Maison Louis Marie

Adobe Firefly AI's interpretation of a French estate in a forest of cedar trees,
surrounded by orange trees, fig trees, and white roses. Kinda funky, but ok.

I've been hearing good things about Maison Louis Marie, a house that produces both perfume oils and eaux de parfum. I got a great deal on the EDP discovery set at Sephora ($11.95 for 6), which was impossible to pass up. It was a fine investment, as each scent is quite good. Each are shareable/unisex, and can be layered quite successfully.

The quotes below are taken from the MLM website; the rest of the words are mine.

Antidiris Cassis

Cassis, Bergamot, Black Pepper, White Rose, Musk, Oakmoss, Tonka Bean

This fruity fragrance begins with a black pepper note enhanced by Bergamot and cassis. It then develops a strong green accord with a White Rose base and dries down to a warm Oakmoss, Tonka, and clean Musk base.

The rose is right up front in this one and mingling with the bitter fruitiness of the cassis to create almost a tart-sweet pomegranate accord. The rose is quite realistic, one with velvety petals like the softest apricot skin and an intoxicating aroma. There's also a grassy greenness about this scent, maybe some leaves, but it never gets stemmy or woody, definitely not thorny--aspects of many rose fragrances that ruin them for me. 

No. 02 Le Long Fond

Hinoki Wood, Cedar, Patchouli, White Musk

Founded by our grandfather, Le Long Fond is a nursery in Belgium that's still active today. This scent is a savory mixture of Hinoki wood accord underlined by notes of Cedarwood and Patchouli with a strong amber character.

I do love me a good woodsy scent, and this is one of those. It's turpenic, and a little spicy, and the patch note is pretty prominent. There's something sacred about this fragrance as well. It's like walking through a damp forest and stumbling upon a clearing with an old stone church that still bears the ancient smell of burned incense.  

No. 04 Bois de Balincourt

Sandalwood, Cedar, Nutmeg, Vetiver, Cinnamon, Amberwood

Surrounded by an ancient mysterious forest, Balincourt is the name of our family home where we took long walks on a magical trail called 'Lover’s Lane'. This romantic scent is a Sandalwood fragrance with a dominant Cedarwood and Sandalwood accord that's supplemented by a spicy Cinnamon Nutmeg complex with an earthy Vetiver note.

This is a soft and dreamy sandalwood, not overpowering or sharp. I get the warm fuzzies when I wear it, so I'd say it was more cozy than romantic. It's probably the most linear of the Maison Louis Marie frags I've tried, sandalwood from beginning to end, with hints of cedar and warm spices--absolutely not a bad thing. It's lovely from top to bottom and most likely will end up in my collection.

No. 09 Valee de Farney

Grapefruit, Black Pepper, Orange, Geranium, Cedar, Patchouli, Vetiver, Musk, Amber

Vallée de Farney is a nature preserve located in the native forests of the Mauritius Island. The forest is home to more than 100 plant species and numerous animals where Louis Marie discovered many new plant specimens. Inspired by the wild forest, this scent is a woody, mineral fragrance. The top note is a citrus accord of grapefruit, orange and black pepper enhanced by Cedarwood and Patchouli.

Starting out with the bitterness of grapefruit and the earthiness of patchouli, Valee de Farney soon becomes soapy and clean, with a backdrop of woods, though the grapefruit note lasts well into the drydown. It's like being carried through a cedar forest in the arms of a man wearing the most delightful cologne. Yes, it leans a tad masculine but is certainly wearable by everyone. 

No. 12 Bousval 

Sicilian Bergamot, White Cardamom, Italian Orange, Eucalyptus, White Ginger Lily, Oakmoss, Petitgrain, Heliotrope, Cedar, Myrrh, Musk, Amber

Bousval is named after our mother’s hometown: there, she'd walk her four collies during warm summer evenings, spending most of her time camping outside, catching fish, and picking fresh vegetables at the pond next to her home. Inspired by her enchanted summers, this scent has nuances of Valencia Oranges are joined with Italian Bergamot and bold White Cardamom. A signature heart of Ginger Flower is complimented with Eucalyptus and earthy notes of Oakmoss. Undertones of rich, sultry woods add to misted Musk for a modern aroma.

What she said. This is a joyful fragrance that opens with sunny citrus spiked with spice. Powdery light floral notes appear next, grounded by oakmoss. Bousval has very classic chypre bones while at the same time is also a quite powdery floral. 

No. 13 Nouvelle Vague

Coconut, Tuscan Fig, Agave, Tonka, Golden Woods

This refreshing, rich scent takes you to the Italian island of Capri where Marie frequently traveled with her sister while visiting the Amalfi coast. Nouvelle Vague transports you to spring on the Italian coast, where you’re walking on a tiny oceanside street lined with blooming wildflowers and native lemons. Its signature aroma captures an uplifting citrus accord, a sheer floral bouquet, and coconut wrapped with Tuscan fig and agave throughout. Tonka and undertones of golden woods ground this blend in comfort and warmth.

Though the website description mentions citrus, this is the rare Amalfi-inspired scent that doesn't have an obvious lemon note. I was hoping I couldn't smell the fig in this, as that is one of my least-favorite notes. Or maybe it would be overcompensated for by the coconut. But no, fig is the first thing I smell. There is coconut, too, but the most prominent scent--to my nose, YMMV--is the sea. There is definitely a marine quality about this fragrance, something sea-weed-y. It smells of skin after a dip in the Mediterranean sea on a sunny day. Between the fig and the marine note, Nouvelle Vague is not at all my cup of tea, but I can appreciate it.

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Posted by theminx on Minxstinks
Note: this post is my opinion. I am not affiliated with the companies mentioned in this post or any other companies.