Yes, Sexy Angelic is actually the name of the perfume by the natural perfume house, Honoré des Pres and not the latest vile concoction that Victoria’s Secret likes to call perfume. Honoré des Pres is headed up by the perfumer Olivia Giacobetti, best known for her soft and ethereal perfumes at L’Artisan Parfumeur and Diptyque, notably their hugely popular fig scents (Premier Figuier & Philosykos respectively) which were among the first perfumes to feature a fig note and they reached cult status before becoming true classics in the perfume world. But clear and gentle scents are her hallmark, and she continues to please & deliver with Sexy Angelic.
Immortality, Henri Fantin-Latour |
Sexy Angelic is a bit of a twist on the name of one of the ingredients, angelica, which is a leafy green plant with poufy blossoms prized for their scent. It is a an odd scent, often compared to musk or juniper, and even a slight anise accord. Not everyone smells the anise note- I feel like the angelica takes on a musk shape shifty quality meaning everyone smells their own special scent with this….There are also notes of hemlock flowers. Now, everything I have read about hemlock flowers implies they are the same plant as angelica so perhaps they are just mentioning different parts of the same plant they use. At any rate, there is also almond and “freshly baked calisson ( a sweet buttery french candy like marzipan) accord”. The almond note makes me think of an expensive French almond soap and reminds me a wee bit of the divine L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream (deserves a post of its own…coming soon…) so if you can imagine sweet and soft with a clean but not too clean scent, then you know what I mean.
calisson…mmmm |
Hemlock/Angelica |
Angelica seeds…. |
So this perfume is sweet and foody but in the gentlest way. It is all natural and quite soft so getting Angelic from angelica is not a stretch at all. Is it sexy? Well….the soft musk note is sweet and dries down to a yummy skin scent that makes you want to lean in and smell more, maybe even taste it. So yes- sexy. It is a simple scent and dries down nicely. You will not offend anyone in a crowded elevator with this one, and it is perfect for those that like their perfumes gentle and quiet. It is elegant in its understated way and has become a favourite in my rotation. I love to wear it to bed, and also when I don’t want to think too hard about my perfume. I love it and it has earned a permanent place in my collection.
Good clean & sweet fun…. |
Honoré des Pres is not the easiest to track down but this should help narrow it down.