Etat Libre d’Orange Clean Suede by Karl©
One could ask, ‘What’s in a name?’ Sometimes a name can conjure up specific thoughts and emotions. When I discovered Etat Libre d’Orange Clean Suede this immediately sprung to mind. Clean: free of dirt or stains and suede, a fleshed up velvety leather. That creates a division, two things being opposed and entirely different. This contradiction intrigued me and I wanted to discover more.
Etienne De Swardt and Antoine Lie courtesy of the brand
Etat Libre d’Orange Clean Suede plays an olfactory game which is incredibly effective. Like a dual personality, going back and forth, it is bewildering, enticing and completely unexpected. I liken it to the good versus bad elements of a person. One minute genteel and calm, the next ready to do whatever it takes to resolve a situation by any means possible. When I spritzed Etat Libre d’Orange Clean Suede my mind immediately jumped between its fresh and sparkling side and a darkly erotic aspect which was apparent right from the start.
Etat Libre d’Orange Clean Suede reminded me of a portion of a video I recently listened to: “A gentleman can be dangerous”. Some of my favourite television series spring to mind; Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy and Prison Break. This duality of softness versus aggression typifies this fragrance in my opinion.
courtesy of Unsplash
The opening of Etat Libre d’Orange Clean Suede is akin to showering away the iniquities of the previous evening’s adventures and feeling awake and luminous. Soapy aldehydes mixing with citrus by way of lemon. It has a sherbet kick reviving the mind and body. This crispness is branched with a verdant aspect. Birch, cypress and galbanum create a vastness about the perfume which makes one want to inhale deeply. As I imbibe the scent, I can pick up the slightest latex note possibly from orris which stays in the background, it creates a menacing undertone which was unexpected. It lurks in the backdrop for a while and welcomes in a darkness to the composition.
Then suddenly, my senses are hit with pepper and saffron spice. Mixed with the iris the effect is a tobacco almost ashy cigarette smoke upon leather experience. The bracing tonality is offset with a vanilla and tonka bean combination which adds a velvety and smooth beauty to the fragrance. One is constantly pulled from pillar to post and slightly perplexed by Etat Libre d’Orange Clean Suede. It constantly entertains the senses and makes one question its motives.
via Unsplash
Would I call it a clean fragrance? Certainly not! Would I call it dirty? No. It’s the ying and yang of perfumery to my nose. A contrast which works magic on the skin. Best for wearing casually but with purpose. Too risky for a suit attire, too exciting for a polo shirt and jeans. The perfect outfit for Clean Suede would be a dark t-shirt, leather jacket, distressed jeans and boots. I think it is brilliant in all its strangeness and a super collaboration between Etienne De Swardt and Antoine Lie. A must try.
Notes: Aldehyde, lemon, birch leaves, pine, pepper, vanilla, grey amber, suede.
Karl Topham, UK Ambassador and Senior Editor.
Disclosure: Bottle kindly provided by Etat Libre d’Orange opinions are my own.
Etat Libre d’Orange Clean Suede courtesy of the brand
Thanks to the generosity of Etat Libre D’Orange we have a100ml bottle of Clean Suede for one registered reader in the EU or UK. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what sparks your interest based on Karl’s review and where you live. What is your favourite Etat Libre D’Orange fragrance? Draw closes 8/21/23.
Please read: Michelyn’s interview with Founder and Creative Director Etienne De Swardt here.
The Three Etat Libre D’Orange Perfumes You Should Be Wearing? Etienne’s suggestions here
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