Perfume Reviews: Au Pays de La Fleur d’Oranger Neroli Blanc and Neroli Blanc Intense Eau de Parfums + The Tale of Two Sisters Draw

AlbertHerter-the-bouvier-twins

Albert Herter, The Bouvier Twins

Once there was a  bitter orange tree, the survivor of a terrible winter.  Her counterparts hadn’t made it and when the spring came, she bloomed with tears, both bitter for the loss and sweet for the chance to begin anew.  She sent two of her daughters forth into the world to tell the tale, and this is their story.

au pays de la fleur d'oranger bitter orange tree  over 100 years old

The Bitter Orange Tree still stands in the gardens of Virginie and Antoine Roux and is over 100 years old

The House of Au Pays de la Fleur d’Oranger, founded by Virginie and Antoine Roux in 1998, is homage to both their family’s history in the Grasse perfume industry,  and the fact that they possess the oldest surviving bitter orange blossom tree in a village La Colle sur La Loup that was once one of the region's greatest suppliers of the ingredient. Neroli and orange blossom notes are both made from the tree’s flowers, but different extraction processes cause neroli to seem green and bitter, while orange blossom smells more floral and sweet.

 Au Pays de la Fleur d'Oranger first three fragrances (Neroli Blanc Cologne, Neroli Blanc Eau de Parfum, and Neroli Blanc Intense)  might appear to be varied concentrations of the same scent, but are actually completely different takes on this inspiration. This review focuses on the latter two, which showcase the different natures of neroli and orange blossom and how they diverge, like twins determined to distinguish themselves

neroli blanc edp au pays de la fleur d'oranger

 Au Pays de la Fleur d'Oranger Neroli Blanc Eau De Parfum, Jean-Claude Gigodot, 2010

Neroli Blanc Eau de Parfum , the first of the two siblings, has top notes of neroli, bergamot, and petitgrain.  Its bracing opening uses the bitter pith of citrus fruits and dense greens to give the impression of a walk through the woods on a chilly but sunny morning.

Floral heart notes of jasmine and rose begin to soften the edges of the scent.  To me they present as the yellow pollen from fresh flowers, shy hints of fertility suggested by the phrase "the birds and the bees."  But this twin is brisk and businesslike, using base notes of cedar and benzoin to chop through the dense greenery like a woodcutter in a fairy tale.  Neroli Blanc Eau De Parfum has a strength that is unisex and seems especially suited to early spring; while it remembers its mother’s sad past, it is not mournful.  A touch of musk adds a clean element that feels like the relief that comes after a good cry.

neroli blanc  au pays de la fleur d'oranger

Edna Crompton, Young Woman In Rose Patterned Dress/Au Pays de la Fleur d'Oranger Neroli Blanc Intense Eau De Parfum, Jean-Claude Gigodot, 2012

If Neroli Blanc Eau De Parfum is the serious of the two siblings, Neroli Blanc Intense is tired of the gravitas and becomes the prodigal daughter off in search of adventure, a lush floral in the first blossoming of sensuality.  Verbena and orange blossom added to the eponymous neroli feminize the fruits of the bitter orange tree.  A heart of jasmine, rose, and white florals swathes her in billowing clouds of sultry sweetness.  Base notes of candied fruit, plum and vanilla take her nearly into gourmand territory, but benzoin and cedar ground her so that she never forgets the way home and becomes cloying.

To me, Neroli Blanc Intense is the heroine of the story who resists being promised to a suitable boy from the village, so she sneaks off and follows the prince to the ball, gets tipsy on champagne, and ends up kissing him on the balcony.  It is a testimony to the outright loveliness of this fragrance that within half an hour of trying my sample, I was on the phone ordering a bottle of it.  My preferences in fragrance are neither floral nor feminine, but this is a scent that can lift my spirits on the darkest days and make me feel like the fairest in the land.

Perhaps rather than being siblings, Neroli Blanc and Neroli Blanc Intense are different facets of the same person.  There are days when we need to cut through overgrown woods in order to have room for fresh growth, and days when we need to dance.  Given that these two exquisite scents are exceptionally priced and smell markedly different from each other and other orange blossom fragrances I have tried, there are real reasons to desire both.

 

orangeflame

Thanks to the incredible generosity of Indigo Perfumery, Ohio's only perfumery devoted to artistic and niche fragrances,  we have a draw for one 50 ml bottle of Neroli Blanc EDP or Neroli Blanc Intense (reader's choice) for one US resident.  To enter, please indicate which of the Au Pays de la Fleurs D'Oranger Neroli Blanc fragrances you wish to win, plus confirm that you reside in the U.S. Like Indigo Perfumery on Facebook and your vote will count twice. Draw closes March 19, 2014

Review based on samples provided by Sens Unik for promotional consideration.

Editor's Note: While all three Au Pays de la Fleur D'Oranger Neroli Blanc fragrances can be worn by men and women, Neroli Blanc Cologne is a true eau fraiche and you may choose this should you so desire for the draw.

To read Tama's reviews of  Collection les Inédites, consisting of Figue Fruitée, Jasmine Révé, Tubereuse Rosée, Bergamote Boisée, and Lavande Ombrée click here.

-Nancy Knows, Sr. Contributor and editor of the fragrance blog Make Perfume, Not War

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.

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58 comments

  • Gorgeous stuff, I fell hard for the Au Pays de la Fleur d’Oranger – Neroli Blanc Intense Eau de Parfum, got several compliments at work. Run an buy it 🙂

  • Neroli Blanc sounds crisp, yet still juicy,so I’d love to try it. I reside in the US. Thank you for the draw opportunity!

  • Indigo Perfumery liked and followed…Neroli Blanc sounds like a perfect mix of fresh wood and my beloved Orange Blossoms! I live in the US. This was a lovely article and I enjoyed reading it! I thank Cafleurebon and Indigo Perfumery for the chance, and Nancy for the great read! Even if I don’t win I’m off to order samples of all 3 right now to compare for myself!!! 🙂

  • I would prefer Neroli Blanc edp. I liked Indigo Perfumery as well. I can’t wait to smell how they interpreted orange blossom and neroli. Great article Nancy! I’m in the US

  • Neroli Blanc Intense would be my choice.
    I live in the U.S.
    Thanks for the draw and the interesting article!

  • I would love to try the Neroli Intense. Verbena is one of my favorite notes! I’m in the US and have liked the Indigo page on Facebook. Thank you so much for the chance!

  • Thanks for this – I didn’t even know Indigo existed and I live right outside of Cleveland! I’m following on twitter but I’m not on Facebook.

    Neroli Blank Intense!

  • I love the notes in both of these. Thank you so much for this lovely draw, it couldn’t come at a better time as spring has arrived. I would have to say Neroli Blanc Intense calls to me. I live in the US and I Liked The indigo page on Facebook.- Thanks, Tati

  • Liked on Facebook. I’m a US resident. Blanc Intense sounds amazing. I’m not by nature a brave girl, but I am a romantic. What a match it would be!

  • I’m already a Facebook fan of Indigo Perfumery, it’s great to have perfumeries here in the Midwest! These are poetic, lovely reviews and that makes choosing between these tempting perfumes difficult, but Neroli Blanc edp draws me. I want to try the perfume that elicits the elegance phrasing of the relief that follows a good cry 🙂

  • julesinrose says:

    I’ve liked you on FB for a while now, lol, and Indigo, too. The Eau de Cologne sounds really gorgeous, actually. They all do but the cologne would be my choice. I clicked the link and it does sound like a perfect summer fragrance. In the US. Cheers & Thanks

  • What a treat!! Neroli, orange blossom & petitgrain?! could anything sound more delightful?! i always say the most interesting things come out of Ohio. 😉

    Neroli Blanc would be my choice and i do reside in the USA.

    cheers to Indigo Perfumery, Nancy & CFB!

  • Wow! My choice is Neroli Blanc Eau de Parfum , sounds amazing! And i live in the US, thank you very much.

  • Already liked them on FB in fact they were the ones I got my Au Pays samples from a week ago! I fell absolutely in love with Neroli Blanc Intense also. It is divine. I am in the U.S. Thank you Indigo!

  • Glad to see something happening from ohio. I am from ohio, USA. I am interested in the neroli blanc intense. Thank you for the draw. Greg

  • These made me swoon! They both sound amazing but I would be interested in the Blanc Intense. I think I’m ordering samples right now!

  • I reside in the US, and I would love to try Neroli Blanc Intense. I also have liked them on the FB page!

  • Nancy’s lively and romantic imagery have me wanting to try all three of these, especially because orange blossom/neroli are among my favorite ever notes! I would love to try Neroli Blanc Intense, and have been a fan of Indigo on FB as well. I live in the U.S.
    Thanks to Cafleurebon and Indigo for the generous draw!

  • I live in the US and Neroli Blanc Intense would be my choice- it sounds amazingly lovely.

  • Both sound lovely and I have been curious about trying them all! Neroli blanc intense would be my choice. USA

  • Neroli Blanc Intense sounds amazing. I LOVE orange blossom. I have liked Indigo Perfumes FB page and I reside in the US. Thanks for the draw!

  • Can’t wait to visit Indigo soon as I live not too far away. I think I am leaning more toward the Neroli Blanc if I should be so lucky. Thank you. Obviously, I’m in the U.S.

  • Both of these just sound so wonderful that it’s a hard choice. But if I must, I chose the Neroli Blanc Intense. Thanks for the lovely draw and please note that I reside in the U.S. and have “liked” the Indigo Perfumery Facebook page.

  • Valentine girl says:

    To drive the cold winter away, I would love to try Neroli Blanc EDP and I reside in the USA. Thank you for the draw and review.

  • I think Neroli Blanc EDP sounds right up my alley. Have liked Indigo on FB and live in the US. Thank you!

  • sillage2infinity says:

    Their story reminds me of the flood that wiped out Hulda Klager’s Lilac Gardens. In 1903 Hulda Klager began hybridizing plants in Woodland, Washington, mostly apples and lilacs. By 1920 she had developed so many new varieties that she decided to open her house each spring to other enthusiasts, making her known as “The Lilac Lady.”

    A flood in 1948 brought the Columbia River across her property and only the biggest trees survived. At the age of 83 she set about rebuilding, and in a lovely show of community appreciation, people who had purchased her lilacs brought saplings back ‘home’ so Klager could replant her famous garden.

    I’m in the USA near the Lilac Garden, and Neroli Blanc EDP most appeals to me. Thanks!

  • There is nothing I love more than Neroli\Orange Blossom. Great review! Such a generous draw!

  • Thanks to all for the kind words. Indigo Perfumery rocks and it thrills me that the word on niche perfumes is getting out beyond the coasts here in the US. Sillage2infinity, that is a wonderful story about Hulda Klager; thanks for sharing it!

  • Neroli Blanc Intense would be my choice! I liked Indigo on Facebook and I live in the US. Thanks for the great draw!

  • Thank you. I am already a fan of Indigo Perfumery on facebook (Lean Sa) and I am a resident of the US. My choice would be Neroli Blanc Intense… I love orange blossoms

  • Janet in California says:

    Neroli Blanc Intense for me please. It sounds lovely! I am a resident of the US and have liked Indigo on Facebook.

    Thanks!

  • I’m in the US and I’d choose Neroli Blanc Intense. Thank you for the reviews–I’m always looking to try another orange blossom perfume.

  • Beautiful review! I would love Neroli Blanc Intense, as I like to venture into gourmand territory, myself. I am in the U.S. Thank you!

  • I live in the US , and I went over and liked the Facebook page !
    Oh the Intense sounds fabulous – I must have it !! LOL

  • I would love the Neroli Blanc Edp. I live in the U.S. and have liked Indigo Perfumes on FB.

  • I would love to try Neroli Blanc Intense since I love gourmands, and things close to gourmands. I’m in the US and I have liked Indigo Perfumery.

  • Marion Low says:

    Neroli Blanc Intense is my choice. A fragrance that is joyful is for me. Liked Indigo on Facebook and live in the USA. Thanks for the draw.

  • Cynthia Richardson says:

    I would wish to win Intense and I reside in the U.S.
    I Like Indigo Perfumery on Facebook

  • I would choose Neroli Blanc Intense. I like the description that it is almost, but not quite in gourmand territory. I am in the US.

  • Neroli Blanc Intense would be my choice … it had me at plum + benzoin in the basenotes! I’m in the US and I also liked Indigo on FB. Thanks for the draw! I’m off to peruse the Indigo site!

  • Absolutely Neroli Blanc Intense, only because the narrative you conjured up spoke to my instincts, and the fact that you were so quickly seduced into buying a full bottle speaks volumes! I’m sold. And I’m in the US. Already “liking” Indigo Perfumery on FB and have been following on Twitter for a while as well. Thank you!

  • Fazal Cheema says:

    I would like to win Neroli Blanc Intense…Now we have a perfumery house in Ohio too which is a sign US perfumery sector is rising. I am in the US..btw, i lived in Ohio for about 2 months..it seems more like Texas than its neighboring states

  • USA
    Thanks for the reviews and draw!
    Neroli Blanc Intense sounds like the side of me I’d like to draw out more, so I’d choose that! I think it’s true that people have different facets and can choose perfume to amplify the one they wish to present.

  • Neroli Blanc Intense for me, please! Sounds amazing! I live in the U.S. and thanks for the draw!

  • susie frankel says:

    Neroli Blanc Intense is my draw choice. usa
    I grew up in Ohio and am happy to know that some great things do reach the Midwest…great.
    thanks for review and a big shout out to Indigo Perfumery.

  • dig this. I don’t care which I would win — if I could win. USA. and this is way cool >love the background. It’s a bit of serious embellishment on this cake of information

  • I am definitely the Neroli Blanc Intense sister 😉 I am in the US and like Indigo Perfumery on FB. Thank you for the draw!