Description
The initial idea, simple and beautiful, was to capture the particular scent champaca flowers gives off just before a storm…
To achieve this effect, a very special ingredient was needed. One that came as close as possible to the flower, a close relative of magnolia, and that could evoke the utter delicacy of its fresh, floral, slightly fruity facets. An outstanding essence of white champaca blossom, obtained through low-temperature fractional distillation with its natural waxes removed, carries us off to Réunion Island. The electric, ozone-laced air just before the storm is conjured with vetiver, pepper and Aldemone©, a synthetic molecule that smells of wide-open spaces after a rainfall.
A selection of silky, purring musks adds velvety smoothness to a base dominated by black tea absolute and Cashmeran. With Foudre (“Lightning”), Pierre Guillaume has created a textural, highly narrative woody floral: a wearable atmosphere. Foudre was launched in 2015.
SKWANT – :
well I kind of like it – due to the vetiver, which is rather earthy here. It is more feminine initially, later the pepper shows and turns into what I consider masculine. The initial blast is really lovely tho but that goes too fast and the drydown is just too soft and non descript to buy an full bottle.
I wouldn’t say this was dominant on the champaca, so champaca lovers may end up being bit disappointed.
AlletlyLymn – :
Really intensely fruity tea – so, I guess it’s all down to the effect of champaca, which was a new note on me. Kept chasing it around thinking it was plum, or apple, or damson, or blackberry – obviously none of those – it has the warm, sweet, yet slightly herbal aura you get off a cup of steaming hot fruit tea. Big and femme on me, which was something of a surprise. Slightly let down by the tea itself, which didn’t hang around long enough. Most pleasing but I couldn’t picture exactly the right sort of day for it. Lovely interlude though.
ahiguyoek – :
Wow! This smells like Le Feu by Issey Miyake …
zorro90 – :
The vetiver is the star of this perfume, it’s the strongest note on my skin. The cashmeran and musks add some freshness and like others have mentioned they create the illusion of the smell of rain or plants after a storm. This combination is more masculine than feminine, the champaca is very faint. Perfect for summer, it would also make a great introductory scent for men who don’t wear perfume.
SnotowhokNank – :
Smells very similar to Burberry Sport
dolganov – :
I LOVE this. The vetiver and spices give it a fresh zesty earthy feel but also sweet because of the champaca. Works really nicely.
tranzit – :
Lightning in a bottle? Well, more like joyful lightning spirit in a bottle; as if the lightning was cheeky and playful, like a beautiful TSA girl that smiles and winks at a little boy in the airport, enough to make him blush.
There is a candy-like grapefruit note in the opening, like a caramelized grapefuit in rhubard with a hint of pepper, that makes it quite fresh and uplifting. A bit like a really nice grapefruit shower gel energizing you for the beginning of your day.
There is afterwards an ozonic freshness that does indeed remind of a stormy weather, but not so cold and mineral, and gets more and more apparent as the fragrance settles down; The sweet citrus vibe is then toned down in favor of a peppery tea/vetiver soapiness.
So here’s the breakdown: sweet peppery citrus that slowly fades in favor of an ozonic tea vetiver. That’s it ! Simple but efficient, this could be worn in spring, or temperate summer, safe for office for both genders (a bit more masculine IMO).
A nice and clean summery fragrance, very “cruiseship travel” indeed! I think I just found my fun-loving and upbeat fragrance for work…