Hi there Perfume Posse, When I read that Michael Buble was doing a fragrance my mind went into instant cynical mode. I was expecting the absolute worst money grab in the history of fragrance and celebuscents. So I checked the perfumer out and she has been doing loads of good work for L’Occitane over the years, quality budget scents. She is also responsible for Lanvin Eclat d’Arpège, Gucci Envy Me + PH II, a couple of Guerlain Aqua Allegorias and L’Artisan Mure & Musc Extreme. Not all exactly my style but none of them bad. There is a bunch of other stuff I’ve never smelled so who knows. OK, I thought, maybe I should go have a look.

Michael Buble: By Invitation by Karine Dubreuil 2016

Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Red fruits, bergamot
Heart: Lily-of-the-valley, jasmine, peony, rose
Base: Sandalwood, musk, vanilla, praline

The first thing we need to talk about is the bottle. It’s a freaking masterpiece. I would believe that this came from one of the ultra expensive jewellery designers: Cartier, Boucheron, Bulgari or VC&A. High end ranges would all sit comfortably in this fun, inventive yet minimalist, glamour retelling of an old style puff mechanism. I find it clever and beautiful and would happily have it as my one bottle on display if that was the way I worked. Even the heavy, matte, recycled feeling of the box cardboard makes me think of much more expensive brands.

How does it smell? Opening is sharpish with the berries and citrus but almost immediately you can smell rich bakery under layers coming through and I am most put in mind of old fashioned cheesecake: the biscuit base, creamy rich filling that is sweet but lightly piquant and the warm joy of having a delicious dessert. Michael Buble may never have had a hand in making it, for that I have no information, but whoever was in charge has made something that could easily have been in the Guerlain line up. Not the Guerlain of yesteryear perhaps but the LVMH version of the brand, not incredibly dissimilar to Oriental Brulant.

Smooth like brandy custard and sweet like caramel slice, yet not really smelling like either of them, more the texture of both and too much applied can be cloying. Definitely a fragrance in need of a lighter hand. Longevity is nuclear and projection impressive for a few hours before settling to a light sweet hum above my skin.

WikiMedia

Do I love it? Well, I spritzed it one afternoon, swooned around in it all evening and LOVED the whisper of sweet, clean, woodsy confectionary next morning and went right back to the store and put my money on the counter for a 30ml bottle. No, it’s not the most sophisticated scent, not boundary pushing and not for anyone who only loves a chypre. If you love a sweet gourmand that smells all tonka, almond and vanilla then you will probably love Michael Buble By Invitation.

Available everywhere

Have you tried it yet? Do you like Michael Buble?
Portia xx