Even though I am swimming in new makeup, I need to tell you about Parfums de Nicolaï Number One Intense Eau de Parfum ($45-130, depending on size and source). Its beauty stunned me. I bought it solely by its description and the love affair I have started with Patricia de Nicolaï's fragrances.Number One Intense is a beautiful floral bouquet of white flowers for which Patricia de Nicolaï became the first woman to win the coveted Mouillette d’Or for Best International Perfume Creator when Number One debuted in 1989. Long-lasting and of outstanding elegance, it sings "intense," creating the sensation of a room full of white flowers with no expense spared - infinitely romantic and provocative.
The moment I sprayed Number One Intense, I was reminded of Joy, a classic I adore. This one has the same voluptuous intensity and presence as Joy, without the enormous price tag.
You may love LuckyScent's description as much as I did.
A luminous, exquisitely crafted white floral. Jasmine, tuberose, and orange blossom weave in and around each other like the mesmerizing blur of the white tulle skirts of the corps de ballet. They waltz, they leap, they merge into an idealized white flower that is not any one of these blooms, but a flower found in a dream. Refined and elegant, this would suit a sylphide or a royal bride equally well.
Number One Intense, with a high concentration of natural oils, has top notes that are green and fruity: tagetes (marigold) oil and galbanum oil, which adds an intense green scent. It's heart contains jasmine, tuberose, orange blossom, ylang ylang, rose, and cassia absolutes. With that news, I went into "steady my heart" mode. The bottom notes are woody, which surprises me because they do not dominate this floral on dry down. They are sandalwood oil and oakmoss absolute with a touch of amber. Anna, if you are out there, this is your fragrance - mine too. You won't find the rose at all distracting from the white flower fiesta.
You can learn more about Patricia de Nicolaï and her amazing fragrances at her Web site. Clarisse, there's a boutique in Paris at 45, rue des Archives (we need a full report)! You can purchase Number One Intense at Beautyhabit and LuckyScent, possibly Amazon too. I need to order Rose Intense Eau de Parfum next. I'm on a Patricia de Nicolaï roll.
Thank you for allowing me the timeout from makeup. I'll be right back at it later today. Four boxes came yesterday - on top of four shopping bags from Neiman Marcus! I'm in a cosmetics coma - I see colors when I shut my eyes, perhaps a good time to volunteer for an OCD clinical trial. Anyone want to join me?
Photo courtesy of Beautyhabit