Folie de Figue
Esteban

Help! Another gorgeous but polite fig. A startlingly alive realization of fig leaf, rounded off by an accent of bay, over a base of fig bark and cedar. It's green, it's airy, it puts a spring in my step and would make for perfect summer wear. But alas, despite dousing myself, it keeps dying down to a murmur.

Another fig leaves prominent fragrance for the lovers of the genre on the side of Philosykos, Ninfeo Mio, Ferragamo Pour Homme, Figuier Heeley and others. The Foetidus's review is exaustive as ever and to me this is neither a yummy fig fragrance nor a typical flying, nostalgic and ethereal one. This is basically a solid green-woody scent with some floral elements,  bark and a notable cedarwood that produces a final touch of neutral powder. I smell more the fig's leaves and woods than the fruit itself and the juice lacks the typical resinous-sticky tasty fig temperament. A touch of musk may be present in the dry down that is too musky and opaque as usual for a fig scent. I don't smell in particular synthetic patterns and the juice is pleasant and finally comforting though a bit too shapeless and vague.

I enjoy this fragrance, but I don't think it smells as natural of fig leaf or tree as Diptyques's Philosykos or some others I've tried. Esteban's Folie de Figue is more of a stylized, abstract fig concept than it is “fig.” It represents the leaf, but also there is the bark and probably the fruit in the background. The basically green accord is well grounded in a neutral woody base. But there's something else besides fig in the mix: Something that changes a standard fig leaf green note to a brightly aromatic fig leaf green note. There's something like aldehydes in there, but it's not aldehydes. There's just a touch of synthetic in the mix but it's an interesting creation... for a while. Folie de Figue is pleasant and highly wearable. The striking green note lasts on my skin for about a half hour, but then the fragrance falls apart and for all purposes, disappears. Excellent beginning but lacks longevity and development.