Opus IX Amouage

Desirability: Full bottle

Source: pinterest

"But I, I took the sweet life and never knew I'd be bitter from the sweet

I spent my life exploring the subtle whoring that cost too much to be free

Hey lady, I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me"

 Charlene - I've Never Been To Me (lyrics stolen from MetroLyrics )

Opus IX in a song. 

I've long been in love with Greta Garbo and the dashingly handsome Robert Taylor in the film Camille, based on Alexandre Dumas' La Dame aux Camélias, which  Giuseppe Verdi turned into the opera La Traviata. 

Unlike Hester Prynne forced to don the scarlet letter, Opus IX wears her flaming red cloak with pride and much beauty. I am a big fan of Amouage (more correctly a fan of their dramatic and tempestuous creations that fly in the face of polite crowd-pleasers), a lover of jasmine and "stinky" scents as well as a complete sucker for romance ( I grew up on a diet of Judith McNaught). The animal is much alive in Opus IX but instead of grappling for world domination, it blends beautifully with a honeyed jasmine which provides just the right amount of floral sweetness and does magic up images of the snowy white camellias that Camille was never without, whether splurging on a massive bouquet or a stem tucked into a sash. A light layer of fine pepper breaks the lull created by the blissful union between the flowers and animals but Opus IX comes nowhere near as spicily aromatic as Nuit Noire nor as lusty. Opus IX focuses more on the highs and lows of the romance as compared to the never ending bondage session of Nuit Noire. From the first moment the scent caresses the skin so does the story unfold with bright flashes of vivacity and joy interspersed with shadows of melancholy that weigh heavily on the soul. 

I didn't delve into the story behind the creation of Opus IX before trying it on or writing this but now that I know that the inspiration came from La Traviata, it makes perfect sense . A scent of passionate love and hideous heartache that only too often go hand in hand. Artfully captured in the alluring yet tragic Opus IX. Massive projection and good longevity. This goes on the birthday wish list. 

Source: pinterest

Divine EDP Divine

Desirability: Full bottle

Source: Fragrantica

I seriously believed I was over my white floral craze having smelt some of the not so great and some of the very best (too smug was I). That is until I met Divine which thoroughly deserves its name and even more. This house was a totally hidden gem for me but no longer. Not after having sampled this gorgeous one and  the siren L`etre Aime Femme (*fans herself), both scents having pushed the competition out of the way to reach the top two spots on my want list. 

Nose-tingling aldehydes make a sweeping entrance. Heady tuberose (the way it should be), milky sweet gardenia and citrus-tinged orange blossom run riot in Divine EDP. Not one flower outshines the others but together create a most glorious symphony. Rose and jasmine are noticeable but my attention was focussed on the white flowers I love best. However the indolic jasmine becomes far more obvious as the scent settles down and develops into a warm, spiced and musky floriental that's sophisticated and sunny. I literally have nothing but praise for Divine EDP. Even from a dab sample, the sillage is huge and longevity is very, very good. 

Bold, bright and beautiful. If you love white flowers, you must try this. MUST. 

A La Nuit Serge Lutens

This is the be all and end all of jasmine scents for me. I bought my first bottle in 2007 and have not craved for another jasmine since. 

It reminds me of being a young child of less than a metre tall, curious about my father's garden with hundreds of different exotic plants calling it home. At the back of the garden is a huge jasmine bush, well back then it was huge in contrast to the little me. It is a type of Jasminum Sambac, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the blooms resembles white roses and they open at night, releasing a super potent jasmine scent, much stronger than the single layer ones. Till this day, it is my favourite plant in the garden and it shares its blooms with me to scent my living space with its unique fragrance. 

Jasminum Sambac, Grand Duke of Tuscany, courtesy of flnurserymart.com

A La Nuit is all about jasmine, from the start, you are greeted with an intense jasmine scent, sweet and clear as if smelling from a just plucked bloom. As you enjoy the fragrance you notice behind the floral sweetness, an animalic note that I usually associate with jasmine and tuberose, although it smells different in each. It is as if the flower has just gone past its prime and is one step towards decay. The scent feels warmer and more pungent at this point compared to its dewy freshness in the opening and stays like this for many hours. Like the Grand Duke of Tuscany, A La Nuit has a huge sillage and I can still smell it lingering the next day.

A La Nuit is both womanly and child-like at the same time, uplifting and yet causes a wistful yearning for past happiness, refreshing yet indolic. There is nothing quite like her.