New Perfume Review: Jul et Mad Secrets du Paradis Rouge (Luca Maffei) + Marrakech Medina Draw

photojoannavesteyf

Marrakech, photo Joanna Vestey for Ralph Lauren.com

Daybreak. The mournful wail of the Muezzin drifts over minarets and market stalls, breaking the quiet. A red sun begins to rise over the horizon, promising a hot day. Small breezes rustle the orange blossoms that thicken the air, their heady perfume curling around the awakening smells of Damascene roses and ripened fruit that beckon from behind stone walls.

moroccanhousedoor

Moroccan House Door by L F Ramos-Reyes

Jul et Mad’s Secrets du Paradis Rouge is a sensual ode to Marrakech – the Red City –from creative directors Madalina Stoica Blanchard and Julien Blanchard in concert with 2105 and 2016 Art and Olfaction award-winning perfumer Luca Maffei (2016 for Jul et Mad’s Nea).  From Les Whites Collection and inspired by the couple's honeymoon, Secrets du Paradis Rouge is lush, pillowy and sensual as a silken divan, a bed or roses and orange blossom drenched in sweet citrus.

morrocohomephotographbyhugueslaurent

Marisa Berenson at her Morroco home, photograph by Hugues Laurent, W magazine May 2014.

Like its city of inspiration, Secrets du Paradis Rouge begins with a radiating rosiness as orange and tangerine trickle into a ruddy, fully open Damascene rose. In the first few moments, a candied, lipstick rose note swirls around the fruit. As the citrus and rose continue to unfold, they are joined by a heady bouquet of orange blossom, simultaneously downy and fleshy. The orange blossoms here are both bridal and carnal, the narcotic aspect of the flower emphasized by honey, their powdery softness deepened and made richer by their integration with rose.

jardinsmajorelle

Jardins Majorelle, Marrakech, stock photo

Ambrosial notes become more prominent in the middle stage as a tray of rosewater scented pastries arrives with honey, vanilla and almond to create a luscious marzipan note. But before this can turn syrupy, a savory tendril of clove winds through the orange blossom and honey, dislocating their sweetness.

lupitanyongo

 Lupita Nyongo, photo by Mikael Jansson for Vogue, July 2014

In the dry down, the thick amber base becomes more noticeable and the composition seems to warm like a grove in a drowsy afternoon sun. You can almost hear the drone of honeybees beneath the rustle of the orange blossoms. Beyond the garden gate, a lover awaits.

Notes: Orange, tangerine, davana, neroli Marocco, cloves, artemisia, orange blossom, rose damascena, honey, almond, patchouli, timbersilk, vanilla, benzoin, amber, musk.

Lauryn Beer, Editor

Disclaimer: Sample provided by Indigo Perfumery – many thanks. Opinions are my own.

secretsduparadisrougephotojuletmad

Secrets du Paradis Rouge, photo Jul et Mad

Thanks to the  continued generosity of Ann from Indigo Perfumery we have a 50 ml bottle of Secrets du Paradis Rouge for one registered reader in the CON US, you must register of your comment will not count. To be eligible please leave a comment with what appeals to you about Jul et Mad's Secrets du Paradis Rouge  based onLauryn’s review and if you have a favorite Jul et Mad perfume. Draw closes 11/13/2016.

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

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

− 2 = 2

28 comments

  • This perfume sounds exactly like something I would love. This review makes me want to wear it just to pretend I’m in Marrakesh. I live in the US.

  • Secrets du Paradis Rouge sounds so intriguing especially I love how Lauryn described the gourmand part. I’d love to try marzipan note.
    Thanks for the nice review and draw! U.S.

  • Oh! Rose and Citrus together is one of my absolute favorite combinations. With the other notes this just sounds absolutely dreamy! I have always dreamt of visiting Marrakech- this should ride me over until I can get there! My current Jul et Mad? Stilletos on Lex – thanks for this chance!

  • This perfume sounds amazing–orange blossoms and honey are some of my favorite notes. Gorgeous images as well! Very evocative. I live in the US

  • I love every creation of Jul et Mad so this one seems really beautiful to me. The perfume notes sound amazing.
    My favorite fragrances are Garuda and Nea. Thank you for the draw! I live in the USA.

  • Lovely review! Vanilla and almond combo is intriguing, and the narcotic aspect sounds lovely. Thank you so much for the draw!
    My favorite is Garuda.
    USA

  • These are such a beautiful pictures! Really stunning! My favorite part from Lauryn’s review is : “Secrets du Paradis Rouge is lush, pillowy and sensual as a silken divan, a bed or roses and orange blossom drenched in sweet citrus.” Sounds great!
    I’ve not tried any Jul et Mad perfumes.
    Thank you for the draw! US

  • Lush Pillowy and silken…sounds great to me. I also like many of the notes in this fragrance. You had me at candied lipstick rose and of courses rose and orange blossom some wonderful and favorite notes I enjoy. I like that it sounds like this fragrance on a warm ambery ending. My favorite Jul et Mad is Stilletos on Lex. I have not had the opportunity to try any of the other Jul et Mad fragrances and would be thrilled to be able to try this one. I am in the US.

  • I love that it is a sensual ode to Marrakesh! I love how it is described with orange blossoms drenched in sweet roses and the middle notes of vanilla and almond thar give a sweet marzapan kind of sweetness1 I would love to try this fragrance because it is probably the closets I will ever get to somewhere exotic like Marrakech!

  • I love damascene rose, and the description of the amber base seals the deal for me on this one. I would love to try it! I’m in the US.

  • Like Cecile, Luca is really in demand now. I am interested in Jul et Mad’s Secrets du Paradis Rouge because it has been inspired by Marrakech and its notes like rose, vanilla, honey and almond remind of the city’s dried fruit bazaars. My favorite from the brand is Garuda. Thanks a lot for the draw. I am in US.

  • Love this review from the photos to the description of the perfume with Rose citrus and Amber
    Aqua Sextius is my favorite from the line
    Thank you USA for now

  • My attention was grabbed with ‘candied lipstick rose’! Adding in marzipan dragged me down the rabbit hole…

  • I have never heard of this line. This fragrance with the tangerine/neroli/vanilla/almond sounds diving. Lush and pillowy sounds like a fragrance that can transport me somewhere dreamy. As usual I enjoy the photography. Thanks for the drawing. I live in the U.S.

  • Jul et Mad has put out some quality creations. I don’t see why this would be anything less. It reads like it might be a gourmand, if so I’d like to see what this house does with that. I like from this house Aqua Sextius the best though I do like others. USA

  • I don’t know the line but this sounds – and the column looks! – stunning. Rose and citrus with my newly beloved amber. And almond just adds more joy! I am in the U.S.

  • Lauryn, your review makes me love this fragrance, the description is so beautiful.
    I never had the chance to try any Jul et Mad perfumes. USA

  • I am intrigued by the orange blossom nite, especially the carnality that emerges from it. I really enjoy reading about fragrances that are meant to evoke a place. Lauryn’s review truly gave me a sense of Marrakech.
    I have heard a lot about this line, especially Garuda.
    I live in the USA.

  • Sold, sold, sold. Lauren, your words make me want this one so bad. From “a tray of rosewater scented pastries” to “droning honeybees”, such a poetic review. And the photos, Morocco, one of the biggest wishes on my bucket list. Love, love, love. A faithful reader who hasn’t won in a long time and I’ve had a bad week. May the random dot org gods be with me. Sorry for the shameless begging. USA

  • There is something about the description along with the photographs that hints at a languorous and sensual fragrances. I’ve not tried this line, but I would love to. Thanks for the draw. I live in the USA.

  • What a great review! Orange blossom, almond, honey, vanilla….Secrets du Paradis Rouge is right up my alley, i need to try this.
    I haven’t had the chance to try anything from this perfume house.
    USA

  • This scent sounds truly beautiful – rose, orange blossom, luscious marzipan and clove! I’m sold. I have yet to find a rose perfume that really sings on my skin, but I love the thought of combining it with almond and citrus – this could be a winner. I’ve heard Jul et Mad mentioned from time to time but have yet to try any fragrances from the line. I’m in the US. Thanks for the review!

  • Roses, cloves, patchouli! What’s not to love?! I have an infant perfume collection so I cannot comment on my like or dislike of Jul et Mad Perfumes however I am a rose fanatic and especially damask rose. I think with the spiciness of the clove grounded by patchouli… This would be a fragrance my skin and nose would love. I am only just coming to enjoy oranges as a top note element as opposed to say grapefruit or lemon, so it sounds great to me. Thanks for the chance to win this draw and experience this perfume house and thru it a little whiff of Marrakech . 🙂
    I am in the USA.

  • concertslover says:

    At first when I saw the bottle, I assumed it was for women. However, since I discovered it is not and reviewed the notes swirling around in this ‘sensual’ fragrance, it appears to be a real winner and an interesting blind try. Particularly interested in the transition from Orange to Rose to Patchouli….fascinating.
    From USA

  • Good heavens, what on earth is there not to love about this review? But if I had to say what was most evocative for me, it would have to be the draw of a rose note swirling around fruit, then joined by a “heady bouquet of orange blossom, simultaneously downy and fleshy.” I haven’t tried any perfumes from Jul et Mad before, so this would be a first. I’m in the US.

  • Hikmat Sher Afridi says:

    Lauren, your review here is exceptional, inspiring and compels me to get this gem desperately. The Roses, marzipan, cloves, honey, patchouli & orange blossom notes sounds interesting. Never tried any of the Jul et Mad perfume so far.
    Thanks to the generosity of Ann from Indigo Perfumery and to Cafleurebon for the opportunity to participate in the draw by giving my relative address in NY.

  • skiclimblive09 says:

    I like the play between citrus and floral. I like wearing seemingly feminine fragrances. They play well on me. And this one sounds quite lovely.

    I live in the Cleveland area and have been to Indigo. Ann is wonderful!