I simply love this hypnotic white flower. More than jasmine. More than magnolias. But I always had a trouble with this flower. In France it seems that the flower is also popular (as it is in my country) and there were all kind of honeysuckle colognes or perfume bases. But my nose never recognized the plant that inspired those perfumers. It was not MY honeysuckle and still I did not find in France the flower that inspired Roudnitska.There are several types of Loniceria, the most common (for me) is Loniceria caprifolium. Some have long white flowers, other types are white and small, other have reddish petals or more yellow. But all of them are highly scented in the evening with a very radiant bouquet.
In this period in my native town the small white is in bloom, and it smells incredible. A mix between a lemon sorbet (sweet) with a very fresh jasmine note (the dihidrojasmone/hedione type) and a very fresh rosy undertone (like geraniol or phenoxyethanol). In the background there is a honey note but delicate, not strong like the caprifolium type that blooms in June. This honeysuckle has a great quality. It smells from more than 5 meters, with no wind help and it has an incredible freshness, power and diffusion. Imagine the trail of Acqua di Gio for Men or Allure Homme Sport but in a feminine context. A long lasting freshness and air breath that only hedione like materials would have in a perfume. The other honeysuckle is more opulent and heavy, less fresh, more jasmine-honey-sweet like syrup.
Edmond Roudnitska was in love with this flower, but I’m not sure which his type was. He did a base in the 30’s for deLaire, quite famous and Diorella and Dior-Dior have inside a note that could be described as honeysuckle. Dior Dior is fresher, like a bush of jasmine+honeysuckle in the hot evening in Grasse.
Any idea about the botanical type in the picture?
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Fragrance is the 8th Art - Octavian Coifan - Le Parfum est le 8ème Art
