Launched in 2016 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Grand Soir is a stone-cold stunner of a fragrance.

It opens with a rush of warm, spicy heat from cinnamon leaf. This is a rich, complex note; I smell its woody, boozy and sweet facets. The heat is scented with deep, resinous, balsamy,ambery-tinged cistus labdanum, and fresh, herbaceous, camphorous lavender. It’s a combination that telegraphs ‘sensuous’ from the very first whiff. The top notes settle into a gorgeous amber-vanilla accord that’s sweet, warm and just a little powdery. On me, the vanilla is rich, creamy and deep and perfectly balanced by the lavender. The base of Tonka bean and benzoin enrich the amber-vanilla accord, creating a drydown that is sophisticated and elegant while at the same time being cozy and approachable. This makes Grand Soir the perfect scent to wear in cold, winter weather. 

Grand Soir in English means ‘big night’, and the marketing promo for Grand Soir says, ‘Wander in the plenitude of a never-ending night and enjoy the daring radiance of a magnificent Parisian evening, over and over again.’ Kurkdjian delivers that experience with Grand Soir. The lavender from Provence and the hint of powderiness—a note the French feel adds sophistication to a scent that - define the fragrance as French to my mind. Wearing it on a big night out in Paris? Well, that’s just a spine looking for a tingle.

Notes: Cinnamon leaf, cistus labdanum, lavender, amber, vanilla, Tonka bean and benzoin.