There are days when it's great to wrap yourself into a big and extensive scent, a scent with a lot going on, new notes unfolding all the time. A scent that demands your attention, draws you in, make you witness its drama again and again. And there are days when you just need to get on with business. You have to stay focused and sober and there is simply no time for distractions. A complicated scent would be all waste.
I've had a few days like that lately and the Atelier Colognes have proved to be the perfect companions. They are not very complicated and on the linear side. They also come with a huge citrus burst that shakes you awake in the morning and they tag along all through the day, helping out keeping you alert and energized, without being demanding in the least, themselves.
One of my favourites is Orange Sanguin. It starts with what has to be the biggest and baddest blast of blood orange - ever! It's like letting your knife, slowly, sink into a sun warm, perfectly ripe, sweet orange, cutting it up. Then, using your hand for the maximum sensual experience, squeezing the juice out, drop by drop, into your breakfast juice glass. Yum!
Well, the only sensible thing to do is knock back your glass of orange juice and eat your toast. After 20 minutes or so, that near insane citrus intro note has faded and the scent feels uncannily like after breakfast - in a very good way. It's mellow, the geranium heart is starting to emerge, there are warm woods as well. I'm getting the sensation of being on holiday. I'm sitting on a balcony somewhere warm and nice and I've just had my breakfast, I'm enjoying a perfect moment for myself, listening to the birds sing in the air, seeing how the bumblebees fly around the geranuims in their pots, feeling the sun is slowly warming the stone slabs under my feet. This is going to be a good day and I know it.
Orange Sanguin the Atelier Cologne that I find the fruitiest and spiciest. I also find this one more towards the masculine side due to the geranium (Grand Neroli feels like the most feminine) but that doesn't bother me in the least. It's a very happy and encouraging scent, helping in getting things done.
Official notes: Blood orange, bitter orange, jasmine, geranium from South Africa, amber woods, tonka beans, sandalwood
Well, now you've got me wanting to spray on some Frederic Malle Bigarade Concentree, which is probably the closest thing I have to this. Undina sent me a couple of the Atelier colognes (Trefle Pur and Bois Blonds) and I haven't given them a lot of wear time, but now that warm weather is here, I think I will.
ReplyDeleteLovely review, Sigrun!
You have captured this one to a "T"! It is indeed insanely citrussy up front, just like squeezing blood orange juice for breakfast! And I loved the image of your post-breakfast contemplation on the balcony.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I agree that it is energising and non-intrusive, so as you say, the perfect scent for getting things done!
I have a sample of Orange Sanguin but haven't tried it yet - I can't even explain why since I liked others from the line. I'll wear it as soon as it gets warmer - I like the way you described it.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note: I want blood orange! (as in "eat" :) )
I used to hold off on wearing fresh/citrus scents until warm weather too until someone mentioned they wear something bright to help them wake up when they are dragging. It's funny, because I do that all the time with home fragrance, burning bright citrus or eucalyptus candles when my eyes are half open, but I never thought to do it with perfume. Then I tried it one day when I was lagging and it did help to perk me up!
DeleteSuzanne, I haven't tried Bigarade Concentree but I bet it's good. Of all the Malles I've tried have, none has been love on first sniff, but something I've slowly learnt to appereciate and then started to crave :) Both Trefle Pur and Bois Blonds are worth giving a try, but Sanguine and Grand Neroli are my 2 favourites Ateliers.
ReplyDeleteVanessa, thanks for your kind comment :) This is a scent I'm enjoying a lot at the moment!
ReplyDeleteUndina, you're in for a treat. As long as you like blood orange in the first place I don't think it's possible to go wrong with this one :)
ReplyDeleteInterestingly enough the scent I always receive the most compliments when wearing is this pheromone cologne and I've been wearing it for years. It's my go-to fragrance of sorts specially night outs because this makes me more attractive too. :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine!!! I love the candle and soap too. The candle is crazy fragrant and burns perfectly. The soap is like rubbing a solid cake of luxurious dense lotion all over. It's heaven. I also love Frederic Malle Bigarade Concentree (screaming orange turns into rose). It's the only thing I wanted for Mother's Day last year. My other favorite citrus is Acqua di Parma Bergamotto di Calabria. That's my easy, every day/any day scent.
ReplyDeleteEula, interesting, I've never heard of that before.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I had no idea that the Atelier scents come as candles and soaps as well. I bet thay smell very good! Although citrus scents are pigeonholed as "summers" I think the time when I most need them is not actually during summer but when I need a little more summer in ones life :)
ReplyDeleteExcellent review! Have you compared it to Sanguine by Keiko Mecheri?
ReplyDeleteI like Orange Sanguine a lot, even though I don't like most of Atelier's other scents.
ReplyDeleteBut I have to say I find it delightfully layered and not at all linear.
Pojkfröken, I haven't. Keiko Mecheri is one of those brands that I haven't delved into that much. But if you have an opinion I'd love to hear all about it!
ReplyDeleteJoan, I love to hear your opinion! I do get Orange Sanguine fairly linear, with the exception of the citrus burst intro, but it's still a very lovely scent that I love to wear :)
ReplyDelete