New Perfume Review: Neil Morris Fragrances “Only You” + A Sigh of  Champagne Draw

Guido-Cadorin-fresco-Modern-art

When our EIC told me Neil Morris had a new one, I’ll admit to a bit of a frisson. Until the words, ‘floral aldehyde’, were used. I’m enamored of two: vintage CHANEL No 5 and equally vintage Yves St Laurent Rive Gauche. Not exactly a formidable collection. Then I was sent the notes – peach…fruit…no.   When I finally got word the name was to be ‘Only You’, all I could picture was a group of guys singing the Platters 1955  classic song acapella on a South Philly corner. It couldn’t be farther removed from my pre conception. Instead, the fragrance strikes a more vintage chord. Picture, if you will a dance. A summer evening in Florence. A small group of people. Men in black tie; women in dresses of paper silk and chiffon. A quiet hum coming from the courtyard.

guido cadorin hotel rome

Il rito del baciamano

A new face approaches wondering why and how she got there. She looks behind her and realizes she’s literally walked the Yellow Brick Road to a house that looks as though it was transplanted from an Italian vineyard. She approaches the porte cochere thinking she’d rather be anywhere else – the city, the beach, watching paint dry – but she enters and heads up the marble steps. She’s the type who makes people turn – petite with thick hair and light eyes that miss nothing. It’s obvious she’s not of these people – the dress is just at the limit of appropriate, the heels a little too high, the earrings a bit too dangly and flashy. This is a lion’s den of Pappagallo, sheath dresses, and blondes. How did she get here??

party  1920s Guido Cadorin  deco

She makes her way to the host and hostess murmuring lovely innocuous thing about the light coming through the stained glass ceiling and how marvelous it is. She heads to the dining room for what is no doubt a dismal punch. She smells peach and plum and, because she’s decided to observe from a distance, accepts a crystal flute  and breathes a sigh at the champagne playing on her tongue. To consider her next move, she finds a side door that leads to a bench near the Villa.

Figura-verde--1921 guido caderin

Figura Verde

In the shade of hundred-year-old trees, she finds the combination of champagne and antique roses as calming as she always has. The silky sounds of oboe and saxophone come from the house causing her to smile.

guido cadorin

The sky is starting to turn presaging a storm. She returns to the veranda wondering about the reaction if she were to suddenly sit on the wall of the fountain and swing her feet in. Instead she skirts the tribal ones and goes to the porch watching lighting strike on the river in the distance.

Guido Cadorin Hotel Ambasciatori 1926

Guido Cadorin — Decorazioni del salone all'Hotel Ambasciatori — 1926

Then one of the tribe appears, handing her one of her too dangly, slightly flashy ear clips, saying, “I believe this is yours.”

I know. You want notes: Top: Pear, Orange blossom, Aldehyde C-8; Middle: Linden blossom, Rose, Narcissus, Tuberose, Heather, Wisteria, Freesia; Base: Ambergris, Redwood, Russian leather, Labdanum, Tonka bean.

Nude in a Landscape with Flowers - Guido Cadorin

Nude in a Landscape with Flowers – Guido Cadorin

So – What’s it smell like? It opens with a little pop of citrus, then it’s all about pear on me. Think pear skin rather than the flesh or that secret spot where ear and neck meet. The orange blossom is there, but not a central player for me. It takes several hours of wear for the rose and tuberose to be noticed. The rose seems reminiscent of vintage pinks and the tuberose is (thankfully!) more creamy than fleshy. The freesia adds just a whisper of green while the wisteria adds a wee kick of spice.

Guido Cadorin deco fountain

The base notes make this morph into an almost skin scent on me – a very seductive skin scent if comments are to be believed! I also get whiffs of cinnamon periodically in the opening and several hours later. I can only presume Neil is telling me the joke’s on me.

Frankly, this one scared me at first sniff – it just seemed too much for 90+ degrees and totally not my style. I was wrong. It melts into something soft and smooth and it lasts well into the next morning. You might just want to… I’ll leave it to you.

Mary Beth Devine, Contributor,

 Disclosure: sample provided by Neil Morris, opinions my own

guido caderin

 Editor’s Note:  I chose the art of Guido Cadorin, a little known Ventian artist of the 1920s, as there is a Deco vibe to Only You that reminds me of vintage Italian perfumery.  Only You was created for me by Neil and we decided to share it with the world;  now that I have been wearing it  perhaps Neil can rename it "Solo Tu"

neil morris fragrance logo

There is a 15% off sale going on for all orders of $70.00 or more until June 28th! PLUS free shipping! Use the code Summer. If you would like to order Only You…. Order any Vault parfum/eau de parfum/ sample and in the comments section at checkout, tell Neil you really want Only You. That’s it!- Michelyn Camen (art direction)

Thanks to Neil Morris Fragrances we have a worldwide draw for a registered CaFleureBon  of 15ml of Only You. To be eligible, you must be registered. Please leave a comment with what appeals to you about Only You, where you live and your favorite Neil Morris Fragrance. Draw closes June 28, 2015

We announce the winner’s only onsite and on our Facebook page, so Like CaFleureBon and use our RSS option…..or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

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30 comments

  • From the review it sounds very interesting and nice. I have never tried any of Neil Morris Fragrance, but I suppose those are all very nice. I live in Europe. Thank you for the draw!

  • Many thanks to you, Mary Beth, for writing such a wonderful review of my new perfume, Only You! You have an uncanny way of capturing with words what I try to say with fragrance! Amazing. And many thanks to you, Michelyn, for always being so supportive of my work. It makes it all worth while.
    Looking forward to sending someone a 15 ml bottle of Only You! Big Fragrant Hugs!

  • Lillian Holloway says:

    I count myself as a devoted fan of Neil Morris. He has created so many fragrances that are not only too gorgeous for words but I would risk life and limb to save them if the house were on fire. A rose addition? Say no more…sign me up!

  • I just happen to be wearing Neil Morris Red Sky as I read this! What a coincidence! NM has such a depth of perfumes to explore. I happen to love fruity aldehydes so this could be a great find for Me! Thanks for a lovely review, lovely pics, and the draw.

  • MikasMinion says:

    I have been wanting to try some of Neil Morris’s work for some time but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. Now may be the time to go on a sample spree as I think I would love his work. It always sounds so decadent. Peach, aldehydes, a sexy dry down all sound really wonderful, especially if it can be worn in hot weather! I’m in the U.S. and would love to be entered in the draw. Thank you.

  • BlessedTA says:

    I like the name.

    I’ve never smelt any of Neil Morris perfumes.

    Thanks for the chance. I’m in Canada

  • The base notes in particular make this sound really wonderful. I know many of Neil’s creations, but my absolute favorite is Gandhara. I’m from Austria.

  • pursejunkie says:

    Mmm. Some of my favorite flowers (Orange blossom, Narcissus, Tuberose) plus leather!

    I’ve not yet tried any Neil Morris Fragrances, but based on this article I just went and ordered 71.00 worth of samples from his website. Speaking of which, I should mention that the 15% off you mention is not working. Hopefully my total will be appropriately adjusted.

    I’m in the U.S.

  • Oh, my! What a lovely review, a narrative pairing art and scent. I’m intrigued by the idea of floral notes that take hours to develop. I have no favorite Neil Morris fragrance because I’ve never tried any. But now I’m going to. I live in the U.S. Thanks for the chance to win this fragrance!

  • fazalcheema says:

    Only You takes a deceptionary approach, much like Le Labo as the article reveals the expectations from the fruity notes conjured quite a different image in Mary’s mind as compared to her actual experience. Similarly, this fragrance shows the good aldehyde creations tend to remind one of past classics..my favorite Neil Morris fragrance is Clear. thanks for the draw. I am in the US

  • Great review, Only You sounds amazing! I’m intrigued by the pear note. My favorite NM fragrance is Zephyr. Love it!
    Thank you for the draw. USA

  • Hi pursejunkie! Sorry, I failed to mention that you need to enter the promo code “summer” at checkout! I will adjust it for you! Thanks!

  • I’ve never tried any Neil Morris fragrances, so I don’t have a favorite … yet. Only You sounds very intriguing from top to base–your “vintage” description has lured me in! I Live in North Carolina, USA.

  • Pear skin? I can kind of imagine it, and it sounds like my kind of fruit note. I am in the US, thank you for the draw!

  • Francesca says:

    I was totally drawn in by your story Mary Beth, thanks for taking me along that pathway, the champagne, the house ,the internal
    Musing and finally the Notes! Pear? Wow I have never tried any Neil Morris fragrances but you’ve created the desire in me to do so.! Thanks for the review and the smiles it gave me. International and registered.

  • I have heard wonderful reviews of Neil Morris fragrances. A story to go hand in hand with this one and it made me feel every move move she made. I thought the notes harmonised so well in the tale and it had me really wanting to try this. Thank you for the lovely review and the draw. I am a U.S. reader.

  • I’ve never fallen for an aldehyde perfume (yet) – but I love the pear and linden notes. I’d love to give this one a try, it would be my first Neil Morris fragrance. Thanks so much for the draw, I’m in the US!

  • Sadly, I have yet to sniff any Neil Morris creation, but I’m wooed by the thought of pear, a favorite in the summer. This wonderful story made me want to try it even more! I’m a registered user and I live in the U.S.

  • How lovely, a vintage chord, including pear and linden blossom with leather! Very interesting! Unfortunately I have not had the chance to sample a Neil Morris scent before! I live in the UK. Thank you for the draw.

  • mmm, pear! i am in love with slumberhouse’s pear and olive and would be very interested to see what neil does that that. i love many of his perfumes, and have several favorites, but particulalry love burnt amber (for that amazing plum note among the embers), dark season (dry and foresty and deep), and north woods (green, damp and dark in the very best way. in fact, reminds me a bit of ormonde woman, only it’s own thing.) u.s. here.

  • Iphigenia says:

    The name of the perfume and the notes that create a sensual and seductive smell like rose, labdanum, Tonka beans make it very appealing to me, although I never had the chance to experience any perfume from this Neil Morris House.
    I live in EU.

  • I have no experience with this house, but I would like to try this perfume because I like everything related with tubereuse. And peach note can be interesting there!I,m in the EU.

  • Mary Beth, what a great post. I am a fan of Neil Morris and have my favorites… and love exploring the vault. Thanks for the opportunity and for the great read. I am in the US

  • I really enjoyed this review and Mary Beth’s imagery makes Only You very appealing to me. I live in the U.S and have not yet had the pleasure of wearing a Neil Morris Fragrance.

  • Great review! Pear scents are always nice to me. I like how you described the scent from first spray, until hours later. I have never tried anything from Neil Morris, but I might have to in the future!

    Canada

  • JazzBelle says:

    I love skin scents. I find it interesting that sometimes you have to give a fragrance a chance even if the opening notes scares you at first sniff. I love peach and aldehydes so I’m interested in trying Only You.

    I also love Neil Morris fragrances. My favorite is Rainflower.

    I live in the USA and have liked the CaFleureBon page. Thank you!

  • The green of the freesia and touch of spice from wisteria sounds nice. My fave Neil Morris is October. I’m in the US, thanks!

  • This one sounds fantastic! I really like soft and smooth scents and Only You sounds quite good in that aspect. My fav Neil Morris fragrance is Gotham. I’m a Canadian reader

  • Greg Mayne says:

    The name Only You makes me think of so much. I feel it’s a scent that an individual is supposed to experience. Something not loud, but intimate and close. I think it would be an excellent addition to any collection.

    The only frag I’ve tried from Neil Morris has been Clear. It was quite good!

    I’m Canadian and thank you very much for the draw