Far too many brands these days put all their stock into presentation and hackneyed storylines, neglecting the most important thing: the actual perfume. Frustratingly, some of the worst offenders (Kilian, Xerjoff) are among the most popular brands. My post today focuses on the house of Atelier des Ors. The French house has been around for ten years and has 24 expensive perfumes in its collection. Their bottles are “Instagram-ready” and, for some reason, contain golden flakes. I’ve been unimpressed by everything I’ve sampled from the brand, save for a few perfumes (Cuir Sacré, Rouge Sarây).
Their two latest perfumes, Villa Primerose and Blue Madeleine take us down memory lane. Villa Primerose supposedly evokes the floral perfume noblewomen used to scent their leather gloves. I pick up very little leather glove, but rather, I’m met with a fistful of abrasive ambery wood. It’s off-putting and bores into my brain from the get-go. The ambrette note brings some relief in the form of a musky, fruity element to the middle stages. But, the only memories it conjures up are the echoes of the musky rose sweetness of Delina from Parfums de Marly.
Blue Madeleine recalls the emotional reaction one experiences when enjoying the taste of tea and cake. Certainly, it’s less grating than the rose/leather combination. However, the chalky sandalwood, cinnamon spice, and milky tea mix lacks character and presence. It’s so innocuous that I’ll likely suffer from amnesia trying to think of it in a few hours. Stick with Remember Me from Jovoy, L’Artisan’s Tea for Two, or the below Serge scent for your afternoon tea needs. This one leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
By no means is Atelier des Ors the worst offender when it comes to pushing style over substance, but they’re getting up there. These scents follow hot on the heels of two other ordinary scents from the brand: Noir by Night and Pink Me Up. Indeed, the only reason I can think of why anyone would want to own Villa Primerose and Blue Madeleine is for the attractive bottles!
Have you had more luck with this brand than me? Does the bottle design/presentation ever impact your purchasing decisions?
Samples procured by me. Images are my own, except the bottle images of Villa Primerose and Blue Madeleine (Atelier des Ors).