True Lust by Etat Libre d’Orange

{March sneaking in here with a quick housekeeping note– lots of improvements on the homepage! One unresolved issue is comment replies, which seem to work for some folks and not for others, and I don’t know why.  Try hitting “reply” to somebody, is it working today?  Back to our regularly scheduled foolishness!}

Hey Hey Perfumed Posse! True Lust by Etat Libre d’Orange is one of my Couch Cocoon Fragrances, not limited to that position but it does have that warming, feel good vibe everyone wants when feeling a bit poorly. Cosy, beautiful, wearable AND you can smell it through the depths of even the darkest cold and flu. With you guys in the Northern Hemisphere heading into your cooler months I thought it might be nice to have a reminder of this 2015 cuddle bunny of a fragrance.

True Lust (Rayon Violet de Ses Yeux) by Etat Libre d’Orange

Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Rum, Ginger, Rose absolute, Violet, Coconut, Osmanthus absolute, Lily-of-the-valley, Jasmine, Ylang-ylang, Tangerine, Rice powder, Amber, Leather, Animalic notes, Sandalwood

True Lust: Rayon Violet de Ses Yeux (Google gives the translation as Violet Ray of His Eyes, pretty). Makes me think of the Angelica Houston movie The Witches. They all had violet eyes, remember? I loved it and watch it again regularly. Our Netflix has it.

Straight out of the spritz I’m smelling violet and osmanthus with hints of rice powder, surprised there’s no iris mentioned in the notes TBH. A very waxy, lipstick scent in the top notes. Imagine if Misia by CHANEL or Lipstick Rose by Malle were simpler, more spacious and sheer or if Paris by YSL was created right now for a modern 21st century perfumista. If you can do that then you’ll get how True Lust wears on me.

The heart is very rose and osmanthus heavy and the bouquet comes into play, the violets and rice powder haven’t left but are sublimated. The roses are deep red, slightly fruity and come with a generous helping of torn leaf and branch, giving the whole fragrance a masculinity unexpected and interesting.

My skin doesn’t really throw much animalic but the leather and woods in dry down still have the waxy sheen of osmanthus and violet and a dark, dusty kick of rose potpourri. Creamy sandalwood in the modern vein softens and grounds the final stages of True Lusts life.

Full Disclosure: I was given this 30ml Press Bottle by the Aussie distributor of ELdO, Bronwyn Gascoigne of Gascoigne and King Candles (they send to the world and are extremely gorgeous and affordable).

I seriously thought I was going to loathe True Lust before I wore it. Turns out I was wrong. 100% wrong, I love it. Roses and violets done in a youthful, buoyant way. This is fun in a bottle. Smells excellent on a guy too.

Surrender To Chance has samples

Have you tried True Lust or do you have a favourite Etat Libre d’Orange?

Portia xx

 

 

 

Portia also writes for Australian Perfume Junkies

  • Tara C says:

    Nombril Immense is a sweet, dusty patchouli, definitely a comfort scent for me. Hard to find any one who stocks it but I don’t believe it’s discontinued.

  • Tara C says:

    I have a few EldO’s: Antihéros, Noël au Balcon, Vraie Blonde, and next on my list is Nombril Immense. Need to sniff True Lust.

  • Francesca Belanger says:

    Sounds wonderful. Will have to give it a sniff.

    • Portia says:

      Hey Francesca,
      I think your back home after your world adventures. What a holiday! Did you add any perfume to your collection?
      Portia xx

  • matty1649 says:

    Already written a note in my perfume notebook X
    Reply button isn’t working for me so I don’t know where this reply will end up XX

  • Maya says:

    This is a line I have never tried. I’ve had some interest in sampling Etat Libre d’Orange but it always seemed to fall by the wayside or get forgotten. True Lust had me with the notes list. Everything I love is in there, especially the rum note. Your impressions of it added the rest so once I post this, I’m going *hunting*.

    • Portia says:

      Hi there Maya,
      Interesting that you never got sniffing ELdO, they do some excellent scents. Many of them are new twists on old tropes, done with a jaunty wink and yet beautifully crafted. There are very few that I actively dislike and a BUNCH that I adore.
      Good luck getting your sniff on them, there’s quite a list to explore.
      Portia xx

  • March says:

    Portia, what kind of computer are you using? “Reply” is working for Anita too….

    • Portia says:

      Sorry March,
      It’s not my computer. I’m answering comments out the back in the Comments section of the WordPress Dashboard.
      Portia xx

      • Musette says:

        well, I am using the actual site because OMGGOINGTOWORDPRESS. Im on a newHP laptop, if that’s any help?

        xoxo

  • matty1649 says:

    Thank you,Portia. Hope I remember XX

  • Eldarwen22 says:

    With a name like that, I would expect it to be really slutty but doesn’t sound to slutty. I have been meaning to try them out but keep forgetting.

    • Portia says:

      You have made me laugh out loud Eldarwen22,
      In those terms it’s not a very animal, sexual, steamy romp in the sheets. More the smell of a freshly made up and perfumed person as they leave the house on an adventure that could end up in the earlier scenario.
      Portia xx

  • Dina C. says:

    This sounds super Portia! I’m so glad you brought it to my attention. I’m adding it to my sniff list. 🙂 Thanks!

  • Tiara says:

    As if I needed to add anything else to my “need to smell this list”, but it’s now on there!

  • Tara says:

    Portia, a cosmetic rose/violet is just my kind of thing. Must try!

  • Kathleen says:

    I have a bottle and live this fragrance. To me it wears exactly how you described Portia. It is easy, cozy and pretty all at once.

    • Portia says:

      Hi there Kathleen,
      Woo Hoo! Another SNAP!
      Yeah, it really does fit all three bills.
      Do you wear it for anything in particular or is it a Go-To?
      Portia xx

  • matty1649 says:

    I’d like to get a sniff of this X

  • Gina Tabasso says:

    I own and love this one, too.

    • Portia says:

      Hey Gina,
      YAY! SNAP!
      We have similar tastes quite a bit. I can’t think of something I love that you loathe, can you?.
      Portia xx

  • March says:

    Dangit….. isn’t it hilarious how I try this reply button, thinking the plugin will have somehow magically fixed itself overnight?

    • Musette says:

      March, I’m surprised! I was all in (for you) until I got to the ROSES part! Have you been raptured?

      I thought you were Mos DEF not a rose gal.

      xoxox

      • March says:

        Sneaking in via the WordPress comments window….. let’s see if it threads now?!? I can’t do it on the regular homepage, whether or not I’m logged in.

  • March says:

    Portia, you have made me REALLLLY want to try this! Thank you!

    • Portia says:

      Hey March,
      I’m surprised this hasn’t become an icon of the ELdO range. It’s all the stuff we love PLUS a fun and vibrant twist. You’ll smell killer in it.
      Portia xx