It’s early in the week of first week of July as I type this and it’s warm and rather humid. I’m not going to complain about it since 85° and 85% humidity is a lot better than the 120° and 95% they’re getting in the desert. But it does make me reach for the light stuff, as I wrote last time.
A friend of mine was in town and wanted to stop at ScentBar. Something I will do for practically excuse: It’s a hot day and they have AC. My friend really wants to go. It’s Sunday. I’m breathing.
In any case, I came across Les Nombres d’Or Eau Absolu and refreshed my memory about how much I like this one- it opens with tart citrus, like ripping open some weird hybrid fruit that had somehow been infused with petigrain and ice. On a hot day, it’s an instant “ahhh.” Almost immediately the pink pepper comes in on little feet- slightly tip-toeing around your ice-bath to give you pleasurable little bits of sunny warmth. As it goes further the sun starts to set, going green and herbal but still radiating some of the warmth of the day. The finish is is where the cistus comes in, bringing the night. Just a touch of a little dirty musk. My scent twin wrote “(it) manages not to get its white shirt soiled even though it steps dangerously close at times.” I don’t think I could have said it better.
Although this is an Eau, it’s a di Orio Eau, very rich and with great staying power. I put some on at ScentBar in the afternoon and was smelling it clearly when I woke up the next morning.
It’s still painful that we lost Mona di Orio (I would have loved to meet her) but it makes me very happy that her company is still moving forward making wonderful scents like Les Nombres d’Or Eau Absolu.
Notes (from LuckyScent):
Bergamot, clementine, Petitgrain Citronnier, Litsea Cubeba, Egyptian geranium, vetiver from Java and Haiti, Jamaican St. Thomas Bay Leaf, pink peppercorn, cedar wood, musk, cistus labdanum.
$230 for 100 ML, at Luckyscent, where I asked for and received my sample.
By the time this uploads it will be the weekend of the 4th of July. To our American readers, happy 4th!
Photo: LuckyScent
I haven’t tried Les Nombres d’Or Eau Absolu but is sounds perfec for summer. I love your descriptive reviews, they make me want to run out and buy every perfume you talk about!
I haven`t tried this but definitely I`ll have to have it in my hands as soon as possible, indeed it is a little bit expensive but I`m sure that deserves every cent. Thanks for the tip Tom
Though very few of the MdOs have worked well with my skin, I’ve always been very impressed with their unmistakable quality. I suppose I should feel lucky that there’s not yet another perfume that I desperately yearn for…..:-)
It is sad that Mona died and just this week Sandrine Videault (she created Manoumalia) left us as well. But to have these creations they left behind is such a gift and a wonderful legacy.
I haven’t yet tried this, but it sounds delightful!
It’s very sad indeed. I read about Sandrine yesterday. Such a tragedy.
Love this! Thanks for posting! It does seem a bit expensive but if you love the scent, what can you do? 🙂
There are always decanters..
I guess Les Nombres d’Or Eau Absolu seems a nice perfume because the citrus scent smells refreshing and attractive. But I am not sure if I can afford it since $230 seems expensive. You are lucky for having a sample. Maybe I will try a sample someday because I am attracted to musk scent too.
It is rather pricey, but you can tell the money’s in the juice. I’m glad I can pop into Scentbar and sample..
MMMMM I have only just begun my MdO time, I have a bottle of Vanille and it is see a lot of skin time. What other ones in the range do you recommend Tom?
Your buddy from down under, where you MUST come visit.
Portia xx
Cuir is one of the best things out there and Musk isn’t far behind. I haven’t tried one that I don’t really like yet.