En Avril Un Soir
Yves Rocher (1976)

As I wear this during a month-long heat wave in July, I only wish it were but one April evening with summer only a distant concern. This green, sylvan aldehydic shimmer of a fragrance has florals that are impressionistic and soft-focus, pastel powder shades and brocade moss.

There is at first a polish, a lustre, if you will, to En Avril Un Soir that almost begs for a bit of coarseness, and by the dry down, it delivers: a warm wooden fond, a sharpened pencil cedar mingling with a mouth-watering sandalwood, with lingering glimmers of aldehydes and sweetness.

I want to transport myself from the current dystopian mess of a world to wherever this imaginary place exists.

This opens with a big burst of aldehydes & soapy white florals, with a greenish bite. As it settles, there's bergamot, woods & a faint patchouli along with the florals, & l swear there's an earthy musk here although it's not listed. The listed florals include orange blossom, rose, jasmine & freesia, but none of these stand out to me. What l do detect smells much closer to the green floral notes of hyacinth or narcissus. Seven hours in it's still going fairly strong.

This is a "lively" spring floral, which chimes with its name, although l think it's more suited to perking one up in the mornings than for wearing in the evening. lt reminds me of something from my distant past as well: a reviewer elsewhere mentioned Avon's Moonwind which l had as a child, so it could be that.