Hi there Posse! Grandiflora Boronia is an stellar fragrance from Grandiflora. It includes one of Australia’s native flower scent. From a small, dull bush that has the most amazing fragrance. Sadly Boronias are hard to grow in the suburbs because they prefer the poor soils of scrubland. We tried many times in the Pymble house.
I never thought about what a boronia scent would smell like. That smell is so particular and not really pretty. I expect a fragrance to have beauty. Boronia has interest.
This boronia pic is from my mate Ainslie Walker.
From Wikipedia: Boronia is a genus of about 160 species of flowering plants in the citrus family Rutaceae, most are endemic to Australia with a few species in New Caledonia, which were previously placed in the genus Boronella.
Grandiflora Boronia by Bertrand Duchaufour 2017
Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Resins, Cognac, Black tea, Tobacco, Suede, Caramel, Dry woods, Blackcurrant, Freesia, Hemlock, Immortelle absolute, Hay
I smell a sharp, green and blackcurrant opening. Grandiflora Boronia quickly settles into immortelle/hay backed by a boozy depth and super sweet squeal of blackcurrant.
A fragrance full of light and shade, changing constantly over its lifespan. Often I find such chameleons very hard to pin down. Grandiflora Boronia feels super Aussie, because our soil is so full of iron and minerals it gives everything we grow here a lilt. A green earthy metallic tang. Eucalyptus is our most notable and I detect hints of it here, though it’s not noted. For example the imported Mysore sandalwood that we grow here in Oz also opens strongly with it. Most plants grown here get a little sting.
Grandiflora Boronia is not an easy spritz & go fragrance. Though it IS beautiful it’s different and slightly challenging. Created for perfume lovers of the unusual. I feel Bertrand Duchaufour is stretched a bit here and rises suitably to the occasion. It feels like he’s been directed with vision or maybe he was given full creative control? I don’t know the ins and outs but Grandiflora Boronia reeks of direction and decision to be different.
Boronia calms by the 30 minute mark. After that the dry down is quite linear. Sweet tobacco, woods, leather and a hint of dark greenery gradually fade to nothing. So you’ll be ready for a respritz around afternoon tea time.
In conclusion: Totally unisex, wearable in all seasons, longevity is excellent.
Do you know Grandiflora Boronia or any of the Grandiflora fragrances?
Portia xx
Portia also writes for Australian Perfume Junkies
Howdy, dear Portia! This sounds so cool — it’s definitely on my testing radar now. I have enjoyed some of the earlier Grandifloras (Sandrine, Magnolia?) and this one sounds great. Thank you!
You’re welcome Ann, I hope you enjoy it. Can’t think of anything like Boronia in my collection.Sandrine is a particular favourite of mine, so pretty.Portia xx
I was underwhelmed by this one and Southern Bloom as well, but absolutely love Velvet Splendour, which I believe may also have some boronia in it as well but not as the main player.
What a shame TaraC,
Velvet Splendour is excellent and a totally different kettle of fish. Much more creamy, snuggly and warm. I love it too.
Portia xx
I’ve wanted to smell this flower. I own Michel, which I love. A heady, indolic magnolia with a hint of LOTV and ylang. And Sandrine, which is just okay. Mostly grapefruit, pepper, green, woods, musk and a salty ocean vibe that smells like tea. I got these both for $20; so, I can’t believe how expensive the Boronia is. Bummer.
O M G Gina, how did you score Michel and sandrine for $20! AMAZING!!
Portia xx
Loved Boronia as well. XxEsperanza
Hey Esperanza!
YAY! I love that you did.
Do you wear it often?
Portia xx
I had such high hopes for this. I live where the brown Boronia (Boronia megastigma) grows naturally (south west WA) and it is the most AMAZING scent. It is inconspicuous and flowers in dense wet areas in winter, so often you can’t see it…but you walk or ride a bike past a creek system and catch a whiff on the breeze. There is nothing like it. There are also a number of pink Boronia species around that smell nothing like the brown…and in fact are a little unpleasant smelling.
When I saw this released and who made it I was incredibly excited, but ultimately disappointed. It is quite a nice perfume, but unfortunately I can’t catch any of the Boronia in it (same with Goldfields and Banks Southern Bloom). My search for a true Boronia scent continues.
BUMMER AussieSibe. that’s a shame.
Portia xx