Parfumerie Generale Ligne Chapitre II
Ligne Chapitre II is the second group of creations by Parfumerie Generale, a relatively new French niche perfume house. I’ve had the opportunity to try its predecessor, Ligne Chapitre I, quite thoroughly, and, in spite of the fact that I found them unique and appealing in composition, they lacked in wearability, with the exception of perhaps Intrigant Patchouli. To my great excitement, the second batch scored high points on both counts - composition as well as wearibility. I got so excited about these scents that when I went to check my online banking, I typed in the Generale web address instead. After rigorous skin testing, I’m sharing my brief notes here.
Iris Taizo
Notes: cardamom, iris, honey, aloe wood, vanilla, precious woods.
A briliant combination of iris and cardamom - something I’ve never encountered before in perfume. Upon drydown, you can barely smell the iris, and the cardamom with added woody and vanillic notes produces a soft, velvety effect. Gorgeous!
Aomassai
Notes: caramel, hazelnut, spices, vetiver, Tolu balsam, bitter orange.
First impression: condensed milk and tree bark. Resinous and balmy, with caramely drydown. Makes me wish I could make a dessert out of this. Delicious!
Ilang Ivohibe
Notes: ylang-ylang, orange, jasmine, vanilla.
Ylang-ylang and orange in top notes. Dries down rather quickly bringing about a soft, woody, vanillic floral. Stunning!
Jardins de Kerylos
Notes: fig, Sycamore woods.
A burst of juicy figs with grassy notes. Very Mediterranean and green. A must try for lovers of fig scents. Refreshing!
Harmatan Noir
Notes: dried flowers, woods, mint tea.
A medicinal mix of dry herbs and woods. Very dry, slightly smoky with undertones of mint tea. Nothing sweet here. Reminds me of the smell of burning incense. Captivating!
Brulure de Rose
Notes: amber, raspberry, musk, vanilla, cocoa.
A sweet and slightly syrupy rose, along the lines of Parfums de Nicolai Balkis minus the peppery iris. In spite of the notes, not a gourmand rose. More like rose liqueur. Magical!
Hyperessence Matale
Notes: citrus, jasmine, Matale black tea, cedar leaves, musk, pepper.
Crisp and citrusy jasmine with undertones of black tea. Slightly dusty. On the masculine side. Serene!
My uttermost favorites? Brulure de Rose, Ilang Ivohibe, and Aomassai.
The scents can be purchased directly from the Parfumerie Generale online shop as well as The Perfume Shoppe in Canada that currently carries part of the line.
Image source: www.parfumerie-generale.com
11 comments June 12th, 2006
Today I’m wearing Montale Powder Flowers. I don’t know what it is with me and Montale lately but I’m rediscovering the line and finding new loves. Powder Flowers falls into the category of my most wearable perfumes. It has the notes of Damask rose, jasmine, osmanthus, cedar, and tonka beans. It’s a powdery floral but not overwhelmingly so. It starts out slightly sharp, with rose and jasmine prevalent in top notes. It quickly settles down, with osmanthus coming into play and turning it into a hazy, feathery floral. The drydown is very soft and elegant and airy.