First Impressions – L’Artisan Parfumeur

L’Artisan Parfumeur – Couleur Vanille – It is always an event when L’Artisan releases a new scent. I’m interested in trying everything new that comes from this innovative French niche house. I always have such high expectations of the house. Last year’s Bana Banana was a cleverly done candied banana scent with an amber drydown. It was one of my favourite niche releases from last year. So, I was excited to try their new vanilla based scent and was finally able to secure a sample that I’ve now worn on several occasions. Sadly, my high expectations were not met.

Curiously, Couleur Vanille opens up with a banana like scent. An unripe banana scent sprinkled with salt, muted vanilla sweetness, and a weird floral note. The floral notes listed are freesia and orchid, and for mine they don’t mesh well with the vanilla and salt. The scent feels like a cross between Juliette Has a Gun Vanilla Vibes (salty vanilla) and Hermes Vanille Galante (floral vanilla). Two scents that didn’t work at all well on my skin.

Couleur Vanille doesn’t feel like an out and out gourmand as the sweet and salty facets seemingly compete against each other for supremacy. It all feels a bit confused. Is this meant to be a summer or winter scent? It certainly wears close to the skin. It had disappeared within 3-4 hours, which at this price point is a little hard to digest. Immortelle is listed as a note but I don’t pick up much of its maple syrup/honey like sweetness. I feel if it had been more prominent Couleur Vanille may have held a little more interest. Instead, Couleur Vanille fades into a nondescript musky drydown.

Couleur Vanille was always going to be a difficult one for me as the combination of salt and vanilla never seems to work on my skin. Perhaps, L’Artisan were looking to target those who like their gourmands on the lighter side. But I feel they’ve missed the mark here as it ends up being neither here nor there. I like my vanilla scents with a little less salt and a little more spice. Give me Eau Duelle over this one any day of the week. It’s a no from me.

Have you tried this new L’Artisan? What did you make of it?

Note: Bottle image courtesy of Fragrantica