Etat Libre D’Orange Story of Your Life by Olya Bar©

We all long for someone—it makes us feel, it makes us feel alive. Etat Libre D’Orange’s latest fragrance is inspired by a sweet ache of love’s taste, the craving for the person who made you feel something real. A scent of the lazy mornings spent wrapped in sheets, droplets of water glistening on the skin after a warm shower, and the quiet anticipation of breakfast shared in silence. No words are needed when the scent of love hangs thick in the air.

Is this the brand’s first true gourmand? They have flirted with the genre before, with offerings including Like This, Frustration and La Fin du Monde, but Etat Libre d’Orange Story of Your Life is a full dive into sweetness—yet it still bears the unmistakable, bold character of the house. This audacity clings to the skin.

Morning bed via Unsplash.

Etat Libre d’Orange Story of Your Life opens with the balmy warmth of benzoin and the enveloping sweetness of Davana essence, like morning sunlight that broke through the bedroom, illuminating the darkest corners and coaxing dawn to arrive. As it begins to blossom on the skin, the luminous orange blossom peaks out with a warm scent of something familiar. And there it was—a tray filled with the kind of indulgence that made the early hours’ worth savoring. A collection of pastries, their flaky layers dripping with rich, golden butter, sat piled high. The scent of freshly baked dough filled the air, mingling with the heady aroma of dark, molten chocolate. In the center of the tray, a steaming cup of hot chocolate beckoned. It was thick, almost velvety, with a darkness that hinted at a depth far beyond the usual sweet treat. The scent was intense and bold, and just when you thought it couldn’t get better, there was the faintest whiff of rum rising from the cup, turning the drink into something even more sinful. A dash, maybe two, of that warming liquor swirled through the hot chocolate, adding an unexpected kick that felt almost daring for the early hour.

Brioche via Unsplash

The world outside seemed to slow. Could the morning get any sweeter than this? The first bite of pastry practically melted on the tongue, butter oozing into every crevice of the flaky layers. Each sip of hot chocolate was a warm embrace, the rum cutting through the richness, adding a complexity that made you pause and appreciate every moment. The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the city waking up in the distance, but inside, it was pure decadence. This moment of indulgence made the world seem softer, sweeter, and just a little more luxurious. The kind of morning that lingered in your mind long after the sheets had cooled and no longer smelled of the night full of love.

The dry-down is like the slow reveling of time together, the musky trace of skin against skin, the earthy embrace of patchouli, and the golden glow of amber woods resting on a bed of warm vanilla. This fragrance tells a story of life and love, memories and longing, and the certainty that you’ll meet again one day despite life’s distances. It’s the scent of a heartbeat, skipping at the thought of your love and its imprint on your soul.

Savor it. Life moves too quickly—moments like these slow it down, if only for a little while. After all, the present becomes the past in the blink of an eye.

Notes: Cistus Essence, Davana Essence, Benzoin Siam Pure JE TM, Laurel Essence, Orange Blossom Absolute, Brioche Accord, Rum Pure JE TM, Cocoa Resinoide, Patchouli Essence, Vanilla Infusion & Absolute, Amber Wood, Orcanox ™.

Olya Bar, Editor

Disclosure: Bottle of Story of Your Life kindly provided by Twisted Lily, where I am the Head of Digital Strategy & Communications, opinions are my own.

Etat Libre d’Orange Story of Your Life courtesy of the brand

Thanks to the generosity of Twisted Lily we have a 100 ml bottle of Story of Your Life for one registered reader in the USA. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what sparks your interest based on Olya’s review and where you live. What is your favorite Etat Libre D’Orange fragrance? Draw closes 09/23/2024

Etat Libre D’Orange Story of Your Life is exclusive to Twisted Lily until September 30, 2024.

Michelyn’s Note: From all of us at ÇaFleureBon: HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY TO ETAT LIBRE D’ORANGE (September 2024), especially to founder and Creative Director Etienne de Swardt.

Jerome di Marino (now with MANE) is featured in our Young Perfumers series and was Ermano’s 2020 Rising Star

Secretions Magnifique was inducted into our ÇaFleureBon Modern Masterpieces Hall of Fame in 2013.

Read Nicoleta’s reviews of Frustration, Ghost in the Shell, and Rien

Frustration was in Olya’s Top 10 Best Scents of 2023. For Nicoleta, Ghost in The Shell was a 2021 Top 10 Best of Scent.

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