Posse, my darlings! Autumn is definitely here, if the outrageous number of fallen leaves is any indication – and a beautiful Autumn it (currently) is. Cold nights, chilly mornings that morph into glorious afternoons. I don’t even like Autumn… but I’m liking this.
And actually, I lie. I do like Autumn, for specific things like baking (or anything involving the oven)… walking along a windswept beach… and I absolutely love Autumn for perfume. Most of you know I tend to wear heavy hitters like attars in the extreme of Summer, where they bloom beautifully – but there’s a whole range of midweight perfumes that would get eaten alive in the extreme heat or the extreme cold of deep Winter but are sublime in the 40-65F range of Autumn, especially in heavier clothing (and a bit of outdoor exercise, like raking leaves) that heats the skin.
Divine is one of those perfumes.
Fragrantica gives these notes:
Top notes are Tuberose, Peach and Coriander; middle notes are Gardenia, Jasmine, Rose, Spicy Notes, Orange Blossom and Patchouli; base notes are Oakmoss, Musk, Sandalwood and Vanilla
Which says nothing. And everything. This is a perfume that goes on a bit heavy, to the point where I almost regret spritzing it (almost – not quite, though). But it quickly settles down and, on me, either nearly vanishes or I become anosmic to it for awhile. I forget about it and go about my business. Until my skin heats up. A brisk walk will do it, as does hole-digging (hey, bulbs are on CLEARANCE!). Yesterday, it was leaves. Lots of leaves. And as I raked, the scent awakened on my skin and began to bloom, unfurling its astonishing beauty until it became nearly narcotic, the peach morphing into a quietly lush apricot, which I always associate with early Autumn. My lawn is pristine (or it was – leaves continue to fall) because I was so mesmerized by the layers of beauty that kept wafting up, all the first-spritz heaviness gone, leaving only the complex beauty of the scent. This is an elegant skin scent for more sensual moments (whatever that means to you) as well as a walk through the park. Or raking leaves. Something about it, with its glimmerings of Old (but not OLD-Old) School perfumery, lovingly polished for a later era, invites you to consider your body, consider your skin, consider your soul… and to love that you are in that body and that skin. And that soul.
I know that I’ve written about Divine before – it’s from my beloved Brittany, which is most in my heart come Autumn. But it’s such a glorious perfume that every Autumn wearing feels new – and newly seductive, like the ashes of a first big crush glowing, then bursting into flame again as a full-blown love with that first gust of cold air.
I swore I wouldn’t buy any more perfume. SWORE IT! But I have a major milestone birthday coming up…. ( not tellin’ but let’s just say the number 7 figures in. Maaaaybe. )
Lordt! But this is gorgeous. And perfect for Autumn. And my soul.
Have any of you tried this? (or any of Yvon Mouchel’s Divine perfumes?). Luckyscent has the full (I think) range and they are all very reasonably priced. Perfumer for Divine (the edp) is Yann Vasnier
DIVINE EdP is one of my faves Musette, I’ve worn it in the last week. What a stunner. I also have a bottle of the parfum here. THAT will blow your head off, so rich and sumptuous.
Enjoy your autumn.
Portia x
How … do I not remember what this smells like? I ABSOLUTELY tried it, probably on some fragrance bender in NYC, at … that glorious place that’s now gone. Takashimaya. You and I don’t overlap a ton on scents we love, but you’ve got me itching to try this.
Anita,
You paint a beautiful picture with words. Love the image of you raking in those leaves, enjoying the glorious fall weather, and that Divine scent. I haven’t tried anything from that line yet. I baked an apple pie from scratch last week — I completely agree that baking and fall go hand-in-hand!
I tried these years ago at Liberty, which only had some of the line. I don’t recall any of them truly singing on me but I do remember the peach note in Divine and loving that. This is a sleeper house in a way: you don’t hear a lot but the perfumes are very well done and worth seeking out, if I recall correctly.
I am not enjoying autumn. The clocks went back a couple of weeks ago and it’s still dark at 7 am at dark by 5 pm … and counting down to 4 for late December. Now through end January: definitely not my time of year. I am enjoying my evening walks with the torch (flashlight).
Big birthdays require proper marking, IMHO.
L’Homme Sage was the first purchase I ever made from Scent Bar, years ago. I need to revisit the line, but that one is another autumnal stunner.
37?
37 sounds right to me. I always suspected she was around my age.
I tried several of Divine perfumes. Divine by Divine is very pretty. I agree that’s it’s a bit heavy and to me seems to have almost sharp edges. It didn’t even out and after a while, I wanted it gone from around me. I fell for L’Ame Soeur and enjoyed it but when it was gone, I did not replace it. L’Inspiratrice was very interesting. I couldn’t smell anything. Nothing. It was the first time this ever happened to me. What made it worse was that everyone else that I asked to smell it could. And that’s my Divine story.