Vilhelm Parfumerie Opus Kore Review (Jerome Epinette) + Technicolor Spring Draw

January 20, 2022January 20, 2022

Vilhelm Parfumerie Opus Kore photo by Cynthia©

As I am typing this review, it is -7 degrees Celsius/19 degrees Fahrenheit outside. Winter has settled in. Snow is in the forecast (again). This reminds me of one of the things I love about living in the Washington, DC area – that there are four distinct seasons, and the next one is never too far away. Looking outside, it is a mosaic of frozen, stoic hues of white, gray, brown and black. The trees are barren and asleep. Even the birds are still, quiet, waiting. But they know that spring is not too far away, and when it arrives here, it arrives with a stupendous blast of life in technicolor.

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Swedish-born Creative Director Jan Vilhelm Ahlgren of Vilhelm Parfumerie has encapsulated that gush of exuberant life in a bottle and called it Opus Kore. As personified by his brand, he embodies an artfully articulated story in each bottle. His brand is a whole mood, an entire aesthetic of richly crafted, superbly detailed artwork, images and bottles, which are at once vintage and nostalgic and also sleekly modern and elegant (Check out his Instagram – it *oozes* style!). I love his use of the color yellow, a clear bright ray of sunshine that is always chic. For Opus Kore, Jan Vilhelm Ahlgren writes: “At the end of winter, you can read the spring on the face of people: the joy of the first day of a new season, and in nature, that early blossoming.”

Tree bursting with new spring flowers, photo by Cynthia©

Vilhelm Parfumerie Opus Kore is that story of the anticipation and arrival of spring, composed by Master Perfumer Jerome Epinette. And “compose” is an apt word here. It is as if Mr. Epinette is a master conductor of a grand orchestra, standing very intensely still in front, with his baton poised still in the air. The music hall is utterly silent. Then, in one instant, he furiously moves his baton high and swiftly into the air, and a tidal wave of beautiful music fills the air and our ears. Cleverly, in Opus Kore, Mr. Epinette’s orchestra uses scent instead of sound – he has composed a most glorious song for us to enjoy with our noses.

Tulips in Spring, Washington DC, photo by Cynthia©

This orchestral burst of life is in the first spray of Opus Kore, an Ode to Spring. There is the joyous rush of vivid color – pinks, yellow, greens, all backed by a clear, cloudless (and finally warm!) blue sky. The air is fresh, and the sun is so bright! Life is everywhere – insects and birds flying in the air – bunnies and squirrels frolicking in the newly leafed world. Flowers are popping up from the ground, out of bushes and trees – tender, so happy to be alive, showing off their lively, flamboyant colors and scents to the world.

Cynthia’s daughter with new spring flowers, photo by Cynthia

Opus Kore bursts with delicately sweet, sparkling florals and mouthwatering fruits. The combination of Sicilian Lemon, Raspberry and Acai is juicy, alive, delicious! It gives me the impression of a watery, ripe, pink watermelon, ready to eat. Violet and Pink Magnolia play with the fruits, to where you feel the joy these flowers must feel, to finally be able to open and stretch out into the sunlight – new, fresh, happy, optimistic. The magnolia for me is the star of this performance – it’s buttery, lemony and lush, like its creamy, velvety petals, and is weighted perfectly by the base notes of sandalwood, musk and amber, which help it to be also rather flirty and alluring – it turns into a very enticing skin scent after some hours, that I get wafts of, like a night-blooming flowers’ softly scented air.

There is a luminous prettiness to this beautiful fragrance – it is translucent, not heavy, but gregarious and charming. It exudes joy, in Vilhelm Parfumerie’s uniquely stylish way. The thrill and beauty of spring is here! Well, not for a few months yet in my area, but it is high spring in this sparkling bottle of Opus Kore.

Notes: Sicilian Lemon, Acai, Raspberry, Magnolia, Violet, Sandalwood, Skin Musks, Amber

Thanks to Euro Perfumes for my elegant bottle of Opus Kore, the opinions are my own.

~ Cynthia Hunter, Contributor

Opus Kore by Cynthia

Thanks to the generosity of Europerfumes, the US distributor of Vilhelm Parfumerie we have a draw for a 50 ml bottle Opus Kore for one registered reader residing in the USA ONLY. You must register or your comment will not count. To be eligible please leave a comment on what you enjoyed about Cynthia’s review. What is your favorite Vilhelm Parfumerie fragrance? Are you anxiously waiting for spring? Draw closes 1/23/2022

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