L'Envol de Cartier Eau de Parfum, from Cartier was released in 2016. The perfumer behind this creation is Mathilde Laurent. It has the top notes of Artemisia, Lavender, and Sage, middle notes of Pepper and Violet Leaf, and base notes of Amberwood, Cedarwood, Guaiac Wood, Honey, Iris, Musk, Patchouli, and Vetiver.
I'm a bit shocked to discover that this is intended for men. I actually wasn't sure if it was a unisex but I'd figured L'Envol more like a feminine fragrance from the EDP concentration, the overall look of the packaging and the initial smell. I say initial smell, because I began to think it might be a unisex or aimed at men and if it is... wow is this brave and pretty classic, the Shalimar comparisons being very well founded. I think it opens up with a figgy sort of smell (although that could be the wet, earthiness of patchouli), coupled with honey and a floral musk and a civet type element. For the record I'm not a fan of this combination of animal, floral, honied notes most of the time but as a perfume fan I can't help feeling it screams a certain amount of quality. Cartier have made something classical from the last 100 years of (largely feminine) perfumery and squarely aimed it at modern man and they have to kinda be admired for that considering this goes against recent trends but I suppose everything comes in cycles and this sort of thing was perhaps due a renaissance. I mean puritans might say that this IS indeed, modern rubbish and not comparable to the likes of Shalimar but in essence that is what I took from it. The great thing about it too was L'Envol's ability to mellow and grow on me in the dry down, becoming a much warmer and more resinous iris and patchouli skin scent. Just a brief comment on the bottle, I thought it was a little gimmicky at first especially for Cartier but after being initially striking is really quite a thing to behold when you look at it for a minute or so. That design is not really something I've seen although mildly reiniscent of the recent CK release this is a much classier affair. Sadly I don't like enough of this fragrance to wear it but I take my hat off for Cartier reimagining men's fragrance with an interesting release which does eventually enter territory I enjoyed but only after several hours, which I suppose just speaks to the good longevity. I have a feeling this one will have folks divided but please do try because you never know L'Envol might just surprise you.
I dunno what happened here? I must not have given the EDT a fair crack of the whip because I dismissed it as a vaguely honey covered fig, a sort of non event of a fragrance really. Except for the bottle which is truly a unique thing to behold...in a picture. I'm afraid the execution leaves something to be desired, I think it's the plastic outer which I accept has to be made of plastic but just makes it seem a bit cheap and I'm no snob. Anyway this EDP was actually really nice opens kind fresh, floral and not immediately knowable. Then the violet and iris accord grows and it's classy, doesn't quite have the satin, cosmetic feel orris or iris can but hints at it. Couple that with a overt violet note and even a slight petrol tinge...can you see where I'm going with this? There's a classy powdered leather and yes It resembles Fahrenheit. However the sweetness and greek, honied fig and perhaps some vanilla? takes it more into Fahrenheit parfum territory but L'Envol EDP is less heavy and more aerated. I liked it, developed too just becoming a nice warm skin scent. This is better than many designer releases which is kind what Cartier do isn't it? Longevity was acceptable wouldn't call it good.
I'm a bit shocked to discover that this is intended for men. I actually wasn't sure if it was a unisex but I'd figured L'Envol more like a feminine fragrance from the EDP concentration, the overall look of the packaging and the initial smell. I say initial smell, because I began to think it might be a unisex or aimed at men and if it is... wow is this brave and pretty classic, the Shalimar comparisons being very well founded. I think it opens up with a figgy sort of smell (although that could be the wet, earthiness of patchouli), coupled with honey and a floral musk and a civet type element. For the record I'm not a fan of this combination of animal, floral, honied notes most of the time but as a perfume fan I can't help feeling it screams a certain amount of quality. Cartier have made something classical from the last 100 years of (largely feminine) perfumery and squarely aimed it at modern man and they have to kinda be admired for that considering this goes against recent trends but I suppose everything comes in cycles and this sort of thing was perhaps due a renaissance. I mean puritans might say that this IS indeed, modern rubbish and not comparable to the likes of Shalimar but in essence that is what I took from it. The great thing about it too was L'Envol's ability to mellow and grow on me in the dry down, becoming a much warmer and more resinous iris and patchouli skin scent. Just a brief comment on the bottle, I thought it was a little gimmicky at first especially for Cartier but after being initially striking is really quite a thing to behold when you look at it for a minute or so. That design is not really something I've seen although mildly reiniscent of the recent CK release this is a much classier affair. Sadly I don't like enough of this fragrance to wear it but I take my hat off for Cartier reimagining men's fragrance with an interesting release which does eventually enter territory I enjoyed but only after several hours, which I suppose just speaks to the good longevity. I have a feeling this one will have folks divided but please do try because you never know L'Envol might just surprise you.
I dunno what happened here? I must not have given the EDT a fair crack of the whip because I dismissed it as a vaguely honey covered fig, a sort of non event of a fragrance really. Except for the bottle which is truly a unique thing to behold...in a picture. I'm afraid the execution leaves something to be desired, I think it's the plastic outer which I accept has to be made of plastic but just makes it seem a bit cheap and I'm no snob. Anyway this EDP was actually really nice opens kind fresh, floral and not immediately knowable. Then the violet and iris accord grows and it's classy, doesn't quite have the satin, cosmetic feel orris or iris can but hints at it. Couple that with a overt violet note and even a slight petrol tinge...can you see where I'm going with this? There's a classy powdered leather and yes It resembles Fahrenheit. However the sweetness and greek, honied fig and perhaps some vanilla? takes it more into Fahrenheit parfum territory but L'Envol EDP is less heavy and more aerated. I liked it, developed too just becoming a nice warm skin scent. This is better than many designer releases which is kind what Cartier do isn't it? Longevity was acceptable wouldn't call it good.