Perfume Review: Parfums d'Orsay Le Dandy

The story of Parfums d’Orsay began when Count Alfred d'Orsay, a dandy, writer, painter, and sculptor, was exiled to London for supporting Louis XVIII. There he created a perfume called Eau de Bouquet (now known as Etiquette Bleue) for his lover Lady Blessington. The formula was re-discovered in 1865, and Parfums D'Orsay was established. Le Dandy was first released in 1922 (according to other sources, in 1923) and then re-created in 1998 by perfumer Dominic Preysass (author of Balenciaga Talisman and Shiseido Basala). If Le Dandy the fragrance were a man, and I was fortunate (?) to meet him, I would have fallen head over heals in love with him, no doubt about it. The perfume paints a “portrait of manhood and its ease of manner, rich as cigar smoke after Sunday dinner” (Louise Townsend Nicholl). Having said that, Le Dandy is entirely and enjoyably wearable for a woman. Its boozy darkness, its husky smokiness, its spicy sweetness make Le Dandy a rich, robust scent, but the notes are blended very smoothly, all the luxurious ingredients are tastefully understated, never over the top. The scent caresses the senses like the lushest of velvets. Though it has a note of whisky, Le Dandy actually makes me think of the sweeter aroma and the dark golden color of very fine, very expensive cognac. I adore the ginger note here; it adds exquisite spiciness and a piquant “bite” to the composition. The drydown is supremely elegant, the woody notes dry and almost leathery. All in all, Le Dandy is one of the most refined, sumptuous and enjoyable scents I have tried in a long time. Le Dandy is available at Beauty Café, $85.00 for 100ml. *The 2nd image is from sxc.hu.