Magnolia Alba

Tried a sample because I love the smell of magnolias and had wanted a magnolia scent. This is lovely, not cloying, really smells like the flowers. It has that quality where you keep wanting to sniff your own wrists (which indicates one downside—the sillage and longevity aren’t crazy, I felt like I had to keep sniffing to keep it with me, and wanted to reapply after only a few hours). I watched a certain film wearing Magnolia Alba, and now it will always make me think of spotlights and bejeweled eye makeup, and certainly of Nashville Tennessee—for better or for worse.

While I have never smelled the flowers of Magnolia x alba, also known as white champaca, I own some of its beautiful oil, and I am fairly confident it is used here by Givaudan perfumer Louise Turner. The oil smells like crisp, apple-like and pear-like, with sensations reminiscent of sparkling wine and even green tea. With the radiance of lemon and other citrus facets, what this evokes is the aroma of the magnolias that bloom here in New England in April, including that of Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) and Yulan Magnolia (Magnolia denudata).

Everything about it evokes cleanliness, morning spring sunshine, optimistic freshness and the joy of being alive. Radiant aura of citrus at first, which dissipates to reveal a creamy but light - and impeccably natural-esque - magnolia note which still seems pearled with drops of dew at dawn in a perfect, angelic garden. Gets to somewhere near white-flower paradise and stays there; utterly linear and simple - this offers no opportunities to play spot-the-note or to wait out new chapters of development. But who cares?

Morning dew clinging to green blades and magnolia petals unfolding in the soft light, creamy scents mingling with those grassy and crisp. Magnolia Alba is a pure concontion of everything under the blue sky airy and bright — the first inhale of unspoiled, flower-perfumed spring wind. One that energizes without force, one that boasts quiet vitality that steadies your step and lifts your spirits. Every whiff you catch is a pause in the urban rush, and a reminder to breathe, move forward — refreshed.

Magnolia × alba aka white champaca. Not sure about the concentration but it is listed as an ingredient and to me this is a wonderfully realistic simulation of the tree in full bloom (an event that occurs multiple times a year). This flower is well known in east and southeast asian horticulture. My grandma grew it and loved to pick the blooms and set them in little dishes as a home scent. She passed 2 years ago now.