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« Scent Diary, June 21-27, 2010
Guest Post at Now Smell This. »

Perfume Review: Parfums DelRae Coup de Foudre

July 1, 2010 by malsnano86

Upon hearing about this new scent at Now Smell This recently, I had this to say:  DelRae Does Rose?  I am SO THERE.  The description of the scent as “capturing the ultimate beauty of the rose as you find in nature – deep, luscious, fresh and completely intoxicating.  So stunning that when you first smell it, it is ‘love at first sight.'”  (Description from the Parfums DelRae website.)   It was composed by Yann Vasnier in conjunction with DelRae Roth and released in June 2010.

I still haven’t tried all of the DelRae offerings.  Of those I’ve tried, I liked one, Amoureuse, very very much, and the other two, Bois de Paradis and Emotionelle, were just hideous on me.  I’d still like to try Mythique and Debut, but Eau Illuminee does not appeal to me based on its notes. 

Coup de Foudre, by contrast, did appeal to me, very much, based on its notes.  From the DelRae website: Baie Rose, Bergamot, Italian Lemon ‘sfumatrice’, Pink Grapefruit, Rose de Mai France Orpur, Purple Peony, Egyptian Jasmine absolute, Magnolia Orpur, Geranium Bourbon, Tonka Venezuela, Vetyver, White Moss, Velvet Musks.  (For those of you with a bee in your bonnet about pink pepper, cringe again: “baie rose” is pink pepper.  Ha ha. And I think “sfumatrice” means something like “vanishing,” in Italian, but I don’t really get what that means in terms of lemon.  Lemon doesn’t last anyway.)  So when a bottle split became available, I got my hot little hands on it right away.

The name Coup de Foudre – which means, literally, “stroke of lightning” in French and has the colloquial meaning of “love at first sight” – recalled to me a passage from The Godfather, by Mario Puzo:

… The girls, not seeing the men resting in the orange grove, came closer and closer… Three or four of them started chasing one girl, chasing her toward the grove.  The girl being chased held a bunch of huge purple grapes in her left hand and with her right hand was picking grapes off the cluster and throwing them at her pursuers. She had a crown of ringleted hair as purple-black as the grapes and her body seemed to be bursting out of its skin. 

Just short of the grove she poised, startled, her eyes having caught the alien color of the men’s shirts… she was very close now, close enough for the men to see every feature of her face.

She was all ovals – oval-shaped eyes, the bones of her face, the shape of her brow.  Her skin was an exquisite dark creaminess and her eyes, enormous, dark violet or brown but dark with long heavy lashes shadowed her lovely face.  Her mouth was rich without being gross, sweet without being weak, and dyed dark red with the juice of the grapes.  She was so incredibly lovely that Fabrizzio murmured, “Jesus Christ, take my soul, I’m dying, ” as a joke, but the words came out a little too hoarsely.  As if she had heard him, the girl came down off her toes and whirled away from them and fled back to her pursuers.  Her haunches moved like an animal’s beneath the tight print of her dress; as pagan and as innocently lustful.  When she reached her friends she whirled around again and her face was like a dark hollow against the field of bright flowers.  She extended an arm, the hand full of grapes pointed back toward the grove.  The girls fled laughing, with the black-clad, stout matrons scolding them on.

As for Michael Corleone, he found himself standing, his heart pounding in his chest; he felt a little dizzy.  The blood was surging through his body, through all its extremities and pounding against the tips of his fingers, the tips of his toes.  All the perfumes of the island came rushing in on the wind, orange, lemon blossoms, grapes, flowers.  It seemed as if his body had sprung away from him out of himself.  And then he heard the shepherds laughing.

“You got hit by the thunderbolt, eh?” Fabrizzio said, clapping him on the shoulder… Calo, his honest face filled with the utmost seriousness, said, “You can’t hide the thunderbolt.  When it hits you, everyone can see it… don’t be ashamed of it, some men pray for the thunderbolt.”

And just like that, Michael Corleone has fallen in love with Apollonia, daughter of the local cafe’ owner, at first sight, hit by the thunderbolt – the coup de foudre.  He pursues Apollonia through the traditional channels, chaperoned by the elderly women of her family, and marries her within weeks. 

So Coup de Foudre had a lot to live up to, with that name and with Parfums’ DelRae’s description of it as “the superlative, modern rose perfume.”  Sadly, it falls short.  Mind you, it’s beautiful.  It’s very beautiful, and it does indeed carry the exquisite freshness of a live rose as no other rose scent I’ve ever smelled has ever done.  This is genius.  My complaint is that it is far too quiet, and far too fleeting.

DelRae scents have borne the reputation of being good, but often too loud.  However, Coup de Foudre is not loud at all.  It is pleasantly diffusive in the early stages –  the citrus is rather warm and spicy, and the opening has a sort of tart, jammy-fruity feeling that I like very much.  Almost immediately the rose comes up, and it’s a little powdery at first but settles into an aspect that evokes the “nose in a rose” experience.  It’s gorgeous, and I mean really gorgeous.  I do smell quite a lot of peony, and it’s not the NEON SCREAMING PINK SYNTHETIC MESS that you often get in mainstream peony fragrances – it’s a fresh sweetness that blends very well with the rose.  I can’t tease out the jasmine or magnolia, but that may be because I’m concentrating on this rose-peony blend that charms me so much. 

Suddenly, though, this wonderful fresh-rose scent fades.  One minute, you’re thinking happy thoughts of your grandmother’s roses and your Sarah Bernhardt peonies, and the next, you’re wondering where it went.  Somewhere around hour 1.5, CdF shrinks down to the skin and won’t radiate off.  I can still smell it if I hoover my skin, but there’s almost no sillage at all.  The drydown – which is lovely and classical, with tonka, moss and musk – stays right next to the skin.  The development as a whole is pretty and coherent, but after an hour and a half, even if I follow the “spray until wet, multiple-spray in the same place,” technique, it is a skin scent, only perceptible to those who are embracing me.   The fragrance lasts about three hours on my skin, or perhaps three and a half if I spray until wet, with the last two hours being so close to the skin that I might not be wearing fragrance at all.

I would probably not be so disappointed in Coup de Foudre if I hadn’t read such glowing descriptions.  If you’re going to describe a fragrance as the ultimate fresh-rose scent – well,  for heaven’s sake, DelRae, follow through.  CdF is very much a fresh-rose scent, but to me “ultimate” means that the scent would last a little longer than an episode of ER.  I don’t know why I feel unwilling to forgive CdF its poor longevity, when I’ll do that for something ethereal like Apres l’Ondee.  But I am unwilling to do so.  The other thing that bothers me about it is that the name is far too extravagant for such a sweetly pretty fragrance.  There’s no thunderbolt here, no immediate and overpowering infatuation – Coup de Foudre isn’t present enough for that.

I begin to wonder if this first release of bottles was not macerated long enough.  Surely Parfums DelRae wouldn’t intentionally release something so shy and retiring?  I continue to be puzzled.   

Top image of Coup de Foudre from the DelRae website.  Lower image is “Rosa fresca aulentissima” from Qi Bo at flickr.

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Posted in Parfums DelRae, Perfume review, Rose scents | 17 Comments

17 Responses

  1. on July 1, 2010 at 11:28 PM Elizabeth

    Thanks for the review. I love amoureuse too! and Debut. Jammy notes? Sounds like Bois De paridise which is jammy too. Wonder why it doesn’t have the longevity that the DelRae perfumes are known for. I’m going to read more of your perfume posts.


    • on July 2, 2010 at 7:33 AM malsnano86

      Hi, Elizabeth – glad you stopped by! Amoureuse is so lovely. Bois de Paradis, although it has a lot of notes that I generally get on well with (rose, berry, amber, woods) was simply and truly horrid on my skin although beautiful on other people – and no, Coup de Foudre is not much like BdP. The rose is not that deep winey kind that goes so well with woods, it’s very fresh without that Fake Bathroom-Fresh thing that we should all fear when we hear the word “fresh” from the fragrance PR people… no, it’s fresh like fresh flowers.


  2. on July 2, 2010 at 3:09 AM Ines

    It’s really frustrating when you find something you like very much and then the lasting power is actually not lasting.
    I also don’t like Emotionelle but both Mythique and Eau Illuminee surprised me – I like them a lot.
    Not Debut though. I have a small decant forgotten somewhere. I would be happy to send it over if you are interested. 🙂


    • on July 2, 2010 at 7:35 AM malsnano86

      Ines – yes, totally annoying on the lasting power. It’s funny how I don’t mind Apres l’Ondee being so fleeting; I think it’s because Al’O’s sillage stays the same (quite low) throughout, and doesn’t do that I’M HEREnowI’mnot thing that so frustrates me with CdF.

      Emotionelle was very… garbagey on me. Bleah. Debut? Send me an email at my gmail account, and let’s talk… I just sent my first international fume-sample package last week, and I’m willing to dare it now.


  3. on July 2, 2010 at 4:57 AM Anne

    Oh how disappointing. I feel for you.

    Do you mind a slight off-topic discussion? Have you tried any of Sonoma Scent Studio rose fragrances (Musc, Velvet and Vintage)? Rose fragrances haven’t been my thing in the past but I like to explore new things, and I am so intrigued by the SSS aesthetic that I might give them a try, as samples initially. I notice that Robin on NST like Vintage Rose.


    • on July 2, 2010 at 7:42 AM malsnano86

      Hi, Anne –

      A LOT of people love Vintage Rose, and on paper it sounds like just my thing. It isn’t. I’ve tried it four times now, and each time I’ve been forced to scrub it off before it could make me vomit. Twenty-two minutes was the longest I lasted with it.

      What’s doing that, I don’t know. The feeling is the same as I get from most Estee Lauder fragrances – just *something* unidentifiable that nauseates me. I’ve tried and tried ELs – they’re ubiquitous here in the US, and generally have a reputation for being well-made and good value. One of my aunts wears Beyond Paradise, and another wears Knowing, and they both smell wonderful – but something about the ELs doesn’t settle well on my skin.

      Velvet Rose I like very much but have to make a commitment to, as it is a BIG ARMFUL OF RED ROSES on my skin and lasts forever. Big sillage, too. My husband likes it; I should wear it more often.

      I have not tried Rose Musc, although I probably should. I like some of the other SSS fragrances very much: Champagne de Bois reminds me a great deal of Bois des Iles, Sienna Musk is a less-sweet version of Organza Indecence, and I did have a real coup-de-foudre/thunderbolt experience with Tabac Aurea.


      • on July 2, 2010 at 6:25 PM Anne

        Wonderful! Thanks for the info, that’s most helpful. I’m thinking that when I can afford it I’ll put in a big sample order with SSS, and have a good play and a good think. Based on what I have smelled so far, I perceive that Laurie’s fragrances are full of character, but if that character does not love you – it’s a disaster. (I’m over the moon with her Jour Ensolleile.)

        It’s a pity for you about the Lauders. It’s great to have a fragrance line in your life that is inexpensive and accessible. I like several Lauders, but they please me rather than intrigue me. Sensuous is a scrubber. I’d rather wear vinegar.


      • on July 6, 2011 at 11:05 AM Myrt

        Laurie’s Velvet Rose is my go-to rose soliflore. I grow scented roses, so I love the big-armful-of-damask effect (although it’s not so big on me as it seems to be on our hostess!) and I’m a sucker for a realistic evocation of rose. On me it’s low-sillage (a must with my hypersensitive husband) at least as a dab, but my skin doesn’t hold top notes very long.

        On the other hand, Rose Musc does not work on me, and Vintage Rose is a distant second to Velvet.

        Speaking of one deal-breaking note–with me it’s heliotrope, so SSS Lieu de Reves is a scrubber, and even To Dream, about which many have been raving, is all screaming heliotrope on me.


      • on July 6, 2011 at 3:27 PM malsnano86

        Hi, Myrt! So you’re a Velvet Rose person? That one is very good. I found that I just was not wearing my small bottle, so I kept about 4ml for myself and sent the rest to a friend. I’ll still have enough Velvet Rose for those times when I really want ROSES. It is huuuuuge on me.

        Yes, I think there is a goodly amount of heliotrope in those other two – I don’t mind that note, as long as it isn’t that powdery cherry cough syrup of death that seems to pop up in some heliotrope fragrances. Or Play-Doh. Bleargh.


  4. on July 2, 2010 at 6:30 AM ScentScelf

    Lovely review, Mals. 🙂

    Of course, as a general non-screamer (Nahema, I’m wagging my finger at you and your neon-ness), I remain intrigued. Generally, the del Raes, even when I like them, are the kind that involves me keeping my arm at, well, an arm’s distance.

    And, like the commas in that sentence, that’s usually too much work. 😉

    So, I’ll keep an eye out for an opportunity to experience this particular Coup. Meantime, thanks for the pleasant read.


    • on July 2, 2010 at 7:46 AM malsnano86

      Glad you enjoyed, SS. It was difficult to write – I had such mixed feelings about the thing. I LOVE it for an hour, and then it just ticks me off by leaving. I feel so… unsatisfied. (That sounds vaguely dirty.)

      Have you ever read The Godfather? Most people have only seen the movies, but you’re a reader, so I ask.


  5. on July 2, 2010 at 5:47 PM Tamara*J

    So interesting Mals. I have yet to try this but your honest review makes me feel that there is plenty of time.

    I love roses in perfume but I realized I only care for them in a perfume that captures it while playing with others, not just by themselves.

    It has to have depth and other strong notes to woo me for another whiff.

    I have my soft spots for quiet sillage fragrances and the like but mostly I want to smell them on me and wafting around me, not in a offensive way but enough for me to know it’s there without hunting for it.

    You got me seriously wanting to try the Amoureuse though.

    Take care,
    T


    • on July 2, 2010 at 7:19 PM malsnano86

      T – oh, Amoureuse is definitely worth it. I need a decant of that one, my sample’s all gone. (Sigh.)

      Now, I don’t mind a nice rose soliflore – I don’t have to have other players in the scent. Having said that, though, some of my very favoritest rose scents have other notes in focus, too. L’Arte di Gucci is a stunning rose chypre (with some animalic notes in the base); Parfums de Rosine Rose d’Ete is a lightly sweet apple-rose; Parfum Sacre and Lyric Woman are both gorgeous rose-woods-incense fragrances. (I’ve gone into a lot of detail on rose things in my Bouquet of Roses post, if you want a list of rose scents.)

      I know what you mean about sillage – I don’t really like big sillage, but I like to be able to smell myself without trying to vacuum my wrist up through my nose…


  6. on July 7, 2010 at 3:19 AM marte

    I testet Coup de Foudre for the first time yesterday, and it was quite disappointing. In the beginning it reminded me of fabric softener or shampoo, and I prefer my roses a little darker and edgier. It’s very pretty however, and the drydown is beautiful. But in the end I found it boring and a bit too clean. I wish it was more gutsy and with more sillage, like the other DelRae scents. But it lasted forever on my skin, I could still smell the tiny drop this morning.

    You should try Mythique, it’s amazing. A warm, delicate, fruity iris scent that can be worn anytime, anywhere. Like a perfect pair of jeans, or a perfect summer dress. I’m craving a bottle.


    • on July 7, 2010 at 8:06 AM malsnano86

      Mythique is on my to-test list… people do seem to find it very comfortable.

      Sounds like you got more presence on your skin from CdF than I did – I was really annoyed at how quickly it disappeared. And yes, gutsier would have made it much more worthwhile for me.


  7. on July 21, 2010 at 1:54 PM AnnS

    Hi Mals! I really enjoyed your review, esp. the part from Godfather! How true and well written. I got to test this just the other day. It IS very pretty, but it only lasted for about 1 hour on my skin, and it seemed to morph many times in that one hour. First it was just a blast of the AG Rose Absolu which others have mentioned, and that is a GOOD thing. Next it was a watered down verion of PdN’s Rose Pivoine, which is a much better version of this same style super PRETTY pink peony roses and a dash of fruit. Then, very briefly, it was as if Cartier’s So Pretty came barging in the room – I think at a moment when the rose began to take a good shape and yield to the light moss. Then, just as I am busting out the credit card and beginning to pursuade myself I need *another* rose fragrance, it got all sour and disappeared. Poor sad thing. Is there a beautiful way to say that in Italian? Maybe lightening in this case is to imply brevity rather than passion – just a flash of exquisitely beautiful sunny roses. I highly recommend anyone disappointed in CdF to try the PdN Rose Pivoine. It is much better, lasts for many hours, comparitively richer, and a lot less expensive!


    • on July 23, 2010 at 9:01 AM malsnano86

      Hi, Ann – so late on replies, I’m sorry…

      I might have to check out Rose Pivoine. And the AG Rose Absolu. I was so disappointed in the longevity of this!

      (Meanwhile, I have this 10ml decant of CdF which I am using up. Maybe I should offer it for swap?)



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