Asian Dream, Ormonde Jayne Osmanthus Elixir

We desire the most things that are the most out of our reach. I don’t know if you’d agree with this statement but I think that in many aspects of life what it says is quite true. For me it surely applies to travels – places that are the most distant from Poland are the ones where I dream to go someday. That’s probably where my interest in far East comes from. I wanted to visit Japan ever since I was a boy, later on China appeared on my bucket list too. Thanks to Ormonde Jayne I can experience today a small bit of the Orient in the comfort of my home, as I inhale the scent of osmanthus flowers.

Osmanthus Elixir begins with a lusciously tempting fruitiness that is oh so gorgeous and delicious that my mouth waters almost immediately. The scent is sweet but also slightly tart at the same time. This pretty invitation is thanks to pomelo. On my skin it smells more fruity than your average citrus but shares a similar juiciness with orange. After 2-3 minutes a honeyed facet is added to pomelo, making it even more mellow, smooth and delightful. For a little while pomelo is a solinote but then pimento joins the composition at the same time adding a faint spiciness to the juicy opening.

Davana adds a new dimension to Osmanthus Elixir, spreading a complex smell that is a combination of dry, grassy/hay-like, herbaceous bits. There’s something tangy about it that compliments the mildness of pomelo in a really nice way. As we move towards the heart of the composition the perfume becomes lighter and more sheer. Osmanthus steps into the spotlight quite early, and guys, it does smell lovely. It’s somehow fizzy & sparkling yet with some richness. Within it the smells of green tea, flowers and ripe apricots entwine with one another – almost like a dance!

Ever since I smelled osmanthus for the first time I though there’s something captivating and magical about it. Ormonde Jayne Osmanthus Elixir only confirms it. Still staying in a floral area, as osmanthus slowly fades away I could notice some wafts of white flowers – jasmine in particular. Sambac (as brand states) has a subtle, sheer scent that is almost translucent. Similar type as one of my summer favorites – California Reverie by Van Cleef & Arpels. Water lily adds some aquatic floral tones that suggests pastel shades of blue, green and pink. There’s much tranquility in it.

This floral bouquet of osmanthus, jasmine and water lily lasts on my skin for a very decent amount of time. Every minute of Osmanthus Elixir is truly enjoyable. Finally, couple of hours later, the base notes of this Ormonde Jayne scents start to unveil lazily. In my case vetiver is the most significant, effusing the succulent-like smell of the desert covered with dry, tall grass. It’s aromatic, fougere-ish, which is fine for me. The earthy smell of roots becomes one with deep and balmy accord of labdanum. The latter one has a slightly green tinge. Musk & cedarwood complete the picture.

Osmanthus Elixir, a new release from Ormonde Jayne in Elixir Collection, is extremely pretty, naturalistic and a very wearable composition. “Extreme” of this perfume refers to the fact that the formula of original Osmanthus has been slightly reorchestrated and poured to the highest concentration possible. Rumour has it that in Osmanthus Elixir there’s 50% perfume oil. This is a very elegant and sophisticated scent, suitable for a year-round use. It lingers all day on my skin, marking its presence in a very subtle way. Perfumer behind this fragrance is Linda Pilkington.