Molinard
Molinard
91 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The galbanum strikes first with its slightly metallic, green-tinged character, immediately reinforced by tagetes' spicy-green edges and a burst of bergamot brightness. The blackcurrant bud softens this brightness with its jammy, almost tart sweetness, creating an immediate balance between sharpness and fruit.
As the top notes fade, the florals bloom in layered complexity—the ylang-ylang's creamy, slightly coconut-tinged softness merges with jasmine's indolic depth and the subtle, powdery elegance of narcissus. The frankincense emerges as a ghostly thread, adding an almost ecclesiastical quality that prevents the florals from becoming too lush.
The patchouli and vetiver become the composition's anchor, their earthy, slightly woody notes grounding the remaining floral echoes. Amber provides a warm, almost skin-like dryness that lingers quietly, the fragrance settling into an intimate second skin that requires proximity to fully appreciate.
Molinard de Molinard arrives as a study in restrained sophistication—a fragrance that whispers rather than shouts, built upon the tension between verdant sharpness and creamy florals. The opening salvo of galbanum and tagetes creates an almost herbal green bite, softened immediately by the luminous sweetness of blackcurrant bud and bergamot's bright citrus warmth. This is a scent caught between two worlds: the crisp, slightly bitter green florals of a classical chypre structure clash beautifully with creamy ylang-ylang and the indolic depth of Grasse jasmine, which lends an almost animalic sensuality to the composition.
What emerges is a fragrance for the contemplative wearer—someone drawn to the aesthetics of 1970s elegance but with modernist restraint. The frankincense adds a subtle incense-like transparency, preventing the florals from becoming cloying, whilst the rosa centifolia provides structure without sweetness. This is garden-like without being pastoral; refined without pretension.
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3.7/5 (188)