This could be a one word review, and that word would be "yum."
But I'd only be short-changing you, so I'll tell you a little bit about Roger and Gallet's new Fleur d’Osmanthus Fresh Fragrant Water, from €17 for 30ml, shall I?
Conveniently, as this arrived from the brand I'd just shaken out the last drops of my bottle of L'Occitane Verbena Summer Secret. Now, they're not identical fragrances by any means; they're not even all that similar in a sniff comparison test except that both perfumes are quite green and fresh so they sit in and around the same sort of genre. Fleur d’Osmanthus has a little sweetness Verbena doesn't - but my nose likes it because there's none of the vanilla and honey that sweet scents so often - and frustratingly, for me - include.
Osmanthus itself is an evergreen shrub that's commonly found in Japan and China; it's not that widely used in fragrance but UK perfume house Ormonde Jayne has a scent dedicated to it. That brand describes it as a "a fruity floral white flower", and that's the best description I can find of the note. Otherwise, Roger and Gallet Fleur d’Osmanthus contains other scrummy bits like mandarin and grapefruit essential oils, orange zest and neroli on a base of tonka bean and sandalwood.
Basically, for a daytime spritz, it's light, fresh and very pleasant. As for its relative strength, well - it's below an EDT in intensity being described as a 'fresh fragrant water', so this stuff doesn't stay put for long. Then again, you're not paying eau de parfum prices - €17 for 30mls of a quality scent (yes, even if it is a fragrant water) is an OK price, I think.
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That's also why, I think, Roger and Gallet is so big on ancillaries. Each of the brand's perfumes comes with other bits and bobs for scent layering.
Fleur d’Osmanthus is no different: we've got 200ml moisturising fragrant body lotion, €13.50, Honey Shower Foam, €13.50, and 100g perfumed travel soap, €6. There's also a three-strong perfumed soap coffret for €13.50.
These make great presents - naturally, I don't have to tell you that the best presents they make are of the self-gifting variety. Get thee to a chemist near you if you feel like an under €20 indulge.
