Pauline Rochas Nocturnal by J

Nocturnal is the latest perfume from the house Pauline Rochas. Composed by perfumer Yann Vasnier this limited edition Eau de Nuit takes you on a journey into night where anything can happen as the lights go low.

Pauline Rochas and Yann Vasnier, Fine Fragrance Perfumer at Givaudan.

Nocturnal’s vanilla claws grip you from the moment the perfume hits your skin. Lactonic and creamy, feeling lush and sexy with a soft whisper of a buttery green hinting at stems of an exotic flower. You can sense the luxurious and sophisticated frangipani blossom emerging from the deep richness of the vanilla, enhanced by a warm swirl of tonka bean. This decadent vanilla drips from the dense creamy petals of the frangipani, it’s slightly waxy giving a soft skin like feel with a sultry subliminal purr of those endless summer nights. A gentle sparkle accompanied by a light breadiness whispers of champagne and gives a sense of quiet luxury to Nocturnal. Its overall impression is one of refinement and sleekness, giving elegant tailoring with a flowering creamy cut made from high-end materials. It has this hypotonic feel with heady whispers that feel inviting and fleshy in a sexy yet elegant way. Especially how it melts seamlessly into the rich vanilla; Pauline Rochas exudes refinement.

Pauline Rochas Nocturnal PR images courtesy of the brand and @matojohannik

Saffron weaves around the edges like delicate golden stitching crafted from steam, you can feel a warm, woody booziness with a hint of spiced fruits that enhances the inviting warmth and allure of Nocturnal. It cleverly foreshadows the soft suede and rich leather you’re about to glide over on too, but that’s for later. The vanilla isn’t done with you yet, it’s acts an anchor that pulls you back into focus as you get lost exploring the parfum’s floral facets. The vanilla in Nocturnal possesses a quietly seductive texture, creating an allure that is elusive yet leaves you craving for more.

Perfumer Yann Vasnier has balanced the sweetness beautifully with more savoury materials and woods, allowing a seductive suede to seep in. You can feel the suede’s nap glide lightly across your skin as if it’s as if caressed by a gentle breeze. There’s an almost smoky quality, with saffron’s steamy notes elevating and dispersing luxurious leather aromas around you. It’s here you can feel the perfume grow darker as you step out of the vanilla’s moon light glow and into the darker, more mysterious realm of Nocturnal.

Pauline Rochas Nocturnal PR images courtesy of the brand and @matojohannik

Nocturnal’s vanilla note unveils a softer, more powdery, amber quality, as if it has been caressed against suede, teasing out a fur like texture to the leather’s inner nap. It remains creamy and rich, yet possesses a darker essence that deepens its mystery. Nocturnal drips with that sleek sex kitten allure, can sense the enticing softness laid out on the smooth leather and suede in an irresistibly alluring manner. Think Marilyn Monroe stretched out on fur, but in a contemporary way. Tonka bean brings out more of its warmth soaking up the richness of the vanilla letting purrs of darker resins and woody ambers giving a rich depth with a gentle kiss from warm spices.  Pauline Rochas Nocturnal carries a fresh, clean counterpoint, with musks and amber woods highlighting the elegant framework of the materials, showcasing the sleek contours, while the bodily warmth of the vanilla and frangipani add the fleshy seductive body that slowly writhes on this suede and leather canvas. Nocturnal is “Venus in Purrs”; its gentle seductive vanilla fur and suede give off sexiness but not in an overt way.  It flirts and winks at you, giving you a come-hither look, yet it is not shy about teasing and withholding, fully aware of its desires as Nocturnal knows what it wants.

Notes: Leather suede accord, Vanilla Absolute, Musks, Ambermax, Georgywood, Safran, Tonka Bean, Frangipanier accord.

Disclaimer: A bottle of Pauline Rochas Nocturnal was sent to J, his opinions are his own.

 J Wearescentient – Senior Editor, artist and olfactive writer.

Pauline Rochas Nocturnal courtesy of the brand.

 

Thanks to the generosity of Pauline Rochas, we have a bottle of Nocturnal to giveaway in the US or EU. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what sparks your interest based on J’s review and where you live. Draw closes 6/28/2025

Please read Yann Vasnier’s Young Perfumer essay here

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