Jardins d’Ecrivains is a small French perfume line dedicated to writers and their work. That alone is a good reason to try them, and a green fig/floral fragrance named after Oscar Wilde? I was a goner at first contact. How could I not be? Fig was the very first thing I smelled. A green just-picked fig with perfect green skin and a ripe feel. But the ripeness doesn't translate as sweet. Quite the opposite, actually, as Wilde gains a leafy and even peppery quality. Aromatic herbs aren't listed among the official notes but I can smell a nice bouquet of them somewhere in the background.
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| Renoir: Still Life- Flowers and Fruit, 1889 |
Leaves, flowers, and fruit-- it's kind of like a Victorian still life, but with added sensuality thanks to the fig. There's a phase there where the greenery and carnation take on a soapy turn before melting into the skin with a warm fig and tea note. Wilde doesn't lose its greenery, though. This Jardins d’Ecrivains creation settles into a streamlined base that's very gender neutral: vetiver and and whatever stands for oakmoss these days. It's not quite the stuff of our vintage dreams, but it's still very nice and soft. Wilde smells tender on my skin and elegant when the husband wears it. We share the bottle- what's more romantic than that?
Notes: bergamot, grape, fig, carnation, tea, oakmoss, vetiver.
Jardins d’Ecrivains- Wilde ($110, 100 ml EDP) is available from Twisted Lily and BeautyHabit.
I've been curious about this line; it's such a compelling concept. Thanks for reviewing Oscar Wilde. I'm not a big fan of fig so I won't try it, but it's good to know that Jardins d’Ecrivains can produce interesting work.
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