Ormonde Jayne Montabaco Flor

I just have to crow a tiny bit: last night, I dreamt in French! First time. Only very short sentences (eg, ou est l’orange? to a little boy) but still in French. I started my course of study in March, and I have studied the language on and off in the past. But, this feels like a small victory.

Anyway.

October. It’s mostly been surprisingly warm, for which I am thankful. Some trees are doing yellow and red leaves. I’ve started the annual garden sort out by cutting (this will take a while) the jasmine back to the fence. It’s always the hope that come spring it will start to spread further down the fence – which it has done in the past. Eventually it should make it to the back wall of the garden.

I had my annual flu jab last week. Covid booster is a week and a half away. Another visit last week to orthodontist for wire replacement and tightening. I’m now on once a month visits vs every two months for a period so he can focus on the hole where the errant tooth used to be and start pulling my front teeth back so they sit better.

Today, we’re doing the third sample I bought recently with the Tauer 20^th anni iteration of LDDM. Where’s number 2, you ask. Well it’s coming – just not today.

So, Ormonde Jayne. UK-based perfume house that launched more than 20 years ago. The first releases were outstanding to my mind – or maybe they were just different enough from the usual that the noise around them was loud.

And the original chocolate box shop on New Bond Street was a great destination. The people who worked there were great and back then the offer was reasonably priced, particularly the candles.

I recall buying Frangipane, which is really a lovely floral. But it got rehomed as something didn’t quite sit right. Then, I bought Ormonde Woman, which many perfumistas consider a masterpiece. It’s beautiful – but it too got rehomed.

Montabaco Flor, from 2024, is, as noted in the name, a floral. Notes include cardamon, juniper, orange, bergamot, clary sage, tea, jasmine, rose, freesia, gardenia, violet, water lily, ylang, suede, tobacco leaf, moss, Iso E Super, ambergris, sandalwood and tonka. Bit of a kitchen sink thing.

Now, I long ago figured out the OJ base wasn’t for me. It just doesn’t sit quite right. So, why do this? I think periodically I like to try houses that don’t work for me just to see if that’s still true.

And I think the issue with OJ is Iso E Super, that huge woody note.

Anyway, this is a big fat NO. What I get is big woody scratchy with what I thought first time round (yes, I did this more than once) was iris. Not in the notes but who knows.

This is a scrubber. The only reason I managed it twice was spraying less second time round. Too sweet woody – plus that weird scratchy that might be iris.

So, briefly onward. Given this was such a meh, I decided to list a few non-perfume things that keep popping up when I look at fashion blogs regarding which I don’t get the attraction.

First off, East-West bags, which appear to be having a big moment. Rectangular bags presented Landscape orientation with longish straps so you can wear on the shoulder. For me, these are just not nice to look at. And I have this idea that things inside roll to each corner, making it hard to find items.

Number 2 is mules, in particular as loafers. Just no. What is attractive about this configuration? What am I missing?

So, is Ormonde Jayne a house you love, and are you ok with Iso E Super? Is there anything out there currently making the influencer rounds that doesn’t float your boat?

Pics: pexels, Wiki parfum