Hey Posse crew! Oriza L. Legrand is one of the smaller French independent houses. It was brought back to life by Hugo who was once the manager at the Paris store Jovoy and his partner Franck. Hugo is the creative director and is often cited erroneously as the perfumer. As a rebooted historic brand the gents are very honest about their recreations being modern reinterpretations of old formula, many ingredients have become unavailable or unusable, and done with modern sensibilities. So a loving look back. There are also brand new releases in the line. You might not know that Oriza L. Legrand was the first perfume house to offer solid perfume and also offer a range of specific ancillary products for each of their perfumes. I recently purchased Reve d’Ossian because I’ve rediscovered a 10ml decant during last year’s New Idea 2023. Since then I drained it and about a week or so later noticed a friend selling theirs very reasonably on an FB Sale Doc. YAY! So now I have a nearly full bottle that will probably last till my last gasp.
Reve d’Ossian by Oriza L. Legrand
Oriza L Legrand give these featured accords:
Top: Incense, Maritime Pine
Heart: Cinnamon, Benzoin, Tonka Bean, Guaiac, Opopanax
Base: Balms, Myrrh, Incense
Amusingly, the reason I didn’t spring for a full bottle earlier was that my mate Scotty had been wearing Reve d’Ossian in enormous quantities since discovering it. I already had my bottle of Jardins d’Armide and over time had bought Marions Nous, Secret Joly and Gentry Jockey Club. Until rediscovering my decant I had forgotten my love for Reve d’Ossian.
Reve d’Ossian starts out cold incense sticks. It’s stark and aloof, but quickly that is joined by some warmth and sweetness of tonka bean and the sparkle of cinnamon. They are underpinners but play a significant role in keeping the fragrance from being a complete resin/balm bomb. They also add some heat to the smoke. No other perfume I own gives such an olfactory link to the dream idea/memory of standing in a temple. Old wood, gouts of incense smoke, prayer and cool winds through surrounding forests. Not a busy temple because there is little to no smell of humanity, cooking, motor exhaust or anything intrusive to the peace and calm of introspection. It’s smoky incense trail will follow you beautifully day into night, getting just a little more human as it melds with your personal smell and loses its heft.
Totally unisex and more of an experience than a perfume. Reve d’Ossian is a big scent, a little goes a long way and it has extraordinary longevity. With a heavy hand it can easily go beast mode and scare the kiddies.
They have an excellent sample program. 6 x 2ml of your choice with EU shipping included and a rebate on 100ml bottle purchase for only €20.
Surrender To Chance has some of the line too.
Do you like an incense? Favourites?
Portia xx
Incense can be nice but I prefer it as a secondary player. Oriza L. Legrande has some pleasant perfumes. I did get a decant of Muguet Fleuri and enjoyed it, but Diorissimo
will always be the lily-of-the-valley Queen to me.
Hey Maya,
Yes, Diorissimo is spectacular. I also loved the melon LOTV of Hermès Muguet Porcelain.
Portia xx
Ooooooh this sounds fantastic! I really like incense in summer too (oddly?) Something about the heat makes me think of the cool inside of an old stone church or cathedral. I bet I’d love this. Thanks for the reminder about this brand. (I also think their bottle/label concept is wonderful)
Hey march,
There’s something extra reverant about walking from the heat of summer into that cool, darkened church space with its smell of incense, wood wax and humanity. I completely get the connection.
Portia xx
I do like incense but am more intrigued by pine- it’s mentioned as a note but how is it in the scent?
Hey Tom,
I’m going to have to rewear and get back to you on that. It’s not a slap in the face amount, that’s all I can tell you.
Portia xx
I’m still a fan of Bois d’Encens & slowly working through the 30ml I got in a split many moons ago. Although my collection doesn’t have many other incense fragrances.
Hey Alityke,
A mate of mine moving overseas gave me his Bois d’Encens. BEAUTIFUL!
Portia xx
That sounds very atmospheric and mysterious, Portia. Or maybe I mean mystical. My fav incense might be Messe de Minuit by Etro.
WJOA! Twilight Zone! Cinnamon just wrote that too. Messe de Minuit is bloody gorgeous. I bought a bottle very cheap from FragNet last year.
Portia x
This sounds intriguing and the bottles are a nice design. Incense … loving Perfumer H Smoke. Miss Etro Messe de Minuit.
Cinnamon,
you can still buy the ETRO at the discounters. it’s going for a song.
Portia x
I love this one but only wear it to bed as the longevity is nil. I have a ton of incense scents, Cardinal and Waft from the Loft are a couple of favorites.
That’s so interesting TaraC,
Reve d’Ossian lasts for the whole day and more on my usually scent eating skin. We all have such different experiences.
Portia xx