L’Occitane Verveine Fleur de Carotte Limited Edition2023 courtesy of the brand

 Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty
Been down, isn’t it a pity?
Doesn’t seem to be a shadow in the city
All around, people looking half dead
Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head. ~ from Summer in the City by the Lovin’ Spoonful, 1966

image via common use

Some things remain constant, year after year – and summer in the city happens to be one of them. Writer/composers Mark and John Sebastian and Steve Boone were smack dab on point; unrelenting heat, humidity, and questionable air quality remain part of the estival cityscape for those amongst us who happen to be city-dwellers. How to escape without breaking the bank? L’Occitane has provided us with a glorious flanker, a worthy successor to their Verveine series: limited edition Verveine Fleur de Carotte, a relatively affordable ($82.00/100 mls.) form of refreshment for body and spirit that suits anyone, frankly.

 Wildflowers photo by Neela Vermeire of Neela Vermeire Creations©

I’m not thrilled about ‘limited editions’ in general, as you probably know by now – but because of its ready availability, reasonable pricing, and all-over delightfulness, I’d recommend springing for a bottle while it’s still within easy reach. Both my husband and I recognized it as a classic immediately and purchased it on the spot; we have completely different chemistry, but it was a perfect fit for both of us. L’Occitane has released myriad verbena flankers over the years, and they have all been a pleasure to wear – but Verveine Fleur de Carotte is special. It conjures the countryside in a natural and unforced manner, meadows filled with wildflowers, herbs, bathed in mid-afternoon sunlight. I’m not trying to discredit larger, more prestigious houses – but why shell out a small fortune when an eau de toilette like this one will give so much bliss  ? I suspect that it might be helpful for me to review more high quality, modestly-priced fragrances in the future; the reality is that many fragrant objects of desire are beyond the grasp of the lion’s share of most perfumistas, and it’s frustrating to crave perfume unicorns.

 

carrot flower image via brand website

 

L’Occitane Verveine Fleur de Carotte does not smell like a carrot flower: it smells of carrot seed, which shares several olfactory characteristics of orris, minus the expense. Primarily, the lemongrass and lemon verbena summon the sunniest aspects of lemon without appearing overly tart or pith-bitter. These aspects intertwine with the earthy, botanical muskiness of angelica (peppery, rooty) and true ambrette (vegetal musk with floral/subtly animalic tones – which is likely where L’Occitane’s money went!), anchored by the coziness of Cashmeran® (IFF), aka blond woods. Cashmeran® is a much-loved velvety aromachemical whose facets complement and prolong fragrance: musky, spicy-woody with a pine-like nuance, and somewhat floral and fruity undertones. It’s a very versatile material which is widely employed in the industry, and it’s easy to smell why.

L’Occitane Verveine Fleur de Carotte Limited Edition via the brand

Verveine Fleur de Carotte possesses several admirable qualities: being colorless, it can be lavishly spritzed upon clothing to prolong wear; it’s equally enjoyable at room temperature or when chilled in the refrigerator; and because it is subtle, reapplication is no problem. Inoffensive is a sniveling word, but in this case, it is a virtue: I’ve yet to encounter anyone who has remarked negatively upon it, and have received multiple compliments on how lovely and fresh I smell when wearing Verveine Fleur de Carotte – so, there’s that. How could one possibly resist (unless you are citrus-averse)? It’s complex enough to garner interest, and discreet enough to be worn on any occasion, anywhere. Summer in the city, you’ve met your nemesis.

Notes: lemongrass, wildflowers, verbena, angelica, carrot seed, ambrette, blond woods (Cashmeran® IFF). Perceived notes: greenery

I purchased my own bottle; my nose is my own

~ Ida Meister, Deputy and Natural Perfumery Editor

Ermano chose Vervaine Mandarin (limited )as CaFleureBon Best Bang for the Buck in 2020

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