Today, my strangest perfume. One that I have attempted to "review" for ages, with little success. Much of that is due to the incredible reviews already shared in the fumosphere. The rest lies in my indecision about this scent.
In 2010, Cartier released IV L’Heure Fougueuse, part of their Les Heures de Parfum series. This scent, whose nose is the very talented Mathilde Laurent, is meant to represent "The Ardent Hour" or "The Impetuous Hour".
Notes: Magnolia, Bergamot, Horse Mane note, Vetiver, Yerba Mate, Musk notes, Lavender, Coumarin. Oakmoss.
There are many stories about a girl and her horse. This is an olfactory tale about the same. It opens with the strong impression of dried tea which eventually folds onto itself and turns to fresh, green hay. And then the most incredible thing happens, but blink and you might miss it! From afar, L’Heure Fougueuse still smells of hay and barns and fields, but if you nuzzle your skin the way a horse nuzzles for a carrot treat, you'll get the distinct impression of horse. It's a musky equine scent that rides close to your skin - almost leathery, certainly animalic, but soft as the hair on a horse's nose. This facet, called "horse mane accord" by the perfumer, is subtle and fleeting (at least on me), but so incredibly integral to the scent that it seems to take over most descriptions of this perfume.
Moments later, the scent unfolds again and becomes a story of Summer days. It's Magnolia, light wafts of jasmine, breaths of hay... It's green and it's golden and it's light and it's expansive. It's clouds blowing gently over a field.
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L’Heure Fougueuse is a scent that's designed to connect with your subconscious. I'm convinced of it. I haven't met anyone who has tried it and has not come away with memories of some kind...
For me, those memories are of trail rides with friends, sneaking grass and carrots to horses through the bars of fences, and of stuffing rabbit cages with fresh hay and alfalfa. I smell farms and barns. I smell my beloved bunnies, now long gone over the Rainbow Bridge.
Unfortunately, I also smell a lot of mate (that tea-like note), which gives me a headache and makes me a bit woozy. Hence my love-hate relationship with the scent. I've worked off of a sample vial for ages, as on me a little goes a long way. I may spring for a small decant at some point, but have no need to budget the $250 for a bottle, since I can only wear this on rare occasions. But I wish I could wear it daily. It's quite beautiful, aside from the mate. And who can't appreciate an arrow shot straight to their childhood?
Other beautiful reviews of L’Heure Fougueuse:
- Suzanne at Eiderdown Press
- Denyse of Grain de Musc
- Victoria of Bois des Jasmin
- Krista at Scent of the Day
- Birgit at Olfactoria's Travels
- Patty at Perfume Posse
Jen, you're quite right when you say that L'Heure Fougueuse "is a scent that's designed to connect with your subconscious." I'm glad you waited to write about it, because sometimes when a fragrance is being written about so hotly right after its launch, it almost seems to come across as "the new new thing" -- and loses something in the process. L'Heure Fougueuse is truly special, and your tender review struck a perfect pitch for me in revealing why it is. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteSuzanne, this is definitely one that drills right through the psyche. I appreciate your kind words about this review. Have a great weekend!
Deletexoxo
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ReplyDeleteSuzanne was kind enough to send me a sample of this, along with L'Heure Promise, which I loved. I am afraid the Fougueuse did not work on my skin, and when I recently tried it on my friend's arm she instantly said - without knowing any of the background to the scent - "this smells like a tack room". Now I happen to love Dzing and Felanilla and other "barnyard vanillas", and my friend - who lives in the country and is fine with all sorts of outdoor smells - didn't care for it at all, sadly. It had a strangely muddy and acrid note on her, as it did on me, but it was worse on my friend. I wish I could tap into some of the lovely memories you evoke in your haunting review, but I sense this scent is misbehaving on the pair of us!
ReplyDeleteVanessa, I suppose you're not bonkers over this one, then? ;) Yeah, I have to admit, it's tenacious on my skin and after about the 3rd or 4th hour, I need a break. It's just too-too. As I said: love-hate relationship.
DeleteIs there mate in Dzing and Felanilla and the rest? I have been curious, but also hesitant since this scent makes me woozy and "off".
xoxo
Hmm, not sure about the mate question you raise. Don't remember seeing it in note listings, though they are not always comprehensive of course...
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ReplyDeleteAnything that reminds me of bunnies gets my vote! I have to find a sample. My local Saks only carries Mysterieuse, which I love, but why only that one?? Woe is me....
ReplyDelete-Marla
Thanks for the link love. Now you have me remembering how much I liked this. I should get another sample. It brings up memories for me too, of a summer spent at a camp with ponies.
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