Photo - Wikipedia - Tropical fruits, Hyderabad India
When I read a few weeks ago that the Mon Numéro line was available through L’Artisan in Canada and the U.S. I leapt out of bed and didn’t waste anytime in ordering Mon Numéro 6.
I had tried all of the scents in the Mon Numéro series when I was in Paris in June, but it was late in the trip and I had already bought all that I would be allowed to bring back into the country, so Mon Numéro 6 would have to wait.
Waiting, like wet wool can be comfortably painful – I kept thinking about it and scheming about how to get it - who did I know who was going to Paris? Who did I know who could pick me up a bottle? Scheming and dreaming for Mon Numéro 6.
See, here’s the thing: the Mon Numéro collection contains eight fragrances and each is assigned to a city and one store in that city will be the exclusive retailer of that frag. For example, Mon Numéro 10 is exclusive to Barneys New York. Mon Numéro 6 is sold at Olfattorio Bar à Parfums in Milan. Of course, the entire collection is available at L’Artisan shops in Paris. And, now, directly from L’Artisan in Canada and the U.S. Woohooo!
The nose for all eight frags is Bertrand Duchaufour and you can see what he says about Mon Numéro 6 here. When I listen to this I hear: evocation of travel through Asia during the monsoon…blah, blah, blah….rain falling on dry and hard asphalt road… blah, blah, blah….you can imagine it with a very ozonic, watery note at the top…very powerful presence of fruit… blah, blah, blah….fruity exotic mango, pineapple…heart is floral and ozonic….the backnotes, vanilla, soft woods….sandalwood and soft amber…blah, blah, blah – I’m too far gone to really pay attention because he is describing it but I am experiencing it.
As advertised, it opens with an ozonic watery accord, fresh, clean and green. Saffron, mango and pink pepper combine to evoke the rain falling through the hot, green jungle and bringing it back to life. This is one of the most beautiful openings to frag that I know. The heart is fruity from citrusy, juicy, pineapple and delicate, aromatic lychee and floral from lush rose balanced by exotic jasmine and succulent magnolia flower. All of it resting lightly on a base of leather and patchouli, which gives it an earthiness, vanilla, which adds a gentle sweetness, sandalwood, which gives it a woodiness and amber which gives it a softness.
I have never smelled the monsoon in Asia, so I can’t speak to that aspect of the fragrance, but to me this is very much a transition scent in that it starts with rain from heaven that heightens the scents of the jungle – flowers, fruits and leaves – as it falls but ends up smelling of the earth and woods it has enlivened too.
The decant I had of this refined beauty was emptied long ago because Mon Numéro 6 is so beautiful and easy to wear and such a joy to experience. This floral fruity is a must try!
Today, we’re adding Mon Numéro 6 to our decant sample offering. Decants are $4.00.
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