Orage means storm, and the fragrance earns the name. Patchouli does the heavy work, dark and earthy and slightly damp, but it is cut with iris, which is cool and dry and pulls in exactly the opposite direction. The tension between the two is the whole point. It smells like the air before rain.
Why you will love this patchouli perfume
Patchouli on its own is difficult and can read as dated. Pairing it with iris fixes that completely: the iris lifts the earthiness and adds a grey, mineral coolness on top, so what you get is depth without mustiness. It is the most serious fragrance in the main Louis Vuitton line and the most grown-up.
- Real patchouli, dark and earthy rather than the clean modern version
- Iris cuts the earthiness and adds a cool dry lift
- Distinctive and adult, not a crowd-pleaser and not trying to be
- Nine hours and more on skin, with strong presence on fabric
- Made for cold weather and evening wear
- Refillable bottle
- Composed by Jacques Cavallier Belletrud in Grasse
The scent
The opening is cool and almost metallic, iris first, with the patchouli arriving underneath within minutes. From there the earth takes over: damp, dark, slightly bitter, with a resinous edge. The iris never disappears, though, and it keeps a grey coolness sitting over the top. The base is dry wood and a faint smokiness.
Who it is for
Men who already own the obvious fragrances and want something with more weight behind it. It suits winter, evening, formal occasions and anyone who likes to be asked what they are wearing. Not a beginner fragrance, and not one to wear in August in Cairo.
How to use it
Two sprays only. Patchouli grows through the day rather than fading, so what feels moderate at eight in the morning will be substantial by mid-afternoon. Apply to the chest and the back of the neck, and let it settle before you decide to add more.
Key details
- Fragrance family: aromatic, patchouli, woody
- Key notes: patchouli, iris, dry woods
- Concentration: eau de parfum
- Perfumer: Jacques Cavallier Belletrud
- Bottle: refillable
- Suitable for men and women
- Sourced and sold by Jmaloo as an independent retailer. Jmaloo is not an authorised Louis Vuitton stockist.
Size
100 ml
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