New Perfume Reviews: Une Nuit à Bali Mr. Vetiver, Suma Oriental and Fleur des Fleurs + Postcards from Paradise Draw

Alexandre Cubizolles and Philippe Solas  une nuit a bali

Une Nuit à Bali Alexandra Cubizolles and Philippe Solas  at Esxence-Photo Megan

I discovered Une Nuit à Bali at Esxence on the last day of the exhibition. Alexandra Cubizolles and Philippe Solas who are the co founders  were both working in the music industry and  share a passion for Asia, the health benefits of plants and living more simply, et voila Une Nuit à Bali was born. The range is comprised of skincare and fragrances with a policy to act ethically in their business decisions and to choose suppliers carefully.

Une nuit de bali perfumes

Photo: Une Nuit à Bali

They showcased three perfumes at Esxence – Mr Vetiver, Suma Oriental, and Fleur des Fleurs .   All three perfumes are characterized by their uncomplicated but beautifully composed nature.  There is a story behind each scent that makes them even more intriguing.

 

 

PanenRaya java farmers painting

Panen Raya by Kenteng

 According to Une Nuit à Bali,”This is a story about a man who you may have encountered somewhere near Java. People say he is tall, with skin that has been tanned by the sun and tattooed by the passage of time. His blue gaze plunges into the viewfinder of his Leica, and his white shirt is perpetually wrinkled. He can often be spotted on the plains of the Garut regions, speeding along his old Dutch bicycle” I can visualize this man.  I have some vetiver oil from Java that I love as it smells warm, slightly nutty and even leathery at times.  It’s full bodied and luscious.  I’ve struggled to find that sensation in most vetiver perfumes. Only one vetiver has worked its way into my collection and that’s Vetiver Oriental from Serge Lutens and that bell jar is a little unloved.   Mr Vetiver is an altogether lighter interpretation, composed by Amélie Bourgeois. (other perfumes she has signed that have been reviewed here are Paradis Perdu (Frapin), Rouge Assassin (Jovoy) and Sovereign (Le Galion) along with Anne-Sophie Behaghel).

Mr Vetiver is easy to wear. It’s a simple, spiced up vetiver that has a sexy, alluring edge. I enjoy the opening. There is a hint of grapefruit and lime and then cardamom slinks in. It’s not too spicy at this stage and there’s a lovely hint of rosiness from the geranium. I am intrigued by the sustainable and ethically sourced piri piri( similar to papyrus) at the base which pulls the composition together.

Aventuras de Tomé Pires

Aventuras de Tomé Pires

The story behind Suma Oriental refers to the brilliant collection of writings by Tomé Pires, a Portugese apothecary who became ambassador to China in the 16th century. A very detailed description of an insular southeast Asia, "Suma Oriental" revealed for the first time that sandalwood originated in the Sumba (modern day Indonesia).His work inspired renowned perfumer Coty to create the 1934 fragrance "A Suma", which evoked the moonlit beaches of Bali”.

bali  painting woman

Balinese Woman Source: Tribudragon

 Amélie Bourgeois and Anne-Sophie Behaghel (Nevermore from Frapin, Sovereign from Le Galion) have teamed together to create Suma Oriental that sits inside the edible patchouli and chocolate box of perfumes that I happen to adore. Borneo 1834 from Serge Lutens is my hands down favourite in this genre with its dark, dusty patchouli and hints of cocoa delight. Suma Oriental is a lighter and probably more palatable take on this theme. If you’re a little wary of full blown dark patchoulis, but like the intention of these scents, Suma Oriental is a great introduction. There’s a hit of patchouli here.  It’s not the dark, deep patchouli that I favour (think Reminscence’s Patchouli, Horizon (Oriza L. Legrand) or Psychedelique (Jovoy). This is somewhat toned down and has a hazy duskiness to it with rum and cocoa in the mix. They’re not super charged but they smell deliciously delightful.  It does make me yearn for chocolates and feel like I greedily need more than just a few. The texture in the drydown has a slight powdered feel with a woody undertone and tonka sweetness. It feels like there is an additional light dusting of chocolate to further entice. Suma Oriental is an indulgent calorie free treat. Spray with abandon.

balinese woman karl bang

Balinese woman playing guitar Karl Bang

Fleur des Fleurs is the most elegant in the collection. I love white florals and  this is a siren’s song  beginning with a ylang ylang and jasmine duet with tuberose joining in for a three part harmony. While the opening is bright, with bergamot, grapefruit and a smidgen of saffron the flowers emerge quickly.  Ylang-Ylang in Malay means ‘the flower of flowers’ and here they are fragrant yet subtle. The vanilla caresses and the base is smoothly sweet. This is a scent that has an intimacy that seduces and whispers. It’s delicate, soft and creamy yet has presence.  If white florals are generally too screechy or brazen for you this is one that may be seductively calling your name.  The perfumer for Fleur des Fleurs is Karine Chevalier who has signed a number of Nez à Nez fragrances including Rosier Ardent, Marron Chic and Bal Musque.

Megan Paki, Senior Contributor and Author of Megan In Sainte Maxime

Disclosure: I received samples at Esxence from Une Nuit à Bali

une nuit a bali logo

Editor’s Note: The fragrances are EDP concentration in a 50ml size.  Fleur des Fleurs is also available in a 20ml travel spray. Une Nuit à Bali is best known for its 100 percent botanical line of skincare and bath products.

samples une nuit de bali

 

We have a sample set for a US, Canada or EU reader.  To be eligible you must be a registered user. Please leave a comment with where you live and which scent sounds most appealing to you. Draw closes May 29, 2015.

We announce the winners only on site 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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25 comments

  • Valentine Girl says:

    Cardamom spiced vetiver sounds the most appealing to me & I would love to sample Mr. Vetiver. I live in the USA.

  • fleur des Fleurs would be my choice as I prefer white flowers. I live in the UK. Thanks for the opportunity to sample a lovely scent!

  • Mr. Vetiver sounds great and up my alley, but I’d be more curious about Fleur des Fleurs.

    Thanks for the draw. I am in the US.

  • Very nice review. Suma Oriental sounds most appealing to me, because I very like oriental scents. Thanks for the draw. I live in Europe.

  • fazalcheema says:

    Suma Oriental may appeal the most to me if it is more or less light version of Borneo 1834 which I have..thanks so much for the draw. I am in the US

  • Well, Fleur des Fleurs sounds so up my alley it might knock on my door! They all sound interesting though and I’d love to give them all a try. Thanks so much for the draw, I’m in the US!

  • Cardamom and vetiver sounds like an amazing combination. I would love to try Mr. Vetiver. Thank you! I am in the US.

  • Iphigenia says:

    Suma Oriental because it …. “is an indulgent calorie free treat. Spray with abandon” ….. I live in EU.
    Thank you both for this lovely review and draw.

  • Fleur des Fleurs sounds most appealing to me but Suma Oriental is a very very close second. I’m in the US.

  • I’m in the US and Fleur des Fleurs appeals to me a lot. I love florals in summer.

  • Gosh, hard choice. You have made Mr. Vetiver sound very appealing, but I also love SL Borneo, so the Oriental Suma sounds good, too. And then, in summer white flowers are my favorite. I think I would have to sample to pick my favorite! I am in the USA. Thanks for the draw.

  • Victor Wong says:

    I live in Canada. Suma looks interesting based on the materials in the photoshot.

  • Robert H. says:

    Mmmmm…..hard choice but since I love white florals my choice would be Fleur Des Fleurs. I live in the USA

  • I live in the U.S. and Suma Oriental, with its patchouli, rum and cocoa appeals most to me.

  • Suma Oriental appeals most– I love SL Borneo, and a lighter scent in that genre would be a great summer oriental

    usa

  • The cocoa-patchouli combo of Suma Oriental sounds most appealing to me!
    I am in Bulgaria (EU). Thanks for the draw!

  • I love vetiver scents, so Mr Vetiver is a blessing to my ears. And hopefully my nose as well!

    I’m in Canada and thank you very much for the draw!

  • Fleur des Fleurs sounds incredible! I love white florals as well, and I would love the chance to try it. Canada

  • Greg Mayne says:

    Suma sounds amazing, I love patchouli, but lighter versions of it. All 3 sound very good though. I will probably pick up samples of all.
    Canadian reader