Last week (and in various other Posse posts), folks, including me, have been expressing their love for Hiram Green’s Dilettante. Its orange blossom goodness, paired with a touch of petitgrain, makes it a beautifully simple treat for summer, or anytime really.
There’s just something about orange blossom that makes us love it so. As our darling Patty said in her guide to the best OB scents a few years ago: “Orange blossom, when done right, is joyous, like a ray of sunshine that is almost too bright.” And indeed it is.
Now I’ve been an orange blossom lover since elementary school, when an OB solid perfume (bought on a field trip to a Native American reservation) saved my sanity on many a swelteringly hot day on a very smelly school bus. In fact, that experience turned out to be the second post I wrote for the Posse.
Since then, I’ve happily tried every OB that I can get my hands on and can honestly say I’ve not met one that I didn’t like. Although one day a particularly heavy hit of cumin in a double spray of Serge Lutens’ Fleurs d’Oranger did set me back a bit, until it wore off.
Orange blossom and related scents that I enjoy wearing now include the aforementioned Dilettante, my Holy Grail of sunshine scents, Le Labo’s Tubereuse 40, and Ava Luxe Neroli Blossom, which is The One that takes me immediately and happily back to the orange groves of my childhood (and that beloved solid perfume I mentioned earlier). Others that I greatly enjoy include Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom, Hermes’ 24 Faubourg, and L’Artisan Seville a l’Aube. And I’m sure some of you will remind us of other lovely ones as well.
What about you? What floats your orange blossom boat? I do know some of you don’t like scents that are on the soapy side, although that’s never bothered me.
I almost forgot one more excellent “orange blossom”–well, a bit lemony too! I’m wearing Teo Cabanel’s “Meloe”–very refreshing, light and brisk, lovely and “orange blossomy today.” For those sweltering in the heat with or without humidity, this one stands up nicely!
Oooh, have not tried that one! I am liking the idea of a little lemon kick in there, too. Thanks!
LOVE Dilletante; I’m going to have to buy more, my sample is almost gone. Also love the Serge FdO (which is heavier and I save for winter) and some others named above. Have you ever tried Naked Bee orange blossom honey hand cream? It smells incredible.
Hi, darling! Well, it’s (almost) official — all of us here on the Posse (although haven’t heard Tom weigh in on it) think Dilettante is a hit! Must try that Naked Bee cream — where do you buy it?
My friend Donna intro’d me to Les Couverts de Minimes’ Orange Blossom (I am confident that I boogered up the spelling there) body cream. I have NO idea why they discontinued that. I would buy it in BULK! Dilettante is also gorgeous!!!
xoxoA
Have you tried the Les Couvent …Eau Aimable? Its got a good dose of orange blossom/neroli.
Hi, Poodle! So nice to see you here. I wasn’t aware of that scent, but it sounds lovely, so I’m going to hunt it down. It is such a nice line. Thanks!
Howdy, dear! Now why would they go and discontinue that? Grrrrr. But glad you’re grooving on the Dilettante.
Oops, comment in the wrong place. Sigh
“Brings me back…” oh typos and missing words..
Not to worry, dear. My fingers are often getting away from me. So glad you mentioned the Eli Saab; that is a nice one, and glad you’re enjoying the Dilettante as well.
I love Dilettante too, but what beings me back to both the real orange and mock orange blossoms of my childhood is Eli Saab. The Edt as well as L’eau Couture in summer are great while the EDP is a different and heavier beast for fall and winter. I also like both SL citruses. I’m going to have to try some that mentioned here.
I have probably smelled OB before but not consciously. I don’t really go seeking out individual notes so much any more, it’s the whole composition that interests me.
I, too, like a well-rounded composition where no one note takes center stage but OB has always struck a chord with me. Although, I’m guessing there’s probably something out there that you’ve liked that’s had OB in a major role but didn’t stand out too loudly.
Orange blossom can go so soapy and scratchy on my skin. The only one I have found that I love so far is Hermes 24, Faubourg. Boy do I love that one. It makes me feel so beautiful, bright and glamorous when I wear it.
Amen, Tatiana! That Hermes is glamour in a bottle (and what a bottle it is). Rich, classic and never out of style.
I’ll add APOM Pour Femme which I only recently discovered where have I been??! and Maria Candida’s Hanbury. Diptyque’s Eau des Sens is a nice, light scent which if I was loaded I would put in the fridge and blast on summer days like a cologne. Hermes Eau de Neroli Dore is richer and has a nice orange blossom note but I haven’t tested it much and I will probably only encounter it again in The Sample Sea in the far distant future.
Yes, Holly — I’m nodding right along to your choices. I liked the Diptyque when I first tried it but somehow forgot about it, but no more. But I haven’t been able to try the Hermes yet (but soon, I hope).
Dilettante is going to be my Xmas gift to self this year. It’s the first perfume I’ve really loved in quite a while.
It really is so easy to love, isn’t it, Cinnamon? And what a nice gift to yourself; enjoy it — you deserve it!
I have to agree with Megan–Dilettante is my new favorite OB! I also have and love Annick Goutal Neroli, but I think the Dilettante has even usurped the AG! The only other OB I own that I haven’t seen mentioned is By Kilian Sweet Redemption. SR is less reliable–great some days, and other times it gets that mothball smell. L’Occitan used to have a really beautiful orange blossom room spray, but I think they may have discontinued it.
Hiya, dear! I see the Dilettante fan club just keeps on growing. And if it’s nearly toppled your beloved AG, well, that’s saying something! I hadn’t thought about it before, but you are so right on the Sweet Redemption; it does seem to have its ups and downs.
Hi there. My new fav is definitely Dilettante. Wow this is a great perfume and I’m seriously considering buying it. My two other favourites are Fleurs d’Oranger and Seville à l’aube. I feel that the Serge is my day orange and the Seville is for evening wear. It’s just a little more sultry than the Lutens.
Megan, that sounds like the perfect way to wear your OBs. I agree, the Seville does seem a little more suited to after dark. Enjoy!
Love Seville a l’aube (OB, incense, lavendar and beeswax lots of favorite notes in one) and also Knot. Have been waiting to get my hands on Dilettante ever since I heard about it.
Ah, another Seville fan! Hope you get to try the Dilettante soon and enjoy it.
Seville l’Aube has been my jam all summer but I love it for those bitter orange woodsy facets more than the OB, I think. SSS Jour Ensolielle (may have butchered that spelling, too lazy to look it up) is lovely too, a real orange blossom day brightener. In fact I should wear it today, kinda forgot about it.
Howdy, dear! I agree, I kind of like that vibe of the Seville even more than the OB. I do need to try that SSS; alas, I have steered clear of that line for a while because something in their bases doesn’t agree with me. But this sounds worth a go — thanks!
LOVE Orange Blossom Ann, my favourite is Seville a l’aube. YUMMY!
Portia xx
Howdy, Portia! Yep, that is a great OB. But somehow it skews very melancholy on me, so I tend to save it for the fall, if that makes any sense, ha!
Ghroob is OB with the base note amplified with a very mellow aoud note. Best in the oil.
Sounds yummy. Where do you find it?
Jo Malone recently offered a GWP that included a mini spray of Orange Blossom Cologne, which I hadn’t smelled previously. I’m surprised by how much I love it! Definitely see a FB in my future. One that I’ve adored for years: Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile EDT. I know the name says iris, but I feel like the EDT is more about orange blossom. And it’s gorgeous!
Yay, Angie! Glad you are loving the JM. Now you’ve got me curious: Need to find my sample of the AdP and seek out its OB vibe.
I am also aboard the Dilettante train, and regularly wear Seville a L’Aube and Fleurs d’Oranger (in fact, just wore it today! Thought I’d give in to the sweaty afternoon and just go with the cumin). I’ve also been enjoying Atelier Cologne’s Orange Sanguine, which is just sunny and easy, and the sample I have of Tom Ford’s Neroli Portofino Forte, also easy but a tad more sophisticated. I’m still distraught that I’ll never smell Shalini.
Hi, lady! Nice choices there. I’ve not tried that Tom Ford and need to re-visit the Orange Sanguine. I’m with you on the Shalini, but figure I can’t miss too much what I never sniffed.
I love California Reverie as well: so light and airy, easy to wear. I also was quite taken with Jour Ensoleille (Sonoma Scent Studio) a very joyous orange blossom, which I wore constantly for awhile. I once bought a bottle of Laura Mercier Neroli EDP unsniffed, which made me nauseous and wary of orange-scented anything for awhile. Is it the Neroli? Any ideas?
Another CR fan! Not sure about that Laura Mercier, but I do know that neroli is a bit different from OB. Sorry it made you ill. If you can, perhaps try a few purely OB scents and see how they do for you.
My fave orange blossom is Van Cleef’s California Reverie. Heavenly!
I only tried that one once a while back; liked it very well but was trying so much else that day that it slipped off my radar. Now I must revisit. Thanks!
I’ve never really thought about orange blossoms a lot until I recently received a sample of Elemis face cream which is bursting with honeyed Neroli Orange Blossom beautifulness….I had a large decant of Serge Luten’s Fleur D’Oranger and I’d put a bit of that on after using the Elemis face cream before bed and wow, an orange blossom caressed cocoon of pure pleasure!
Now all I want is OB.
Must try everything, the HG Dilittante and the Caron Narcisse Noir are at the top of my list!
That cream sounds so nice. And what a great combination with the SL. Enjoy that and your OB exploration — there’s so much good stuff out there!