Hi Posse. Jasmin et Cigarette was on my radar long before I ever tried it. What a terrific name. It conjured such beautiful opposites in my brain. Then when I tried it the surprise at how springlike it is was excellent. The whole Etat Libre d’Orange range is full of old tropes made new with interesting quirks and fun additives. Even the simplest or most derivative are usually given a little sting somewhere along the line. In contrast Jasmin et Cigarette feels so totally new. If you can think of things that smell even remotely like it can you leave their names in the comments please? I’d love to try them.
Jasmin et Cigarette by Etat Libre d’Orange
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Jasmine, Tobacco, Hay, Apricot, Musk, Cumin, Cedar, Tonka Bean, Amber
Plush jasmine with sweet tobacco, tonka and fruit open this fragrance. It’s a bold, pretty, springlike extravaganza. I smell the tropics but not in the usual vanilla rich ylang way. The tobacco smells so different to what I’m expecting during the opening. Maybe because the white floral is so radiant and diffusive. That radiant style puts it firmly in the early 2000s style, one I really love. Elie Saab, Narcissi Rodriguez, Gucci Guilty and so many more were part of this rush to radiance. I don’t know who hit the style first but 2003 saw Christine Nagel and Francis Kurkdjian’s still highly coveted winner of the FiFi Women`s Nouveau Niche in 2004 AND 2007! Jasmin et Cigarette hit the shelves 2006.
It does do a nice riff on the style. More nuanced and has a journey, where the NR and Saab are single note stayers. If you have those and the style is something you like rather than adore then Jasmin et Cigarette is probably going to be superfluous.
Me? I really like it and reach for it far more often than the others. There’s something, and maybe it’s the sweet fruit or the very slightly stanky cumin, that makes it feel like a much better fit for me. As much as I don’t believe in gendering perfume, this does lean towards traditional modern feminine (for those that care).
Projection is big for the first half hour, it’s a head turning attention getter for a while. Then it softens off considerably. Longevity is excellent. Long after I am nose bling people can still notice and remark.
Last time I wrote about Etat Libre d’Orange was Spice Must Flow. That was just before C19 hit!
Do you have a fave ELdO? Does Jasmin et Cigarette sound like it might blow your mind too?
Portia xx
PS: I’m away on the Indian Pacific train this week and I”m not sure when I’ll get to responding but will do my best. XXX
I remember smelling this but I don’t remember getting all that much out of it..
BUMMER Tom.
Portia xx
Wore both Bendelirious and Rien this week. Also have Nombril Immense aka big bellybutton, but that’s more of a winter scent.
Oh, and a question for Australian members of the posse: any suggestions for Australian perfume brands, with perhaps good sample sets? A friend is going to Melbourne next month -!! She might time to pop into a store and scoop something up, as a friend but not fellow perfumista.
Yes, try the Goldfield & Banks set AnnieA. I think Fort & Manlé has one. Criminal Elements is FABULOUS too.
Tell your friend to try the new LKNU store in town or PEONY a bit further out.
Portia xx
Thanks very much!
Love Jasmin et Cigarette with its walk-of-shame vibe. But, there’s a lot more going on in this scent, as you have noted. Another EldO favourite is the autumnal Vierges et Toreros. Want to sniff more from this house.
HA! Yes, walk of shame definitely. One of the high and low points of life Ringadian.
Yes, get your nose on some.
Portia x
ooh! the train sounds fabulous!!! I do not have any EdOs – this one sounds like ME!
xoxoxo
sorry – clarifying: Jasmin et Cigarettes is the ME!
xoxo
HA! The train was really fun Musette. we had a ball.
You would rock the shit outta J&C.
Portia xx
I remember this one! I have some ELdO decants but none of them ever grabbed me enough to buy a bottle. I really want to try Spice Must Flow, I bet I’d like it. Maybe even love it. Have a great time on your trip, it sounds marvelous!
Hey March, Spice Must Flow is lovely.
Back home from the trip now. Will get some pics up somewhere soon, promise.
Portia x
I like this one but wish there was more cigarette on me. It’s mostly jasmine, which is nice, but not quite as exciting. I find SL Sarrasins more daring.
Tara, have you ever smelled Liz Zorn’s Tobacco and Tulle? Very tobacco-y with nice florals to balance.
xoxo
Aha! TaraC, it seems we smoky tobacco lovers like to be punched in the face with it.
Agree with Musette below, Liz does wonderful tobacco.
Portia xx
Hey Portia!
I love jasmine, but tobacco is one of my least favorite notes. Did a search, and it’s only in 4 of my scents (Seville a L’Aube, Cuir de Russie, Sycomore, Jolie Madame). So I’m thinking this would not play nicely with my nose. My favorite ELDO scent was a sample of Rossy de Palma. Like This, the Tilda Swinton pumpkin one, did nothing for me.
Ah! Then you will probably hate this. You’re right. Maybe spritz a card with it if you see it though?
Portia xx
Have a fabulous time!
Jaz n Fags wasn’t for me. As with many of the earlier ELDOs they teeter just on the edge of the precipice. For me, it toppled over, into stale clothing the morning after an 80s girls night out when everyone smoked
Alityke,
That MIGHT be a thing that draws me to it.
Portia xx
Alas, this one is ash on me. But I do really like Spice Must Flow. And when the brand isn’t trying only to shock, it makes some really nice fragrances. Have a wonderful trip.
Same here – ash tray to be specific. I was crushed…
Bummer Cinnamon, but SNAP on Spice Must Flow. i love it too.
Portia xx