Martine Micallef and Geoffrey Nejman

Parfums M. Micallef is a favourite fragrance house of our esteemed editor-in-chief, Michelyn Camen. The newest offering, created by Geoffrey Nejman and Martine Micallef in collaboration with Jean Claude Astier is Ananda Dolce, which will be released March 2015. Designed to sit alongside the original fruity floral Ananda of 2005 and also the more sensual and dark Ananda Black, Ananda Dolce takes the name (translated from Sanskrit as 'bliss') and turns it into a fluffy cloud of sweetness. Featuring top notes of Almond, Peach and Almond Leaves, heart notes of Almond Blossom and White Flowers with a base of Amber, Tonka Bean and Musk, this is a Parisian dream in sugared almonds and peach parfait.

As I may have mentioned before, I am a gourmand fragrance lover to my core (and so are most of us at ÇaFleureBon; The Silver Fox and Michelyn are notorious for their love this genre). Alongside citrus scents, gourmands are my weakness and my greatest pleasure, but I'm quite specific in the notes that really do it for me. I tend to adore anything with an overdose of vanilla, Osmanthus and fig with their lactonic sweetness, heliotrope with its patisserie-like character and, of course, anything overtly fruity. I hadn't yet come across a sugar candy fragrance that was quite right, until I discovered Ananda Dolce. It is unashamedly sweet in character, yet also manages to be delicate and elegant.

Ananda Dolce Peaches and Tulle

The opening few minutes are akin to tearing open a pink and white striped paper bag filled with confectionary. Pear drops, sugared almonds and nougat, served with pink lemonade on a breezy spring afternoon. Although the sugar rush kicks in from the very start, Ananda Dolce is by no means a hefty fragrance. Imagine a fashion model with elven features, dressed in a froth of tulle skirts and you may have a better picture. As the scent develops a more juicy peach note comes forth, cushioned with soft musks and an abundance of frilly white petals. The breezy, clean feeling that remains present throughout stops the fragrance from feeling too sticky, as other sweet gourmand perfumes can sometimes be.

Tim Walker for British Vogue

Another charming characteristic of Ananda Dolce is how tenderly youthful it is seemingly lit from within in swirls of rose gold. I imagine this as the scent of a young woman, blushing and beautiful at her first grown-up party.  Gone are the ribbons and lollipops of her childhood but there lingers a delightful sweetness in her nature, a naivety that is at once endearing and disarming. She has little idea of the  sensual power she wields, she simply flutters about the room like a butterfly, enchanting all who meet her. Make no mistake this is not a perfume for teens, but for a person with confidence to wear an unabashedly yummy scent that in no way smells like a cupcake.

Gordon Parks Life Magazine 1961

The warmth of amber and tonka bean in the drydown of Ananda Dolce turns the fragrance into a creamy, peachy dream. The initial sugar injection subsides and melts into the skin, leaving behind whispers of a day spent delicately eating peach parfait in the sunshine and  spring nights baring your shoulders in a fine spun filigree dress.

Blumarine S/S 2013 peach gown editorial

Disclaimer- Sample gratefully received from M.Micallef. Opinions my own.

Susie Baird– Senior Contributor and editor of Epiphany.

Thanks to the generosity of Geoffrey Nejman, Martine Micallef and the team at Parfums M Micallef we have a 100ml bottle of Ananda Dolce to one reader worldwide. To be eligible please leave a comment with why you would like to win Ananda Dolce (180 Euros), if you have a favorite Pafums M.Micallef perfume and where you live. If you will be attending Esxence in Milan March 26-29, 2015 please stop by the M. Micallef booth 51. Draw closes March 25, 2015

We announce the winners on our site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize wil be just spilled perfume