Perle de Mousse
Ann Gerard (2012)

The opening screams aldehydes, with bergamot and a slightly acidic citrus note enhancing the impression of a freshness that is more fresh than very bright in character. A quite crisp galbanum leads into the further development, which turns into the floral realm: gardenia and muguet, then rose,but more in the gentle and fragile side.

The base tries to turn into a chypre-style mix - with bergamot we had a traditional chypre opening note already present - and clove and lentiscus try to imitate a mossy theme with a slightly ambergris-style salty touch - the poor IFRA - stricken perfumers oak moss so to speak. This imitation, as interestingly conceived it may be, is distinctly unconvincing, missing the mark, being more messy than mossy.

The base is a simple vanilla that is blended with a musky component - like so many scents are these days.

No get moderate sillage, good projection and five hours of longevity on my skin.

Not a bad creation, with some interesting ideas in the quest of creating a laboratoy - created petrochemical modern chypre; quite synthetic and at times too generic though. In the end it is a bit colourless and dull on my skin. 2.75/5

Genre: Green Floral

This is nice work in an uncharacteristic style (no incense, no leather, no oriental trappings,) from Bertrand Duchaufour. Intense galbanum and lentiscus top notes usher in a central accord of aldehydic green muguet and white flowers over a plush white musk foundation. The contrast between the brisk, effervescent green floral accord and the soft, caressing musk energizes Perle de Mousse like the mainspring of a mechanical watch. The nose waits in suspense as the two opposing forces teeter over an imaginary olfactory fulcrum: which way will the fragrance fall? The balanced juxtaposition of accords is maintained admirably for hours, until finally tipping (inevitably?) toward the cushiony musk base notes.

In the interim, gentle, yet recognizable jasmine and gardenia separate themselves from the white flower bouquet and drift past the nostrils. The gardenia, while characteristically fleeting, is one of the nicer renditions I've encountered for some time, and I find myself wishing it were more conspicuous and enduring. The drydown is smooth, soft and enveloping. It manages somehow – through a dab of vanilla, perhaps – to avoid smelling like shampoo or laundry detergent, the twin menaces of clean white musk-household product associations. Fans of Chanel No. 19, Bel Respiro, and the original Vent Vert would do well to give this scent a try.

lovely and different nice,light rose infused scent. their are a lot of notes listed but rose,bergamot and pepper stand out. I only have a sample and if I were a female I would purchase a full bottle with no hesitation. great for warm weather and not overbearing.Pros: perfect for the urban womanCons: almost perfect for the urban man