by L'Artisan Parfumer, Royal Apothic, Serge Lutens, and
LUSH, it's all good
It's a rainy, miserable day, so I'm rounding up all my orange blossom scents as an attempt at cheer.
The scent of orange blossom is synonymous of happiness & sunshine; it's also historically symbolized innocence, youth, and paradise. You've probably run across it more often when it's synthesized as a base for "ick" coverups like hospital disinfectants, "personal hygiene" product masking scent, and hand sanitizers. Orange oil and rind is familiar in environmentally sound cleaners like Simple Green and hand degreasers.
I'm not going to cover this entire gamut of uses, I'll only focus on the perfumes, and specifically the ones I have ready at hand (sorry fans of Fahrenheit, no scrutiny today!).
Fleur d'Oranger by L'Artisan Parfumer
Like most scents from L'Artisan this is a light, fresh blossom scent which fades quickly to an undernote of honey.The top note of actual orange blossom didn't last long when it was new, but now that my sample is a few years old the top note seems to last maybe an hour. In the end it smells like orange blossom honey, but not cloying. Also like most titles from L'Artisan, you'll find yourself needing to reapply this one often. This didn't stop me from wearing it for my own wedding --to make it last I literally
wore it by pouring half the sample vial over my head after I put on my wedding dress!
Courts of Venice by Royal Apothic
This is only the highest, lightest distilled fraction of the top note of orange blossoms, nothing else, and completely linear. Long lasting & very ethereal, sweet and innocent as cotton candy without any sugar, stickiness, or actual physical attributes at all. This scent is heavenly, it smells like it's suffused with light (if that makes any sense). It might be described as what angel's breath would smell like if one were so fortunate to meet (or believe) in one. Look! I'm writing like a 19th century poet in the transports of love! I think this perfume has made me into one.
Ack!
Fleurs d'Oranger by Serge Lutens
Like the L'Artisan one, but richer and slightly spicy, it's bolder, and smells like a mature adult. More peel is included, not just the blossom, and a little neroli gives it more body than L'Artisan's. This one also resolves into a honey note, but not so obviously, and takes longer to get there as it has more
stamina. It resolves closer to clover blossom honey than orange blossom honey.
Orange Blossom by LUSH
It's the blossom, the fruit, the leaves, the dirty roots, the bark, the bite, the whole tree and more! The bell pepper-like scent of citrus tree leaves is very pronounced, as is the astringency of broken & crushed citrus leaves, too. Heavy floral, heavy foliage, earthy... heavy, maaan... A little goes a loooong way, apply sparingly.
I got samples of the L'Artisan & Serge Lutens from the Perfumed Court. LUSH was bought at my local Lush store, Courts of Venice was bought by me at my local Anthropologie. I fear the Courts of Venice has been discontinued, tho :-(
