Exaltatum Osmanthus Noble Review (Eglija Vaitkevice) + The Drama of Delilah DRAW

The painting by Rubens of Samson and Delilah inspired Exaltatum Osmanthus Noble

 Samson and Delilah by Peter Paul Rubens

If Exaltatum Osmanthus Noble was a woman, you’d never be able to trust her. She has an initial beauty that stuns and entrances, yet hides layers of deception like tulle petticoats that are so thickly corralled that they stop you seeing what’s truly underneath. It came as no surprise to me that this fragrance was inspired by the Peter Paul Rubens’ masterpiece, Samson and Delilah. Perfectly suited to the beautiful but duplicitous Delilah, Osmanthus Noble isn’t quite the lady it appears.

Eglija Vaitkevice of Exaltatum

Eglija Vaitkevice via instagram

 Eglija Vaitkevice, founder and perfumer at Exaltatum was trained in Grasse and within moments of trying her fragrances, you realise that she knows magic and how to bottle it. Exaltatum Osmanthus Noble opens with a blast of merry apricot blossom. It’s as wholesome as a May pole on a village green, and a garland of flowers above a maiden’s blushing cheek. The fruity scent of the petals combined with their snowy whiteness is your first impression.

Don’t be fooled.  Exaltatum Osmanthus Noble smells like blossom but, like a student after a gap year, it’s never been near where it claims to have been. In fact, osmanthus is closer to an olive tree than it is to an apricot.  You see? This fey fragrance already speaks in riddles. Greenery dances before your eyes like teasing dryads. Aldehydes, oakmoss and clary sage weave their pagan magick to disorient you. Styrax makes a bold statement, standing out among flowers like Neptune above the waves – a rough, almost sticky high note of spices and burnt stone.

Exaltatum Osmanthus Noble review

Hedy Lamar in Samson and Delilah 1949

Darker tones reveal the true nature of this beauty. A velvety leather emerges: a new sueded texture that lingers on skin like fingers lacing a pattern on your neck and wrists. A feast of black cherry and precious saffron offers temptation that you are helpless to resist, whilst wreathing around you like a satin cloak that’s far too grandiose for the ordinary day you were having.  Smoky facets and rich tobacco add their own touches of mystery and take you so far away from the maypole and the village green that you begin to think you dreamed it after all. Osmanthus Noble has made you her own, tricking you with her innocent rosy petals and leading you down a path that hints at the chequered past she never speaks of.  It’s too late to go back and you don’t really want to. Love can do that to you sometimes.

Samson and Delilah 1900 Mucha

Samson and Delilah Alphonse Mucha 1900

Exaltatum Osmanthus Noble reminded me of the lyrics to the Billy Joel song, “She’s Always a Woman”:“And she’ll promise you more than the Garden of Eden, Then she’ll carelessly cut you and laugh while you’re bleeding.” Just like Delilah, feigning her true love to Samson before discovering the source of his strength and taking it, Osmanthus Noble has a seductiveness that commands attention.  Believe me, no matter how bad she’s been, it’s the beauty of her that you’ll always remember fondly, when you dare to look back.

Notes: Aldehydes  mandarin, bergamote, cardamom, aldehydes, osmanthus absolute, clary sage, ylang ylang, saffron, styrax, suede, tonka bean, sandalwood, musk, labdanum, oakmoss, amber, tobacco, vetiver, animalic notes

Samantha Scriven, Senior Contributor and  author of iscentyouaday.

Disclosure: Thank you to Eglija Vaitkevice of Exaltatum for my review bottle. Opinions are my own.

 

Exaltatum osmanthus noble

Exaltatum Osmanthus by Samantha Scriven

Thanks to the generosity of Eglija Vaitkevice of Exaltatum, we have a 15ml bottle of Osmanthus Noble eau de parfum intense for one registered reader in EU, USA or Canada. You must register here or your comment will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what you enjoyed most about Samantha’s review, if you have favourite Exaltatum fragrance, and where you live. Draw closes 7/12/2020

Editor note: I definitely see a resemblance between Hedy Lamar as Delilah and Eglijia-Michelyn Camen Editor in Chief and Art Director

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52 comments

  • blombergskan says:

    Rarely is a fragrance review so clear about the power of seduction that a scent can hold! And count me in – I’m completely seduced by this review. I’ve never had the oportunity to try an Exaltatum fragrance, but would love to – especially this one. Living in Sweden.

  • Samantha, thank you for the great review! Eglija, thank you for the beautiful perfumes as well as the generosity of the giveaway.

    I love the way Samantha made alive the darker notes of this, the mysterious sensuality of it, the notes are made quite palpable through her prose.

    I have not yet had the pleasure of wearing any Exaltatum fragrance as yet, but I would absolutely love to!

    I’m in the US

  • I enjoyed the overall sexiness of this review 😉 The line “It’s too late to go back and you don’t really want to.” is perfect. I haven’t not tried any Exaltatum fragrances, however that may need to change. I love dark seductive fragrances like this. From Canada.

  • This was a lovely article to read. I like that Samantha took the time to delve a bit deeper in the love, drama and opulence of the famous painting by P. P. Rubens and the legend of Samson and Delilah.

    A friend of mine wore this and I recall an sensual mix of saffron and tonka beans on her. I would LOVE to wear this myself.

    I live in the UK.

  • From Samantha’s review, one gets a very clear idea of this fragrance – these quotes from the review are telling:

    “If Exaltatum Osmanthus Noble was a woman, you’d never be able to trust her.”
    “Exaltatum Osmanthus Noble smells like blossom but, like a student after a gap year, it’s never been near where it claims to have been.”
    “And she’ll promise you more than the Garden of Eden, Then she’ll carelessly cut you and laugh while you’re bleeding.”

    One would think that after all these warnings, one would pay heed and sanity would prevail and one would avoid it. The bad news is _ I am now more eager to check out what makes this beauty so devilish 🙂 Thanks Samantha – lovely review of Exaltatum Osmanthus Noble. (I haven’t tried Exaltum frgrances, yet). Thanks Eglija Vaitkevice also for offering this fragrance for the draw. Writing from the USA.

  • BostonScentGuy says:

    Such evocative descriptions! Velvety leather and sweetness–sounds wonderful and true to the impression one gets smelling osmanthus. I haven’t tried any exaltatum scents, but they are on my list! Thanks for the draw–I’m in the US.

  • badjobkaren says:

    Osmanthus is used in a lot of Chinese desserts and teas and it’s usually crushed and turned into a sugar syrup that’s eaten with sticky rice or cold lotus root slices. I can’t get enough of it! Also fun fact: Hedy Lamarr invented what was essentially proto-GPS and secure WiFi in WW2. In US

  • First of all I did not know that osmanthus is closer to an olive tree than it is to an apricot. I like the most the description of the darker tones of this scent, especially the velvety leather with smoky facets. I don’t have a favorite Exaltatum fragrance yet but thanks for the introduction to this brand. I live in the USA.

  • A smoky seductive fragrance? On my wishlist it goes! All the notes sound fantastic, especially the description of dark cherries, saffron and tobacco. Thanks for another great article and generous draw! Mich USA

  • patrick_348 says:

    I like how Samantha made this fragrance sound complex, ambiguous, and unpredictable. I don’t know any Exaltatum scents, but this sounds provocative. I live in the US, in North Carolina.

  • Thank you for a gorgeous and intriguing review! There’s nothing like a scent that starts out demure and then takes you for a ride! The notes are all ones that I enjoy quite a bit. My favorite part of this was the imagery you selected to accompany this article, especially the Mucha. Excellent choices!

    I don’t have a favorite Exaltatum YET but would be thrilled to try this fragrance. In Canada.

  • ameliantoinette says:

    Ms. Scriven, your review has peaked my interest. I have never tried an osmanthus scent, but if it captivates as you say I want it! I’ve always loved stories of femme fatales like Delilah, and who better to portray her than the beautiful and intellectual Hedy Lamar! Will this scent give me Delilah’s superpowers? This small town girl from NC would love to find out. 🙂 and yes I agree – Eglijia does resemble Hedy!

    Your review is beautifully written and has left me on the edge of my imaginary velvet cushioned seat, inspired to curl my hair and smudge on some smoky black eyeliner and conquer the world! I would wear the 15ml vial like an amulet of strength, beauty, and confidence.

  • Trinity33 says:

    Most osmanthus based fragrances I’ve tried have been very delicate and subtle; pleasant but not memorable. Exaltatum Osmanthus sounds like an osmanthus that wants to be noticed. The spices and supporting florals along with the animalic leather points to a fragrance that commands attention. I love Hedy Lamar! Beauty and brains. A fragrance I can associate with her is one I want to try. I’ve never tried any Exaltatum fragrance before. Commenting from MD, USA.

  • phoenixad says:

    i usually enjoy fragrances with a lot of notes. This seems challenging for me cause i dont like aldehydes. Have not tried any from the house either.

    IM from Europe, Hellas

  • Thanks for the review! Dont have anything from this house. But I like how Samantha makes the scent sound unpredictable and complex.
    Florida, USA

  • Bryant Worley says:

    What I enjoyed about Samantha’s review is (from my interpretation) that this seems unisex – – “Darker tones….velvety leather….sueded texture….feast of black cherry and precious saffron….Smoky facets and rich tobacco….” or, in other words, “Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman”.

    Unfortunately, I have not had the privilege of trying any Exaltatum fragrances yet, but hopefully that will change soon. I live in Waldorf, MD, USA.

  • NiceVULady says:

    Samantha, thank you for a most unexpected review. The intertwining of the person of Delilah with the fragrance is a most interesting twist. After that review, I would really like to get this perfume It sounds awesome. Many thanks to Exaltatum for their draw. Someone will
    be very lucky. I’m in the USA

  • Believe me, no matter how bad she’s been, it’s the beauty of her that you’ll always remember fondly, when you dare to look back.

    Notes of Aldehydes mandarin, bergamote, cardamom, aldehydes, osmanthus absolute, clary sage, ylang ylang, saffron, styrax, suede, tonka bean, sandalwood, musk, labdanum, oakmoss, amber, tobacco, vetiver, animalic notes. Wonderful review by Samantha intrigued by the notes especially musk and animalic notes. Thanks a million from the United Kingdom

  • I enjoyed how Samantha explained the connection between the fragrance and its inspiration, the painting. She made the fragrance sound so mysterious to me and like it will certainly have a number of transitions or stages throughout the life of the scent. I’d like to expand my olfactive pallet with some of the more animalic tones mentioned in Osmanthus Noble especially as they seem to blend with a number of other notes I normally enjoy. I’ve not yet had an opportunity to try any Exaltatum perfumes and am commenting from the U.S. Thanks for the generous draw.

  • Osmanthus Noble has made you her own, tricking you with her innocent rosy petals and leading you down a path that hints at the chequered past she never speaks of. It’s too late to go back and you don’t really want to. Love can do that to you sometimes. A beautiful description by Samantha reveals the intricacies of this fragrance brilliantly. A house that I am not familiar with but I am intrigued by nonetheless. Thanks a million from the United Kingdom

  • I like the dark and heavy, rich description of the fragrance.Exaltatum Osmanthus Noble sounds like a mysterious perfume.Ididn’t get to try any Exaltatum perfume til now, but I hope it will be this one the first. I live in Romania.

  • This is not a spray me and leave me perfume, judging by Samantha’s review. It’s more like wear me and obey me. Or adore me hopelessly :)).
    Never tried an Exaltatum fragrance, but what a great start this would be. Living in EU.

  • Steliyan Syarov says:

    Very beautiful review. Really liked the comparison made to Delilah and her dark side. I would like to experience this suede and osmanthus in this fragrance. Thanks for the giveaway! Greetings from Austria!

  • Thank you Samantha for a superbly written review. Right off the beat, Tom Jones song “Delila” started playing in my head as I read your review and kept playing till you intercepted it with the Billy Joel song that’s also an old favorite 🙂 This fragrance sounds like a perfect match for it’s inspiration – the love you know is dangerous but you’re entranced and can’t help yourself. I’d be stoked to try it out. My favorite Exaltatum is Pergola which also has green notes. I’m in USA

  • Laurentiu says:

    Interesting idea to draw inspiration from. I am not familiar with her creations, but would love to try this one. Thanks! EU

  • What a beautiful description in this sounds like a luscious scent that
    i would definitely want to try. A great review again thanks for the opportunity. Living in the EU

  • I love the sense of danger and daring that Samantha gives this perfume. I have not tried any Exaltatum fragrances and I live in the US.

  • Wow! What a beautiful piece of writing and artwork. The sexiness and seductiveness is fun to read. ” Exaltatum Osmanthus Noble reminded me of the lyrics to the Billy Joel song, “She’s Always a Woman”:“And she’ll promise you more than the Garden of Eden, Then she’ll carelessly cut you and laugh while you’re bleeding.” I have never tried any Exaltatum fragrances, I need to. Thank you for the opportunity. USA

  • Osmanthus…yes! I’m currently loving it and I agree in that depending on which facet you emphasize you can get something very soft and pretty or a luscious temptress and seductress. I haven’t tried anything by this house before. I live in the USA. Thanks for the giveaway!

  • From blossom, to greenery, to velvety leather…I’ve got to try this one. This house is new to me but I loved the review and the art to go with it. Thank you for the draw and another excellent article. I’m in the US.

  • Lovely review, very evocative. Osmanthus Noble sounds great, would love to be able to try it as I’ve heard of the brand but never got to sample anything from the line. Living in the UK.

  • Samantha beautifully described the richness and lusciousness of this fragrance with its apricot blossoms, osmanthus, suede, spices, and animalic notes. Blended together, these notes seem to perfectly represent Delilah. I’ve been very curious to try this line and I love the 15 ml format. I am in the USA.

  • vickalicious says:

    Wow, this fragrance sounds amazing! I’ve not tried any of the Exaltatum fragrances, but this post has me intrigued. The line, “This fey fragrance already speaks in riddles” really catches my attention…as if the fragrance is not what it seems. Fantastically written review!! I look forward to trying this one, as well as others from Exaltatum. Writing from the US.

  • While everyone is talking Delilah, my mind slips to a semi dark Victorian library. It’s probably the mention of velvety leather, suede, black cherry, saffron. It sounds a little Olde World to me and alluring. Opening light and fresh and easing into dark sultry and moody tones.
    USA reader

  • chiaravirga says:

    Wow, such a great review! It really intrigued me, I’ve never tried anything from this brand and the first fragrance i would try, would be this one! I love osmanthus, this seductive and unpredictable version seems amazing. Thank you for the review!
    I live in Italy (EU)

  • Pixiedust2 says:

    Samantha wove quite a tale! He review makes this scent sound magical and almost hypnotic, all part of the seduction. I’ve not tried Exaltatum before but would love to have the chance to smell this. I’m in the US.

  • Samantha’s review was so engaging and clear that you not only followed along with her words but you felt them too. It was like a passenger experiencing the same journey as the driver and she really conveyed the depth of how this is linked with seduction.

    My favourite from the brand is ruby wood.

    I’m from Ireland, EU

  • valentina says:

    This perfumery house is so imaginative! Amazing! Imagination is one thing money can’t buy. If you have it, you can call yourself an artist. I never sniffed an Exaltatum, but I would very much want. I live in EU

  • I loved this article which describes this perfume as perfectly fit for such an iconic religious / mythologic figure. A cunning and powerful, yet absolutely feminine and fascinating figure, capable of obtaining whatever she wants from whomever she wants. The ylang, sandalwood and animalic notes seem completely fit to deliver that olfactively.
    I have yet to try an Exaltatum perfume.
    I am in the EU. Thanks for the draw!

  • ElenaChiss says:

    Separately, I like all the notes in this one and I am sure that together they make a great composition. I have not tried anything from this house, but it’s never too late. I am in the EU. Thanks for the chance!

  • Jannick85 says:

    Reaaly great review I especiall enjoyed the imagery used and how opulent this fragrance sounds. My favoriite from the brand is Ruby Wood
    I’m from Denmark

  • Generally I do not really like fragrances with aldehydes, but as I read it is not too prominent here. So this fragrance in general sounds very beautiful, and interesting in the same time. I very like the article. I have not tried anything from this brand. Thank you for the chance. I live in Europe.

  • SivaScents says:

    My favourite parts of this review were the comparison of Osmanthus Noble to a woman that you could never trust as well as the reference to Billy Joel’s She’s Always A Woman. I haven’t tried any Exaltatum fragrances yet but after reading this review I am very intrigued to learn about the house.

    I am from the UK

  • Thank you for this scent draw. I never heard from this before and i very enjoyed it. All scents around dark and mysterious aura are my interest, so i would be honoured to win this bottle.
    I come from EU. Greetings Amore

  • doveskylark says:

    I am always fascinated by fragrances that are inspired by works of art. Samantha perfectly described the trajectory of this fragrance, from wholesomeness to darkness….I studied abroad for a semester in Florence, Italy and I had that trajectory daily.
    I live in the USA.

  • Osmanthus always smells great, especially if it’s anlittke mischevious.
    I’m in Slovenia, EU.

  • mleenstra says:

    I mean “like a student after a gap year, it’s never been where it claims to have been”, who doesn’t want to try a fragrance enigma like that. Great witty, but beautifully described by Samantha. I am very intrigued by Exaltatum fragrances and I have been aching to try some from this house. Marit UK

  • Liza Wade says:

    Thank you for this review…what a tease! First of all, I too, see a resemblance between Heddy Lamar as Delilah and Eglijia Vaitkevice the perfumer! Both mesmerizing with their eyes. Exaltatum Osmanthus sounds sumptuous with apricot, aldehydes, oakmoss, and clary sage. Please consider my entry for this draw. xoxo

  • Michael Prince says:

    Samantha, great review of Exaltatum Osmanthus Noble. Osmanthus is the star of the show but there are spicy, citrus, and floral components to give this fragrance added depth as well a base of leather and suede to embolden the fragrance. My favorite Exaltatum fragrance is Pergola. I am from Ohio, USA.

  • Any time a comparison is made to Hedy Lamar, I’m sold. I’ve never tried this line, but I’d love to. I live in the USA.

  • The art of seduction of the beautiful Dalila is very well represented in the intriguing notes of this perfumed elixir. Maybe the power of Osmanthus Noble helps to win the hearts of others?
    Linda, EU