LÔR Paris Oud Latte collage made using Unsplash background
LÔR Paris is a relatively new niche fragrance brand that debuted in Paris in 2019 and exhibited at Esxence the same year. Born in Europe, but bearing an adventurer soul, with influences that span all across the globe, like a golden arc that connects, on an imaginary map, Paris, Dubai, and Tokyo.
We have the classical, instantly recognizable, and timeless French chic in all the olfactive creations – thanks to the talent of Master Perfumer Natalie Feisthauer (Michelyn’s Perfumer of the Years 2022 and 2021). Then we zoom in on details and observe the intricate tapestry of exotic spices with all the sensory richness and sense of abundance that can only be experienced in Dubai. And, on top of it all, add a Tokyo minimalist, sleek, urban, and contemporary feel.
Nathalie Feisthauer & Rola Haddad pictures from the official website, collage by Nicoleta
The founder, Rola Haddad, has infused much of her personality into the brand. Her experiences living in Paris, Riyadh, Dubai, and Geneva, and traveling the globe provided the inspiration and fervor she channeled into LÔR Paris. Before pursuing her passion for the world of fragrances, Rola worked for leading international advertising agencies. In 2017, she returned to Paris to create the brand and it was at this time that she connected with Nathalie Feisthauer.
LÔR Paris collection, via Facebook
A short introduction to the lineup, before we go on to sip our Oud Latte:
Dark Mimosa: a seemingly innocent powdery floral with some sensual musky curves. Veers into the cosmetic press powder smell that is my absolute catnip. The name makes me see it worn by a film noir heroine, a redhead with freckles and perfectly cut straight bangs, powdering her nose, all proper and poised, after just firing her gun.
Musc Fruite: fresh mouthwatering ripe berries, sparkling amber backdrop, and a fuzzy playful musk. Delicious joie du vivre, the juicy fruit carefree edition. It conjured up the last seconds of the movie “Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amelie Poulain”, where Amélie and Nino are riding their bike through the streets of Paris.
Animal Doux: leathery, powdery, with a woody powerful texture infused with a resinous sweetness that very quickly becomes quite addictive. Hot & cold, yes and no, the kind of fragrance that growls at you until it grows on you.
Petale de Oud: an interpretation of the classical oud–rose combo, build upon a come-hither musk that makes it airy, elegant, and easy to wear.
American Psycho movie still and photo from brands Facebook page, collage by Nicoleta
I must admit, I was attracted to the LÔR Paris stand at Esxcence 2023, even before smelling anything. Like Pepe le Pew, floating in mid-air, eyes open wide, I was called in by the awesome sleek visual appeal of the stand. The combination of white, black, mint green, and gold, the cool fonts, the symbols on the bottles, the proportions, everything was so spot on it brought out my inner Patrick Bateman, the wall street advertising agency edition. “Look at that subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh, my God. It even has a watermark!”
LÔR Paris Fragrance Symbols, collage made by Nicoleta using official brand materials
A very cool idea is that Rola invented a new “perfume language”, decoding the very abstract language of scent description into a new visual form, so people would know what to expect just by looking at the bottle. Ten symbols represent the olfactive families found in the fragrances, and each bottle and sample has three symbols written on them. I also liked the fresh way of presenting the scents on the website, with no rabbit-out-of-the-hat storytelling, no olfactive pyramids, just focusing on the mood of the fragrance, and a couple of keywords, to set your expectations on the right track.
The bottles are sleek, heavy, and very tactile, almost like some sort of sensory fidget toy for perfume lovers, with symbols embedded on the side. When I saw them the first time my mind made an association I can’t shake off now – as from afar they made me think of Reiki symbols. Reiki, the same as perfumery, deals with an invisible yet powerful impact on our senses. An ancient healing practice that believes energy can be transferred through touch, and with symbols that allow the practitioners to use focus on specific purposes. And whilst in most cases symbols only affect the subconscious, Reiki symbols harness and trigger specific energies, with intent playing a crucial role. Fondling my bottle of Oud Latte and watching its symbols, it was pretty clear what path it was putting me on. The brand’s description short description sums it up perfectly: “Delicious, spicy, sweet, yet balanced. Charming with a strong presence and sharp character. Limitless, adventurous, and tender. You can’t help but want to get closer. Very versatile and adaptable.” LÔR Paris Oud Latte is all these things. A clean fluffy musk – elevated skin – smell that is soft and tender and blurs the edges of the spices. My mind jumps to the association of cardamom coffee here, but I just smell the hot white steam of the frothy milk and the spices sprinkled on top, not the bitterness of the coffee. The sweetness behind the milk is slightly toasted, so a tonka might be involved, next to a smooth vanilla. The oud is felt as a woody smooth base on which the whole airy construction stands, creamy, comforting, like a fluffy cashmere sweater that wears like a second skin.
AI-generated image & photoshop edit by Nicoleta
LÔR Paris Oud Latte is the kind of scent that keeps me anchored in reality, and dare I say, makes me romanticize it in a very laid-back and effortless way (like a layer of genZ-urban- zen that is quite a foreign concept to an overanalytical tormented old millennial soul like myself).
Strolling down a bustling city street, headphones with Tame Impala’s Borderline loud in my ears (yes, hipster core vibes) surrounded by a deliciously addictive robust blend of spicy and milky sweet aura. Feels like the first sip of a strong, perfectly brewed latte on a Monday morning – a jolt to your senses, followed by a relaxing hum. Made my mind wander again, thinking of “brown noise” also known as Brownian noise, a type of signal or noise that has higher energy at lower frequencies, resulting in a deep, bass sound that some people find calming or soothing. This fragrance delves deeper into lower frequencies, exploring profound notes that are still soothing and grounding, despite their stronger repertoire. What we are left with is a personal, sensory bubble amidst a chaotic world that feels both comforting as a soft blanket and sleek and fashionable to be worn out proudly, with the stiffest upper lip.
Category: No pyramid communicated by the brand, just the olfactive categories: Ambery, Woody, Spicy
Notes perceived: sweet vanilla, roasted tonka, creamy woods, barista-level milk froth, iris ivory powderiness, fuzzy cashmere sweater, jazz background, and very clean, delicate, and fluffy musk with an airy presence
Nicoleta Tomsa, Senior Editor
Disclosure: Bottle kindly provided by LÔR Paris opinions are my own
LÔR Paris Oud Latte bottle and box, picture by Nicoleta
Thanks to the generosity of LÔR Paris we have a 100 ml bottle for one registered reader in the EU or USA. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what sparks your interest based on Nicoleta’s review of LÔR Paris Oud Latté and where you live. Draw closes 5/27/2023
Editor’s note: LÔR Paris Oud Latté won the FIFI Russian Fragrance Awards 2022: Breakthrough of the Year
LÔR Paris also received a Best of Show from Senior Editor Karl Topham
Follow us on Instagram @cafleurebonofficial @nicoleta.tomsa @nathaliefeisthauer @lor.paris
This is our Privacy and Draw Rules Policy
We announce the winners only on our site and on our Facebook page, so like Çafleurebon and use our blog feed… or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume