Thursday 20 May 2021

RIVIERA DRIVE by Atelier Des Ors

There is nothing I like more than packing a suitcase, picking up the plane tickets, and heading to the airport. The excitement of those new discoveries, the thrill of meeting up with old friends, and the urge to drive coastal roads once more almost carries you into your allocated seat. This year the thought of overseas travel will unfortunately simply remain a dream for many of us, but that doesn’t have to stop you hitching a scented flight to warmer climates. It's time to wind down the window, look out over the beautiful azure sea, and breathe in the aromas of the Côte d’Azur as we discover Riviera Drive from Atelier Des Ors.

Fragrance has always been described as having transportational powers, but this was mainly thought of in terms of time rather than place. A familiar scent was said to take you back to your youth, conjure up memories of a loved one, or even remind you of a risqué liaison. The collections that took travel as their inspiration are few and far between, and by that I mean they often didn’t survive. The two most notable successes must surely be the Gallivant range, under the direction of Nick Steward, and Sarah McCartney’s Vintage Cities. However, there’s always room for another holiday scent.

Atelier Des Ors launched in 2015 and immediately grabbed the public’s attention due to the exquisite craftsmanship of the bottle along with the incredible fragrances. Founded by Jean-Philippe Clermont, the company wanted to bring back the glamour that used to be associated with scent but also offer world-class perfumes. Jean-Philippe knew that the perfumer would be key to the company’s success and managed to secure the talents of Marie Salamange. Now Marie’s credits include the likes of Guerlain, Nina Ricci, and YSL, so it was clear from the outset that he was in very capable hands.

The Riviera Collection was the company's third range of fragrances and launched in 2019. They were very clear that they wanted specific inspirations to stay within each of the separate ranges, and this one took the famous Corniche roads that travel from Nice to Menton as its focus. Each of the three roads offer incredible views, promise wonderful destinations along their routes, and even conjure up the ghosts of Sixties glamour. Pomelo Rivieria presents a villa’s citrus grove, Riviera Lazuli takes you out in a sailing boat on the crystal waters, but Riviera Drive offers you the chance to make your own open-topped adventures.

The fragrance begins with a mouth-watering citrus blend of lemon, bergamot, and a touch of grapefruit, and this puts you squarely on the Côte d’Azur. The arrival of an aromatic rosemary and basil then hints at the herbaceous vegetation that surrounds the Corniche roads, and cedarwood adds a sun-scorched quality to the scent. A hint of clove and pine bring the image of the higher trees softly into view, and a whisper of the ocean reminds you of the route that we're taking. A galbanum-like aromatic is also present throughout but is joined by a delicate blend of peppered musk and patchouli, and this completes the perfect embodiment of scented summer adventures. Spritz, close your eyes, and I’ll see you in citrus-laden Menton.

Riviera Drive is available from the Atelier Des Ors website at atelierdesors.com and also Perfume Playground priced at £195 for 100ml. [Sample provided by Atelier Des Ors]

2 comments:

  1. Read this with my coffee and think you have captured the essence of this perfume beautifully. Wonderful review

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    1. Hello Stuart, thank you so much for your message. Transfering scent into words can be difficult, but it's much easier when the fragrance is as fantastic as Riviera Drive. Best wishes, Stephan

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