Perfume Pilgrim

This was a fortuitous find, the Paris Boutique of Parfums Divine and close to Fragonard’s Perfume Museum too. I first came across this range at Liberty in London last year and immediately hinted to my husband that he would love the scent of L’Ame Soer on me. He duly obliged and I am the proud owner of a large size, which is now regrettably half empty. (I save this one for sleep and my pillow testifies to this.) It is rare for me to find a perfume that I fall in love with at first whiff, especially considering I spend a lot of time on my quest for the odor of sanctity, dismissing almost all as unworthy suitors.

So I wonder why this scent is so glorious? According to the Divine Olfactory Book it is a “hymn to adore” and of “innate sensuality,” and “The most beautiful of encounters…” Well, yes I concur.. I do have a preference for floral aldehydes, including Chanel 5, Balenciaga’s Le Dix and Arpege of Lanvin and L’Ame Soer falls under this family. With a classic combination of rose, jasmine and ylang ylang, a base of ambergris and aldehydes to make them dance, this may explain the attraction. I wear some scents for prayer, some for happiness, some for confidence, some for freshness but this one I wear because I am a woman.

Walking into this shop was a pleasure indeed. With a fresh white interior, chic black and white chairs, paper flowers displays and a spectrum of flacons, books to peruse and a knowledgable assistant, I didn’t leave in a hurry.  There are only six glorious fragrances, two of which seem to be for men, which left three more for me to explore. My next favourite would have to be L’Infante, a friendly floral with jasmine, ylang ylang but with the warmth of musks and a tonka bean and vanilla base. A little like a blend of dessert and an apertif.

Divine seems made for a lady, a floral chypre, tuberose, orange and rose de mai, with the support of sandalwood and musk. L’Inspiratrice is more of an oriental and  their most recent creation. It has notes of patchouli, rose, topped by bergamot and some vetiver and more tonka and vanilla. I think some men could wear this too.  Of the two men’s fragrances I prefer L’homme de Coer to L’Homme sage. It has some powdery iris and fresh herbs and berries on a base of woods, a very attractive scent for a man and for some women too.

The attendant Natalie, a perfume marketing expert shared that her five year old son likes and wears one of the men’s fragrances. But this perfume doesn’t need marketing. Yvon Mouchel, the brands creator works from Dinard in Brittany  and his goal is to offer, “to each man and woman the olfactory world that he or she seeks.”

And buy, they do. They sell over 10,000 bottles a year in France and abroad. While I was in the shop, more than a couple of customers bought bottles immediately, although they only met the scents for the first time. I wish this shop was in London, but for those who are fortunate enough to go to Paris, this shop makes for a rewarding visit. Divine, 3 rue Scribe, 75009 Paris. www.divine.fr