Leathery Flesh by Maie Piou

What a perfume bomb, please! How can something with just three notes give me so much satisfaction? It’s like an ‘animalistic’ fight between dirty leather (not quite as much as GGAbsolute) and an exotic, green, creamy neroli, where saffron acts as the moderator, bringing order with a soft but noticeable spicy touch that blows your mind with those two big notes. Longevity and projection: don’t worry. This fragrance feels great for 8-9 hours without breaking your bank on atomizing. Hats off to Jean-Charles Sommerard and Clementine Humeau! Edit: Definitely this scent has me totally hooked. Be careful if you get a bottle or just a simple decant. Heads up.

So far, this is my favorite from the brand. I’m a declared fan of neroli, and this fragrance conquered me from the very first moment. I don’t want to overanalyze it; I just want to enjoy it. It’s a creamy neroli with a slightly green touch at the start, very pleasant and balanced. The saffron here comes across as spicier than in other Maie Piou perfumes, where it’s usually fresher, creating an interesting contrast with the floral sweetness of the neroli. There’s something intriguing: it’s the second perfume from the brand where I detect leather, though in this case, I’d like it to be perceived with more force. Maybe I’m olfactorily fatigued, or it’s a subtler leather. I would have loved for it to be a bit more animalic, but that’s just personal preference. Recommendation: buy blind without any issues. If you like creamy, elegant florals, especially with neroli and a spicy twist, it’s a great option.

LEATHERY FLESH kicks off with an aromatic and herbal accord that awakens the olfactory senses instantly, filling the air with greens from petit grain, angelica, and basil. This volatile opening marks the vitality of each ingredient just enough. The heart is the best part: it beats strongly with white and yellow flowers like sambac jasmine, neroli, and ylang-ylang, offering a sensual and sexy nuance. In perfect harmony, their petals mix shine, sweetness, and a mentholated touch with a creaminess that melts into the skin and, with body heat, becomes more intoxicating. It’s intense for nightwear, to hypnotize and awaken the animal instinct with great elegance. The base of dark woods, saffron, and spicy nuances creates an exotic luxury; along with ambroxan, it boosts the strength and gives the sensation that a layer of leather covers us, making you want to smell it constantly. As it dries, a soft caress of musk is noticed slightly, but the heart keeps beating until it vanishes completely.