Unexpected warmth: Robert Piguet Gardenia

Piguet GardeniaWhen I first heard of Robert Piguet Gardenia, I thought, “Oh, boy, another gardenia wannabe that probably will fall woefully short of the actual flower’s scent.” But I still had to try it, because … well, you just never know. And turns out I was way off on this one, reminding me that not everything has to be a spot-on copy of its namesake.

Piguet Gardenia is not a wannabe at all, but rather a slightly offbeat, even abstract interpretation of the flower. Yes, you can tell that that’s its inspiration, but then it takes off down a whole ‘nother path. This is a scent that’s slightly rich and golden, and seems made for cool-ish weather rather than hot, with its smooth smokiness (leather?) and a touch of the gourmand, almost as if it had a brown sugar glaze on it. Wrapped in tendrils of spicy lily and ylang-ylang, with a whispery vanillic drydown to finish, it’s like a cashmere wrap, a comforting hedge against the chill. A gentle reminder of warm weather to come, but without that in-your-face oomph that many gardenia scents have.

I had tried it when it debuted, but the other day, it popped into my head to wear it again, as it just sounded right for a late February day. And indeed it was.

If you’re looking for a different kind of comfort scent, one with golden floral tones and that doesn’t smell fresh from the bakery or candy store, Piguet Gardenia might be a nice fit.

Are you finding winter warmth unexpectedly with a certain scent? Or are you staying with your tried-and-true, familiar cozy loves to ride out the last of winter?

Notes per Fragrantica: Gardenia, ylang-ylang, lily, black leather, vanilla, cashmeran.

  • Maya says:

    Was trying to reply to Solance.

  • Maya says:

    Fracas for me too! 🙂 Love it – old and new versions.

  • Ann says:

    Hiya, Mals! So nice to see you! Hope you and your family are doing well. Yep, you are a BWF girl from waaay back! 🙂 Hope you still like the Piguet Gardenia.

  • Mals86 says:

    I don’t think I gave this one a full wearing for some reason, but I remember liking it, and I still have the half-full vial, so will have to give it another shot soon. (But then I lurve me some BWFs.)

  • HeidiC says:

    This new Piguet sound intriguing, and very cozy! It’s still very much winter up here on the High Plains, so I’d been wearing cozier scents like Ciel de Gum, Fumerie Turque, or Cuir de Russie. But I’ve been working on a lyric essay about Germaine Cellier, so I’ve been wearing Bandit, Jolie Madame, and Vent Vert to get in that headspace — that last one is really making me long for spring!

    • Ann says:

      Howdy, Heidi! So glad you’re stlll enjoying the Ciel de Gum, and your others are lovely as well. That is so cool about the essay you’re doing on Cellier; would love to hear more about it. Is it for a class? Thanks for stopping by.

  • Deb says:

    You smelled so much more in this one than I did. It was just “meh” for me in The Great Gardenia Hunt. I smelled as much lily as gardenia. The florals dissipated rather quickly, and the only thing left was cashmeran. Perhaps I had a different formulation, an old one, or the old schnozzle just wasn’t working as it should. Your description of it is lovely.

    • Ann says:

      Thanks, Deb! I did get a good bit of lily and ylang, but on my skin the gardenia was a bit more prominent. Not to worry, though; as we know, everyone’s chemistry is different.

  • Solanace says:

    This sounds nice, maybe too polite for my personal taste, but you got me with ‘golden’ and ‘ylang ylang’. Will have to try it.

    • Ann says:

      Hi, dear! Yes, it is polite, but not in such a boring, bland way. Do give it a go if you see it in your retail travels — it’s worth at least a spritz.

  • Neva says:

    As usual at the end of winter I love to wear my Gucci Rush. It feels warm and has enough flowers to keep me thinking of the spring. It’s one of the scents that sticks so nice to the clothes and I can always smell it around me.
    As for the Piguet Gardenia, thanks for the review. It sounds very nice and cozy and to me there’s never enough of such scents.

    • Ann says:

      Yes, Neva, I love Gucci Rush — it is kind of a wonderful fragrant rush, isn’t it? Do try the Piguet Gardenia if you happen across it; it’s not as bland as one might think.

  • eldarwen22 says:

    I’m not exactly going with my normal winter scents but wanting No 19, Deneuve, Courtesan and En Passant. It’s the time of year when I’m so done with winter I want spring to come.

    • Ann says:

      Amen, Eldarwen! Hurry up, spring! BTW, so glad you mentioned Deneuve; I have a tiny scrab of the parfum and now I’ve got to find it and put it on. Ah, the power of suggestion! 🙂

  • Portia says:

    Hey Ann,
    I loved this in a quiet way. It felt very comfortable and I thought it would be a perfect go to scent for someone who likes to smell very nice and slightly of white flowers but is frightened of the whole BWF stigma.
    Portia xx

    • Ann says:

      Hi, dear! Yes, you hit the nail on the head; it would be great for someone for whom BWFs are too overwhelming. Glad you enjoyed it as well. Thanks!

    • Solanace says:

      Riri, I don’t care about the stigma, so will stick with Fracas.

      • Ann says:

        Lucky you, Solanace, that Lady Fracas loves you! I can only wear her in a smidge of body lotion or a touch of solid perfume.

  • Sun Mi says:

    I’ve been mildly obsessed with Olympic Orchid’s Blackbird – which is super fitting in the cooler weather. It’s a dark, sweet, plush blackberry + pine scent that has been so warming in the cold!