Jo's Scent Notes: L'Occitane Flora Orchestra

Gosh. Is L’Occitane really about to be 50…? Apparently so. (Next year, anyway.) And earlier this summer, I was invited to celebrate at a truly beautiful, pastel-pretty dinner in Fitzrovia, where the fragrance collection’s new look was unveiled. Had to wait a bit, but they’re all now on sale – and what a beautiful line-up it is.

There are old faves and new scents, drawing inspo from the flora of Haute-Provence, where L’Occitane has its roots – and don’t they all look pretty, with their sugared almond-toned boxes and crystalline juices. The whole range now has a clean, fresh new look with a sort of dressing table vibe, just calling out to be put on display. (Out of sunlight, please – along with heat, that’s fragrance’s worst enemy.)

I have been lucky enough to sniff my way through the whole collection over the past few months, since that dinner. Fragrances like Fleurs de Cérisier, Rose and ultra-fresh Lavande were familiar to me – and never quite pushed my buttons.

But I’ve actually managed to find four fragrances in this newly rebranded ‘Flora Orchestra’ which I’m happily wearing – and also layering, because this is a collection you can really play around with to create personalised scent blends. (The collection’s name, of course, is a reference to how the vocabulary of scent echoes that of music – notes, harmonies, compositions…)

Perfumers have conniptions about this, believing their creations are perfect in their own right – but I’ve always believed it ramps up the fun factor, and there are honestly no rules. Indeed, I’ve found that if you layer things you like, chances are they’ll actually go together.

Of the new members of this ‘orchestra’, Glycine almost made the cut: based around wisteria and fresh green notes, it’s a perfect, pretty floral. But try as I might, I struggle to wear most floral scents on my skin, and the others that are real ‘keepers’ are mostly more aromatic and fresh in character. However, I recommend that you take yourself to a L’Occitane store and sniff your way through the collection to pinpoint your own faves, but here are mine. (And I very much like the fact they’re not ridiculously priced, meanwhile. £65 or £70 for 50ml eau de toilette isn’t pocket money, but it’s also not a rip-off.)

So, I’m loving…

Noble Epine (it translates as May blossom, from ‘noble thorn’) – pretty-pretty and almondy, this is the most feminine and quite the sweetest on my shortlist. If it was a fabric it would be pink checked gingham, but with a designer twist. It’s a little bit fuzzy and hazy and a little bit soapy and altogether not my usual thing at all, but I’m taken.

Lavande Poivre Noire – turns out this is a rebranding of a more masculine fragrance in the range, previously known as L’Occitan. It’s fresh, breezy, and I love the more-than-a-nose-tingle of black pepper. Now, if this was a fabric, it’d be blue denim.

Cédrat – previously also marketed mostly to men, but I love fresh, woody-aromatic scents, Lemony, salty, definitely woody when it dries down, this is literally a breath of fresh air, wonderful for perking up my mood or energy levels when they flat. (This was also formerly in the collection.)

Cèdre Encens – I’m saving the best for last, here. I absolutely love this, with its pencil-shavings of cedarwood (well, that’s what it smells like), alongside resinous incense notes and the soft sweetness of vanilla. Somehow, this feels perfect for this time of year and I’ve been spritzing on repeat. (Smells amazing layered with Noble Epine, by the way.)

The bottle designs themselves are based around Provençal stone arches and wooden doors (look closely!), now made of recyclable glass and aluminium lids.

All in all, rather marvellous, very modern-feeling – and absolutely fresh-in-every-way.

L’Occitane Noble Epine/£70 for 50ml – buy here

L’Occitane Lavande Poivre Noire/£65 for 50ml – buy here

L’Occitane Cédrat/£65 for 50ml – buy here

L’Occitane Cèdre Encens/£65 for 50ml – buy here