One of the particular powers of perfume is to that it can be a virtual trip to a specific place. Instead of looking at pictures of a place you want to go you can instead spritz yourself and transport yourself to a new locale. Keiko Mecheri also believes in the ability of fragrance to capture a place. In 2010 she created La Collection Hesperides which came in a different clear crystal bottle than her signature collection. The first four took us to Califonia (Mulholland), Japan (Les Nuits d’Izu), Sicily (Taormine), and the Mediterranean (Tarifa). All of these were meant to capture a bit of summer sunshine along with the location all wrapped up in a fragrance. Tarifa’s mix of orange and spices was my favorite of those first four. Last year’s Paradise Lost captured India and now the 2012 destination is Sunny St. Tropez in Un Jour d’Ete.
Brigitte Bardot was discovered in the late 50’s in St. Tropez and ever since imparted a sexy cool to this Cote D’Azur destination. St. Tropez became a playground for the rich and famous as many other cities on the French Riviera are. I have never traveled to the Cote D’Azur and so Ms. Mecheri has to become my olfactory tour guide. Based on what I smell in Un Jour d’Ete, St. Tropez is where the beach life is the center of attention. This fragrance has a great feel of sunshine along with a sense of the ocean as you walk along the strand. This fragrance uses a citrus top to carry into a woody floral heart before a base embracing warm skin and sea spray finishes it off. It really does have a sophisticated style appropriate to the way I think of St. Tropez.
Un Jour d’Ete lets lemon, mandarine, and petitgrain arise like the rays of the sun. They gather in intensity throughout the early part and like a wave cresting they crash on the beach receding to leave behind a jasmine. This is cleaned up jasmine that feels like it has been washed in the waves until only the sweet floral character is left behind. Indolic jasmine lovers do not look for any of that intensity here. Honestly as much as I love indolic jasmine it would have been a poor choice. This is one of the few times I can say I am happy the choice was made to use the cleaner jasmine. There is also a woody accord that has the feel of cypress and sandalwood as if they were sun-bleached driftwood. It is a very light woodiness under the jasmine. Ambergris adds the marine quotient and musk adds the sun-baked skin to the base. Together they make you feel like the end of a long day sunbathing on the Cote D’Azur.
Un Jour d’Ete has above average longevity and below average sillage.
Un Jour d’Ete is the most overtly beachy of the La Collection Hesperides but then St. Tropez is all about being discovered on the beach, just ask BB.
Disclosure: This review was based on a sample provided by MiN New York.
Courtesy of Keiko Mecheri we have a 15mL press sample to giveaway of Un Jour d’Ete. To be eligible name your favorite beach or sunbathing spot. We will draw one winner on September 3, 2012 via random.org.
We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.
-Mark Behnke, Managing Editor