Le Vestiaire - 24 Rue de L'Université

24 Rue de L'Université is a fragrance that smells like stepping into a private library where someone has just lit incense before settling in with a leather-bound volume. Frankincense and cypriol arrive as sharp, almost austere companions in the opening, but they're immediately tempered by a creamy sandalwood base that softens the edges without compromising the scent's architectural integrity. The cedarwood and suede form the fragrance's true backbone—that partnership creates something neither woody nor particularly soft, but rather tactile and slightly powdery, as though you're running your fingertips across aged suede upholstery.

What distinguishes this from typical woody fragrances is the frankincense's refusal to recede. Rather than playing supporting role, it insists on a dialogue with the creamy accords, creating a subtle spice that never tips into warmth. There's a restraint here, a studied elegance that feels distinctly Parisian in its refusal to shout. The leather accord (at 52%) provides subtle backbone without the animalic heaviness of true leather fragrances—it's more the memory of leather than leather itself, worn smooth by time.