If you have not heard a lot about Parfums d’Orsay previously, don’t worry. Neither have I.
Ines sent me a decant of L’Intrigante and I promptly went from initial bewildered awe to all-out obsession.
The house of Parfums d’Orsay is marketed as a traditional perfume line named after Count Alfred d’Orsay (1801-1852), said to be the “most fashionable man in the most fashionable city of the world – London”. He was a Frenchman and reputedly created a perfume or cologne by the name of “Eau de Bouquet”. After his death the company was founded in his honour, most likely in 1908, although there is some controversy about the founding year.
His Eau de Bouquet, a unisex cologne was finally re-named Etiquette Bleue and is still available. The company was revived in 1995 and several perfumes have been added to the line-up since. There is a collection called Les Intenses of which L’Intrigante is a part of.
Created in 2010 by Anne De Puy Raimond, L’Intrigante includes notes of “musk sparkle”, juniper berries, myrrh, black pepper, camellia, red rose, carnation, orange blossom, sandalwood, vanilla, patchouli, white musk and suede.
L’Intrigante is mostly characterized as a fruity-floral, but it is far from your typical representative of the genre. Osmoz says it is a spicy-oriental, which is more what I would say myself. This is a warm, spicy, vanilla and musk-heavy floral that is extremely well blended and therefore hard to categorize.
“A bewitching eau de parfum created in the image of the beguiling temptress, who harnesses her charms for ambitious seduction.”
-from the company website
What I love about L’Intrigante is that it keeps me guessing. When asked what it smells like the best I can come up with is “good”. (Well, I did think a little harder later on, and the results are visible here.)
It is a real perfume-y perfume. So well blended, so smooth and seamless, so abstract that saying “this smells like…” is almost impossible. Trying anyway, I would say it smells warm and sweet, floral and spicy, musky and leathery.
L’Intrigante smells old-fashioned in the best of ways, it smells like the glory days of perfumery, I feel like a lady in waiting at the French court, like a turn-of the century belle taking a walk in Versailles, heck like the Empress Marie Antoinette herself, why be meek, it is only my fantasy, a little narcissism can’t hurt now and then.
L’Intrigante is thoroughly French to me, I see powdered wigs and tight corsages, rouged cheeks and seductive smiles behind beautiful lace fans.
I love L’Intrigante for its mystery, I find myself reluctant to analyze it and curious to find out more about its make up at the same time.
I think I’ll leave the analysis for now and just enjoy my Marie Antoinette moment with L’Intrigante. I highly encourage you to do the same.
I’m so glad you like it. 🙂 It does smell perfume-y, you’re right.
It’s one of those rare perfumes I come across from time to time that won’t let me analyze them (happens with Artemisia too).
Next time I wear it, I’ll imagine your Versailles moment (I really like that). 🙂
I am really glad you sent L’Intrigante. It is beautiful and defies analysis. 😉 I’m wearing it today.
This truly is such a lovely perfume, thanks for reminding me, and yes a bit hard to describe since it does seem to change. Sometimes I think I’m actually wearing a floral, although I agree it’s definitely more of a spicy oriental. I actually quite like La (femme) Dandy too, I want both, at some point when my self imposed perfume embargo is over anyway 😉
I want to try more of the line, I only know Etiquette Bleue, which I like a lot as well. A very nice house…
Thanks for the background on Parfums d’Orsay. They stock them at Les Sensteurs (described as “a discreet cult best-seller”) but I never knew the first thing about them.
Who wouldn’t want a Marie Antoinette moment every now again? Sounds intriguing!
I didn’t know anything about the house as well until I got L’Intrigante. The line is worth a sniff, next time you are at Les Senteurs. I’d love to know what you think.
Another new-to-me house to explore! Thanks for the heads up, B.
Suddenly, I feel like watching Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette (and all her other films, too).
I lile this line. Lovely bottles as well! 😉 Have fun with Sophia Coppola!
Holly ( daughter) drools over that film so often I don’t think I could stand it again ,it is good in a kooky way .
“It is a real perfume-y perfume.”
Sold!!! 😉
Ha! 🙂
I’ve only heard of that line, and not tested anything. Eau de Bouquet and L’Intrigante have piqued my interest. I enjoyed your write-up, as always.
I think Etiquette Bleue is a wonderful, classic cologne you would enjoy very much!
Duly noted. Speaking of, I have finally reserved space in one of my notebooks for “Olfactoria recommends”. I should have done that a long time ago as you have recommended many to me. I’ll be going back through twitter and your blog to catalog them 🙂 Thanks again for the recommendation, Birgit!
I am honored, Jim! Thank you for your trust! 🙂
It’s a pleasure. I’m glad to be able to learn lots of new fragrances from you!
I’ll try Birgit but she always annoys me . She has fragrances when Henrietta Maria ( Queen consort of England 1625-1649 ( when her husband lost his head) . So I’ll drift about in St. James park wearing silks and satins with pearl-drop earrings if you don’t mind .I must try some of the line as I am always fascinated by really historical houses. Meanwhile you enjoy yourself and don’t lose your head .
Haha, I’ll try not to lose my head! 😉
d’Orsay had escaped my notice… a discreet cult hit? I love that sort of thing! Anne Pliska was a revelation for me from that category, so this has gone on my list now too 🙂
I just hope there is a niche perfume shop in Austin…
There is some L’Intrigante in your next package! 🙂
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