WHAT I SMELL: Sensual Orchid opens with this gourmand almond which is lightly sweet and a bit candied, mixed with a wonderful floral bouquet. The fragrance seems to dances of your skin in this rather bright and melodic way. I love how cheerful it is to me in the first few minutes. As the fragrance starts to settle it becomes more grounded with a warmish base that helps to radiate the floral aspects. At first I was thinking, where the sensual aspects of this? But after around five minutes you can see where it is…it’s slinky, sexy and has a “come hither” feeling to it. After around fifteen minutes, Sensual Orchid starts becoming bigger; a combination of a sweet vanilla, coconut and a gourmand floral that’s really explodes off of the skin. The fragrance then stays in this sweetened state through the dry down, with a little less projection and just a slight bit of soapiness.
From the LM Parfums website:
Like a model on a fashion show catwalk, Sensual Orchid captivates your senses with its incredible aromas. This second essence of perfume will take you to the front of the stage. The carnal pleasures evoked by this sumptuous arrangement of natural sophisticated fragrances awake all the sensuality surrounding. This sweet bouquet of fragrances will exhilarate you..
A first subtle scent of citrus fruit and Almond leads you into a refined heart of orchid, jasmine sambac, lysilang, peony and heliotrope then leaves a voluptuous final touch made of Vanilla, Musk, Blonde Wood, White Cedar Wood, Labdanum and Benzoin.
TOP NOTES : Mandarin, Almond, Nerolii
HE ART NOTES: orchid, Jasmine Sambac, Lisylang, Peony, Heliotrope
BASE NOTES : Vanilla, Musk, Blonde Wood, White Cedar Wood, Labdanum, Benzoin
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: pink satin sheets
THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE SENSUAL ORCHID: sweetened, rounded, obvious
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT SENSUAL ORCHID: Kafkaseque, CaFleureBon
BOTTOM LINE: I had heard a great buzz about this fragrance and when I was in NYC for Sniffapalooza I really wanted to check it out, only to find that Osswald was out of stock. Luckily a fragrant friend sent me a sample. I think this is a case where I was expecting the world, but it just wasn’t meant to be. You can tell from my writing above that my journey started with promise, but then dwindled to more of a “I like it.” To me, Sensual Orchid is extremely feminine which isn’t a bad thing; but it’s just a bit too sweet for my taste. However, not being familiar with the LM Parfums line, I am looking forward to testing out some of their other creations.
- Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
- Scent: Oriental Floral
- Nose: Jerome Epinette
- Classification: Leans feminine
- Expense: $225 for 100ml Parfum Extrait
The Scented Hound 
November 25, 2013 at 7:11 am
I haven’t tried this one yet but sounds good to me. Too bad it’s so utterly expensive.
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November 26, 2013 at 6:47 pm
I know, if only we had unlimited amounts to purchase without thought. But then nothing would be special I guess. But I look at the price and for 100ml of Parfum Extrait…I really don’t think that’s such a bad price. Now if you would have asked me a couple years ago before getting into niche perfumes, I would have told you that the price was craziness!
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November 25, 2013 at 3:00 pm
It is definitely a very feminine fragrance. 🙂 It sounds much more gourmand on your skin than on mine, though. I’m rather glad I didn’t get as much sweetness as you did. LOL. Thank you for the link love, my dear Mr. Hound.
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November 26, 2013 at 6:48 pm
My dear… I know this is such a love for you and I can see how you would like it. But you’re right, it did get very sweet and gourmandy on me which wasn’t bad, just not something that was meant for me. That just means there so much more for you 🙂
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November 26, 2013 at 6:54 pm
Please, no worries at ALL, Mr. Hound. We all have different skins, so different experiences. And, yes, I do really like Sensual Orchid. A lot! But it isn’t Twu Wuv forever. In other words, I don’t feel about it the way you do about Rubj, another fragrance where our skin differences led to very. diff. outcomes. 😉 😛 But don’t worry, we always have Fate! (Actually, to be more precise, YOU have Fate. Heh. Lucky devil.) Big smooches.
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November 27, 2013 at 5:52 am
Ahhh, Fate… such a love 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving my dear.
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November 26, 2013 at 5:10 am
I won a sample of this on Kafka’s blog. I don’t recall it being as foody as it seems on you. I did get some sweetness but it seemed more floral to me. My allergies were acting up though so I should probably try it now and see if it veers more into the gourmand zone.
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November 26, 2013 at 6:48 pm
P – did you like it though when you tested it?
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November 3, 2016 at 6:33 pm
I have just now tried a sample of Sensual Orchid based on the irresistible review at Kafkaesque – and my experience mirrors yours, Hound. Very sweet, very almond. I’m grateful to both of your reviews (especially this one which helped me put words on the notes that I am getting), since I’m so new to all of this… and it’s so much fun!
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November 5, 2016 at 4:00 pm
Jasmine…I see you’re in the discovery phase which means that you’re falling down the perfume rabbit hole. Enjoy the ride, just take it slow…there’s plenty to choose from and you never know which road you’ll end up going down!
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