New Natural Perfume Review: Esscentual Alchemy Poir Indiscrète (Amanda Feeley, Inspired by Nava Brahe) 2017+ Spring Delight Draw

 Russian Artist Valeria Kotsareva ©

Of all the fresh fruit I love, a ripe and juicy pear would be near the top of the list. I often scoffed at the idea of the humble apple being the fruit that Eve was tempted with on the tree of knowledge. Apples are just not that sexy or mesmerizing albeit delicious. Nope, for my money it would be a fig with its notorious center resembling the feminine genitalia, or a pear bursting with honey-tinged juice and when perfectly ripe, sweet enough to have NON-diabetics reaching for the insulin. Every year my spouse and I receive a box of Royal Riviera & Verano Pears from the now-legendary Harry & David in Oregon, and geeky though it may be it remains one of the highlights of our holiday season. These, elixir-sweet pears are so juicy and fine, they need to be eaten with a spoon! They’re just that good! 

Georgia O'Keefe Two Pairs ©

So when writer and former perfume reviewer Nava Brahe approached perfumer Amanda Feeley of Esscentual Alchemy with the idea of a pear-centric perfume, it took the next  two years of dabbling and modifications to create a scent that was exactly what Nava had suggested. The idea for the perfume that Nava suggested to Amanda was this… “What is it about the pear that intrigues us? It has an appearance, texture and taste unlike anything else in nature, and it is good for us. My love affair with pears started in childhood, with candy-sweet canned fruit cocktail. When I ate it, I would pick out the chunks of pear and pieces of cherries, saving them for last. As my palate became more sophisticated, I discovered that fresh pears were an enjoyable snack, as well as the perfect accompaniment to cheese. Then, of course, there is the inevitable pairing of pears with pastry, which makes for the most delectable tart".

Vincent Van Gogh Small Pear tree ©

I can’t pinpoint when exactly I decided I wanted to smell of pears, but as my perfume tastes evolved over the years, I found pear notes to be quite appealing, especially when mixed with white florals and maybe a touch of sweetness like vanilla or tonka bean. Pears are often a secondary fruity note in many commercial fragrances, but rarely are they the star of the composition. My goal is to have the pear be center stage with supporting notes that will enhance and compliment its juicy succulence without overwhelming the intrinsic characteristics of the fruit.”  -Nava Brahe 2014

Amanda Feeley of Esscentual Alchemy (photo courtesy of Amanda)

Two-plus years later, Poir Indescrète is ready for its official release on April 25th 2017, and it’s a stunner! As a perfumer Amanda Feeley works slowly and methodically, and the results are quite often complex and unforgettable. Her creations include scents that will always be in my collection (Come To Me), Little Black Dress created for CaFleurebon’s First Anniversary, and the two gorgeous perfumes created for the Traveling Unguetarium Project; Helena  based on a two thousand year old Roman recipe for scented oil (and its contemporary version Helena II).

Rafael Strzechowski ©, digitalization by Robert Herrmann 

 For Poir Indescrète Amanda has created an extraordinary pear accord that smells as if you have just bitten into the very best pear ever, the sweet, exotic scent rising up to your nose, slightly dusty and familiar yet so much more! The juice, like true nectar of the gods runs down your chin and you lean over quickly so the juice lands on the ground and not on your shirt. Absolutely delectable.

Xi Pan ~ Spring©

That pear accord is the very first note that hits you upon application, and at the top it’s at its most lush and gorgeous. When the blood orange and bergamot come forward and the florals are in play, this is akin to a joyous spring perfume, frothy and bubbly and not unlike a vintage Arpege, Chanel or Lanvin. It’s downright sunny. The honey and tea notes provide an astonishing sense of realness that will have you believing that, as bees in honey drown, you will be a magnet for anything or anyone who comes close, and remain intoxicated by your scent cloud.

Notes: Rose Geranium, Blood Orange, Bergamot, Pear Accord, Heliotrope accord, Honeysuckle, Honey, Jasmine Tea, Mimosa, Ylang-ylang, Green Tea, Musks, Tonka Bean, Vanilla

Disclosure: Many thanks to Esscentual Alchemy and Amanda Feeley for supplying the sample. The opinions are my own.

-Robert Herrmann, Sr. Contributor

Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief

Poir Indescrète Amanda Feeley Esscentual Alchemy

Thanks to Esscentual Alchemy and Amanda Feeley, we have three 1 ml pre-release sample vials of Poir Indescrète for three  registered readers Worldwide. Please be sure to register if you have not done so. To be eligible please let us know what you were drawn to in Robert’s review, if you like pear notes or enjoy pears and where you live. Draw closes 4/19/2017.

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so like Cafleurebon and use our RSS feed…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

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13 comments

  • I found myself salivating while reading this! I love the scent of a ripe pear. I make a soap using a yellow pear fragrance oil. I like both Bartlett and Bosc pears. I bet the honey and tea notes are a perfect accompaniment to the pear. I live in the US.

  • ntabassum92 says:

    The description of the dusty juicy sweet smell of pears, with bitter skin and sweet sugary nectar was just on point. I enjoy pear notes with white florals and other similar fruity notes such as apple. I love pears, they are like softer, sweeter apples to me – I also love them canned. I am in the US.

  • NiceVULady says:

    I could just imagine this gorgeous pear. This sounds amazing. I’ve always wanted to sniff a true pear fragrance. Thanks for the draw. i live in the USA

  • I absolutely LOVELOVELOVE pears, especially the Bosc variety. I love how they smell, I love how they taste, and I love turning them into poires au vin rouge when they’re under-ripe. Can you tell I have strong feelings about pears? So, needless to say, I need to smell Poire Indescrete. I’m in the US. Thanks for the drawing!

  • I could smell and taste the fruit after reading this review. I love the texture of ripest pear, so unlike any other fruit. I live in the US.

  • Mmmmmm. SO looking forward to this scent! This was my favorite part of the review.

    For Poir Indescrète Amanda has created an extraordinary pear accord that smells as if you have just bitten into the very best pear ever, the sweet, exotic scent rising up to your nose, slightly dusty and familiar yet so much more! The juice, like true nectar of the gods runs down your chin and you lean over quickly so the juice lands on the ground and not on your shirt. Absolutely delectable.

    I adore Pears and love Amanda’s scents, especially For the Love of Bees and Little Black Dress. I live in the U.S. Thanks for the giveaway!

  • pkswafford says:

    I would love to try this! Pear and blood orange together sounds divine. I live in the US.

  • I love the idea of a succulent pear scent, so juicy that the juice runs down your chin and falls to the ground. This only happens with fresh picked or the best fruit. I would love to smell a pear that rich! Thanks for the review. USA

  • Iuno Feronia says:

    Pears are wonderful friuts, sweet, juicy and sexy. This seems to be Poir Indescrète as well. Thnaks for the draw and this lovely Review with all the beautiful photos.

    I Live in the EU.

  • Duckalucky says:

    My brother lives for pears, and so they are always featured at feasts for our family; his pear salad (with lemon, slivered almonds, and crystallized ginger) is a perennial summer/autumn favorite. The scent of pears transports me to that festive mindset. I would love to sample, and am in the USA.

  • doveskylark says:

    This was a lush and succulent review. I love the smell of pears as they ripen. I remember I once made a pear pie just to be different. I have only recently started to wear fragrances with fruit accords, so I’d love to try this one.
    I live in the USA.

  • I was drawn to Poir Indescrète by the lushness of Robert’s review – “smells as if you have just bitten into the very best pear ever, the sweet, exotic scent rising up to your nose, slightly dusty and familiar yet so much more.” I live in the US and have a couple of fragrances with pear notes and they remind me of summer.

  • E'lle Cicle says:

    This review was Fruitgasmic. Are you kidding me? I can imagine myself actually taking a lover for the first time in over ten years since my fiance passed away. I’m in the US but will come to wherever you are for a bottle of this nectar of the gods. Thank you for thinking of me. 🙂 Cheers, E’lle Marie