Source: footage.shutterstock.com
The buzz on Couvent des Minimes‘ Eau des Missions Cologne was loud, excited, and almost uniformly insistent: it was a bargain beauty that was an exact copy of Guerlain‘s very expensive Spiritueuse Double Vanille (“SDV“.) Or so everyone said, from perfume groups to Fragrantica reviews. One major reason for all the excitement was the price. Guerlain’s boozy, smoky, dark vanilla costs $260 for 75 ml. Eau de Missions is $38 for 100 ml, with smaller bottles available for even less on eBay. By the admittedly crazy, skewed standards of the niche world, that made Eau de Missions practically “free.” So, I bought one of the eBay bottles to see what all the fuss was about. And it’s true, there are strong similarities to SDV. However, unlike everyone else, I don’t think the two fragrances are identical.
Source: lecouventdesminimes.com
Eau de Missions is a cologne that seeks pay to tribute to the Franciscan missionaries who lived at the Convent, and to the Order’s “benevolent journeys” around the world to help the poor. The fragrance actually has several related names, and it can get confusing at times. The name on the actual bottle says Eau des Missions Cologne, but Couvent des Minimes’ website puts it on two separate url sites as Botanical Cologne of the Missions and for Eau de Missions Vanilla Fragrance. On Fragrantica, it’s called Cologne of the Missions. Elsewhere, I’ve seen “Eau de Missions Botanical Fragrance.” If you’re looking for the fragrance and don’t know if you’re getting the right one, don’t worry about whether your bottle says “Botanical” on it or not; just look for the bottle with a purple-blue label and with liquid that looks a bit peachy in colour.
Vanilla Bourbon. Source: biofarmacia.ro
Now that we’ve gotten the name issue out of the way, let’s move onto the notes. Couvent des Minimes describes Eau de Missions, in part, as follows:
Thanks to its Original Recipe combining comforting Vanilla with 5 Plants selected for their beneficial properties, this rich, sensual scented water perfumes the skin with vanilla notes.
•Vanilla : comforting
•Centella Asiatica : revitalizing
•Myrrh : repairing
•Benjoin: source of well-being
•Chinese Camellia : protective
•Virginian Cedar : invigorating
A few comments on the notes. I’ve never heard of Centella Asiatica before, but my internet research tells me that it’s a plant that is also called Gotu Kola. It’s part of the parsley family, has been used for centuries in folk medicine, and has a “fragrant” smell that is supposedly spicy and woody. As for the “Benjoin,” my bottle’s ingredient list indicates that it’s actually styrax benzoin, the darkest and smokiest of all the resins.
Photo: Alex Constan at acon365.blogspot.com
Eau de Missions opens on my skin with very boozy, rum-like vanilla that is infused with lemon, dry cedar, and darkly spicy, smoky resins. The lemon is sharp, but the vanilla is truly lovely with a deep, rich aroma that isn’t ridiculously sweet or painfully sugared. It’s like a dark, rather alcoholic, Bourbon vanilla with a faint whisper of creaminess underlying it, instead of the more common vanilla custard, crème anglaise, or sugared icing varieties. The cedar and the fresh, crisp lemon cut through any potential excess, while the smokiness of the styrax keeps the vanilla on the darker side. Don’t get me wrong, Eau de Missions is a very sweet fragrance, but it doesn’t feel suffocating, cloying or gooey, and it’s all thanks to the other notes.
Source: hdwpapers.com
The citrus is one of my only problems with Eau de Missions. I think it smells very sharp, and it’s far too great a presence in the overall composition. It doesn’t help that I’m not a fan of heavily citric fragrances to begin with, or that the lemon lasts from the beginning almost to the very end. I actually have a second Couvent des Minimes fragrance that I bought accidentally because of the overlap in the various “Cologne” names, and it has even greater sharpness from the exact same lemon. I can’t go near it, or bear to have it on my skin.
Yet, to be fair, these are all colognes that are intended to be refreshing body splashes or “scented waters,” so the lemon is an understandable component. In the case of Eau de Missions, it was probably seen as necessary, not only to provide that “invigorating,” crisp feel but also to cut through the vanilla and keep it from being overly sugary. Still, I can’t help hating the note, and its shrill, very dominant presence in Eau de Missions ruins the fragrance for me completely.
Let me be clear about few things, though. This is a personal issue of individual tastes; I’m not expecting high-end, luxurious quality or depth; and I’m not criticizing Couvent des Minimes at all. Given their extremely low prices, it would be wholly unfair and ridiculous to expect any of the scents to include expensive bergamot, or to have the smoothness and richness of a $250+ fragrance. (Plus, for what it’s worth, I think the citrus in a lot of mainstream Guerlains is also sharp and unpleasant, and I’ve heard from a very reliable source that Thierry Wasser himself isn’t happy with the quality of the bergamot.) My point here is not to unfairly slag Eau de Missions, but to explain a big part of the fragrance and why it was a problem for me.
Art by Matthias Hauser Fotografie. Source: hauserfoto.com (Website link embedded within.)
For the most part, Eau de Missions’ core essence doesn’t change much. It is a linear scent, and 95% of its bouquet is a very dark, boozy vanilla with lemony freshness, cedar woodiness, and resinous, spicy smokiness. Some of its secondary notes wax and wane in terms of their prominence, but that never detracts from its main bouquet. Still, there are subtle changes over time. Ten minutes into its development, the smoky, spicy, and lemony traits grow stronger. At the end of the first hour, the myrrh pops up, but it is a very muffled note that is vastly overshadowed by everything else.
Burnt Wood, via Docmattk on Flickr. (Website link embedded within photo.)
About 90 minutes in, the perfume shifts. The boozy rum weakens a little, while creaminess awakens in the base and starts to creep upwards. At the same time, something vaguely floral whispers in the background. It feels indistinct, and it’s impossible to identify any particular flower, but the general impression is of soft, white petals. It’s only a whisper, though, and one that is heavily muffled by the omnipresent lemon which continues to feel sharp and thin to me. What’s interesting is the smokiness. It seems to veer between an incense-like quality, something that is like smoky, singed woods, and something that is much more balsamic, sticky, and resinous in feel.
The most significant changes involve Eau de Mission’s sillage and body. Using 2 small sprays, the fragrance initially opened with 5 inches of projection which is a lot for a mere cologne. In fact, Eau de Mission projects more than several eau de parfums that I’ve tried lately. Yet, as a whole, this is a lightweight scent with a very airy feel, and with far greater freshness than you’d expect from such a rum-like, dark vanilla. The silage does drops, though: it’s at 2.5 inches after 10 minutes; at 1 inch after 2 hours; and at 0.5 by the end of the 4th hour. The perfume turns even thinner in feel at the start of the 3rd hour and is almost gauzy, but it takes 4.5 hours for Eau de Missions to turn into a skin scent on me and it lasts well over 10 hours, depending on the quantity that I apply. I find the numbers rather astonishing for a cologne, which is the weakest of all fragrance concentrations. Colognes from Jo Malone barely project or last 2 hours on me. In fact, an all-natural eau de parfum that I recently tested took a mere 20 minutes to drop to 0.5 inches in projection, and only lasted 6 hours.
Source: pulsarecard.com
Eau de Mission’s nuances shift again at the start of the 5th hour. The floral whisper has disappeared, and the creamy undertones are much weaker. At the same time, the cedar and styrax resin are stronger, making the overall scent slightly drier in nature. The blasted lemon is still there, but it seems more like general sharpness now than a clearly delineated, individual note. Eventually, even that retreats to the sidelines, leaving a scent that is mainly vanilla with woody undertones and a touch of creaminess. All in all, Eau de Missions consistently lasts 10.5 to 12 hours on my skin, depending on whether I apply 2 sprays or 3, but I have to put my nose actually on my skin to detect it after the end of the 7th hour. I’ve seen some people write on Fragrantica that they had some issues with the longevity, and some of that may be due to the perfume’s lightness but skin chemistry is going to make the greatest difference.
Guerlain’s SDV. Source: wanelo.com
Speaking of Fragrantica, almost all the reviews there are positive, calling it a “beautiful vanilla” or using words like “stupendous” in all-caps. A rare handful are less enthused, calling it candy sweet and nothing special. Again and again, Guerlain‘s Spiritueuse Double Vanille comes up, with people saying Eau de Missions is a “dead ringer” or a “clone.”
Personally, I don’t think Eau de Mission is a “clone,” even putting aside the inevitable differences of depth and quality between a $260 eau de parfum and a $38 cologne. For one thing, I found SDV to be quite a rum-raisin, fruity, dessert-like fragrance in the vein of Hermès‘ Ambre Narguilé or Tom Ford‘s Tobacco Vanille. In fact, there was such an overlap between the fragrances, that I didn’t even analyse SDV in great detail, relying on references or comparisons in depth or degree.
Eau de Missions shares the boozy vanilla of the other fragrances, but I think it’s a fresher, crisper scent thanks to the strong lemon, and it’s not heavily food-oriented, let alone fruited. For example, I never felt as though I was wearing an apple-pie, rum-raisin cake, as I did with the Hermes, or a Christmas plum pudding as I did with the Tom Ford. Eau de Missions feels more purely vanillic, even if it is a boozy variety. However, the rum traits are weaker than in SDV, while the smokiness often feels much stronger. And, again, there is no fruity quality, to me, only a lot of lemon, which wasn’t a factor in any of those other scents.
Painting by Moon Beom via lostateminor.com
Eau de Mission’s smoky take on vanilla also struck Patty at The Perfume Posse. Her very positive review sums up the fragrance as a “vanilla incense comfort stew,” and adds that it is
[b]asically fabulous incense smothered in smoky vanilla. I can’t decide if I like it better as vanilla or incense, then decide I don’t care, it fits both. It’s not complex warmed vanilla incense, but I’m thinking it doesn’t need to be. Unlike some vanillas, t’s not too big on the waft it gives off. You won’t choke anyone in the office unless you dump the bottle on you[.]
Les Couvent des Minimes Eau de Missions is a bargain gem of the very best kind – it smells great and costs almost nothing. Now, it’s not going to last all day, though the vanilla in it will linger quite long, but at this price, who cares? Just spray more on.
Couvent des Minimes is widely available at Ulta, Beauty.com, Boots, Marrionaud, Amazon, and various drug-store beauty chains. I’ve long been addicted to their various Shea & Honey products, and I’m crazy about their fantastic Orange Blossom body cream in a jar. (It’s rich but thin, non-greasy and light, with a lovely, intoxicating fragrance that is close to that of real orange blossoms.) I don’t love Eau de Missions, but I think that it’s a gem for the price that is bound to appeal to fans of dark, boozy, gourmand vanillas, especially those who don’t share my citrus/lemon issues and who enjoy sweetness in their fragrances. So, give Eau de Missions a sniff or order a sample. After all, who doesn’t love a bargain?
OMG – serious bargain alert! Sounds great for the price and I can’t believe they have a 500ml bottle! Oh well thanks for this as now I’ve had a quick look on the site and there are a few other things I’m going to try and there may be a few stocking fillers ordered as well. And I think you may have just written a short review (for you)!
It’s totally a bargain of crazy proportions! As for Couvent de Minimes in general, I think a number of their body products are excellent to outstanding. Since you’re looking at the website for more than just this Eau de Missions, you might want to consider their Honey & Shea which I think is great in a variety of different forms. And the Orange Blossom Body Cream in a jar (as opposed to the thinner Body Lotion in a tube) is not only superb but a must-try for anyone who loves orange blossom. (In contrast, I’m less enamoured by their Orange Blossom shower gel. It’s nice, but it’s not very luxurious and the scent is just okay.)
Thanks so much for the extra tips Kafka. Much appreciated.
Your reviews are so beautiful! I also went to the local ICI Paris to get a sample of the eau des missions and I was not blown away. A perfume friend of mine is sending me a sample of the Guerlain spiritueuse Double Vanille and I am curious about that.
fragrant greetings!!!
Welcome to the blog, Mary, and thank you for your very sweet words about my reviews. 🙂 As for Eau des Missions, I’m rather glad to hear that someone else wasn’t blown away either. What was the issue for you? Sweetness, thinness, longevity, that blasted lemon note, or something else?
Yesterday my sample of SDV came and this morning on the left arm SDV and on the right eau des Missions. After one hour the SDV is warm, comfortable and Vanilla and the eau des Missions all boozy and in my opinion in a way comparible but at this stage of the test SDV wins for me.
SDV can’t be beaten in terms of quality, smoothness, depth or body. No doubt about that. But then, that’s why it’s about $230 more. 😉 🙂
I’ve got a bottle of this en route, looking forward to trying it out. I’m a fan of citrus so hopefully that note won’t be an issue for me. I’ve had good experiences with the few items I’ve tried from Couvent des Minimes thus far, in particular their Complete Moisturizing Cream with 4 Beneficial Roses.
I’m glad to know there is another Couvent des Minimes fan out there. I haven’t tried their Complete Moisturizing Cream but if it’s like any of their other ones, I’m sure it’s great. I love how their creams are emollient, but without being greasy, sticky, or gooey. As for Eau de Missions, I hope you love it. 🙂
I have to admit, the habit of many perfumistas to hail perfumes which cost <~$100 as "practically free" irritates me a little, although I can't place my finger on why, exactly.
That said, this certainly is a very affordable fragrance. I love vanilla, but many fragrances centered around vanilla are extremely plasticky on my skin. I will have to give it a try sometime – although the lemon does sound a little scary…
Have you tried Guerlain’s SDV and, if so, how was the vanilla in that one on your skin? What is the best vanilla — thus far — that you’ve found, even if it’s not true love or completely perfect for you?
I have tried SDV! I do think it’s beautiful, but I prefer Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, which is so dense it’s almost chewy. (I previously had rather negative associations with Tom Ford’s fragrances, mostly because a very vocal subset of his ardent fans were/are the type to call fragrances “panty-dropper juice,” but TF does have some deliciously rich blends and they’re very potent. I think his cosmetics are generally fabulous too, but that’s another matter…) I like Le Labo’s Vanille 44, but the lasting power is almost insulting in light of the price. I also like Orchidee Vanille by Van Cleef and Arpels very much (in fact, I just searched and found that you reviewed it! I will have to read it). I like Shalimar in theory, but I find the lemon note in the current Shalimar EDP to be reminiscent of dishwashing liquid, and the citrus in my vintage Shalimar EDT has drastically deteriorated, alas.
Also I just want to qualify my previous comment by saying that it’s much less the perfumistas who annoy me by calling $100 “the new free,” but the ludicrous increase in the pricing of luxury goods – including perfume – over the past half-decade or so that gives rise to this kind of remark. It makes me uncomfortable, though, how many people blame the nouveau riche from certain countries for the price hike, and not the industry’s exploitative business practices … I could go on, but this particular article is probably not the right forum! 😉 Again, thank you for a very nice review.
I actually agree with almost everything you wrote about the pricing issue. 🙂 It’s why I always write something like, “By the admittedly crazy, skewed standards of the niche world, the price is….” — it’s totally relative to the insanity of everything else.
That said, one still has to have some financial means to think that an $80 fragrance is “practically free,” even if one is judging it relative to the increasingly common spate of $600-and-up fragrances. I’ve reviewed a few that are around $800-$900, and two that are priced at over $1,100, but I generally try not to cover super-super expensive things that most readers can’t afford, and refuse to cover the handful that are even MORE expensive than what I’ve mentioned. (Like the $4,400 Roja Dove, for example.) There have been a lot of discussion in my various Roja Dove, SHL 777, or Xerjoff reviews about the pricing issues today, the issue of “Art,” comparisons to fine wine, the role of the Russians or uber-wealthy, and how so much comes down to an individual valuation.
But I still won’t cover a $4,000+ fragrance if I can help it! Really, it’s just….. *sigh*
Anyway, back to vanillas, I was interested to hear your issues with the lemon note in the Guerlains. I’m sorry to say that I think it’s not just Shalimar EDP that has it, but some of the flankers too. (I complained about it with Shalimar Ode A La Vanille/Mexique, too, because it was painfully sharp there.) BTW, I totally, totally agree with you on the TF fan-boys who call his fragrances “panty-droppers.” Words cannot convey my loathing for the term. Nasomatto has the same subset of admirers. And don’t get me started on the Creed Aventus ones! Man, I had to put on a flak-jacket to cover that fragrance, because I thought I’d be eaten alive. Creed fans are very… er… intense.
Kafka, thank you for your review and your detailed notes on how long you could smell the fragrance and its projection (whoa on the all natural EDP). I have not smelled the Guerlain SDV so I don’t have anything to compare this to though, but an Ulta store recently opened in my area and I wanted to sniff this (more in a lotion versus cologne form). I’ll see if they have the orange blossom body cream too.
You’re very welcome, Sandy. I don’t think Couvent des Minimes makes Eau de Missions in lotion form, though. They definitely have a massage or body oil of it, but I just double checked their website and I don’t see a lotion or cream version.
I have a big bottle that I bought 6 months ago because I can never resist “Smells just like! ” hype. I like it okay, but on me the citrus is even more prominent than on you, and I am no fan of citrus of any kind. I enjoyed it as an after-bath spray in hot weather, and I have to admit that my most perfume-hating coworker loved it, saying “You smell so fresh!” But fresh is not the scent that I aspire to.
With all the hype this one is getting on the boards, it’s wonderful that you gave it the thorough examination that it deserves. And at under $100 for about a quart, it actually holds up well to examination.
Now, to lay hands on that body cream…if there’s one thing I love it’s a good pure orange blossom.
The only thing I could find on the Couvent des Minimes website that sounded more or less right was the Eau Aimable body butter. Is that the one with the orange blossom scent?
Ack, NOOOOO!!!!! It’s definitely NOT the Eau Aimable thing! I looked on the site and was totally crushed to see they don’t show the Orange Blossom cream there any more. I know I saw it about a year ago, although the label had changed in terms of look, print, colour, etc. (At one point, I think they were calling it a Body Sorbet or Souffle?) But I found it for you elsewhere:
http://www.amazon.com/Le-Couvent-Minimes-Softening-Blossom/dp/B006K3WIEM — or —
http://www.beauty.com/le-couvent-des-minimes-skin-softening-body-cream-orange-blossom/qxp373398?catid=298561&N=4294945750
I also think you’d like their Honey & Shea since you’ve recently discovered a love for honey. It comes in the same “Skin Softening” texture or format, but also comes in a nourishing hand cream or as a shower gel. (I’ve used the shower gel for ages, and it’s a beautiful honey scent. Hopefully, it is still the same before):
http://www.beauty.com/search/search_results.asp?N=0&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Ntk=All&srchtree=8&Ntt=couvent+des+minimes+honey+and+shea&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&CSRFToken=Kfz%2F4bjBqitNi7wLZ9xvstdUYeVNUce5WJ3alo2qlbA%3D
A few of the Orange Blossom Body Cream on eBay for a bit less and, more importantly, in the old version that I have:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H1.Xle+couvent+des+minimes+body+cream&_nkw=le+couvent+des+minimes+body+cream&_sacat=26396
Thanks so much! Now I have a big jar on the way to enjoy in late January and early February, when I start to go crazy for orange blossom.
Oh God, the citrus is even stronger on you??! *shudder* I imagine it must be just like their other Botanical Cologne (with the beige-ish label) and which I found to have such screechingly sharp citrus that it was wholly unbearable. A total scrubber for me.
As for the Orange Blossom Body Cream, I think you’d love it. I stocked up on a ton of bottles back when Bath & Body Works decided to stop carrying Couvent des Mimimes and were selling off their inventory some years ago. I still have some left, so I haven’t bought any since but I saw the bottles on the Couvent de Minimes website last year or so, so I’m sure they must still have it. Plus, a fellow orange-blossom lover mentioned it to me just a few months ago. What’s great about the Body Cream is that it leaves the skin feeling completely silky because it melts into the skin, and really quickly at that, too. It’s almost surprising how rich or effective it is given the whipped, light texture. There is no greasiness or stickiness, either.
I’ll look for a link for you.
I usually like lemon, but usually don’t like vanilla. But at this price, why not give it a try?
What vanilla would you recommend to a sweet phobe?
Given your sweetness issues, you may want to stick to a 2 ml sample from STC, or one of the 5 ml ones on eBay.
As for a vanilla recommendation, I’m afraid I have nothing for you, James. The only scent that I can think of is not a true vanilla because it is cut through with patchouli, and it’s one you already know: Loree Rodkin’s Gothic I. Everything else that I’ve tried would probably be far too sweet for your tastes or standards, especially since your skin really amps up the sweetness in general. I think you’d find Eau de Missions to have “freshness,” but probably not enough to counter the sweetness that your skin would probably create. Believe me, I’m in the same boat as you, and I’m still searching for my perfect vanilla.
I don’t get particularly excited about citrus fragrances. As to vanilla – I have sampled a lot but none got me excited in the least.Then I accidentally got a sample of one that fell in love with. It’s not a complicated perfume, but it really works for me. Voodoo Love from Bourbon French Perfums. Fun name too!
Ohhhhh, I’m intrigued, particularly since you had not liked any vanillas prior to that. Thank you for the tip, Maya! I will be sure to check it out. And, you’re right, the name is great!
It sounds lovely, except for the citrus. I have a low tolerance for, and I think my skin may amplify it (Terre d’Hermès was a freaking nightmare for me in that respect). I might check this out to see if that’s also the case in this instance (if only for the price).
Now, I just checked out the Couvent des Minimes website for that orange blossom body cream (orange blossom! Yay!), but I can’t find it. They might have discontinued it, sadly.
Anne, check out the Beauty.com, eBay and Amazon links I provided up above to Feral Jasmine for the Orange Blossom cream. You may have sites similar to Beauty.com in your country, so try a Google search as well. It doesn’t seem to be completely hard to find.
As for the citrus, it sounds like we have the same issues. Feral Jasmine had an even worse time with the note than I did, so I suspect you may struggle as well. With regard to Terre d’Hermes, the massive amount of ISO E Super in that fragrance makes its citrus note even louder and bigger, imo. Ugh.
Thanks for the links! Unfortunately, shipping is a problem, but I should be able to find it through Google indeed.
I can tolerate a wee bit of citrus, but only when it’s summer. Otherwise, I don’t care for the note, at best. At worst, I find it unpleasant as hell. Maybe it’s ISO E super that makes Terre d’Hermes so difficult for me; Terre d’Hermes the same synthetic, alcoholic, soapy quality I detect in Elixir des merveilles (on my skin), which was plain unbearable on me (oh, I so wanted to love that one), but I don’t know if Elixir contains ISO-E super. I don’t see it listed on Fragrantica.
I’ll still give the Couvent des Minimes cologne a sniff, because vanilla, smoke, resin and myrrh sound very appealing, but I’ll proceed with caution. 🙂
Hi Kafka, this is a little off-topic, but I had to comment on the TF/Aventus fans. One of my absolute ‘pet peeves’ when reading reviews regarding Aventus is when most of the reviewers seem to wear it simply because women love it and therefore I should buy it. I’ve never smelled any of Creed’s fragrances. :/ I have considered sampling Aventus, though. LOL
That orange blossom body cream is fantastic stuff – I wear it under Carnal Flower to great effect. As for the Cologne des Missions, I succumbed to the hype and ordered a bottle, which has not arrived yet. I am scared about that screeching lemon note though, as that note makes the Shalimar vanilla and flankers unwearable to me. I like to spritz vanilla-based colognes to wear to bed, so my expectations aren’t that high. I have SDV and it is a lovely boozy vanilla – I was very sceptical of those raving reviews of “dead-ringer” and I am pretty sure it will not be that, but am hoping it will be pleasant enough to wear to bed.
Okay, I received my bottle and it is nice stuff. The lemon note was not obtrusive and it was pleasantly boozy and sweet. It is not SDV, but neither is the price, and I will wear it happily to bed.
I’m so glad it works for you. Yay for budget steals. 🙂
I am really excited about THE orange blossom body Cream, Kafka!, as I have been looking for a good and affordable Cream for a long time. Will have a look on THE Boots websites, they might have it. Well, I have to admit I love citrus and THE bergamot bomb in The Ode a la Vanilles work quite Well on my skin. As you say, a matter of personal taste. Interesting point coming from Monsieur Wasser, he might change the bergamot in THE future, who knows if he gets the chance to. The Couvent is certainely worth a try at these price. A swap decant is coming my way, right now. Ps. I am trying Shangril-La right now, but I am afraid I would not be able to wear it often as my BF Will find it a fragrance for an old lady as Mitsouko (which I love) loved your review on THE Shangri-La though.
I don’t love SDV, but I did like it – I think I was put off by the price tag as I am by most of the current Guerlains. I like a number of them, but not enough to think they justify anywhere close to a $250+ price tag for less than 100ml. This sounds pretty nice, even if it’s not a exact replica. I wouldn’t mind buying one of these for use in a room atomizer. At that price, you could afford to use it for that function, and I think I’d like it more like that than on my skin. 🙂
Well, cologne of the missions is being discontinued, just so you all know. I am so sad. 🙁
What a shame. I had heard a few comments suggesting that it might be, but there seemed to be no certainty or definitive answer. Thank you for letting us know, Alayna.
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Hi there 🙂 I came across your blog several but never invested time to read something out and finish it, until yesterday, i was checking some reviews on 2 new perfumes i wanted to try to buy overseas, so checking reviews were my only way, and both were in your blog. I’m fascinated by your depth and dedication reviewing the perfumes. They were “Couvent des minimes eau des missions cologne” & “Inoubliable Elixir Patchouli Reminiscence” i’ve found your reviews very explanatory, i could almost smell the scent.
Thank you for the time and effort you’ve invested in this blog. Pure joy reading your posts, the passion and skill is just immaculate. Cheers.
Welcome to the blog, and thank you for your very kind words on the reviews. It means a lot. If you’re a fellow patchouli fan (“patch head”) there are quite a few other suggestions I could make, fragrances that I think are even better than the Reminiscence. For example, Nobile 1942’s Patchouli Nobile, Santa Maria Novella’s famous Patchouli, Jovoy’s Psychedelique, and what may be my new favourite out of the lot, Sammarco’s Bond-T. Look up the reviews and see if any of them tempt you. 🙂