Created by Patricia de Nicolaï in 2002, Balle de Match was inspired by tennis, the sport of kings and means ‘match point’ in English.

It opens with a bright, tart note of lemon fused to a sparkling, refreshing note of juicy, tangy grapefruit that’s sweet and bitter. I love citrus notes, but they can make my teeth itch when they’re synthetic – too harsh, bitter and acidic. In Balle de Match, they’re vibrant and invigorating, refreshing and true and give a beautiful start to the composition. The citrus profile doesn’t fade, but travels to the heart where pink peppercorn is fresh, floral-faceted with a spicy bite that links to a note of aromatic juniper berry. The fragrant juniper berry is piney, resinous, citrusy and green: the classic smell of gin. Its citrus aspect slouches against the grapefruit, heightening it. I smell a Pimm’s Cup - piquant, fresh and bracing. The citrus softens as it gets to the base, where patchouli adds a woody earthiness, and oakmoss gives it a mossy, foresty feel. Incense is also present, smoky and slightly sweet, it wafts up from my skin through the fragrance.

Balle de Match dries down to a crisp, refined skin scent. It’s a summer stunner where freshness and vibrancy settle on a woody, green base. It was inspired by tennis, the sport of kings. It’s a dignified and refined sport, and so is this eau de toilette. It evokes the excitement of a game played outside on a sunny summer day, on a perfectly mown lawn that unfolds over time without a clock or a timer.

Notes: Lemon, grapefruit, pink peppercorns, juniper berry, patchouli, oak moss and incense.