Fleur d’Oranger was a limited harvest edition in 2005, it came back in 2007 and now once more this year in the very sensible 50ml form and only available in Europe.
Orange Blossom is a beautiful note, but one that can go badly wrong for me. It can be loud overbearing and soapy. It can also be smooth, honeyed and sweet, soft, caressing, calming and uplifting. Orange Blossom done right, smells like liquid sunshine.
What about L’Artisan’s version? Let us take a closer look.
Fleur d’Oranger was created by Anne Flipo and includes notes of orange bigarade, petitgrain, neroli, honey, beeswax and orange blossom.
Fleur d’Oranger opens green and fresh, the orange blossoms are not open yet, we smell the tree, the leaves. Soon the flowers open and the fragrance becomes sweeter, rounder, it starts to glow almost, the orange blossoms are lush and creamy and wonderfully honeyed and smooth. Fleur d’Oranger deepens until it is almost unbearably beautiful, then slowly recedes into a warm honey-tinged base that is very long-wearing.
Fleur d’Oranger makes me feel very feminine, it rises in lazy tendrils from my skin and makes me smile and almost purr like a cat. It makes me feel contented.
I recently fell very hard for an orange blossom perfume that is hard (read: expensive) to obtain, the L’Artisan more than compensates my craving for this genre. It is not exactly like Xerjoff Oesel, but it comes close enough for me to be happy and content.
As for other orange blossoms – it is way smoother, less soapy and less loud than Serge Lutens Fleurs d’Oranger, more natural and lusher than Gaultier Fleur du Mâle. It is sweeter and less effervescent than Atelier Cologne Grand Neroli, another favorite.
I am particularly impressed with the sillage and longevity of this Eau de Parfum, both are above average.
Currently the L’Artisan website is out of stock, but if you are an orange blossom lover and come across Fleur d’Oranger, don’t hesitate to pick it up. You won’t be disappointed.
Olfactoria's Travels 
I am a fan of orange in all it’s many forms. Navel oranges straight off the tree, fresh blossoms, juice etc. This is one of the few L’Artisan’s I don’t have, so it will have to go on the hunt list 🙂 I would love a Navel Orange fragrance.
Although it yields such different perfumes, every part of the orange tree is great, a perfect orange, the fruit, rendition is Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine, if you have not tried that yet, I’m sure you’d like it.
Another one added to the lsit 😉
My most recent unsniffed purchase and what a great success! It IS liquid sunshine and stunningly beautiful from start to finish. Just perfect for this time of year. The best orange blossom I’ve ever come across , though I haven’t tried Oesel (and don’t plan to!). Odd in perfume is good but sometimes out and out swoon inducing beauty is just right. Now you’ve said the website is out of stock I want a back-up bottle even more – damn those limited editions!
It was an unsniffed purchase for me too! Some instincts just work out, I think! 😉 If you can’t find another L’Artisan, you might have to go for the Xerjoff after all. 😉
Is there really anything that could replace OESEL?
Nothing can replace Oesel and its accompanying bathroom. 😉
Orange blossom/neroli/petigrain is my favorite family of notes, but you’re right, they can go so horribly WRONG! I make my own hand cream with petigrain and neroli, with vanilla and a little of this and that, so I can feel cheerful when I wake up in the morning, or need an afternoon lift. I found a beautiful petigrain on the masculine side- lemon petigrain! It’s more bitter, more woody, cooler than the other petigrains.
Have you tried the Penhaligon’s? I never got around to it, but it’s gotten a lot of love in the blogs.
I reviewed the Penhaligon’s (will add a link in this review once I’m on a proper computer for completeness’s sake) and I like it a lot, if pressed I would choose the l’Artisan though. Your handcream sounds delicious! 🙂
When the colder weather finally comes (November??) I’m going to send you some! 🙂
Yay! xoxo! 😀
Have you ever tried Bigarade Concentree or Citrus Bigarade by Frederic Malle? The former is one of the few orange fragrances I have tried (along with Clinique Happy). I am curious how they compare
I love and own and reviewed Malle’s Bigarade Concentree, but I find the accent to be more on the bitter orange peel and the petitgrain, than on orange blossom. It is great in summer, but I love and use it most in the dead of winter, then it really cheers me up.
Thanks for your thoughts, Birgit. I’ll look up your review of BC.
Aw! A friend told me it was her favorite orange blossom fragrance (and she tried a few), but it seems like it’ll be too hard to find in Canada… I’ll keep my eyes open! It sounds so beautiful in your review! (And I won’t even *try* the Xerjoff! I’m no masochist!)
Isn’t it always the case that the good things are so hard to find? I hate that! 😦 I hope you get a chance to try it!
I love orange blossom! I will look for this one. I have Penhaligon’s and it’s nice but not the honeyed floral you describe, it’s more a sheer powdery and peppery cologne. I also have the Bigarae Concentree, which I love, but that’s all about bitter orange not really orange blossom.
I thought of you, when writing this review, Krista! I think you would adore Fleurs d’Oranger.
Orange blossom goes almost always wrong on me, at least in 99,999% of cases – so I don’t even try it anymore…
That’s bad, I understand you. Not all notes are for everyone. But sometimes something works all of a sudden. I tried the much hated and feared (only by me of course) Back to Black again today, only to discover I really like it… 😉
Liquid sunshine sounds divine! I think I’ll look around for this once the cold sets in again 🙂
Dee! A little sunshine shall come your way! 🙂 xoxo
I love this scent and it pleases me that my best friend discovered it on her own and bought a bottle after I had introduced her to the line via Premier Figuier (her No 1 love). She even sprays her cocker spaniel in Fleur d’Oranger, which is generous indeed. Oh and I am happy to report that on your recommendation I made a point of smelling Oesel in Zurich last week and liked it a lot – it lasted on skin till the following day, which is most rare! And given that I was very poorly at the time (of which more anon) this is one hell of a coup.
Hi Vanessa, good to have you back! I’m still in Milan, lots to report, mostly of the mishap variety. 😉 I’m so happy you like Oesel! It is great and lasts forever, which makes it quasi economical! 😉 The orange blossom scented dog must be a great companion, a moving diffuser.
Sent from my iPhone
I think a giant white French poodle would be the perfect OESEL moving difuser
Lol! 😀
What a lovely review! I was lucky enough to get a bottle of the 2011 edition, and I’m going to cherish it. Happiness and sunshine in a bottle 🙂 Much needed at the moment, since it’s been raining all summer.
And I clearly need to try Oesel, even if it’s too expensive.
I’m glad you got a bottle, while it was possible! A truly lovely perfume!
Oesel is truly beautiful, but I won’t say no more. 😉
I could swear I replied to this post yesterday… I hope I didn’t write anything offensive enough to be moderated 😉
I think I like orrange blossom (for example, in Jo Malone’s cologne). But recently I had at least one perfume with this prominent note smelling not that great on me. So I’m cautious now. I want to try Fleurs d’Oranger – you described it so nicely.
Nope, didn’t find you in the spam folder either! 😉
Orange Blossom can be tricky, but L’Artisan’s seems to work with all who have tried it, I didn’t hear a bad word yet.
Pingback: Perfume As Medicine – Sleepless Nights, Aches And Pains And More | Olfactoria's Travels
Pingback: In Uncle Serge’s Garden – Review: Serge Lutens Fleurs de Citronnier And Fleurs d’Oranger | Olfactoria's Travels
Pingback: A Little Something For The Eye – A Sneak Peek Into My Perfume Closet Part V | Olfactoria's Travels
Pingback: Scents Of Destination – Where To Wear What! A Blogging Project | Olfactoria's Travels
Pingback: Monday Question – What Are Your Quintessential Seasonal Perfumes? | Olfactoria's Travels