New Perfume Review: Jul et Mad Aqua Sextius + Paul Cezanne in Aix-en-Provence Draw

jul et mad aqua sextius madalena julien cafleurebon

Madalina Stoica-Blanchard and Julien Blanchard

 

The perfume collection of Jul et Mad is a testament to and history of the love between its two founders, Julien Blanchard and Madalina Stoica-Blanchard. When I met them in Milan at Esxence, I was immediately taken with their charm, openness, and evident love for each other. Each new addition to the series reflects a segment of their life journey and the love they share, and their latest, Aqua Sextius, composed by Cécile Zarokian, celebrates the town of their marriage, their second home, and many happy vacations in Aix-en-Provence. Aqua Sextius is the original name of Aix-en-Provence, founded by Roman consul Gaius Sextius in the 2nd century B.C. The town is famous for its many fountains, thermal baths, and easy lifestyle, and is the birthplace of painter Paul Cezanne.

jul et mad aqua sextius cezanne bathers cafleurebon

Bathers by Paul Cézanne

Aqua Sextius is a bright, herbal concoction that imparts a feeling of an almost wild cleanliness, like you have bathed in a bubbling mineral spring and then laid out on fresh grass in the sun, naked and warm, to dry off. It is clean and lightly soapy, but the soap was handmade with wild herbs, citrus zest, and eucalyptus, leaving a lingering haze of greenery on the skin. As the sun bakes the lawn, warmer aspects of earth rise, and scents from the surrounding fig trees and flower gardens are guided to your nose by gentle breezes. You doze, and dream, of the Romans who had bathed in these waters and rested under the same sun.

jul et mad aqua sextus cezanne ner aix en provence cafleurebon

Near Aix-en-Provence by Paul Cézanne

The more I wear Aqua Sextius, the more I like it. It is a lovely, summery scent, but really complex. It doesn’t really fit into a specific category, because it does have fresh citrus notes like a cologne, and summery florals, but then the fig, woods, and salty notes show their faces and it all becomes a most beguiling puzzle. A distinctive characteristic of all the Jul et Mad fragrances is the fact that they are all parfum extraits only, which make them very personal scents. One would think that Aqua Sextius should be applied lavishly, but no. I was captivated for many hours with just a few small, well-placed sprays.

Notes: Bergamot, lemon, orange, grapefruit, green notes, Mint/eucalyptus, marine notes, mimosa, white flower, fig, labdanum, ambergris, cedarwood, gaiac wood, oak moss, musk

jul et mad aqua sextius bottle logo cafleurebon

A true-life romance played out in perfume is a wonderful concept; that it is executed with such attention to detail and care is a bonus. The motto of Jul et Mad is “Parfum sans compromise”, and that devotion shows. I look forward to the next chapter in the story of Julien and Madalina, as well as the accompanying fragrance.

My Nomad Travel spray was provided by Jul et Mad. Aqua Sextius will be available online and on counters in May of 2014.

Tama Blough, Managing Editor

We have a 7 ml Nomad travel spray of Aqua Sextius for one lucky reader in the US. Leave a comment about what appeals to you about this perfume and that you live in the US. Draw closes April 20, 2014.

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

Editor's Note: Cecile Zarokian was featured in CaFleureBon: The Next Generation Young Perfumers Series

 

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40 comments

  • The notes definitely appeal to me, I am noticing that more fragrances these days incorporate Mint in their notes. I also love a good dose of Ambergris and Oakmoss in my fragrances, all notes I love. I am in the US and would love to be entered 🙂

  • silvrolive says:

    Mint, marine notes, and figs sound wonderful for summer! I am in the US. Thanks for the drawing.

  • You had me at summer fragrance but with figs, wood and salt. And I freaking adore Amour de Palazzo so much and hope that I will need to add this as my second bottle from them.

  • I live in the U.S. and I would love to try Aqua Sextius because I’ve loved all of Jul et Mad’s scents so far. When I wear their perfume I feel like I’m part of their love story!

  • I’m in the US and I’m call caught up in the story of this couple and their perfume mutual devotion to one another, and to doing perfumery their way.The very romantic combinations of notes (mimosa with white flower!) really appeals to me. Thanks for a great draw.

  • I like the fact that Aqua Sexitus is bright and herbal with a clean freshness to it. I seem to be drawn to fragrances with ambergris in its formula. ive never smelled any Jul et Mad’s scents, but I would love to try this one. im in the Us Thanks for the draw

  • I am in the US and I’d like to try Aqua Sextius because I love green crisp scents for spring. I have read here many good things about Jul at Mad but have not had yet the opportunity to sample any of their work.
    Thanks!

  • They really are a darling couple in that photo. I love how they are capturing their moments through scent. I read figs, wood, and salt and my ears perked up. Right now Stilletos on Lex is my favorite in the line. I am in the US too. Thanks for the draw!

  • Absolutely the notes sound appealing to me as well. I also have an affinity to perfumes that are complex so sounds perfect. Not to mention I have a newly acquired appreciation for the perfumer, since reading the article “The Next Generation .Young Perfumers” article right here on CaFleureBon. I am in the US.. Thanks for the opportunity

  • I love herbal scents, so this is what stood out to me in the description. I’ve not really explored this line yet, though I am familiar with it. I am in the U. Thanks for the draw.

  • I love the complexity of this fragrance. I would love to try it.
    A citrusy- herbal- woody with an oriental base that you don’t have to over apply ? I am sold!

  • I adore all three of the previous Jul et Mad’s fragrances, so I am certain to be a fan of this new one. I’m sure it is of the same quality as the others, plus I am intrigued by the description of a complex, summer scent.

    I live in the U.S.

  • I would love to try this-it sounds like the perfect summer oriental! 🙂 That is definitely a perfume my collection does not have yet. Thank you, i live in the US.

  • I love this line and anything with mint seems to make me very happy lately 🙂 I reside in the US Thank you so much for the chance.

  • I’m impressed with this concept and the evident truth behind the story. Each of the perfumes in the line are so well made and evocative; I have sampled them all and look forward to trying this next installment! The combination of wild herbs and citrus is very appealing. I’m in the US.

  • I first read bout jul et mad on Cafleurebon and was really looking forward to the review of aqua Sextius after Tama got back from exsence They are such a romantic couple This does sound really different from the first three and I love the cezanne artwork to illustrate the perfume review as well as this is a fragrance that can’t be categorized That appeals to me

    USA reader

  • I love herbal scents and a salty base makes it even more appealing to me. I am in the US and would love to be entered in the draw. Thank you.

  • So many of my favorite note sin this one- mimosa and fig anyone? Very excited for its release. I’m in the US.

  • tomate farcie says:

    I love green scents and the touch of grapefruit sounds great! I also like Jul et Mad. I’m in the US.

  • wefadetogray says:

    Fig, woods, and salty notes sound so interesting! I am rather new to world of green scents. I’d love to try this one!
    I am in the US.

  • many_worlds says:

    I **love** salty notes, and I think that the salt+herbal notes would be very appealing indeed. I live in the US, and I would love to win the Aqua Sextius travel spray!

  • helicalgnome says:

    I have no idea what a salty note can be and now I want to try it. I do love green scents, specially now that spring is “coming” (not really but soon??? I hope???)
    Thanks
    I am in the US

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    I dont normally associate herbal fragrances with cleanliness, thus, this has sparked my interest…i am in the US…

    P.S. everytime i come across this brand i remember the story of how the founders met first time randomly and quickly fell in love

  • Great review, Tama! I like the idea of a summery scent that is also complex. The notes sound like they would be that great complex blend … and I’m craving mint these days!

    Thanks for the draw. I am in the US.

  • I live in the US. My ears (and nose) always perk up when I hear oakmoss, ambergris, labdanum, and musk. Thanks for the opportunity to try another from this fabulous house!

  • Cynthia Richardson says:

    I am drawn to the appeal of a summery scent that is more complex – fig, woods, and salty notes – sounds wonderful. I live in the US

  • Aqua Sextius sounds like the perfect summer fragrance. The weather where I live can get very hot in the summer, so I need something like this. I like that it’s described as “soapy” — I love fragrances that have that shower-clean scent. Also, this fragrance might be the closest I ever get to the south of France, because I have three kids and can’t afford to travel very far!

  • The mint/eucalyptus note sounds very refreshing for summer! I’m in the US; thanks for the draw.

  • I’m drawn to the freshness described. I don’t know if I’ve tried a perfume with notes of eucalyptus, but this sounds wonderful. Thank you for the chance. I am in the US.

  • I do enjoy from time to time a good herbal soapy scent to freshen things up especially in hot weather. With notes like fig, tea leaves and cedar wood I look forward to this concoction.
    USA. Thanks

  • Can’t place what appeals to me individually but as a whole i would like to think how this morphs and contorts. All the notes sound appealing and the mint eucalyptus is very interesting. Curiosity has got the best of me. Thank for the draw and article. Well done. In the USA.

  • I like the sound of the soapy, green and salt elements in this perfume. Sounds like it would be great for summer! I am in the US.

  • Great review! This fragrance appeals to me because it is summery but also complex. I’m in the US.

  • I live in the US. I am becoming quite enameled of fig notes in perfume, and citrus and herbal fragrances are the stuff my summer dreams are made of. Most don’t seem to last long on me, so the fact that this is parfum extrait raises my hopes for a lovely fresh herbal citrus delight that won’t fade too quickly in the heat on my skin. Thanks for the lovely giveaway!