Fragrance Reviews

Scented Snippets New Fragrance Review: Juliette Has a Gun Gentlewoman / The Feminine Dandy

05/12/15 12:14:51 

by: Ida Meister

www.atrbazan.com    The Perfume Refrence

Anticipate little...and be delighted.

There are moments when nothing seduces quite like understatement.
Elegance, chic, and whispers can be far more alluring than an outburst. This is the case with Romano Ricci's latest composition for his Juliette Has a Gun series of fragrances, Gentlewoman.

Unlike several of the more playful offerings in this line, I perceive Gentlewoman as a modern classic created not to shock, but to please with gracious ease and effortless aplomb. One glance at the models speaks reams.

Olfactory Family: Citrus Woody Musky

Top notes:  neroli essence, bitter orange petitgrain essence, Calabrian bergamot essence
Heart notes:  almond essence, coumarin, orange blossom absolute, lavender essence
Base notes: Ambroxan, musks [Muscenone and Ambretolide]

Presented in the guise of eau de parfum and inspired by classic eaux de colognes, Gentlewoman is distinguished by the quality of its materials. [For those of you who, like myself  -  are extremely cautious of / averse to Ambroxan, fear not. It is manipulated so deftly that it accompanies the musky base beautifully without that oft-utilized 'icepick-up-the-nostril' effect]

Glowing orange / orange blossom / almond / lavender notes feel harmonious, while each olfactory voice remains distinct. There is a timelessness at work: these essences have been pressed into service for hundreds of years. They feel fresh and fitting in these times as they echo beloved aromas in a Proustian vein. Coumarin evokes hay, grassiness; combined with lavender and [absent here] oakmoss it forms the fougère accord. It is that fougère-like resonance which recalls the dandy, immaculately soigné and dapper. The bed of velvety musks provides a lovely mooring for its luminous florals.

The charm of this fragrance is that, as with any fine eau de cologne – it is imminently wearable by anyone; thus, its wide appeal. It doesn't cloy, pounce or announce its presence with triumphal flourish. It murmurs tenderly, tastefully and discreetly. It is comely without theatrics. This is not as edgy as other Juliettes. It doesn't have to be.

I can't help but feel that Gentlewoman seems very European to me.
Despite the fact that many Americans love almonds, lavender and orange blossom, it cannot be denied that these facets figure prominently in European and South American / Hispanic culture. ADELICATE fragrance such as Gentlewoman might appeal to Asian palates as well, wherePERSONAL space is highly regarded.

Gentlewoman will be a welcome addition to anyone's scent wardrobe. Even if you aren't a sartorial prodigy, at least you will smell like one.

Gentlewoman samples GIVEAWAY:

We have 5 samples with bows of the new Gentlewoman perfume and will gladly send them  to our readers. To participate please leave a comment to the article. We are sorry, but this time we could send samples to the US readers only.
 

Ida Meister (chayaruchama) has been an avid collector and sniffeuse for over 40 years. She adores consulting and collaborating with niche, budding and independent perfumers. Her hypervigilant nose has been of great help in her profession as a neuroscience/ oncology nurse, where she often smells fear, suffering, stress, and can identify most micro-organisms, medications, stages of disease, and has written about the amygdala. As a Senior and Natural Perfumery Editor, Ida has participated in many blog events with natural and mixed media perfumers and other writers. She has also been a teacher,TRANSLATOR, opera singer, dancer and caterer.