Ormonde Jayne Levant by Olya Bar
Ormonde Jayne’s perfumer and Creative Director Linda Pilkington’s work (Jayne is Linda’s middle name, while Ormonde is the street she lived on) has been taking an entire shelf in my perfume closet, and I find myself reaching for them quite often. Through different moods, different seasons, my love for the fragrances which debuted in 2002 continues to grow. To celebrate the brand’s 20th anniversary, Ormonde Jayne released a fragrance collection “Le Route De Soie,” inspired by the beauty and glory of the ancient Silk Route. Levant is one of the seven olfactive stories each with their own voice and personality. Levant sings in a lilting voice that gently rises and falls “en plein air.”
La Route de Soie Eau de Parfums via Ormonde Jayne
Ormonde Jayne Levant captivates your senses bringing to mind a day spent at a cottage by the sea. In the morning, the windows are flung open as the scent of delicate peonies and roses slowly fill the bedroom; the sun is rising and reflects off the dewdrops on the grass. Levant is an infusion of light into a gloomy day, uplifting and revitalizing with a boost of floral energy.
Photo of The Luncheon by Claude Monet, 1873 DeAgostini Getty Images
Many of the floral fragrances by Ormonde Jayne make me think of Impressionism art and the colorful splashes on the canvas. Up close, the notes are often sharp and unclear but pull away a bit, and the picture starts to becomes incredibly clear and captivating, leaving a lasting memory and a long delicate trail. As I inhale Levant, the painting Le déjeuner: The Luncheon by Claude Monet comes to mind. An alfresco lunch in the middle of the garden depicts the first house in Argenteuil, Monet and his family lived. Levant conveys the feeling of a haven, a calm and tranquil morning among family. A garden is full of delicate flowers and citrus trees surrounding the dining table. There is a feeling of delight as if you were drinking rose-infused lemonade on a hot summer day.
Ormond Jayne Levant photo by Olya
To me, Levant is composed using a similar olfactive language as some of the earlier Ormonde Jayne fragrances (such as 2004’s Sampaguita, 2003 Frangipani and 2002 Champaca) painted using a soft, luminous color palette ingredients. There is a beautiful transparency woven through the entire composition as if it’s lit from within. A bright burst of citrus pulp quickly gives way to a bouquet of roses and peonies freshly picked from the garden. A jasmine tea note in the heart balances the sweetness of the flowers and brings the green freshness to the heart and a touch of pure lily of the valley on the bed of fresh cedar and warm musk. As I spend more time with Levant, it morphs from juicy and joyful to sensual and creamy. It finishes with the warmth of the musk on my skin, as if after spending all day outdoors I am finally resting on the bed of flower petals. Wearing Levant, I feel hopeful and believe there are better days ahead. That is its magic.
Notes: Tangelo, Bergamot, Mandarin orange, Rose, Peony, Orange blossom, Jasmine, Lily of the Valley, Cedar, Musk, Amber.
–Olya Bar, Contributor with contributions by Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief
A bottle of Levant was given to Olya who works in the Digital Department of Europerfumes. The opinions are always her own.
Thanks to the generosity of both Europerfumes the USA Distributor and to Ormonde Jayne London we have a draw for 50ml Levant by Ormonde Jayne for one registered reader in the USA, EU or UK ONLY. You must register here or your comment will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what you enjoyed most about Olya’s review of Ormonde Jayne Levant, where you live and if you have tried a Ormonde Jayne fragrance before and which is your favorite. Draw closes 8/1/2021
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Please read Sr. Editor Nicoleta Tomsa’s review of Tanger from Le Route de Soie collection here.
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