Houbigant
Houbigant
165 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Grapefruit zest provides an initial sharp snap, cutting through the emerging floral outline, whilst blackcurrant adds a slightly tart, jammy undertone. Within moments, the juicy fruity top begins dissolving into the dense floral core, creating a brief window where freshness still dominates.
The five floral absolutes converge into a creamy, almost honeyed bloom where individual florals become difficult to isolate—the beeswax absolute acts as a soft-focus filter, blending rose, jasmine, and tuberose into one powdery, sweet composition. Violet adds a slightly dusty, talc-like quality that reinforces the fragrance's nostalgic, retro character.
The base emerges slowly and quietly, with sandalwood and cedarwood providing a pale woody framework whilst musk softens further into something almost entirely powdery and skin-like. Vanilla creeps in gradually, adding a final layer of sweetness that lingers softly for hours, though projection drops noticeably as the composition becomes increasingly intimate.
Quelques Fleurs Royale is a floral symphony that abandons the austere elegance of its predecessor in favour of something altogether more voluptuous and honeyed. The 2004 reformulation wraps you in an almost creamy embrace, where the beeswax absolute acts as a crucial binding agent—preventing the five floral absolutes from becoming a chaotic choir and instead coalescing them into something resembling a luxurious floral cream. The rose, jasmine, and tuberose don't fight for dominance; rather, they blur into one another, their edges softened by that powdery violet and the gentle sweetness of beeswax that reads almost like honeycomb dissolved into silk.
This is a fragrance for someone who loves florals with substance, with a creamy texture rather than an airbrushed, aldehyde-sharp interpretation. The blackcurrant opening adds a tart berry note that briefly cuts through the floral density—a necessary counterpoint that prevents the composition from becoming cloying. Yet beneath this carefully constructed floral heart lies a base that feels almost apologetic: a whisper of musk, cedarwood, and sandalwood that provide only the faintest architectural support. The vanilla emerges later, adding another layer of sweetness that some may find redundant alongside the beeswax.
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4.0/5 (229)