OSMANTHE LIU YUAN (Le Jardin Retrouvé) | Review & Impression
OSMANTHE LIU YUAN
MAXENCE MOUTTE
2023
France
Mandarin Blackcurrant Green Notes
Osmanthus Jasmine Iris
Peach Apricot Patchouli Leather Musk
CONCEPT
The fragrance takes its name from the Liu Yuan garden in Suzhou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and considered one of the four most beautiful gardens in China. This “garden of nonchalance” combines pavilions, rocky hills, bodies of water, bridges, and ancient trees in a composition where architecture and nature converse.
As you stroll through this garden, one imagines the scents of magnolias, fruit trees, ginkgos, and bonsais blending with the warm air and the reflection of the water. Osmanthe Liu Yuan translates this spirit into fragrance: a sun-drenched, fruity, floral, and soothing garden in which you can wander without hurry.
For Maxence Moutte, osmanthus is much more than a distant flower: its apricot facet reminds him of homemade jams, overripe peaches, and late afternoons in Provence. While working with this material, he sought to capture the simple, radiant joy of southern gardens, adding a sophisticated leathery and woody touch.
Osmanthe Liu Yuan thus becomes an olfactory bridge between the Liu Yuan garden in Suzhou and the Provençal landscapes of his childhood. This dual origin – China and Provence – explains the sunny, gourmand, and yet very delicate character of this garden fragrance.
Le Jardin Retrouvé Official Website: https://lejardinretrouve.com/blogs/gardens-and-fragrances-of-the-world/osmanthe-liu-yuan?srsltid=AfmBOorRLtsktDeKEZceGMg_EzUXnpK0cIvc_4RZ5yWFIKJwgWaZoSEb
THOUGHTS
Osmanthe Liu Yuan is a fragrance characterized by an osmanthus note blended with citrus, evoking the tranquility of a Chinese garden. The top notes open with the fresh brightness of mandarin, which gradually gives way to the gentle sweetness of blackcurrant. This sweetness reminds me of the slightly sugary scent of ramune candy from childhood, bringing back nostalgic memories.
As the fragrance develops, osmanthus slowly emerges, and the scent begins to take on a more distinctly oriental atmosphere. Jasmine and iris soon join in, enhancing the floral character and creating the impression of a serene garden. However, osmanthus remains the clear protagonist throughout the composition.
Gradually, fruity nuances of apricot and peach appear, adding a soft sweetness. On my skin, however, the base note of leather becomes more prominent than the fruity aspects, giving the fragrance depth and balance. The presence of leather prevents the sweetness from becoming excessive, resulting in a natural and refined finish.
The combination of osmanthus and leather initially made me think of Siam 1928’s Mekha Aranya, but the two fragrances turned out to be entirely different. Mekha Aranya contains honey, making it richer and more syrupy, whereas Osmanthe Liu Yuan is distinguished by its citrusy brightness, which evokes a slightly European, particularly French, elegance.
Osmanthe Liu Yuan is an elegant osmanthus fragrance that harmonizes East and West, reminiscent of a quiet garden.
JAPANESE SUMMARY
Osmanthe Liu Yuanは、中国の静かな庭園を思わせるシトラスと金木犀が調和した香りです。マンダリンとブラックカラントの爽やかでほのかな甘さから始まり、やがて金木犀を中心にジャスミンやアイリスが加わり、落ち着いたフローラルへと変化します。アプリコットやピーチの甘さに加え、レザーが深みを与え、甘すぎない洗練された印象に仕上がります。東洋と西洋が調和した、上品で静かな雰囲気の金木犀の香りです。
AVAILABILITY
- Le Jardin Retrouvé Official Website: https://lejardinretrouve.com/products/osmanthe-liu-yuan-fragrance
