The Afternoon Of A Faun

From reading many reviews I assumed I would be able to predict the general vibe of the fragrance, but this one surprised me nevertheless. Immediately I noticed a resemblance to Olympic Orchids Ballets Rouges, a mouthwatering yet angular rose chypre that also happens to have a ballet related name. They share a velvety, jewel tone impression with a big dose of inky, cool oakmoss and tangy, herbal spice. Formal, dramatic and timeless. The mood is high summer, high noon, but in the deep shade. A sun-baked, dry grass impression and a cool, dark oakmoss/rose vibe come together to evoke 70s era films where sunny outdoor scenes were blindingly bright, bleached looking and overexposed while the shaded scenes appeared overly dark in comparison, creating an eerie but beautiful contrast. Afternoon of a Faun's languorous, romantic yet dark summer mood evokes Picnic at Hanging Rock. Mr. Schweigers usual soft, civilized plushness is felt throughout. Wonderful! A new favorite for me, and one which doesn't render Le Mat redundant at all, which thought it might.

Absolutely not what I expected. There is this tartness that really emphasizes the rose notes, but there is also a woody, earthy aspect to it that keeps it from smelling like something my grandmother would wear. I prefer it after the dry down, because at first it does sort of lean in that first. I think that this could be worn year round. There is a sort of playful greenness to this but there is also a spiciness that adds a touch of mystery without going "weird". I think a curveball note could have amped up the experience of this scent, but that is my personal preference and would likely make this less appealing to a wider audience. Still, it falls short of me being able to add it to the top of my lists because it is missing the amount of depth it could have had with it's theme. That being said, it's a nice rose forward scent that doesn't lean too masculine or feminine.

afternoon of a faun seems to show different sides of itself willingly based on whether i'm inside, outside, whether i'm cold or warm, sprayed on skin or on clothes. it's got a prismatic ever-changing quality to it that keeps me from writing it off but also keeps me on my toes (hooves?). after reading almost every review, sampling it multiple times, and finally committing to a bottle, i've decided that i find pretty much every piece of writing about the faun accurate to some degree. it's got a vintage lean, it smells like rose soap, it smells like dewy oakmoss and the forest, it smells damp, it glows with that sheen only immortelle can provide, it's challenging, it's an easy wear. beyond anything it is beautiful and gentle and it whispers of autumn. it also smells decidedly French, which is probably obvious considering the origins of its name and the house itself.

A stunning photorealistic recreation of a hayfield in late summer. Dry, vegetal but fresh with threads of sweet rose running through it as well as the dark but sweet shadows of incense and leather deep in its interior. I know it’s a tribute to the Nijinsky performance but I think of it as Afternoon of a Fawn, as in an infant deer. I live next to a farm with large hayfields and I see the mama deer with their babies come to bed down there in the evening. Probably to get away from coyotes in the woods. Sometimes the mamas leave their babies sleeping there while they forage for food. I imagine this is what those sleeping baby deer smell like. It’s absolutely delicious, it has a very innocent and natural feeling with no gender connotations at all, and is easily worn and appropriate for anyone at any time.

The afternoon of a faun invites you to a complex mix of a theatre and a mystical forest. You can smell the wooden floors and polish of an artistic theatre, and the citrus and mossiness that dress the autumn forest floors. Alongside this, there is also some sensuality about this perfume, a greatly alluring scent (although it may not be the case for many). It reminds me of an antique shop with a warm, citrusy, mysterious incense. There is also a hint of rosiness and leather, which is only revealed once it has settled into the skin. This perfume overall knows how to leave a statement and memory, for I have never smelled such a unique fragrance before. I would definitely recommend this perfume and own a bottle for myself, it is such a special, addictive smell that doesn't hesitate to play it safe.