Sacrebleu by Parfums de Nicolai (perfume review)

The Parfums de Nicolaï website lists Sacrebleu?s topnotes as mandarin and red fruits; its heart as carnation, tuberose, jasmine, and cinnamon oil; and its base as frankincense, patchouli, sandalwood, peru balsam, and tonka bean absolute.

Sacrebleu was released in 1993. According to an interview with Parfums de Nicolaï founder and house nose, Patricia de Nicolaï, Sacrebleu took two years to develop. ?I wanted a grand perfume with an Oriental vanilla note,? she said, ?but not too heavy, obvious, or sickly. I had something very good, but too basic. I needed a top note to fuse the compositions and I had a lot of trouble.? Perfumer Francois Robert suggested that she add fruit to give the perfume an interesting dimension. De Nicolaï adjusted Sacrebleu?s formula to contain a touch of raspberry, peach, apricot, and a fruity jasmine. The resulting fragrance was, she said, ?the kind of star perfume that only happens once in 10 years.?

And now, on to my review.

This scent is warm and soft in a comforting and satisfying way. The incense notes, for me are there throughout. I detect a “Juicy Fruit”

gum note on my skin that, while surprising, is very lovely indeed.

There is a spicy nuance, perhaps due to the carnation and the cinnamon. This, and all the scents in this line that I have tried, are very smoothly blended, and I find no sharp edges or overpowering notes.

I feel the skill, and the quality of ingredients  is quite obvious, and fitting too, for a granddaughter of the Guerlain dynasty. The de Nicolai line, has for me, held a lot of winners. My only regret is that these are harder to get than hen’s teeth here in Texas, and must be ordered online. I would welcome any suggestions for scents that are similar to Sacrebleu, but at a lower price point.