Par Amour / Par Amour Toujours (Clarins)

By Dane

I often dismiss fragrances from cosmetics companies. The biggies like Estee Lauder and Clinique seem to promote their new perfumes more than their new cosmetics, and they're smart to do so. Smaller outfits like Prescriptives and Clarins keep their signature fragrances tucked away in a corner for some reason, and it's a shame, because both have solidly crafted examples that could easily compete with the scents in glamorous, centre-stage displays.

Par Amour and its pinker cousin, Par Amour Toujours were released as scents for a mother and daughter. I have no idea why they focused on this particular situation to sell the scents, but there you have it. Both are excellent, subtle "skin scents" that are composed of high quality ingredients and I'd consider them both easy-to-wear, everyday fragrances.

Par Amour is the one that strikes me as the most unique. To simplify, it's a woody floral...the woods being cedar and sandalwood, and the floral being rose. Upon first sniff, things might seem very familiar, and in fact they are. Ormonde Jayne's beautiful Ta'if is not miles away, and and you might notice a bit of Guerlain's L'Instant Pour Homme (all three released around the same time). Where Clarins has the upper hand over OJ is in wearability. Ta'if is stunning, but can almost be too opulent for everyday use (not to mention expensive). Par Amour retains a transparency and subtlety that really captures me. Both have a fruity pink pepper note, both have a raspy wood base, and I'd imagine both contain a liberal dose of the synthetic Iso E Super.

Par Amour Toujours is exactly one octave higher than Par Amour. Again, something very familiar may hit you when you smell it for the first time. Parfums de Rosine's Un Zest de Rose focuses on the tart, citronella aspects of the rose. PAT uses a similar, but varied approach with a much brighter opening, softening to a very subtle rose and vanilla. PAT could almost be the topnotes to PA if they were combined, so it's almost as if a very complex, grand fragrances was split into two to give more option to the buyer. Clever.

Par Amour
Year: 2005
Perfumer: Raphael Haury
Notes: Pink Peppercorns, Blackcurrants, Ottoman Rose, Sandalwood, Benzoin

Par Amour Toujours
Year: 2005
Perfumer: Emilie Bouge
Notes: Rose, Peppercorns, Blackcurrant Buds, Raspberry

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