Year: 2007
Notes: green tea, osmanthus, rose, jasmine sambac, suede, white musk
Osmanthus Interdite serves as a tribute to the mysteries of the Forbidden City (known as Gu Gong, in Chinese – the imperial palace for twenty-four emperors, during the Ming and Qing dynasties). With osmanthus being the emblematic flower of the Chinese cities Hangzhou, Suzhou and Guilin, this note is used as the cornerstone for the composition.
What's immediately clear is that it successfully manages to capture the overripe apricot fruitiness and leathery undertones of osmanthus, while accentuating the green, floral and fruity aspects with additional florals. Sadly, its performance is far too sheer for its own good.
Commencing with a brisk green tea accord, the composition is disappointingly thin and watery. As a result, it's a markedly faint skin scent with underwhelming tenacity. That's a real pity, as it's actually a beautifully uplifting tea and osmanthus creation – exhibiting creamy, leathery and fruity subtleties. But its transparent demeanour belies its supposed Eau de Parfum concentration.
An extra star warded solely because the blending is quite stunning.
What's immediately clear is that it successfully manages to capture the overripe apricot fruitiness and leathery undertones of osmanthus, while accentuating the green, floral and fruity aspects with additional florals. Sadly, its performance is far too sheer for its own good.
Commencing with a brisk green tea accord, the composition is disappointingly thin and watery. As a result, it's a markedly faint skin scent with underwhelming tenacity. That's a real pity, as it's actually a beautifully uplifting tea and osmanthus creation – exhibiting creamy, leathery and fruity subtleties. But its transparent demeanour belies its supposed Eau de Parfum concentration.
An extra star warded solely because the blending is quite stunning.
