Patchouli By Molinard Review

3.3 oz Eau de Toilette version

If you ever search online for patchouli-rich scents, one name you see mentioned is the fragrance by Molinard. There are so many different variations of what manufacturers call patchouli perfumes that you really need to try them  for yourself. After reading that Patchouli by Molinard is one powerhouse perfume that is heavy with this note, I decided to buy a tester ( without cap) and smell what all the fuss was about.

The Bottle Design
One compliment that I can give Molinard is that they didn't skimp on the quality of the glass base. It is heavy and substantial. Of course, I hate the fact that my bottle doesn't have a cap as it looks a bit like a headless horseman.

The bottle is purposefully androgynous to appeal to both men and women. This fragrance is classified as unisex.

Patchouli Molinard Perfume Notes
Don't you love the simplicity of the notes here?

• Top Notes- Geranium, orange, orange flower
• Middle Notes-Patchouli
• Base Notes-Musk, sandalwood, vanilla

Real Time Fragrance Experience

• Smelling The Cap- A very faint  sweetness; perhaps a hint of vanilla.
• The First Spritz -The first blast is strong on alcohol at first, then I get the full effect of  earthy, woodsy patchouli. All patchouli. Nowhere do I smell orange flowers, oranges or geraniums.
• After 10 Minutes-Wet, damp and earthy like walking through the woods after a rain storm in the fall. This is patchouli in all its glory.
• After 30 Minutes-After half an hour, the smoky, slightly bitter patch leaf scent is still prominent on my skin. Like described, the middle note of pure patchouli lingers and lingers.
• One Hour Later-After an hour, the scent has dried down to a very soft, bittery maple fragrance that is probably the vanilla note coming to life. I don't catch any whiff of sandalwood and absolutely nothing of musk.

What I Love About This Scent

Patchouli Leaves

What I enjoy about my Molinard scent is knowing that when I crave a pure sniff of genuine patchouli, it's there for me. It's perfect for layering and adding an extra spicy element to other perfumes in my collection.

What I Don't Like About It
Although it adds a punch to my other perfumes, sillage and lasting power is pretty weak. Another slight disappointment is the fact that nobody notices or compliments me when I wear it. That can be good or bad depending on what you expect from your fragrances.

My Recommendations
If you miss the good old smell of damp, earthy patchouli leaves, you should give this a try. It really is the old-school hippie-type patchouli scent, but it doesn't knock people out when you wear it. If you love the real-deal smell of patch leaves, you will love having this one in your collection.




Image Credit: Patchouli Leaves By Maša Sinreih in Valentina Vivod (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons