Le Jardin Retrouve Jasmin

By Marina A fragile beauty in a white diaphanous dress...and leather soldier boots - this is Le Jardin Retrouve Jasmin. The central note is innocently fresh and green; the sensuality, usually associated with jasmine, is lended to the blend instead by creamy ylang and fiery carnation, and this sensuality is quite subdued...not a heavy-lidded come-hither allure but a demure suggestiveness. If you still remember (it's been a while!), I am a sucker for a well done contrast in perfume. I found the juxtaposition of the pseudo-angelic transluscency of jasmine and the brutal tarriness of leather in Le Jardin's rendition of the flower very appealing. There are so many jasmines out there that, to stand out, a scent has to have a twist. Innocent jasmine in itself is somewhat unsual, but the addition of brutish, smoky leather (and, by the way, I have no idea what exactly gives that leathery feel to the composition) "puts shama lama in a ding dong". Available at Le Jardin Retrouve for modest 29€. I received my sample from people at Le Jardin.

Le Jardin Retrouve Le Citron Poivre: Perfume Review

All summer long I've been in a mood for "scents whose spiciness is fresh or whose freshness has a dark and piquant depth". That mood lasted well into this beautiful autumn, possibly because the weather here in NYC has been mostly spoiling us with clear skies and mild warmth. Le Citron Poivré by Le Jardin Retrouvé is my latest discovery in the fresh-&-piquant genre. The contrast of the citrusy and spicy accords is rendered here with a light, judicious hand, neither side is overwhelming the other. The clear, dry, verdant, mouthwatering and tangy blend of citron and petit grain is perhaps somewhat more dominant in the composition than the mix of spices, but the latter is also evident at all times, practically from the first second of the perfume's life on my skin. Simple as the idea and the execution is, the complex piquant accord does gives the fragrance an additional, intriguing dimensions. Sometimes pepper jumps out from the mix to tickle the nose of the wearer, a moment the warmer spiciness of cloves and cinnamon that becomes more apparent, and -the part I enjoy the most- once in a while pimento takes the lead. What I like about this scent is that it is neutral enough to let one go about one's own business, without taking attention away from one's day making it an ideal chilled-out, relaxing, weekend perfume. The presence of spices, however, adds a snappy twist to the composition; during the course of the day, I keep getting unexpected whiffs of pimento and cloves and wondering what is that interesting, zippy fragrance I am wearing. The fairly dry, non-frilly nature of Le Citron Poivré makes it a great shared fragrance, and being able to wear the same scent as your significant other, just like wearing his shirt around the house, has a certain smug, loved-up charm. Le Citron Poivré is available at lejardinretrouve.com. There you can also request any three samples for a shipping fee of €2. Images by Rankin, Le Jardin Retrouvé.