A Nice Surprise Like a Jewel in a Plain Encasement

Yves Rocher Cuir de Nuit

A Nice Surprise Like a Jewel in a Plain Encasement. So, today I had the opportunity to test the new Yves Rocher Perfume Collection fragrances, I immediately wanted to head for the one with leather and vanilla notes first and my intuition was confirmed: Cuir de Nuit Eau de Parfum is a surprising perfume and it has that interesting aspect I look for in a perfume. Cuir de Nuit is far from leathery, rather it is all too vanillic. The vanilla you get here is neither the gourmand one nor the bourbon one, not cloying, not cheeky, rather a flowery, woody and smoky vanilla. And the Cuir in the name is just a leather subtlety of this kind of vanilla, there are no leathery notes here. Delicious I would say.

Among the other Eau de Parfum Collection's items, this is the most captivating and original one. All of the scents are bottled in a plain and minimal bottle, with transparent and thick glass and a heavy base, the juice of this cologne is a pale violet. This scent evokes me as much in the afternoons by the fireplace to enjoy a cake still hot with a cup of tea as in the elegant dark interiors where leather and raw wood would have a place of choice.

Cuir de Nuit greats you with a blast of the grassy and sour accord, also has a slight boozy sweet feeling. There is something akin to terebinth, to some extent reminiscent of the smell of mango. In a while, the beauty of the wild pink pepper kicks in and gives off a pleasant, penetrating smell. In perfumery, its essence fragrance is sought after for its delicacy and is particularly enjoyed when it enhances floral harmony. Soft and sweet with a feminine characteristic, its welcoming aroma invites the nature enthusiast to share.

And then appears the chocolate accord, the cocoa is represented here in its natural form and aroma, with all the nuttiness of the fermented cacao pods, here it is bitter, it is dark, it is pure, it is powder, ain't too praline or toffee or brownies as in Mugler Angel or Valentino Uomo, which I adore, but with a dusty feel and a bitterish edge, so if you are chocoholics like me, you will appreciate it.

At last, it's all about vanilla, and any of the different facets vanilla can have. The vanilla here has a dark, somewhat dry, woody, and leathery feeling. Cacao makes the dryness more pronounced, and the coffee strengthens the dark feeling of the scent without smelling like strong coffee. In addition to the notes mentioned, I also smell something that reminds of lavender and cedarwood in here. I think the combination of Tahitian vanilla and cacao is the culprit, together they create a chocolate liqueur accord, to my nose anyway.

Cuir de Nuit is a good fragrance, a very good one. Well made and long-lasting. I've had it on for about 8 hours now, and it's still quite prominent. But at the end of the day, it's just vanilla. I haven't smelled this type of vanilla fragrance before. It does say much to me, so it feels not redundant for me. This perfume is a nice surprise, like a jewel in a plain encasement. The vanilla here is incredibly well done, so elegant, powdery, even leathery! Also, accompanied by the right amount of cacao, pink pepper and just a hint of coffee, it stays creamy till the end.

A perfect treat for the wintertime, and long-lasting too. In my opinion, it is a safe bet, a fragrance with character and timeless, and I see it well worn with a thick woolen fabric and a leather jacket a little rock, innocuous for wearing at the office. On the outfit side, nothing to complain about. I like the fact that it is not heady from the start but that it remains stable throughout the day with a tendency towards the vanilla-musk side at the end of the day. This perfume is a nice favorite, in the same collection I also really liked Sable Fauve but I reserve it for the next days!