Is it just me or do we seem to be on roll here on the Posse lately with “pretty” fragrances? Perhaps it’s our collective longing for spring to really and truly arrive, or simply that those type of scents have been cropping up of late as new releases. Well, I’ll add my two cents, for what it’s worth, although this fragrance is not brand-new (released in 2012). A sample of Robert Piguet’s Mademoiselle Piguet recently crossed my path; it’s one of the line’s five newer scents called Nouvelle Collection.
Actually, I had sniffed MP on a card a while back in Neiman Marcus (I was out of skin real estate by the time I saw it, of course) and thought, “Hmmm … OK. I’ll try it if I trip over it, but not going out of my way to get any.” And there was a little something, almost synthetic, 
perhaps, about it that bugged me a bit. But since it was just on paper, I let it go.
Now I’m not terribly familiar with the Piguet fragrances. Madame Fracas I know, and she does not like me so well (apologies to all you fans), so I tend to give her a wide berth. Bandit scares me half to death, so no way am I going there. But I enjoy Baghari and Visa and now am curious to try several others in the line.
Anyway, as I was saying, I did spray this the other day as I can’t resist orange blossom in anything. Mademoiselle Piguet was quite nice on my skin, bergamot and orange blossom making pretty at the start, but easing later into some milky warmth, courtesy of the tonka. No hint of citrusy tang here; the OB is sweetened and smooth, almost candied. And that little something I mentioned above bothered me for a moment and then it was gone. Speaking of gone, I do have to give this scent props for staying power. I gave it a single spritz before 5 p.m. and could still sniff a trace of it at 7 the next morning. On my skin it has light to moderate sillage.
Mademoiselle Piguet isn’t going to knock any orange blossom favorites out of rotation at my house, but it has a sweet, romantic, uncomplicated vibe that’s pleasing. I really didn’t expect to like this much, but I suppose it has grown on me, seeing as I’ve gone back and sprayed it several more times. Which just goes to show that you never know …
MP strikes me as a good entry point to the line. And I do rather like the bottle: the standard black Piguet number with its bright, cheery, pop-of-hot-pink label. That alone makes me smile. I don’t need an FB, but would always like to have at least a sample of it around or even a small decant.
Available at Neiman Marcus, $150 for 100 ml. Also at Bergdorf Goodman, Liberty of London, Harvey Nichols and at robertpiguetparfums.com
Notes: Bergamot, orange blossom, tonka bean.
What’s your favorite Piguet fragrance? Or what pretty scent are you most looking forward to wearing when spring does finally decide to make an entrance?
It’s getting late, I’m tired and obviously punch because I laughed out loud at Beth’s comment: “feels like it’s using the F-word inappropriately all day at me.” Perfect way to put it!
I know, Tiara — her post nearly had me howling! We all need a good laugh sometimes …
Ann, you are tempting me to try some more from this line. I have a sample of Fracas, and it’s like one of those people that are a loud talker. It’s beautiful, but something about it is just slightly too “me me me”. Then I blind bought a bottle of vintage Bandit. Wow. Just … hmmm… feels like it’s using the F-word inappropriately all day at me. However, I could see me wearing this if I had to have a confrontational meeting with someone and fire them.
That said, it would be nice to have something that was a polar opposite of these two and let me visualize this line as not just all your batty relatives that you have to see at the reunion, but really should be mostly kept in the attic.
My favorite spring scent I’m actually wearing today … Chanel #22. It’s all sparkly, sort of like if I were to coat myself in diamond dust. Would that make teenagers think I was one of those twilight vampires? If it could get teenagers buying up scents like Chanel #22 instead of Britney Spears or Taylor Swift, I’m ok with it.
Beth, your comments are so spot-on and had me nearly falling out of my chair laughing, especially the part about batty relatives and the attic. Here’s hoping between the PM, Visa, Calypso or Baghari, that one or more of them will redeem the line for you. And yes, yes, yes to the teens and Chanel! I haven’t worn 22 in quite some time so need to go re-try it. Thanks for a great sense of humor …
Robert Piguet. I love the idea of Fracas…but it doesn’t wear well on my skin. Bandit fares not much better. However……Visa…..well, now there’s the charm for me. Visa is gorgeous, long-lasting, elegant. Need I say more? I will definitely hunt for a sample of M. Piguet. It sounds lovely and pretty. AND there’s always room for lovely and pretty, right?
I adore Orange Blossom fragrances. OB is frequently perfect for spring and summer. The thing about orange blossom is that it can be found in many perfumes and one can have it innocent, spritely, decadent, skanky, or simply pretty. Isn’t that wonderful?
My current favorites are (in no particular order):
Etat Libre d’Orange Divin Enfant
Elie Saab EDP by Elie Saab
Laura Mercier Neroli
Armani Code for Women
Jean Paul Gaultier Fleur du Male
Serge Lutens Fleurs d’Oranger
Hermes 24 Faubourg
Oh, Gwenyth, you are so right about the many faces of orange blossom — there’s an OB for every mood, isn’t there? And I love your list of scents, especially the Hermes. Thanks!
I’ve tried only Fracas, which I loved for many years, but then I started getting headaches whenever I wore it. Since I live in a small-ish town, I am not able to get my nose on a wide variety of good perfumes. Either I will need to make a trip to a larger metro area, or I will have to order in a bunch of samples.
Orange blossom is a favorite of mine. I love almost any type of citrus, but not if it is in some type of barber shop perfume. When I was little, I would go head over heels for “Florida Water”. I own some orange flower absolute and have found that it is not really an easy scent to blend. In some blends, it can give off a rather sickening smell. However, I am not an expert blender by a long shot. At any rate, I think that orange is a really happy, bright smell most of the time so I look forward to trying Mademoiselle Piguet somewhere, somehow.
You read my mind Ann! I tried Mademoiselle Piguet on a test strip at Neiman Marcus yesterday and thought it was pretty, but found something off-puttingly synthetic about it. I’m glad now that I was interested enough in it to decide to try at a later date.
Fracas is my favorite Piguet, but I also love Bandit and Baghari. As a pretty spring scent, I love the late and great Diorissimo.
Orange blossom perfumes as a whole seem to be fairly long-lasting, though every once in a whole they have the odd tendency to remind me of brown basmati rice.
Hi, Connie! I do hope you will give this a try. I envy you for being able to wear Bandit AND Fracas — wow! I loved Diorissimo as well, back in the day; wish we could go back in time and buy a boatload of it.
I enjoy my vintage Bandit, but only once in awhile and only at home 😉
Ah, another brave lady! You guys are wearing down my resistance to it; maybe a teeny-tiny pin prick of it is in my future. Thanks!
I used to wear Fracas, but not any more. It’s too screechy on me now. I recently tried Calypso for the first time, and that was a real beauty. It had a tropical floral vibe, iirc, and I really liked it. It seemed easy-going and undemanding like a good vacation. I’ll have to watch for Mademoiselle next time I’m in NM. 🙂
Dina, so glad you liked Calypso; it’s high on my must-sample list. “Screechy” is a good word for F. on me as well (ducks as Musette starts throwing things, ha!). But it is so lovely on some people … sigh.
I am loving Bois Noir from the new line Ann. Did you get a moment with it too?
Portia xx
Howdy, Portia! You lucky thing! That’s the one I’m wanting to try next from that collection. Also need to give Calypso a go.
I can’t do Fracas, either. On me it turns into a cousin of Audrey II (except she’s bright white, instead of intensely green). Let’s form a club! Haven’t smelled any other Piguet. A shame, I’m sure, but Fracas was my introduction to the line, and I’ve never gotten past it. I mean, it smells very pretty in the bottle, and I can totally see how some people find it stunning (me, too, just not in a good way), but all the times I’ve tried it, it blooms, then mutates and starts screaming.
Too funny, Lisa! You could be onto something there: Maybe people’s fear of Fracas is what’s holding them back from the rest of the line. But I’m pretty sure this one and Baghari won’t start screaming on you. 🙂
My favorite Piguet is Bandit in pure perfume! I also like Fracas. And now after reading your post I should find my sample of MP and try it.
Milena, you are one brave lady! However, I have heard that sometimes the most difficult scent is more approachable in the pure parfum, so there may be hope for me and Bandit yet (but I think Mde. Fracas may be a lost cause for me).
I’m only familiar with Fracas and Bandit and no,thank you to both. This sounds very pretty. Aren’t we all ready for a change? I hate the month of March in the midwest, it’s all wet gray clouds and mud. And piles of snirt which is what we call dirty, grimy snow. I don’t have enough just pretty perfume in my collection and that’s what I’m craving now. Time to dig through my samples and see what’s been overlooked.
Hi, lady! “Snirt,” you say? There goes my tea, ha! I’m going to hunt down some more pretty, too, this week. And thanks for the chuckle!
That just sounds so nice. I’ve been hitting the orange blossom fragrances here, dreaming of spring and this sounds like a nice uncomplicated option. I’m going to miss some of the winter scents, but it hit 55 degrees here in the midwest today and I am ready to shed the parka, feel the breeze on my skin and smell light and pretty.
Thank you for the lovely review.
Thanks! And amen to “shed the parka” — I think we are all right there with you! I’m not putting my warm and cuddlies too far out of reach just yet as March isn’t half over, and Mother Nature might still have a few tricks up her sleeve, although fingers crossed, nothing too drastic.
HA! You know the Lady Fracas is my amour. And I adore Bandit & Baghari. I should like Futur but every time I’ve tried it I end up with a raging headache……….dangit!
Orange blossom without the orange is hit or miss on me but I’ll still give this one a try! xoxoA
Hi, sweetie! Yep, I was thinking of you when I mentioned Madame F. I do need to try Futur, but not sure if I’ll ever be brave enough to brave Bandit, ha! Do give this a try if you happen across it.