L'Aimée - Parfums MDCI

L'Aimée, or "The Beloved, " is a famous 1794 oil portrait from French master Jacques-Louis David depicting his sister-in-law Madam Sérizat. She is holding a bouquet in one hand and her child's hand in the other. Its use of soft, warm color, as well as subtle touches of exquisite detail on the subject's hands and face, work together to evoke emotional depth and authenticity that transcend mere photorealism- beneath the surface, this painting truly breathes.

What a delight, therefore, that Parfums MDCI has taken its subject to heart, delivering a fragrance that also glows with abundant humanity and warmth. Despite a complex notes list of citrus, fine florals, and rich woods, resins, and musks, L'Aimée turns out to be a fragrance of exquisitely blended softness and light. In a sense, it feels classical in its romantic depth, but it surprisingly carries none of the room-filling ostentatiousness one might expect from the notes- there are no sharp edges, no operatic swells, and transitions- instead, it's the lush romance of a perfectly tuned chamber orchestra.

Head: Bergamot, Mandarin, Blackcurrant buds

Heart: Rose, Jasmine, Champaca, Lily-of-the-valley, Orange blossom, Heliotrope, Orris

Base: Raspberry, Peach, Cedarwood, Vetiver, Patchouli, Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Benzoin, Styrax, Tonka bean, Vanilla, Amber, Ambrette, White musks, Castoreum