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

Patchouli Sumatra Review

Patchouli Sumatra 3.3 oz Eau de Parfum Spray

Just like musk, patchouli is one of those notes that people seem to love or hate. Some of us can take small amounts of the stuff and be happy with it. Others, like me, appreciate the scentsational effects of a strong patchouli perfume.

One particular day, I was in the mood to find some new perfumes to add to my collection that were based almost entirely on patchouli. After a little online research, I stumbled upon a few Patchouli Sumatra by Jeanne Arthes reviews.

After reading words like strong, long-lasting, powerful, spicy, oriental and a patchouli-lover's must have, I had to try it. I picked up the big 3.3 oz. Eau de Parfum.

The Bottle Design-Tassels & Flocking
The first thing I noticed was the substantial weight of the glass bottle. Even the cap has a noticeable weight that few other perfumes have.

You get a cute little yellow tassel hanging from the cap and the front of the bottle has a velvety flocked pattern in yellow. This one stays put and has never tipped over. The fragrance itself is the amber color of maple syrup or strong tea.


Patchouli Sumatra Perfume Notes

Although there is little found about the category and notes of this scent, I classify it as a straight up oriental/ gourmand. Patchouli? Yes, definitely. Perhaps some coriander, vanilla, amber and incense as well. Although described as a feminine perfume, I don't particularly find it a girly scent at all.

Real Time Experience

• At First Sniff From The Spray Nozzle- Wow, a very pungent patchouli spice scent emanates from the bottle. The spice is very prominent here.
• The Initial Spray-A powerful note of boozy amber sweetness mixed with slightly bitter notes of resinous patchouli.  After a few minutes the fragrance can only be described as what you would smell if you dipped patchoui leaves in maple syrup and roasted them over an open fire.
• After 10 Minutes- I sniff my wrist and get a sour/ bitter hit of woody leaves with a slight undernote of sweet spice.
• After 30 Minutes-As the fragrance drys down, I am pretty much left with the scent of campfire smoke on my wrist. The leafy bitterness of the patchouli is still lurking, but that dratted maple syrup note makes me smell like a Brandy flask.

What I Love About This Fragrance
It's different. It's like nothing out there. The bottle is adorable and looks pretty just sitting there. The scent is resinous and uses patchouli in a very unique way. Whatever the spice notes in it, I love the idea of what Jeanne Artes was trying to create; something exotic and Mata Hari-like.


What I Don't Care For
Patchouli Sumatra seems to die down quickly on my skin. As powerful as it is on initial spray, it does a disappearing act in record time.  After a while, the fragrance becomes too sweet like the gourmands I dislike.

My Recommendations

If you enjoy sharp, resinous notes with a little syrupy sweetness, smokiness and mystery, you may like Patchouli Sumatra by Jeanne Artes. It's not an expensive perfume. I can say this; you won't smell like any other woman out there with this highly unique perfume.