. This goes on the long list of frags to be considered for that honor!
OOOH! Enjoy the excitement of picking that one special bottle Virago.
Portia xx
That’s one I would definitely try. I don’t wear a lot of greens but I’m always up for the grass note – freshly cut grass is one of my favorite smells. We had a nice lawn when I was a kid (excellent soil in Iowa) and I spent a lot of time sprawled on the grass reading books.
MMKinPA! We had beautiful book reading lawn too. It was perfect to lie on, so springy like a carpet. Under a tree in summer, the full sun all other times.
Portia xx
The notes make me think of Guerlain Angélique Noire, must dig out my sample and give this one another sniff. I really appreciate this line and own several: Sideris, Exultat, Lankaran Forest, Cinabre, Finisterre and Burlesque. Like you, the packaging is very nice and I enjoy the feel in the hand. So under the radar though. I buy mine at Indiescents.
I had a little scrab of Burlesque and loved it!
YAY! Another Maris Candida Gentile fan TaraC,
I’m really happy you are a lover.
How is Finisterre on?
Portia xx
I love green scents, but this one might be a bit too masculine for me. I went ahead and used my January gift voucher to STC that I won from you and ordered 6 samples! More stuff to try, enjoy, and thunk throughout the rest of the year! I continue to work away at samples when I’m not wearing my favorites. Today is Gucci Envy parfum, a top five favorite, especially in spring. Thanks again Portia!!
You have Envy Parfum? Be still my beating hurt… I mean heart
So welcome DinaC, I was really excited when your name came up.
Gucci Envy parfum?!? Shut Up! Is it amazingly amazing?
Portia xx
Envy is such a great green floral! Hyacinth, Magnolia, rose, jasmine, iris, violet, and it has great lasting power.
GAH! So freaking jealous, and happy that someone I know has this beauty.
I am not a huge fan of the greens but I totally get why people love them. They never smell “right” on me and they can be so great when I catch a bit of it on someone else! I do love that bottle and label, very vintage apothecary.
Yes, the bottles definitely have that vibe March.
Portia xx
Ooh those notes sound good! You had me at “all the greens”.
HA! Yes, they are all accounted for here Rosarita.
Portia xx
This sounds great in your review. And faced with a bottle some place I’d definitely want to sample. But, in general, green fragrances don’t work particularly well on me. Sadly.
Bummer Cinnamon.
Portia xx
I do love most greens but that vanilla worries me. Any sweetness with greens & we’re into Mugler Aura aka sweet cabbage aka immediate heaving!
LOL! You Crack me up! Yes, I totally agree. Sweet things like vanilla and gourmand are diametrically opposite the zesty greens, aren’t they? 🙂
After 40 years of nursing not much turns my stomach. Mugler Aura was worse than Womanity!
Apparently there is a French dessert made from Swiss chard in a sweet pastry case. Maybe that that was the inspiration. Chard & custard anyone?
HA! We’ll have to agree to disagree here Alityke.
Portia xx
It reads like one I’d like, a lot..
Oh yes Tom,
You’d rock this beautifully.
Portia xx