M. MICALLEF LE SEDUCTEUR: A really nice take on a traditional masculine genre (clean herbal aka fougere), Le Seducteur is dusty, spicy and stops just short of antiseptic, throwing off impressions of dry pine needles, crumbling tree bark, jars of brittle thyme and stems of dried lavender.
Because of its more traditional cologne leanings, Le Seducteur skews mature and I wouldn’t expect this to appeal to the Generation Axe crowd, though that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t wear it.
Listed fragrance notes are: bergamot, mugwort, mint, galbanum, rosemary, nutmeg, thyme, patchouli, tree leaves, musks, leather, pine balm, moss and honey. The dried spices quality is predominant, and the fragrance exhibits excellent longevity (6-8 hours).
SOIVOHLE SOLSTICE: A rich, near delicious (and all-natural) mix of two different kinds of frankincense (Omanian and Somalian), myrhh and what Soivohle perfumer Liz Zorn describes as a “blend of woods, orris, patchouli and vanilla.”
The orris (iris root) + frankincense combo is responsible for the introductory sensation of clear, crisp mountain air, while the other natural essences and oils merge seamlessly for a nighttime woods effect, frosted with just enough vanilla to add sweetness and psychological comfort while not completely overwhelming the more subtle earth and pine needle scents. The drydown homestretch is a smooth woodsy amber.
Longevity is excellent here, as well (8+ hours), as I’ve discovered with all of the Zorn/Soivohle all-natural fragrances I’ve sampled. Soivohle is quickly becoming my favorite all-natural line due to the depth of their fragrances and how long they last on the skin.
Solstice was originally created as a limited edition Christmas/Solstice fragrance back in 2007, but proved to be popular enough for Ms. Zorn to add to her permanent collection. I’m a fan of it already (I ordered a bottle over the weekend), and I have no intention of waiting for the next winter holiday to slather it on. For me, it’s gonna be Christmas every day.
Viva la frankincense!
