Hey Posse, Yes, I know Tom did an Eshal post recently but I just collected mine from Neela in person last month. You all want a second opinion, right? We perfumistas LOVE to get different imagery about the same perfume. It helps us build a better picture of how it might smell for us. So of course, I’m doing you a solid.
Yes, Neela is my friend but YES I paid full retail.
LOVING the new green packaging especially for Eshal, same beautiful 60ml Pierre Dinand designed bottle. Juice created by Bertrand Duchaufour with Neela’s exacting oversight. He has said on record that Neela is his most perfection oriented client, with a true vision, or some such. Eshal is NVCs first new pillar release since Niral in 2018, not counting the Fragments by NVC 2022 side releases. Cue much excitement and rejoicing amongst perfumistas who know the good shit.
Eshal by Neela Vermeire Creations 2025
Neela Vermeire Creations give these featured accords:
Tuberose absolute, Red Mandarin, Petitgrain, Lime, Cinnamon oil, Turmeric oil, Patchouli oil, Vanilla absolute, Peru Balsam resin, Labdanum absolute, Vanilla Absolute
How does the new Eshal smell? Sweet tuberose, broken soft stems and tart citrus pith open. It’s a new vision of tuberose that quickly gets a hit of spice and a waft of fresh cut capsicums. Refreshing and sensual, not a combination I’d expect but here it is. The movement within the scent is so interesting. Every breath for the first few minutes there are changes and new interest. A roller coaster up close but from arms length a beautiful crisp white floral.
After the initial fireworks calm down Eshal settles into a tuberose with some hints of foodiness. It’s not a gourmand but imagine wearing a tuberose soliflor wandering past a cafe that is cooking spicy biscuits and you’re also getting wafts of other peoples modern niche perfumes.
Dry down gives a lovely vanilla rich amber underneath a still beating heart of white floral with a soft focus leathery bent. It wears close and introverted for hours and hours. Just the merest hint that you are magnificently perfumed.
We had our perfumista friend Val the Cookie Queen in Sydney for a couple of weeks after our holiday. I’ll get to that in another post. She decided to drench herself in Eshal so we could get the full effect. Seriously, a little bit of care needed when spritzing. Eshal is boisterous and huge and over the top for the first 15 minutes. If you like to do 20 spritzes you may want to do four at a time and build the layers up with 15 minute intervals. Otherwise it can be overwhelming.
LuckyScent in the USA
Neela Vermeire Creations in Europe
Are you as excited as me about Eshal?
Is a new Neela Vermeire Creation enough to restore your faith in perfumery?
Portia xx
That GREEN!
And the perfume sounds intriguing! A very different tuberose -NVC don’t always work on me … but when they do ( looking at YOU, Bombay Bling)… BOOM!
HA! Yes, Bombay Bling is the only one Jin will wear Musette. In his defense, it’s pretty near perfection on him.
OH YES! That GREEN!
Portia xx
Glad for the post, but I was already pretty much there. Finally found a sample and it should arrive in the next few days. Not all of NVC perfumes work for or on me, but they are quality perfumes. I can’t wait to try Eshal.
WOO HOO Maya,
I’m hoping it’s everything you want it to be and makes you fall in love with perfume again, hard.
Portia x
Thank you Portia…I knew Eshal would be gorgeous and now I know I will love it. Once my salary is in Eshal will be on its way! Looking forward to read CQ’s review on Basenotes. Will report back!
Woo Hoo! Can’t wait to hear what you think Hamamelis.
Portia xx
Ooooh, that sounds gorgeous! I’d probably be the over-sprayer in the room hehe. And I love that bottle. It sounds like an interesting combination, and I bet it lasts approximately forever on the skin.
It’s an extrait March so lasting power is enormous BUT after the initial fireworks it becomes a soft hum of beauty.
Oversprayers unite!
Portia xx
I’m eager to sample this. Beautiful bottle. Enjoy Bertrand Duchafour’s work, and his collaborations with Neela V. tend to be brilliant. They both tap into original territory, so I’m curious to see what Eshal is all about.
DinaC!
I think you might faint, wake up and eyeroll in ecstasy.
Portia xx
I truly appreciate your second opinion of Eshal. You make it sound so beautiful even for my taste and I’m not into tuberose. I’m longing for a sample and yes, every new NVC is a holiday in perfumeland.
So happy that you mention Val, the Cookie Queen. I haven’t heard about her for so long, yet I remember her fondly whenever I make the orange loaf cake according to the recipe she once shared 🙂
Hey Neva,
You can find Val over on BaseNotes. She regularly post reviews there and has Eshal coming in the next week or so.
Eshal is utterly beautiful. Even if you don’t like tuberose I think the experience of smelling it is knowing what the gold standard is.
Portia xx
I’m not usually a tuberose lover but this definitely intrigues me; everything I have tried from NV is gorgeous even if not always my thing. I will definitely need to get my nose on it.
Hey there MMKinPA!
Neela really knows how to get the best out of Bertrand Duchaufour, the perfumes they create together have something unbelievably magical about them. Yes, I love them all but there are a couple I wear a LOT more than the rest.
Portia xx
I do want to get my nose in Eshal but my wallet says no, nada, niet, nein, non, nao, iie, buyao.
I shall wait patiently to sample but I’m afraid of the lemming taking over my brain
HA! That’s a VERY perfumista problem Alityke.
Portia xx
Interesting idea: gateway tuberose. This sent me looking for other Duchaufour tuberoses. I have LA Nuit de Tubereuse tucked away in a box. Time to let it out again. I look forward to trying Eshel. Always curious what Neela does.
Hey Cinnamon,
I’ve got a La Nuit de Tubereuse around here somewhere too. Long forgotten.
Portia x
I really liked this. On me it was almost a sneaky tuberose. Always just slightly ahead of you but knowing you’re looking for it. Like the “museum chase” in “Dressed to Kill”
https://youtu.be/vIaUt5KcxzI?si=wTPhu6itM3C13IdK
Yeah, tuberose for those that don’t love it, and/or a tuberose gateway Tom.
Good AV analogy.
HUG
Portia xx
My first comment here – couldn’t resist because NV is an amazing house and the perfumes DO consistently affirm my faith in perfumery – this release included! I love the slight bitter edge and juiciness in the opening, and the leather in the dry down is quite captivating. I’m not a white floral lover but this is one of the exceptions where I find myself wanting to wear it again and again. May Neela’s exacting standards never get lowered 🙂
Welcome Anna,
we have been waiting patiently for you to jump in and comment. YAY! It happened.
Yes, so well said: juicy and ever so slightly bitter on open. There are so many quick flick changes in the opening I probably should have written a lot more. Like ALL the notes need to have their moment and welcome us to Eshal. It’s quite dazzling.
Also, YES! to Neela staying as exacting. Every spritz smells like a special occasion in the very best perfumery has to offer.
Portia xx