Cire Trudon Médie and Elae Review (Yann Vasnier) 2019 + Last Days of Summer Draw

Cire Trudon Médie and Elae review

Finder Keepers ad campaign, Aug. 2014

As August shadows grow short, and the night kisses the air with that slight chill that signals Fall, Cire Trudon released two scents that bottle the fleeting sweetness of summer. Givaudan senior perfumer Yann Vasnier, whose Mortel for Cire Trudon was one of my top fragrances of 2017,  returns to the venerable French house with the luminous floral Elae and the aromatic citrus sparkler Cire Trudon Médie.  Both  are designed to be worn by  both men and women.

Yann Vasnier of Givuadan for Cire Trudon

Yann Vasnier via Cire Trudon @trudon

Romantic, pearlescent Cire Trudon Elae is an almost gourmand white floral with a gentle milky sweetness and leafy notes that smell like fresh-cut stems. It opens with a glow of diaphanous jasmine, the smell of fresh young blooms just breaking the soil. This dewy jasmine overlays a bed of full-bodied flowers like a filmy transparency, hovering light and iridescent as dragonfly wings. Vasnier thoughtfully subdues the innately sexual headiness of tuberose and ylang while teasing out their more edible, gardenlike qualities. Creamy tuberose and banana custard ylang add density and sweetness to the base but never overwhelm the jasmine, which continues to float as if in a girlish daydream.

Cire Trudon Elae review

Photo by Liz Collins for Numéro France, April 2012

And yet, there is a slow-lidded sensuality at play here, which emerges quietly. Benzoin adds a touch of rich, vanillic sweetness that plays up the milkiness of the tuberose. Hints of cinnamon and nutmeg peek through, and a hidden, tart bite of red apple glints. Sandalwood stirs in the base, smooth, slightly damp. The effect of the floral, verdant and woody notes combining in the dry-down is like the wakening smell of a garden just after dawn.

Notes: Neroli, apple, bergamot, ylang, jasmine, tuberose, sandalwood, benzoin and akigalawood.

Cire Trudon Médie review

Photo by Cyril Saulnier for Adon magazine, Aug 2017

Cire Trudon Médie is a burst of sunlit devil-may-care happiness. Its top notes, an effervescence of juice-dripping grapefruit, pungent lime rind and mandarin, make me feel like throwing an imaginary hat in the air like Mary Tyler Moore. After a few minutes, things get a little more serious. The citrus quiets down a bit as vegetal, leafy aromas tumble in along with some herbal and coniferous notes. Give it a few moments, and suddenly, it is like standing in a Mediterranean garden, citrus and greenery tangling, the aromatic perfume of cypress trees cloaking the break of the shoreline just beyond.

Best citrus perfumes

Citrus Bath, photo by Ezgi Polat

While there are no aquatic notes listed for Médie, there is a saltiness like beach spray in the middle of the fragrance. Further along, Médie takes on some tomato leaf acidity and warm, mildly peppery spice, followed by light incense. One splash of this, and it is as if summer just hit replay.

Cire Trudon Medie and Elae by Yann Vasnier

At the Beach, photo by Sai Kiran Anagani via unsplash

Cire Trudon Médie and Elae, while possessing quite different fragrance profiles, share DNA. Both perfumes contain Akigalawood©, a Givaudan aromachemical fractionated from patchouli oil that smells to me like cut magnolia wood. The two scents also share a certain breezy greenness at their heart that makes them feel fresh and vernal. Approachable without being ordinary, lighthearted and lovely, these are perfumes to reach for when you need to believe that September is still months away.

Notes: Grapefruit, green mandarin, angelica, jasmine, cypress, pepperwood, cedar, incense and akigalawood.

Disclaimer: Samples of Cire Trudon Médie and Elae graciously provided by ZGO Perfumery – many thanks. My opinions are my own.

– Lauryn Beer, Senior Editor

Cire Trudon Medie and Elae

Thanks to the generosity of ZGO Perfumery, we have a draw for one registered reader in the USA ONLY, (you must register here) for one deluxe sample each of Cire Trudon Médie and Elae  To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what appeals to you about Elae and Médie based on Lauryn’s review and whether you’ve tried any Cire Trudon fragrances or candles. Draw closes 9/3/2019.

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Cire Trudon was a 2017 CaFleureBon Best of Scent  niche house

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27 comments

  • Nathank says:

    I’ve never even heard of any Cire Trudon fragrances before but I would love to try them, this one sounds so amazing with the magnolia wood smell and the Breezy Greenness, I think I just died and went to heaven lol. seriously though really wanna try this fragrance!!

  • GennyLeigh says:

    I’ve never tried any Cire Trudon fragrances but my friend has a candle in “Josephine’. It’s lovely. I believe it’s an homage to Empress Josephine and it’s a very complex floral fragrance with an amazing throw and great burn time. Definitely a luxury item.

  • Kirsten says:

    Oh my! Truden Elae sounds so dreamy with the white florals and the tuberose and banana custard slang sounds intoxicating!!! Trudon Médie reminds me of stopping at a farm stand on the Monterey coastline, a mix of fruity citrus and fresh woods! I would adore either! I’m in Florida USA. Thanks so much!

  • fleurdetilleul says:

    Elae sounds right up my alley, its notes sound great and it became even more appealing when Lauryn mentioned it’s a red apple note – I love red apple notes, the only apple I like in perfumery! Not going to enter for this contest though. Congrats to the future winner! :*

  • INYA says:

    I like that Elae smells “like the wakening smell of a garden just after dawn.” And I’m drawn to Médie because of the incense note. Both sound like great fragrance choices for fall. I haven’t tried anything from Cire Trudon, as of yet. Thanks for the opportunity! USA

  • Dami says:

    This fragrance line is entirely new to me but I am familiar with several of Yann Vasnier’s wonderful creations. I like how the two fragrances are entirely different while sharing the akigalawood accord at the base. Thank you for the opportunity. I live in the USA.

  • BostonScentGuy says:

    These both sound lovely! I love the idea that they both capture something about the freshness and greenness of summer but without sounding stereotypical. Lauryn describes them as wearable and beautiful but intriguing, which is my favorite “scent profile” overall. I’m glad the draw is for samples of both, as I don’t think I’d be able to choose based on the reviews! The greenness of Medie sounds wonderful though. I’ve long been a fan of Trudon’s candles and love a couple of scents from their initial release (one was kind of an ambery sweet one, and another was an iris one–I have trouble remembering the names from this brand). Thanks for the draw! I’m in the US.

  • isunnychaudhary says:

    I will be honest that I haven’t heard of this fragrance line before but hats off to Cafleurebon that we users get to know about so many different brands and fragrances.

    Lauryn’s review as always up to the point, not stretchy and covering all the essential points which as a user always attracts me the most.

    If given a chance I would love to try Cire Trudon Elae As it has apple, neroli, tuberose and sandalwood as basenotes so am am sure it would be a fantastic fragrance.

    Thanks for giving everyone a chance of winning.

    Regards
    Sunny
    USA

  • Andandreea says:

    What made me curios in these 2 perfumes is Akigalawood. About aromachemicals i ve read in dana s reviews. Also the breezy greenness sounds very good. I ve never tried any Cire Trudon. Greetings from EU

  • kasia04 says:

    I love floral notes, jasmine especially sounds like a dream in this review of Elae. This perfume sounds elegant, but at the same time sensual. I didn’t try any of the Cire Trudon fragrances, but I would like to have the chance. I live in Romania, EU.

  • Lina says:

    I would say that Cire Trudon Elae and Medie represent the perfect description of begining of autumn. The memory of summer through jasmine, tuberose, the salty air and fizzines of summer cocktails and the certancy of upcoming winter due to cinnamon, nutmeg and citric peel spices from the mulled wine. A beautiful and tangible memory to keep it close whenever the day becomes too cloudy. I live and Romania.

  • adteutla says:

    This review is my introduction to the Cire Trudon fragrances. I would love to experience the Mediterranean garden of Médie. Great piece!

  • Salem says:

    Lovely review. Elae caught my attention immediately. I love white florals in any mix and proportions and the edibility is, if not necessarily a plus, an aspect that I find fascinating in non-gourmand notes. As if wrapping the flowers in a veil of smoothness…

    As for Médie, even if citrus is not my absolute favorite family, I believe it’s a must in any person’s wardrobe so I would be happy to see if it’s “the” citrus (wasn’t swept off my feet by citruses so far). The incense and akigalawood could contribute to that…

    I never tried anything by this house. I am from the EU. Thanks!

  • riddlemo says:

    I haven’t tried anything from this brand, but the description of the floral bottle was so captivating. I love the gourmandish qualities that are said to be associated with it. And a sample of the other fragrance is an absolute bonus. (Commenting from USA)

  • NiceVULady says:

    I’ve not tried any of the Cire Trudon fragrances or candles. I love Lauryn’s review as I think it captures the essence of the fragrances for us. Thanks for a great review and a lovely draw. I’m in the USA

  • jeremyn87 says:

    Cire Trudon Medie sounds more appealing to me than Elae. All the citrus notes up front, drying down to a more mediterranean vibe. I typically love combinations like that. They’re more summery but I wear them in fall and winter too.
    I havent tried any of their fragrances or candles.
    Im in the US., thanks for the draw

  • KateD says:

    Elae sounds very much my style from the top notes to the dry down. I’ve never sampled this house but I love that the scents share DNA but sound like they’re going in very different directions.
    Thanks for the review & the draw. I’m in the US.

  • hkmadani says:

    In Elae, the delicate jasmine is the star for me. In Médie, the Mediterranean garden base reminds me of citrus farms surrounding my childhood home in Southern Spain. VA, USA.

  • Cynthia says:

    I like the “milky” notes you keep mentioning in Elae and am intrigued by the saltiness mentioned in Medie. They both sound quite different from the others I’ve tied from this line, which struck me more as “autumn or winter” scents. Thanks for the reviews. USA

  • Bryant Worley says:

    To start with, I have tried neither Cire Trudon fragrances or candles. Thay being said, I liked reading about both scents (Medie, moreso). Concerning Elae, what I appreciated most was the picture that was drawn of something floral and wispy, drawing a picture of its lightness with phrases like “diaphanous jasmine”, “light and iridescent as dragonfly wings” (I’ve seen dragonfly wings up close, and can attest to her description). Then she follows by describing the non-overpowering sweetness. As for my favorite, Medie, the “devil-may-care” phrase was a nice start, to be quickly followed with the picture-forming and odorific notes – juicy grapefruit, pungent lime rind, mandarin, pineness, saltiness, tomato and a pinch of pepper. Hopefully, I, too, after smelling this will have the same sort of jubilation that will make me want to toss my hat in the air like Mary Tyler Moore, as I remember her doing.

  • Diana D says:

    Oh, this sounds so dreamy! I love your drydown description – “The effect of the floral, verdant and woody notes combining in the dry-down is like the wakening smell of a garden just after dawn.”
    I live in the USA.

  • doveskylark says:

    Both fragrances appeal to me, but the way Lauryn describes Médie fills me with joy. I love anything that calls to mind the Mediterranean shore. The citrus along with the coniferous notes sounds like a perfect escape in a bottle.
    I haven’t tried anything from Cire Trudon, but I have heard good things about the room spray and candle Ernesto.
    I live in the USA.

  • VerbenaLuvvr says:

    I purchased one of their candles for my mother in law as a gift a few years ago, and she loved it. I especially want to try the Medie and inject a burst of sunlit devil-may-care happiness into my life before winter comes. I live in the US and thank you to ZGO Perfumery for their generosity!

  • Caliwas says:

    Outstanding review from Lauryn. These are not typical summer fragrances at all. They are much in a field of their own based on the notes and composition. I would love to try any Cire Trudon fragrances to experience the artistry. Thanks for the draw. I live in USA.

  • LORI LAWS says:

    Excellent review and I have never tried any of Cire Trudon fragrances! The one that most appealed to me was Cire Trudon Elae because it sounds exquisite. My favorite line was: “Romantic, pearlescent Cire Trudon Elae is an almost gourmand white floral with a gentle milky sweetness and leafy notes that smell like fresh-cut stems.” My choice is Cire Trudon Elae. Thanks for the giveaway and I live in the US!