Parfums de Marly Athalia by Olya Bar
Every woman’s wardrobe needs a little black dress. If Delina is a gauzy pink gown, Athalia is a “LBD” of fragrance and makes a very different scented sartorial statement.
Sophisticated and polished, the warm, slightly spicy floral opening has a velvet-like texture with the soft glow of orange blossom and balmy incense is the olfactive equivalent of the best quality fabric draping over bare shoulders.
Gothic architecture at night via Unsplash
If LBD is not your style, I equate Athalia to the best black blazer I own in my closet- a classic YSL tuxedo jacket I hunted down a few years back. A perfectly tailored blazer that I can rely on in any situation, just like an old friend who will always have my back, it is a garment that feels familiar yet never goes out of style. Now let’s talk about that fabric or, rather, its texture. I equate the velvet I adore to the central accord in Parfums de Marly Athalia – iris. Depending on how it’s blended, its buttery and thick aroma can feel smooth and luscious, elegant and decadent.
Closeup of Iris via unsplash
Parfums de Marly Athalia’s opening of bitter orange and smoky incense is aromatic. There’s also a slightly gothic vibe as if the old rebellious nature of the wearer is peeking through closed gates, yearning to be free. The soft smokiness of the incense enhances the powdery violet-like heart, amplifying the sensuality of the iris, making it feel liberating. Athalia is like a liquid love potion you spray on when you want to attract the one your heart yearns for; it is a powerful weapon of seduction. There is a sense of a shield it creates once applied to the skin, as if it was an invisible armor, offering protection. The sense of power it emanates seems perfectly fitting as the emblem of an iris was used on the ancient heraldic arms of Florence and as ‘fleur de lys’ – a symbol of French royalty prior to the revolution.
The base imparts a warm resinous embrace, as the sweet amber accord liquifies as if it was pure gold poured over the delicate fluffiness of the musk. Cashmeran molecule adds a slight edginess, which softens up after a while and gives in to the vanilla. This stylish boozy vanilla adds a gourmand facet to this composition. There is a strong sense of mystery surrounding Parfums de Marly Athalia, one you could never entirely solve. It perfectly suits that feeling you may have in the last hours of the night when the lines between reality and illusion blur and when anything is possible. You slip away from the party and head into the stillness of the evening, leaving a heady trail of caramelized iris behind you; the soft touch of the velvet fabric continues to hug the shoulders. From the side, one may glimpse the devilish smile playing on your lips. Indeed, that Athalia will be difficult for anyone you encounter to forget tonight, and you are well aware of that.
Notes: Bitter Orange, Incense, Orange Blossom, Iris, Cashmeran, Musk, Vanilla, Amber
Disclosure: The bottle was kindly gifted to me by Parfums de Marly but opinions are always my own.
Olya Bar, Editor
Parfums de Marly Athalia by Olya Bar
Thanks to Fine Fragrance Distribution, the US distributor for Parfums de Marly we have a 75 ml bottle draw of Parfums de Marly Athalia for a registered CaFleureBon reader USA, Canada, if you are not sure if you are registered click here (you must register on our site or your entry will be invalid). To be eligible please leave a comment with what you enjoyed about Olya’s review and your favorite Parfums de Marly fragrance. Draw closes 11/11/2022 The winner will be announced within ten days.
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