Some orange blossom perfumes are light and airy. Some orange blossom perfumes mingle with other white floral divas like tuberose and jasmine. And then sometimes you’ll find an orange blossom perfume that ins’t “light” but “dark”. LUSH Orange Blossom is one of these orange blossoms that could possibly have “noir” following its name.
Orange Blossom hits you upside the head with a honeyed, sharp orange blossom with rosewood (honestly, I could live without the huge helping of rosewood in the opening). Orange Blossom is huge. It isn’t a crisp or fresh, watery “eau de cologne” style orange blossom. It’s hefty and reminds me of Caron Narcisse Blanc extrait which is an animalic orange blossom. Orange Blossom is a honeyed orange flower at times reminding me of the type of white honeysuckle found in the Southeast. The dry down is an animalic beeswax with a sharp sandalwood. The animalic quality is what makes Orange Blossom “noir”.
Notes listed include rosewood, ylang-ylang, orange flower, neroli, sandalwood and beeswax. Launch date 2010.
Give Orange Blossom a try if you are looking for a “hefty” orange blossom. Or if you like perfumes like Caron Narcisse Blanc extrait, L’Artisan Parfumeur Seville a l’Aube, Ramon Monegal Cuirelle and/or DSH Perfumes Fleurs d’Oranger. I have found that this one does wear differently in different temps but I always seem to like it. It’s completely unisex too.
Projection and longevity are above average. I’m talking like 20+ hours of wear. I will say that I enjoy this one as an EDP over the solid. But, if you worry that this could be too strong, try the solid.
Orange Blossom comes in a few sizes with prices ranging from $16-$43 at LUSH.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Honeyed orange blossom. One of the LUSH perfumes that I own and enjoy. I’m a sucker for a big ‘ole orange blossom.
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Fragrantica – Member reviews
Most orange blossom perfumes seem to me to have a really indolic touch. This is not how I remember orange blossom to be. I’ve smelled it in Florida, S. California and most recently in the Phoenix area. Yeah-go figure. Let’s grow a fairly water needy crop in the middle of the freakin’ desert. Any way what I remember is a sweet, heady, heavy, almost narcotic aroma. Jeez, it was gorgeous. The closest I’ve come is maybe the SL one. And then only after a few hours. The L’Artisan one turns to vanilla on me. The Parfum d’Empire has too much other citrus. I’ve been told to try the Elie Saab. Haven’t done it yet, but I understand that it has jasmine in it. And jasmine is a whole ‘nother, but similar story. Maybe I’m asking for too much. *le sigh*.
I haven’t lived in a place with orange blossoms but I’ve visited and I always remember it as sweet, heady and yes, narcotic. At one time we had little citrus trees that would live in the house during the winter. My favorite part was when they blossomed. Such a sharp, sweet smell.
It’s (from what I understand and I’m not a perfumer) difficult to “capture” many of these florals and create a soliflore. They can only “mimic” and not capture.
My favorite is SL for an orange blossom soliflore.
This summer I’ve worn that Elie Saab Le Parfum frequently. I love it but it’s not really a soliflore but a gorgeous Mediterranean style white floral (you should still try it, I ended up buying a bottle).
Now I did find that Pacifica Lemon Blossom really does smell like lemon blossom (even though you didn’t mention that!) lol