Launched in 2014 by Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, Eau de Magnolia by Carlos Benaïm was inspired by the scented candle he created for the house based on magnolia called Jurassic Flower. Here, the magnolia is light and transparent.

I love the intense, lush, creamy aspects of magnolia in fragrances, but what I love about  Eau de Magnolia is how Benaïm has highlighted the other aspects of it – the lemony, fresh, flora aspects – in a beautifully balanced EDP.

Eau de Magnolia opens with citrusy, sour bergamot. Its aromatic elegance is the calling card of an eau de cologne, as the name suggests. As it blooms, the magnolia – green, light and lemony - comes forward. It’s not the creamy, voluptuous magnolia I’m more used to in fragrance. The magnolia here is light, airy and transparent while still being lush and floral. The magnolia is the star with vetiver and patchouli, breaking through here and there to smooth out the freshness so it never gets sharp and give it a gentle earthiness. At the base, cedarwood, gives it a sensuous woodiness, while amber softly sweetens it.

Eau de Magnolia is fairly linear, with the magnolia present right to the elegant lighthearted drydown. But don’t be misled by all this talk of the ‘lightness.’ It is an EDP, so it’s deep and lush with considerable staying power.

This might not be the magnolia you know and love, but it might just be the next magnolia you fall in love with.

Notes: bergamot, magnolia, vetiver, patchouli, cedarwood, tree moss, amber.