L'Interdit

I can't believe i own this perfume really. I am a fan of Audrey Hepburn and her work, both as an actress and as an activist, and even before the perfume hobby that i recently picked up i wanted to try this perfume. Well, today i was scouring my mom's drawer of unopened perfumes looking for one to gift a friend of hers and found this!!!!! Insane!!!! It was like finding my long lost lover in a sea of mildly good looking people. I tried it on and i think the smell is very sophisticated, but not too adult for me. It's coquette, and in a way that any woman of any age can be. The image it paints in my head is that of a sylph-like woman dressed in white standing in front of her vanity mirror applying lots of powder with a big puff. Next to her there's a bowl of very soft and mushy pears. I think i could see this rich woman wearing a fur coat in a hotel lobby in NYC during Christmas. I'd catch a glimpse of her trough the dizzying lights, but everything's dreamlike and i can't remember it properly. Later on in the day someone walks into her room offering her a bouquet of white flowers. It's hyperfem but not sexy or sensual. Again, it's very coquette and elegant. Very powdery and it almost smells like makeup. It's a very beautiful fragrance and im incredibly glad i found it in that bottomless drawer!!!!!

So I finally bit the bullet and got this one. I felt like it would be a good "going out" perfume for the fall, winter and maybe spring. I get the grape-like opening that others report. The first time I smelled it I didn't notice it but once I noticed it, I can't help but almost look for it now. I have noticed that at least when I spray it on myself the grape-likeness is only in the opening and once it settles more into the heart notes all I notice is that lovely floral heart with the earthy-base. This one does have a patchouli note, which I notice but it's very well blended into the other notes. Unlike some other perfumes I've tried, it doesn't smell like a "patchouli bomb", which isn't really my thing. The patchouli in this one I think is formulated really well.

Dark, moody, stylish vibe that better suits a commanding presence or personality and hints at luxury. Tuberose here is prominent and I happen to love it. The sprayer delivers a fine mist making it easier to overspray. All versions are more appropriate for cool weather. I tried edp vs absolut vs Rouge and am still on the fence. Absolut has the perfect balance between tuberose and tobacco/rum/cadamom yet it fades after an hour. Rouge, to me, is similar to Absolut plus cherry which I am not fond of; another downfall is the short longevity. Edp (Clear gold, not Parfum edp with black square interface) has perfect tuberose-patchouli balance which makes me swoon enough for a full bottle - only downfall is its enormous sillage which overpowers me as well as the room.

I bought this fragrance so that, in autumn, I could sit on the balcony, wrapped up in a warm blanket, watching the falling leaves and breathing in their scent. Thanks to its earthy notes, this perfume is perfect for autumn weather. First and foremost, I can smell the patchouli. But at the same time, there’s a strong, majestic and elegant femininity to it.

This original version is my favorite from the entire L'Interdit line. I was first introduced to the creamy and rich note of tuberose through this masterpiece and I have been obsessed with fragrance ever since. I enjoy all its phases from the opening until it settles down on the vetiver which I also love and enjoy in other perfumes like la belle jpg, and very good girl GH.