Alchemologie Sol de la Foret is a natural perfumer’s take on the classic fougère. This perfume is overflowing with coumarin and herbs – a harmony of bitter and sweet.
Sol de la Foret opens with a cooling artemisia and lavender. It reminds me of absinthe and caramel. Fougères are on a spectrum, varying from light to dark. Sol de la Foret is a dark as a forest during the new moon. The heart introduces a spicy, clove-like carnation floral with a musky sage, still retaining a balance of bitter and sweet.The dry-down radiates warmth with a dry oakmoss and hay – sweet and musky. Overall, the fragrance has a lush vintage feel and to me, this is absolutely gorgeous.
Notes listed include tonka bean, oakmoss, sweet clover, carnation, lavender, clary sage, neroli and ho wood. Launched in 2014. PERFUMER – Julianne Zaleta
Give Sol de la Foret a try if you love classic fougères. Or if you like perfumes like Aftelier Absinthe (RIP), Ayala Moriel Fougère Classique, LUSH Dirty, CREED Tabarome, DSH Perfumes Pandora and/or Houbigant Fougère Royale. All perfumes are unisex, but Sol de la Foret, being a classic fougère leans more masculine.
Projection is average. Longevity is above average. This is one of the few naturals that lasts and lasts.
Sol de Foret comes in a few sizes with the 1/2 parfum retailing for $100 at Alchemologie.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – A classic, dark fougère. If you love tonka bean or oakmoss, you should try this. It’s really good and I’m inspired to try more from this line.
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i read about this when it was launched.. it sounds delightful! fougeres can be tricky… one does not want to end up smelling like Brut. (or at least -i- don’t.) i can’t remember- is this oil or alcohol based? my skin tends to simple devour oil based perfumes, although technically they should last longer with less projection.
being named Sol de la Foret, i would assume it smells dark and damp… like the forest floor. (i would put a ‘duh’ here, but i realize not everyone understands the name of this perfume is “Floor of the Forest” or maybe we would say “Forest Bed”?)
anywho, thanks for yet another wonderful naturals review. not that i am biased. (i’m totally biased.) 😉
When the perfumer approached me regarding a sample, I admit I was a little skeptical. I expected something Brut-ish or Drakkar Noir-ish! And this is nothing like that! This really is “forest floor”-ish.
Oh, geez, I should know this. I think it is alcohol based. I can say that this stuff is incredibly long lasting because of those base notes.
I want to try more from this line.
Thank you, Victoria, for such a lovely review! Your opinion means so much to me and I appreciate your kind words and your valuable time. Sol de la Foret was a true labor of love so I’m especially pleased you enjoyed it.
And to answer your question, it is an alcohol based perfume!
Julianne, you did a great job with this one. Fougeres can be very tricky especially with the “scent memories” that many of us have attached to those popular masculines. But, Sol de la Foret is lush with the perfect balance of sweetness. It’s also impressive to do a fougere that feels truly unisex.
I still have in the sample but after moving, my sample is in a box somewhere :S I *thought* it was alcohol but doubted myself.
Victoria, again, thank you! Your consideration means the world to me.
[…] Give either of these perfumes a try if you like natural chypres or natural balsamic/woodsy scents. Or if you like perfumes like Aftelier Bergamoss, Hiram Green Shangri-La, Providence Perfume Co. Moss Gown and/or Alchemologie Sol de la Foret. […]