Thursday, July 26, 2007

Etro Heliotrope

One of the many generous samples I received from Alessandra at Narcisse in Taormina, Etro Heliotrope caught my interest with its merging of orange blossom and vanilla notes. As the sample card says, "In the bittersweet notes of Heliotrope we find a combination of orange blossom, rose and jasmine. The intensity of vanilla exalts the spirit like a 15th century sonnet." What I expected was a floral bouquet underscored by vanilla. What I got was drastically different.

The opening of Heliotrope immediately transports me to my grandmother's kitchen. She was my step-father's mother yet you would never know I was not one of her own, save for my fair skin and red hair contrasted with her olive skin. Her parents immigrated to the United States from Southern Italy and although she was born on U.S. soil, she did her best to retain her Italian roots. She was an incredible cook, waking up at six a.m. on Sundays to prepare pasta, meats, salads and sweets for the dozens of children and grandchildren that would chaotically dine in her home.

My favorite time to spend with Louise was Saturday, the day devoted to baking. Whether it was an extravagant wedding cake for a customer who paid her, her delectable pizelles, or the undeniably decadent chocolate chip cookies she made "for the kids," her kitchen always smelled scrumptious. As I walked into her home, the kitchen was the first room I entered. It seemed to warmly embrace me as she did, for I always felt completely safe and comforted there. I would watch her with wide-eyed amazement, periodically and deftly sample her work and chit chat about everything under the sun while she cracked jokes and made witty comments. Quite honestly, some of the most precious moments of my life were spent in Louise's kitchen. It's smell? Pure bliss.

What I describe is quite a lot to live up to and while not an exact match, Heliotrope immediately and loudly bursts forth with almond and vanilla, like the smell of Louise's warm pizelle iron with a fresh new stack of the Italian cookies right next to it. Although I have never smelled a heliotrope flower, the top and heart of this fragrance are undeniably gourmand, sweet, creamy and boozy. The heavy vanilla remains for hours and when it dissipates, what is left is an undeniably cool, fresh scent, reminiscent of baby powder on my skin. It is as if the warm kitchen suddenly becomes a cool, damp garden of scented, powdery delights, not particularly flowers. I never quite detect the orange blossom, jasmine or rose described by the sample card, for the dry down lacks floral definition. Rather it becomes smooth, cool and pleasant. The entire effect creates quite a contrast with its strong, warm beginning followed by its indescribable cool and powdery dry down. Although I do not plan on purchasing a bottle anytime soon, I will consider a decant for days I long to be back in the arms of the ambrosial kitchen of my youth.

Etro Heliotrope is available at a discounted rate on fragrancenet.com. A 3.3 oz. bottle runs for $50.19.


Image sources - Pizelles - dominicsdesserts.com; fragrancenet.com

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

This one sounds nice, T. Is it anything like FM L'eau d'Hiver? I like that one a lot, and I've never tried any of the Etro line.

I'm also enjoying the Absinth. Thanks for letting me try it!

Hope you're able to enjoy frags these days. :)
XO,
Linda

ForTheLoveOfPerfume said...

Hi Linda! Since I haven't tried L'Eau d'Hiver yet, I cannot accurately compare the two. Of Etro, there are so many great fragrances to choose from! From what I understand, Heliotrope is not even the best of them. Glad you're enjoying the Absinth. I'm doing my best with fragrance so far! (I'm lucky.)

Have a great day and weekend!

xo,
T

Divina said...

Ah, T! Your description is so evocative I feel like I have been in that kitchen myself! It really brought a smile of joy on my lips. As for sunflower fragrances, I think they don't get enough love! I really like them on the other hand and Etro's is an excellent one! Its bitter almond/vanilla scent is indeed perfectly reminiscent of a warm cookie and the drydown as powdery and lovely as you described it. I loved reading this, thank you :)

chayaruchama said...

This scent is snuggly and tenacious.
I love it- although many don't think me the type ,perhaps-
So, when you run low, let me know.
Pizzelle !
NOW , all we need is some espresso, and we'll be a happy bunch indeed.

ForTheLoveOfPerfume said...

D.,

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Such a nice compliment coming from you. Thank you and have a wonderful weekend!

xo,
T

ForTheLoveOfPerfume said...

Hello Chaya Ruchama,

Oh, I definitely think you the type, warm and loving person that you are. Espresso indeed!

xo,
T