For me, the month of May is entirely dedicated to peonies and roses—though we must not forget the delicate, beautiful honeysuckle.
Last week, on May 15th, we celebrated the National Romanian Peony Day, and I dedicated that entire week to peony fragrances. This week, however, will be fully dedicated to roses, as they remain among my absolute favorite flowers—ones that I love deeply, both in a vase and in perfumes.
For me, roses have many nuances—not just chromatic ones, but especially olfactory. I am referring here to the delicate white rose, which smells both of sweet, clean nectar and of crisp air, dew, and greenery. It is a rose so fine and translucent, almost ethereal and celestial.
Then comes the pink rose, my absolute favorite. It is neither too innocent nor too passionate; it is a sweet, fragrant, seductive, and daring rose—one that steals glances, seduces, and entices, yet remains steadfast in its own complicit timidity. This scent is diaphanous and romantic, yet playful, making it perfect for any season, but especially for spring and summer.
As for the final category—the red and burgundy roses—they are passionate, sensual, seductive, and mysterious. This is another category I adore, and yes, these enigmatic, oriental roses are the ones I wear during the cold season.
However, today I want to tell you about a rose I discovered recently—a super rose, or rather, a superb rose.
I am talking about SUPEROSE by LES EAUX PRIMORDIALES.
The niche house LES EAUX PRIMORDIALES was founded by Arnaud Poulain in 2015, drawing its inspiration from the bond between traditional perfumery and a contemporary artistic vision.
Visionary, artistic, and deeply inspired by architecture as well as the various raw materials used in construction, the concept of Les Eaux Primordiales succeeds in creating an eclectic style. Here, abstract nuances of technical and mathematical inspiration intertwine beautifully with the poetry of artistic expression and the creative, transformative soul of niche perfumery. Their harmony lies in balancing the art of perfumery with technical elements, or even with raw materials like wood, stone, and marble. Whether they begin with design, architecture, colors, or materials, they consistently find their inspiration in art and translate it olfactorily into their fragrance collections.
Arnaud Poulain—the founder of the house—is a true visionary, and I resonate deeply with their concept. Though technical, it remains profoundly artistic and devoted to beauty, capturing the reverie and fascination that only art can truly offer. He is also the house perfumer; inspired by the raw emotion of art, paintings, raw materials, and photography, he sketches the artistic concepts that give birth, time and time again, to a new fragrance under the LES EAUX PRIMORDIALES signature.
But let us return to our rose.
SUPEROSE is not a light, bohemian, or romantic rose. Instead, it is a rose with an immense personality—mysterious in its own right, with an abstract touch, yet simultaneously laced with balsamic, spicy, and oriental nuances. I wouldn't call it a technical or minimalist rose, as it is bursting with joyful, juicy, and fruity tones on one hand. Yet, if you take the time to truly discover it, you will find that as the fragrance opens up, the rose closes in on its own mystery-filled story. It is a red rose with earthy strokes, submerged in the rich, fragrant notes of saffron—a unisex delight that possesses both a luminous side and a dark one.
And now, we gently glide into the top notes, where we find juicy whispers of lychee, pear, peach, and mandarin. These vibrant, effervescent fruity notes initially open the fragrance on a bright note, but as they intertwine with the heart notes of saffron, rose, and iris, everything slowly begins to turn beautifully dark.
The base is earthy, rich in patchouli, yet softened by vanilla and musk, which bring a touch of sweetness.
It is a rounded, velvety, yet dark rose, immersed in saffron and patchouli—a rose that whispers that having a mysterious side is never a flaw; on the contrary, it is an ace up your sleeve that you shouldn't be afraid to play. Mystery is one of the most playful parts of life. Though it may sound like an oxymoron, it is within that very depth that you can allow yourself to dream, to create, and to play! That is exactly what SUPEROSE is—a rose that, despite its enigmatic nature, invites you to play, and within all its depth, allows you to seduce!
And because nine other samples from LES EAUX PRIMORDIALES are sitting quietly right next to me, I would love to give them short descriptions so we can discover them together.
COULEUR PRIMAIRE
Immaculate white, laundry drying on the line in the crisp winter morning air, powder, and aldehydes. Air, wind, winter—a clear blue sky. Pure cleanliness. A scent of fresh laundry and musk. It is so clean that you instantly want to submerge yourself in it after a refreshing morning shower. A fragrance so innocent, pure, and ethereal.
MECANIQUE INTUITIVE
A somewhat abstract name for a fragrance so beautiful and poetic. Aromatic, with sweet, vanillic, and boozy nuances, this perfume carries within it the poetry of a sensitive, noble soul writing verses or letters by candlelight at night, accompanied by a glass of rum and a cigar. Sweet, aromatic, dry, slightly dusty, with subtle animalic notes, Mecanique Intuitive is absolute poetry in a bottle for me.
IRIS PALLADIUM
And behold, I have found the perfect iris for me—neither too powdery nor too melancholic, neither sharp nor lacking personality. An aromatic iris—sweet, spiced, and only subtly powdery. The base is woody, velvety, rounded, balsamic, ambery, and extraordinarily sensual.
ROSE SUPERCRITIQUE
A delicate, diaphanous, pale pink rose brushed by a fine whisper of incense. Although not listed, I feel a delicate, smoky incense—perhaps stemming from the geranium notes. Even though the fragrance appears delicate, it reveals itself as a highly elegant floral-oriental.
MIMOSA SUPERCRITIQUE
The most beautiful mimosa, exactly as I know and love it. Yet, this fragrance isn't just about mimosa; it's about the flowers and aromas that elevate it. A luminous, radiant blend of aldehydes and white florals that inspires thoughts of springtime, beauty, and pure joy.
MAGNOLIA SUPERCRITIQUE
Another interpretation of magnolia that I genuinely, deeply love. A yellow magnolia, standing alongside yellow and white blossoms—a floral, solar symphony, warm and spring-like. A fragrance reminiscent of a golden, powdery, and highly elegant nectar.
AMBRE SUPERFLUIDE
A highly creative amber—with woody and spicy strokes, quite pronounced animalic nuances, and an abundance of resins, balsams, and aromatic notes. Creative, warm, balsamic, and oriental, it is an effortlessly masculine fragrance.
SAFFRON SUPERFLUIDE
Although I have encountered this triad of saffron, leather, and raspberry before, I truly love that the raspberry takes center stage here—a pink, spiced raspberry, incredibly fragrant and daring. One might easily assume this is a masculine scent, yet it has just proven the absolute contrary. Beautiful, feminine, full of sex appeal, and extremely playful.
CEDRE SUPERFLUIDE
Where is the cedar? There is no cedar! Please test it—the name doesn't do it justice at all. I would rename it Orient Superfluide or Orient Superpoetique. It is a completely exceptional fragrance—a magnificent oriental poem. Notes of plum, rose, sandalwood, saffron, and vanilla create a deep, piercing creaminess and refinement. I have completely fallen in love. Don't look at the name; it is profoundly poetic. It isn't cedar—it is poetry. So fine, so elegant.
For a truly beautiful and artistic experience, I personally recommend ordering a Discovery Set directly from their website, www.leseauxprimordiales.com, to see which wonderful fragrance suits you best.
May you fully enjoy these experiences, and remember that I am always here for you, with love, to offer olfactory consultation for this beautiful niche house!
