The main point of its aromatic work was the production of fresh and tender flower waters and essences. This tradition was kept till the 1970s when flower lotions, hygiene products and rice powder were launched.
Starting in 1936, M. Bonneau cooperated with Marcel Gozard, whose family owned the House until 1996, when they sold it to a young businessman, Bertrand Sonnier.
At Esxence 2013 the brand presented a new eau de cologne, Absolue Damona, but for some reason, a gentleman who gave me a business card with the name Dominique Reinert on it, first led me to the stand with the collection Etoffes de Parfum ("Fabrics Perfume"), launched in 2011. The concentration of these fragrances was eau de parfum—already unusual for a brand specializing in eau de colognes.
Each fragrance of this collection (five in total) bears the name of a certain fabric: Leather (Dur à Cuir), Tweed (Urban Tweed), Velvet (Coeur de Velours), Silk (Soie Sage), Lace (Tentation Dentelle). The fragrances’ emblem is a silhouette of a mannequin that indicates the dedication of this collection to the world of fashion.
Familiarity with the aromas turned into a blind test, which showed that the scents really give an impression of touching the fabric. Interesting is the fact that my second approach to these perfumes (when I was familiar with their notes already) was not so intriguing, as the image of the scent is more abstract.
TENTATION DENTELLE
(For Women)
It smells of purity, of sweet powder, of the sun shining through a milky-white curtain and it creates the impression of a warm but still fresh morning. It transmits the feeling of soft and glabrous skin after taking a cool shower and a moment of choosing underwear for the day, when you touch its solid supple lace and, having chosen it , you try to catch the reflection in a mirror.
But, in my opinion, the scent is rather decorative and matches special occasions. I’m not sure of wearing it with pleasure all the day long. Sometimes it’s too sweet at drydown, especially on fabric, as on skin the woody notes that smooth the sweetness of Tonka beans are more evident.
Head Notes:
Plum, Bergamot
Heart Notes:
Jasmine, Geranium, Tuberose, Rose
Base Notes:
Patchouli, Incense, Tonka Beans, Guiaiacwood
DUR À CUIR (for men)
The Jardin de France fragrance dedicated to Leather is the warmest in the collection. Its bright peppery opening with a sharp grapefruit note turns to the dry spicy accord, generously powdered with geranium dust. It should seem that leather must bear a thousand familiar tactile images, as we encounter leather goods all around. But it has pushed memories of the distant past.
I’ve found myself in a flaming July, at ten years old, when I saw my grandfather’s old bicycle near the house. He used it to bring medicinal herbs from the field. And now I clearly feel the heat of the old choppy leather of the seat, dry and dusty, with some leaves and seeds falling on it from an aromatic truss fastened to the carrier.
On the skin its scent and structure merge quickly, leaving not an aroma but some feeling of dry warmth. But on fabric there are pepper and grapefruit notes that play for a long time with its cool spiciness.
Head Notes:
Pepper, Yuzu, Grapefruit
Heart Notes:
Violet Leaf, Geranium, Cardamom
Base Notes:
Cedar, Vetiver, Patchouli, Leather
SOIE SAGE
(For Women)
This fragrance is sweet fruity water that seems rather monotonous. I did not find in this story any noble and thick silky accent. Its sumptuous smooth soul was wrapped in a candy wrapper. Properly, the emblem color—forthright pink—totally characterizes the scent.
Head notes:
Bergamot, Pepper, Red Berries, Strawberry
Heart notes:
Rose, Jasmine, Violet
Base notes:
Benzoin, White Musk, Sandal, Rosewood
СOEUR DE VELOURS
(For Women)
Velvet in such an interpretation is rather similar to Silk but a bit more soulful and thoroughbred. The same sweet carefree notes, a slightly noticed musky accord, with patchouli adding the volume and some roughness that gives us a realization—it’s not just pink silk, but a real lazy and blasé velvet.
Head notes:
Frangipani, Orange Blossom
Heart notes:
Jasmine, Heliotrope
Base notes:
Amber, Vanilla, White Musk, Patchouli
URBAN TWEED
(For Men)
Urban Tweed as well as Dur à Cuir is marked as a masculine fragrance rather conditionally, for ladies also don’t mind a taste of apple cider (possibly tucked away by a certain gentleman for himself). This is the apple accord that makes the lion’s share of this scent’s beauty. Here it’s melted gently with a lemon note and some wet wood recalling oak Calvados casks.
Head notes:
Apple, Lemon, Plum
Heart notes:
Geranium, Cashmeran
Base notes:
Balsam Fir, Vetiver, Amber
And still Jardin de France is drawn to gentle and simple compositions. Even their eaux de parfum are very timid and well-bred. It is neither good nor bad. It’s a question of taste. It’s the position and the face of the brand. And they keep this face proudly.
At Esxence 2013 the brand presented a new eau de cologne, Absolue Damona, but for some reason, a gentleman who gave me a business card with the name Dominique Reinert on it, first led me to the stand with the collection Etoffes de Parfum ("Fabrics Perfume"), launched in 2011. The concentration of these fragrances was eau de parfum—already unusual for a brand specializing in eau de colognes.
Each fragrance of this collection (five in total) bears the name of a certain fabric: Leather (Dur à Cuir), Tweed (Urban Tweed), Velvet (Coeur de Velours), Silk (Soie Sage), Lace (Tentation Dentelle). The fragrances’ emblem is a silhouette of a mannequin that indicates the dedication of this collection to the world of fashion.
Familiarity with the aromas turned into a blind test, which showed that the scents really give an impression of touching the fabric. Interesting is the fact that my second approach to these perfumes (when I was familiar with their notes already) was not so intriguing, as the image of the scent is more abstract.
TENTATION DENTELLE
(For Women)
It smells of purity, of sweet powder, of the sun shining through a milky-white curtain and it creates the impression of a warm but still fresh morning. It transmits the feeling of soft and glabrous skin after taking a cool shower and a moment of choosing underwear for the day, when you touch its solid supple lace and, having chosen it , you try to catch the reflection in a mirror.
But, in my opinion, the scent is rather decorative and matches special occasions. I’m not sure of wearing it with pleasure all the day long. Sometimes it’s too sweet at drydown, especially on fabric, as on skin the woody notes that smooth the sweetness of Tonka beans are more evident.
Head Notes:
Plum, Bergamot
Heart Notes:
Jasmine, Geranium, Tuberose, Rose
Base Notes:
Patchouli, Incense, Tonka Beans, Guiaiacwood
DUR À CUIR (for men)
The Jardin de France fragrance dedicated to Leather is the warmest in the collection. Its bright peppery opening with a sharp grapefruit note turns to the dry spicy accord, generously powdered with geranium dust. It should seem that leather must bear a thousand familiar tactile images, as we encounter leather goods all around. But it has pushed memories of the distant past.
I’ve found myself in a flaming July, at ten years old, when I saw my grandfather’s old bicycle near the house. He used it to bring medicinal herbs from the field. And now I clearly feel the heat of the old choppy leather of the seat, dry and dusty, with some leaves and seeds falling on it from an aromatic truss fastened to the carrier.
On the skin its scent and structure merge quickly, leaving not an aroma but some feeling of dry warmth. But on fabric there are pepper and grapefruit notes that play for a long time with its cool spiciness.
Head Notes:
Pepper, Yuzu, Grapefruit
Heart Notes:
Violet Leaf, Geranium, Cardamom
Base Notes:
Cedar, Vetiver, Patchouli, Leather
SOIE SAGE
(For Women)
This fragrance is sweet fruity water that seems rather monotonous. I did not find in this story any noble and thick silky accent. Its sumptuous smooth soul was wrapped in a candy wrapper. Properly, the emblem color—forthright pink—totally characterizes the scent.
Head notes:
Bergamot, Pepper, Red Berries, Strawberry
Heart notes:
Rose, Jasmine, Violet
Base notes:
Benzoin, White Musk, Sandal, Rosewood
СOEUR DE VELOURS
(For Women)
Velvet in such an interpretation is rather similar to Silk but a bit more soulful and thoroughbred. The same sweet carefree notes, a slightly noticed musky accord, with patchouli adding the volume and some roughness that gives us a realization—it’s not just pink silk, but a real lazy and blasé velvet.
Head notes:
Frangipani, Orange Blossom
Heart notes:
Jasmine, Heliotrope
Base notes:
Amber, Vanilla, White Musk, Patchouli
URBAN TWEED
(For Men)
Urban Tweed as well as Dur à Cuir is marked as a masculine fragrance rather conditionally, for ladies also don’t mind a taste of apple cider (possibly tucked away by a certain gentleman for himself). This is the apple accord that makes the lion’s share of this scent’s beauty. Here it’s melted gently with a lemon note and some wet wood recalling oak Calvados casks.
Head notes:
Apple, Lemon, Plum
Heart notes:
Geranium, Cashmeran
Base notes:
Balsam Fir, Vetiver, Amber
And still Jardin de France is drawn to gentle and simple compositions. Even their eaux de parfum are very timid and well-bred. It is neither good nor bad. It’s a question of taste. It’s the position and the face of the brand. And they keep this face proudly.
