Etat Libre d’Orange Noël Au Balcon ~Fragrance Review (and My Redneck Christmas)

pin up country girl

Country Pin Up Girl 

I grew up deep in the mountains of northern Georgia , marveling at the sophisticates in Paris, New York and Chattanooga, who were rumored to have such things as “electric” and water that didn’t need to be carried into the house by hand.  We were told they put special lights on their houses just for Christmas, with parades and such to mark the occasion, but we had Uncle Bobby Lee who could entertain us for hours with his false leg, and Cousin Darryl  who always brought his pet snake to scare the aunties with, so we knew we weren’t missing much.

Robert Earl Keene's Merry Christmas from the Family

Robert Earl Keene's Christmas with The Family

We’d start our Christmas morning at church, as is right and proper, but once we were back home and the jug got passed around, the day got considerably less proper and far more interesting.  Things often got out of hand, but it was seldom anything a little duct tape or a few stitches couldn’t fix. Occasionally shots would be fired over some trivial matter, but by that time everyone was pretty ripe and their aims were off; I don’t recall anything more than flesh wounds on Christmas Day. Decades later, I am in another rural Southern locale, just a few hours from the Wal-Mart Mother Ship.  I am quite the sophisticate now, what with the indoor plumbing and electric and all; we even have Christmas lights. But Uncle Bobby Lee has passed on, cousin Darryl is in prison, and the Feds consider bootlegging to be worse than murder now, so Christmas is not quite the same.  I’m deep in the Bible Belt, in a dry county, so I have to get my illicit Christmas thrills from a different kind of bottle.

etat libre  d'orange  noel au balcon

Noel au Balcon  was created by Antoine Maisondieu and was first released as a Limited Edition in 2007, exclusive to Sephora in France. I may as well admit that despite Michelyn’s best efforts, I still can’t pronounce it and also that it took me a fair bit of time to notice that the name is Noel au BaLcon, not Noel au BaCon.  It was a bit of a let-down to my redneck soul, I can’t deny it, but it’s a pretty catchy name anyway. And who else but the French could take a mundane comment about the weather at Christmas and turn it in to a tribute to bodacious tatas?  I get a little extra rush, knowing that I’m swanning among the righteous, sporting a perfume dedicated to party girls and their epic racks.

Gil Elvgren Christmas Pinup 

Gil Elvgren Christmas Pinup

Noël au Balcon is merry and bright with orange blossom and tangerine ; cinnamon and red pepper keep you rocking around the Christmas tree,  while honey and amber make things naughty but very nice. It lasts forever; you can wear it to church first thing while the orange blossom is blooming sweetly, and be home just as the pepper and honey start sexing things up.

merry christmas redneck

I may not be able to pronounce it, but I know good stuff when I smell it. Noël au Balcon never takes itself too seriously, and she’ll always show you a good time. I hope all our CaFleureBon readers get their redneck on this Christmas…may your eggnog be too strong,  your exterior illuminations too tacky, and may your Christmas party be rowdy enough to alarm the neighbors. Merry Christmas Y'All !!

etienne de swardt2

Avec mes apologies, cher Etienne

P.S.  Santa Baby, I’m still waitin’ for Etienne de Swardt to appear under my tree….for me

Merry Christmas to you and yours, from all of us at ÇaFleureBon!

Tammy Schuster, Contributor

What perfume will you be wearing this Christmas? What  (or who) are you hoping will be under your tree?

 

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9 comments

  • hhehe, very interesting and entertaining review. I have a tradition of wearing Caron Nuit de Noel on Christmas day but I won’t be able this time since it is in storage so I will randomly choose something else. I think I am not alone in this tradition of wearing Nuit de Noel on Christmas Day. Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates it and Happy Holidays to the rest of them 🙂

  • Tammy this was one of the most entertaining reviews and I wouldn’t mind sharing Etienne de swardt he’s a cute. Cousin Darryl and his snake had me lol
    I am wearing jubilation by Amouage tonight but am going to look for Noel au Balcon sounds yummy
    Merry Christmas to all the nice folk at Cafleurbon

  • Merry Christmas!!! I’ll be wearing Eric Buterbaugh’s Regal Tuberose. It’s a tad warm here so it’s perfect! Although I like it so much I wear it anytime. Loved reading your story of Christmas. Thank you

  • Merry Christmas! What a fabulous review! Loved it. I was wearing this perfume yesterday and I too have my own way of pronouncing it which is, I’m quite certain, no where near correct.
    I hope Santa is good to you my dear.

  • Tammy, being rednecked raised myself in a different part of the country, I found your Christmas’ past very interesting.
    Oh to be amoung the “righteous only when in church” crowd wearing something that gives you that extra rush is a good thang.. I admit it took me a moment to get your comment of Epic racks… my redneck selves were first something this time of year that is scarred from rutting and covered in velvet… Ha 😉
    Great post… and very entertaining.

  • I’ve been wearing Sonoma Scent Studio’s Forest Walk for the last few days. It’s glorious.

    Still no snow in sight, though!

  • Bonjour Tammy, Bonjour Michelyn,
    Merci beaucoup and Bravo
    very much the spirit of this scent creation, I love too say that this girl “est un cadeau pour hommes trop sages”.
    Bises et merci