All the fragrances of Parfums MDCI that I have tried so far, I have liked a lot (Enlèvement au Serail, Promesse de L’Aube, La Belle Hélène), but not so much as to invest in a full bottle. Now that has changed. My bottle for August (July is over, at least perfumewise 😉 ) has been found and it is the most unlikely one…
Sticky peach, exotic coconut, a big tuberose: Péché Cardinal (Cardinal Sin, and a wordplay on Pêche, meaning peach) sounds like a BBW disaster, but turns out to be an addictive beauty.
Péché Cardinal was created by Amandine Marie and includes notes of davana, peach, coconut, blackcurrant, tuberose, prune, lily, cedar, sandalwood and musk.
Péché Cardinal opens with a gigantic sweet and juicy peach, dripping, sticky, fresh and succulent and absolutely real. No fake peach aroma, which I hate with a passion, in sight. Here the peach is just amazing, I can’t separate my nose from my arm at that stage. Soon coconut appears on the scene, taking away a bit of the sweetness, just in time before it might get too much.
The heart is dominated by a lovely tuberose, fresh and almost tame, not ever overwhelming, but ideally complimenting the peach note.
Sillage and longevity are above average, Péché Cardinale is a joy until the very drydown of soft woody musk eight hours after the initial peach wave renders you speechless.
Péché Cardinal is bright and alive, loves to laugh and enjoys herself, but she is no vapid, little, fruity thing, she has substance and character. She is a woman not a girl, she is captivating and ultimately addictive.
Cardinal sin or peachy delight? Péché Cardinal delivers both in one irresistible package.
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I have a small decant of this, and it is exceptional. Not a fragrance I thought I’d like, but it’s both carnal and innocent all at once. You chose well for your next FB!! xo
Thanks, Joey, I think so too. 🙂
I’m glad you find it exceptional as well, it totally surprised me.
Oh this sounds like it shouldn’t work but funnily enough I was drawn to it when I was ordering samples. Your review has intrigued me and am now desperate to try more from this house (who would not want on of those bottles) I have managed to resist for so long due to the price tag but I think this time I may crumble. 🙂
Me too, I was oddly fascinated with the notes list, but thought it would be either a mess or genius. It is clearly the latter.
It’s perfect!
You really do the perfume justice with your lovely review. It is a gorgeous perfume. Parfums MDCI has gorgeous perfumes IMHO. I look forward to further reviews.
Thank you!
I have been enjoying this line very much in the past weeks, La Belle Helene is so wonderful too, I know it is one of your favorites.
This sounds like what I wanted to get from Chinatown but didn’t (by a looong way). This is now a must-try from the line along with La Belle Helene.
Gorgeous August bottle choice, B. I know it was tortuous! Isn’t it nice though when your new FB is from a line you don’t already own something from? I feel like it’s extra justification 🙂
Absolutely! It is so much better to add a new house to the collection.
I’m happy you want to try this perfume, next time you are at Roja Dove’s you need to smell your way through the line, such beautiful scents.
I’m going to send you some Péché in any case!
Thank you, dear B!
They didn’t have La Belle Helene last time I was at Roja Dove’s but hopefully it will be there next time.
They don’t carry the entire line, they didn’t have Péché when I was there and the SA explained they only carry the ones Roja personally approves of.
Well, I approve of Péché anyway. 😉
B. What a review! And coming from the land of and the love of “Peaches” (Atlanta, Ga), I just have one question,
is the coconut strong? (I really do not like coconut). Rarely do we see peach and I still love
Mitsouko. I am wondering if this would work for men?
Thank you, Charles! 🙂
The coconut is perceptible, it transitions the super-sweet peach opening into the tuberose heart. But it is more a fresh coconut water rather than full-on tropical creamy sweetness.
Péché Cardinal is rather feminine in its voluptousness, but I would think a trial definitely can’t hurt.
What a lovely review! I have sniffed my way through Enlevement au Serail (a powerful, gorgeous woman – dark, spicy and a bit sweet), Promesse de l’Aube (sunny, laughing, candied flowers), and Le Rivage des Syrtes (candied sweet-tart tropical fruits) – and had been wondering if I needed to try Peche Cardinal – and now you’ve quite confirmed that I do! 🙂 All three of the ones I’ve tried have been gorgeous – and I can tell I really like the quality of this house. But so far, I haven’t had that “Oh yes, now this one I must have for my very own!” All have been delightful and tempting… but just a bit too, well, SWEET. Though I like sweet. I kind of love them – but at the same time – can’t wear them long because I do feel a bit like I’ve been dipped in syrup (though, syrup of the absolutely highest quality.) Such a tingly, “oooh, almost!” feeling with this house 🙂
I had the same feeling, respect, but not love – until I met Péché Cardinal (and Chypre Palatin).
The line has great quality fragrances, if money weren’t an object I’d go wild… 🙂
I fell madly in love with this one, too, when I was testing the MDCI line in Paris … for me, a mistake akin to stepping off a cliff, because now MDCI has the same allure to me that Amouage has. I find them far suaver than the Amouages, but with that same air of “We’ve spared no expense, we’ve hired the best perfumers, and you’re going to feel like a million bucks when you wear these.” And they have that classical feel to them that I especially love!
OK, coming back to Earth now to say that your description of Peche Cardinale is spot on … and a superb choice for your August purchase! 🙂
That someone with your great taste loves PC too, confirms my decision. I couldn’t agree more with your assessment of the brand and I’m in a similar position of being dangerously close to falling for almost the entire line. 🙂
Can I just hack this one, and say ‘everything you said’.
Fabulous review and August purchase Birgit, congrats on this sweet sin.
Thank you, Asali!
This is the perfect sin, but I don’t feel the least bit guilty (despite being Catholic!) 😉
What a wonderful review! In general, I have shunned any perfume that has stone fruit or berries for fear of smelling like a giant bottle shampoo. However, your review is making me rethink that. I think I need to get my hands on a sample of this!
This as far from shampoo as possible! I hate artificial fruit notes, so I was not expecting much, but PC is extraordinary. Very well worth a try!
Isn’t that the best when you are pleasantly surprised? I am going to order a sample. This sounds fantastic!
It is! I hope you like it as much as I do!
I just tried this. It is one, big, fat, juicy and beautiful peach. I was very surprised how the coconut rounded everything out and now I keep scribbling down little ideas for peach-coconut desserts. Peaches are in season right now, so this inspiration is coming at a good time!
So glad you are enjoying it!
I wish I could try those peachy desserts of yours. Yum.
I am so happy you love this one, too! I went through several samples and a few decants, and, a mere two years after falling in love, bought a full bottle. It made me really happy, but more than that, a little relieved. I was always stressed out about not having any! PC is one of my happiness in a bottle perfumes, and it does it’s work with complete beauty!
Oh good for you! If you love something that much, you need to have a bottle. It is such a cheerful perfume, isn’t it?
(I think Roja need to revisit this one:)).
Haha, yes he does! 😉
I’ve recently joined the MDCI love train but Peche Cardinale was one of the samples I didn’t order. If this is better than Enlevement au Serail I have to try this!! 😉
It is different, I like Enlevement very much too, but I’m passionate about PC.
Try it, if you get the chance!
I feel more or less safe with this one due to tuberose… I think 🙂 I will try it when I have a chance (is it too early to enter in your August giveaway? 😉 )
Or so you think… 😉
I don’t like peach, I don’t particularly need coconut and I fear tuberose (well, used to fear it anyway) = I adore this perfume! Logical, no. But then love seldom is…
Your August giveaway entry is noted. 😉
Haha! I LOVE the title of this post!
Tuberose you say? That’s me sold!
You would love this!!! I’m sure of it.
Aw man!
Drats. Another one I *must* have.
Yep, no going around that – it is a must have! 🙂
Sorry for being late to the party on this one but you have really made me want to try this! Peach is one of my least favourite notes, but that is because I always get the dry sticky synthetic version and then there is the tuberose – which still scares me. But your description (especially of the fresh peach), combined with your obvious love of this perfume, has me intrigued!
My only concern is that I have managed to avoid this line so far, and what if I love all of them?!?!?
That is a very valid concern, Alex! I fell for a whole slew if MDCI perfumes, once I started trying them.
PC was the one I expected the least of, and look where that got me… 😉
One day I will buy the MDCI sample set and PC will be one of my choices, along with BH.
Those are great choices! I’m sure you’d also enjoy Invasion Barbare and Chypre Palatin.
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