Any new fragrance from Miller Harris is worth trying.

Never mind the occasional nebulous and well-meant nomenclature-it doesn’t harm the perfumes one whit.

My personal reason for applauding this company is their consistent use of fine materials, and fairly botanical-heavy, at that.

One sniff reveals much; many more unveil the depths of Lyn Miller Harris’ passion for quality, realism, and fantasy.

In her newest releases- La Pluie and La Fumée – she unleashes ghostly scents, wispy diaphanous cloaks of aromatic elegance.

While these fragrances cling tenaciously, they wear close to the skin and release wafts very subtly, hours after application.

 
Velleda- Charles Voillemott

La Pluie

Notes:

Italian bergamot, tangerine, lavender, wheat absolute

Cormoran ylang-ylang, Egyptian cassie, Tunisian orange blossom, jasmine absolute

Bourbon vetiver and Bourbon vanilla

This is one instance in which the copy very accurately reflects the fragrance- how delightful!

La Pluie is meant to transport us to balmier climes, as we regard the portentously darkening skies, the clouds filled with impending moisture.

The deluge which ensues is of the benign, ‘growing rain’ variety.

Its delicacy is ethereal, all wet blossoms and grass, with a breezy lightness of being.

A floatingly haunting refrain that trails its lovely bare feet through the savage idyllic garden.

[Just LOOK at the materials!]

 

La Fumée

Notes:

Citrus, cistus absolute, Guatemalan cardamom, caraway, coriander, Philippine elemi, Yemeni incense, Egyptian cumin

Moroccan cedar, Mysore sandalwood

Cade, birch tar

The perfume of sanctity, gateway to experiencing divine revelation.

La Fumée is as dry as La Pluie is wet.

It commences desert-dry, with the breath of angels accommodating spice and smoke.

Spices are ephemeral; their savors dissipate with reluctance, leaving the burning of the censer in their wake.

The noble cedar seeks Mysore sandalwood for company; they enjoy the deep mutual affinity of royalty well familiarized with one another’s habits…

Resinous smoky cade and birch tar require a firm hand, lest they overwhelm their fragrant companions- and they find it.

Soon enough, all that is non-essential is laid waste –

And all that remains is wood smoke and ashes.

I’m not shy- I’ll say it again:

Look at these notes, my friends.

If you begin with the finest, you finish well.

La Pluie and La Fumée are not stormtrooper scents.

They are for those who would prefer not to raise their olfactory voice.

Of the two, I find La Pluie the more unusual, because I have smelled [and own] many, many incense perfumes.

After a very promising beginning, La Fumée smells very like other fine incenses.

It is beautiful and plaintive, nonetheless..

 

Senior Editor’s Note: the samples provided were from Levi of MiN NY.

 

Levi is an "Englishman in New York"

Levi commented that after wearing La Pluie for awhile, he was unable to detect its presence-

But folks who hugged him murmured with satisfaction.

Considering what a great hulk of bearded suavity HE is-

I think that all genders can pull BOTH fragrances off  😉

–Ida Meister, Senior Editor