Molinard
Molinard
89 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Vanilla blossom arrives with deceptive freshness, almost herbaceous, cutting through what might otherwise be cloying. There's a greenish quality that suggests petals rather than pods, with a faint spice crackle beneath that immediately signals this won't be a simple gourmand experience.
The composition settles into creamy vanilla proper, with benzoin beginning its slow emergence beneath. The powdery accord becomes more pronounced here, creating an almost skin-like quality—warm, soft, faintly sweet but primarily intimate rather than projecting.
Benzoin takes command, transforming the vanilla into something resinous and amber-touched, the spice becoming more prominent as fresher notes fade. What remains is a delicate, close-to-skin fragrance that feels more like a scent memory than a present phenomenon.
Molinard's Vanille Molinard is a masterclass in restraint, a fragrance that understands vanilla doesn't need ornamentation to captivate. Rather than the expected caramel-soaked gourmand excess, this eau de parfum approaches its singular note with botanical precision. The vanilla blossom opening provides something floral and green—a reminder that vanilla is, fundamentally, a flower—before the heart settles into creamy, almost custard-like vanilla with whispers of spice threading through. Benzoin in the base doesn't sweeten further; instead, it anchors the vanilla with a resinous warmth, preventing the composition from floating into abstract abstraction.
What's remarkable is how the powdery accord softens rather than feminises the scent. There's a talc-like quality that suggests skin rather than perfume bottle, a dusty intimacy that recalls vintage powders without the dated heaviness. The spice component—likely a touch of clove or cinnamon—provides just enough friction to keep things from becoming one-dimensional or nursery-like.
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3.5/5 (113)