Can you spot the ant? I took this pic from our balcony that overlooked the fynbos garden at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve.
Whenever I escape the city for a weekend away, I always take along a new scent to try out. I figure that because fragrance has the power to evoke such strong memories, this is a great way to remember good times.
If you read my post yesterday, you’ll know I spent this past weekend at the magnificent Grootbos Private Nature Reserve. Fragrance wise, I figured I’d need a lush, green scent to wear – one that’s evocative of rivers and woods, without being too overpowering.
The decision to take along my Hermēs Un Jardin sur le Nil was not difficult. In fact, just the name – translated into English it means ‘a garden along the Nile’- made it an obvious choice. Now, this is not a new fragrance, in fact, it was launched in 2005. I’ve had this bottle sitting in my beauty cupboard for the past two years!
Un Jardin sur le Nil (R1550 for a 100ml EDT) is a lush, green scent with notes of mango, lotus, hyacinth, grapefruit, bulrush (a grasslike water plant), sycamore wood and incense. It’s supposed to be an expression of an olfactory quest through the island-gardens which arise from the Nile.
I really like it’s wet, fresh and juicy green notes. Also, it’s a very light scent that opens with an initial sweet green burst, but develops into something really sophisticated (obvs, it’s Hermēs!).
The top notes have an almost sparkling quality, thanks to an effervescent grapefruit note. I can also detect a very slight sweet note that I think is the mango – but it’s very delicate and not overpowering at all. It’s almost reminiscent of unripe green mangoes – but I wouldn’t describe the smell as fruity, it’s more green and dry. But, it’s the dry down that really impressed me. I adore the scent’s elegant, fresh trail with it’s slight floral undertone (maybe it’s the hyacinth?). I can also detect the incense (which I LOVE in fragrance), but it’s very subtle.
Un Jardin sur le Nil is actually a very wearable fragrance that I think is best suited summer. It’s light, fresh, wearable and very chic. You’ll find it at Edgars and Stuttafords.
Just a thought…Why has nobody developed a scent inspired by fybos?
