Le Jardin Retrouvé Jasmin Majorelle with Box  

“Is it him? you ask yourself, looking at the graceful figure that seems to float on the pool, beyond the fountains, in the blue haze of the house” – a note from the brand

Le Jardin Retrouvé Jasmin Majorelle is another Yuri Gutsatz fragrance that has been revived for a new and appreciative audience. Formerly called Jasmin, this radiant floral was brought back to life by popular demand during the brand’s online Perfume Revival Party in 2018, which also brought the world Bois Tabac Virginia and Oriental Sans Souci.

 

Clara Feder’s artistic interpretation Le Jardin Retrouvé Jasmin Majorelle

To recap, Le Jardin Retrouvé sent four nameless fragrance samples to perfume lovers around the world so that they could vote for which fragrance would be produced. Yellow Dot, now called Jasmin Majorelle, didn’t come first, but garnered such an online fan base that creative directors and owners Michel Gutsatz and Clara Feder wisely listened to the perfume lovers and acted. Jasmin Majorelle was thus produced in a limited edition of 150 bottles.

 

Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Bergé and friends at the Marjorelle Gardens from Musee Yves Saint Laurent Paris

As Clara was writing the brand stories for the revival fragrances, she was inspired by the famous Majorelle Gardens in Morocco. Created by Yves Saint Laurent and Paul Bergé, a mere glimpse of their vibrant Eden is enough to understand how these gardens could evoke potent inspiration.  Saint Laurent and Bergé began a lifelong love affair with Marrakech and bought not one, but two homes there, purchasing an adjoining property to prevent its demolition.  With the distinct blue walls and yellow accents, teamed with the sunbaked skies of North Africa, it’s easy to see how a jasmine extravaganza would fit into such a mise en scène.

Pierre Bergé was quoted in Vogue Arabia as saying, “I only believe in people and memory. Only memories endure.” It is this philosophy that feels so appropriate for one of Yuri Gutsatz’s creations. The ethos of Le Jardin Retrouvé is that their fragrances invite you into the inner garden sanctuary that we all have inside us.

 

Le Jardin Majorelle Hooked on Traveling©

Saint Laurent and Bergé brought just such a sanctuary to life and welcomed others to share their vision. The unique quality of the jasmine flower can evoke a mosaic of emotions. It can be by turns feminine masculine, diaphanous, indolic and downright sexy. In the hands of Yuri Gutsatz, the additions of ylang ylang and coriander coax a gentler face from jasmine’s tendency to be a diva and take over.

Jardin Majorelle, the gardens of the French couturier Yves Saint Laurent/ALAMY

Green fronds trail in a glassy pond and a pure, milky quality blooms out under a sky so blue it looks like a painting The vibrancy of marigolds (also known as tagetes) and carnation add a cushion of spice upon which jasmine can bloom like the star that she is. Balanced with balsam and herbs, this Jasmine segues into the Majorelle gardens in which you could endlessly walk alone, in the footsteps perhaps of Yves and Paul as they took succor and inspiration from their surroundings. Yves Saint Laurent, in death, chose to have his ashes scattered in these very gardens, where he was happiest. I like to think he found his paradise.

My personal take on Jasmin Majorelle is that it is the scent of sunshine and optimism. To me, it is an uplifting floral with peppery green notes that bring out its exquisite best, as if it has angels as bridesmaids.  Jasmin Majorelle is acres of blue sky, succulent greenery and a big dose of idealism. Although made in 1981, to me it has a very Seventies feel: pure and happy with a sunny outlook. It’s an open window on a summer morning, a vase of flowers by your bed and an irresistible urge to seize the day.

Yuri Gutsatz always in a garden

As for the ingredients? Yuri sourced his jasmine from India where it was handpicked and processed in traditional methods before arriving in the Le Jardin Retrouvé Paris lab. Nothing has changed in 2020. The supplier is the same. On its arrival, perfumer Maxence Moutte takes over, following Yuri’s formulas to the letter and employing his meticulous six-week maturation and maceration process.  In other words, how it smells now is how it smelled in 1981 (and yes, it is IFRA compliant).

If you’re not a jasmine lover already, this may well be the fragrance that converts you.  Le Jardin Retrouvé Jasmin Majorelle is a time capsule: a part of perfume heritage in a bottle. It deserves to be cherished.

-Disclosure: Thank you to Le Jardin Retrouvé for my review sample. I have a working relationship with this house, but even so, opinions are my own.

Notes: jasmine, sage, coriander, ylang ylang , marigold, carnation

– Samantha Scriven ,Senior Contributor to ÇaFleureBon and writes the blog www.iscentyouaday.com

Thanks to the generosity of Michel and Clara at Le Jardin Retrouvé, we have a 50ml bottle of Jasmin Majorelle Limited Edition eau de parfum for one registered reader in EU, UK, 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 Le Jardin Retrouvé fragrance, and where you live. Draw closes 12/9/2020

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