Parfums des Beaux Arts by DSH d’Anjou is a great “work” or “my first fragrance” type of perfume. I typically prefer something heavier (thank goodness I don’t work in a fragrance free zone) but I can appreciate the softness and wearability of this fragrance. For a fruity-floral, this is one of my favorites. For a pear, d’Anjou is one of my least favorites… This is one that is fresh, fruity, slightly floral. It is flirty without being hissy or overwhelming. It is light and breezy. The perfume house describes it as “sheer as a veil, ethereal as a cloud, d´Anjou is Spring…the delicate scent of green pears, leaves, and early flowers.” This is a lovely description that really fits this “simple” fragrance.
At first it is very “pear”. It isn’t cheap or coy like Victoria’s Secret Secret Garden Pear Glace type of pear. This is a scent that takes you to lush green grove on a soft blanket on a picnic. You bite into the best tasting pear of the season. The weather is perfect, still warm enough for bare arms and sandals. You are enjoying the simple things: orchard fresh fruit, warm sunny afternoon, great company, and lots of laughs. You then lounge in the sun, absorbing it’s warmth. It warms your favorite white cotton tee and perfect jeans. Your toes feel the breeze. It’s a good day. It’s simple, casual, nothing over the top but it is so special. So back to the top note…it is juicy and you can almost smell that pear texture. You can feel the stickiness of the juice. It’s a beautiful, simple, pure pear. It is then accompanied by soft, delicate petals. It is so soft and not overwhelming and too floral. I pick up on the lily of the valley. Like I said, this is light. I wouldn’t say that this is a lily of the valley heavy scent. It really just smells so sweet and dainty. The floral notes complete the “entire pear” experience from juice to skin. It seriously smells like ripe pear juice on clean, fresh, warm skin. That would be my summary.
I really do like this scent because it really does describe the beauty of a pear. It is a fresh, light scent. I also find it innocent enough to be a “first” fragrance. It sure beats many of the awful celebrity scents out there. I know that this scent is supposed to remind one of the freshness and beauty of spring. This scent really is seasonless and quite effortless to wear. However for me, I see it as more of a late summer/early fall scent since this is when pears become to ripen here.
This fragrance is a soft, close the skin type of fragrance that wears for about 5-6 hours. I must emphasize very closely to the skin. This is a soft fragrance from start to finish. I would say that you would like this if you are a fan of light, fresh scents, Kiehl’s Essential Oil Rollerball in Pear, Yosh U4eahh!, Rosie Jane Leila Lou, Annick Goutal Petite Cherie, and/or Tocca Florence. This is also a great scent for the person who doesn’t think that they like fruity fragrances. This is one sophisticated fruity fragrance. Notes include: green pear, petitgrain, Bulgarian rose, cyclamen, lily of the valley, and musk.
An one ounce EDP spray goes for $80. This size and other sizes are available at DSH Perfumes.