Learning to Love Orange Part 2 - Fleur d’Oranger by Prada & 40º à l’Ombre by Satellite : Perfume Reviews

White florals are made for summer: Tuberose, gardenia, jasmine, tiare, ylang ylang, lemon and orange blossom... But while most would probably consider jasmine to be the undisputed queen of white florals in the summer, connected as she is in our collective memories with warm, fragrant summer nights, ever since I managed to find a few orange blossom scents that resonate with me I can’t but disagree. Orange blossom truly embodies the spirit of the season: its joyfulness, its sultriness, its primeval animalistic hunger for life, its warmth, which seems as devastating as Livas, the dry African wind, but most of all, its ardent eroticism whose electrifying waves have the power to set heart and mind ablaze. Today, in part two of our three-part series, we explore two more golden beauties.

Fleur d’Oranger by Prada: I had the chance to fleetingly smell this once a few months ago, and it took only a moment to realize that yes, this was the good stuff. Upon my return from my vacation, I found a little packet hidden under the pile of mail behind the door. A beautiful angel from across the ocean had sent me a sample of this during my absence! I am so glad to have a little sample of this fantastic creation to go through as I deliberate on whether I need a full bottle. Fleurs d’Oranger was launched in 2003 and is scent No.4 in Prada’s exclusive boutique scent collection whose offerings all come in 30ml splash extraits. This one starts out with burning intensity: absolutely beautiful orange blossom streaked with glossy, luscious, honeyed accents of beeswax. Oh yes, it’s indeed as fabulous as it sounds. As time goes by, the beeswax accents unfortunately disappear and the scent looses part of its diffusive intensity while at the same time growing deeper and darker. Teasing fingers of jasmine emerge, caressing a heart of orange blossom, which in turn hugs precious myrrh and amber. This undoubtedly gorgeous scent presents me with a slightly disturbing dichotomy: like a child playing a game of focusing on an object first with just the left eye and then with the right and seeing two different pictures emerge, so am I just as amusingly presented with two different sides of the same coin. Focusing just so, Fleurs d’Oranger is ladylike and restrained... Closing the other eye, so to speak, it becomes carefree and erotic commanding me softly to “ferme tes yeux” with blissful abandon in the arms of my lover.

40º à l’Ombre by Satellite: 40 degrees in the shade. That’d be 104 Fahrenheit, a perfect name for a summer fragrance as I’m sure you’ll agree, but Satellite, predominantly known for their jewelry is also making play on words with this name, referring to 40 carats. And oh how marvelous this is! Absolutely stunning, in fact. Oh, my poor discarded coconut beauties! Ever since I discovered this, I didn’t wear anything else during my vacation. This is a thoroughly natural smelling, high-pitched orange blossom scent, blooming seemingly from inside the colorful zest of bergamot and lemon. It really begs to be worn with light, airy clothes, and to be taken out on a stroll in great weather. As the scent develops, it quietly turns more bitter, finding at its apex the most fabulous grapefruit note I’ve ever smelled. Dry, bitter and sophisticated the beautiful grapefruit scent unfolds in shimmering veils flecked with gold, every movement unveiling another gorgeous facet: whiffs of orange blossom here, accents of jasmine there...and through it all the marvelous undercurrent of something intensely human, yes, a little dirty, like a tiny smidgen of cumin. Oh, my word! This one is truly a gem and an absolute favorite. The best of the Satellite range.

Our Learning to Love Orange series is getting interrupted on Monday for this month’s Perfume for the Occasion, but we resume with part 3 on Wednesday. What is your favorite orange blossom scent by the way? Now that I’ve gotten my feet wet, I am hoping to find more beauties to love and I’m looking for suggestions.

Images: www.sxc.hu and Flickr, originally uploaded by Ashleytheartist2002 and Steven Fernandez