It’s glum and rainy today, which is thankfully not the norm here in Austin. I learned during my Oregon years that the best antidote for crappy weather is a sunny fragrance. There are a few favorites in my arsenal: Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess (especially layered with Jil Sander Sun), Ormonde Jayne Champaca, various colognes, and, L’Artisan Parfumeur, Coeur de Vétiver Sacré.
I close my eyes, and am transported to a sunnier place: golden hay sways gently in a late summer breeze, I’m drinking tea on a patio with a panoramic view, indulging in a favorite snack: tea and dates.
Coeur de Vétiver Sacré marries some of my favorite things in one delightfully optimistic package: saffron, incense, dates, and vanilla, and, despite the sticky-fruit, remains sheer. It reminds me, a little, of Un Jardin Sur le Toit—perhaps in it’s grassy green sheerness? I’ve heard people comment that there isn’t much Vetiver in Vétiver Sacré, but I detect the note instantly—slightly raspy (like the smoke in my tea), and clean in the way of a sun-baked porch (not laundry clean). The fruits are balanced beautifully with the smokey/raspy elements of pink pepper and vetiver, and Coeur de Vétiver Sacré does what so many L’Artisan perfumes manage to do: subtly transport you to another place, while maintaining the fine balance between “perfume,” and “smell.” These smells— tea, smoke, dried fruits, the sunny vista (I swear I can smell the sun!), combine together to generate a softly sweet, though not overtly feminine, aura that surrounds the wearer.
An utterly underrated perfume.
beauty on the outside 
Tea and dates, yum! That’s what we’ll eat on our neighboring porches in our old age.
It’s a deal! 😉
It sounds very appealing (even though the weather outside doesn’t require any “sunny” help at the moment). From time to time I find such an underappreciated perfume gem and every time I’m so surprised people aren’t talking more about those. I’ll try this one when I get a chance.
I wonder if you will like this one? I suspect that you will— it’s original, though not “weird.”
It seemed like this release was overlooked by the larger perfumista community (though of course the fabulous Birgit reviewed and enjoyed it!), but I hope that it will have enough of an audience not to be discontinued. It deserves to exist!
Even though I’m not too good with vetiver, the fact there’s not much of it in this one and you and B both like it means this is a must-try. I like the idea of it being sunny and that interesting combination of notes. “…maintaining the fine balance between “perfume,” and “smell” is such a great point.
Thanks also for the reminder to wear a summery perfume in the midst of winter to cheer yourself up – I might just wear one of mine tomorrow.
P.S. Keep forgetting to thank you for the lovely bookmark. Did you make it yourself?
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I’m honored that you consider it a must try! From the original press release I was interested, and almost bought a bottle unsniffed when I had the opportunity to get it at a discount— now I wish that I had! But fortunately, one of my fragrant-fairy-godmothers supplied me with a decant that should get me by for a while…
All that to say, I genuinely like this scent— it’s incredibly wearable, the lasting power is good, the sillage is outing appropriate, and it’s interesting. A nice smell at first sniff segues into sharing tea & dates on a sunny porch! I need those little moment during the day 😉
I did not make the bookmark! It is a re-gift originating from the lovely LaVanya! 🙂
It’s on my list too, especially because of your remark that despite the fruit the perfume remains sheer. That must be a very difficult trick.
Champaca is lovely.
It is sunny here today and will probably get quite hot. My tomatoes will be happy. Lord how I love home-grown tomatoes.
Oh my goodness, I am SO jealous of your tomatoes!!!!!
Sheer is true! It’s such a lovely scent, if you can get to a tester bottle, do it! And, on the plus side, if you hate it, you can review it so we have both sides 😉
Wow, what a compelling review, Dee! For some reason, this hasn’t been on my radar at all, but you’ve changed that. I’ll test it next time I run across a L’Artisan retailer.
I can’t wait to hear what you think of it Natalie! I hope to get it on more radars, so it doesn’t go the way of Vanilia and Tea for Two…
Ummm, this sounds amazing. “Saffron, incense, dates, and vanilla”???? I feel like one of the seagulls in Finding Nemo: “MINE MINE MINE MINE”
One of my favorites – I proudly worship this underrated little gem from L’Artisan (although, yet I have to find the dates in there…)