WHAT I SMELL:  Pichola opens with a light, soft combination of magnolia and tempered spice.  It’s like a whisper that meets the back of your neck with a breath of  tenderness.  In a couple of minutes that whisper opens to what feels like dawn, or the rising of the sun.  You can feel the perfume becoming brighter, more radiant and alive.  The blending of the notes makes it difficult to distinguish individual notes, but that’s a good thing because together they paint such a beautiful picture.  The florals are front and center of the perfume, but they are subdued, rather gentle and oh so pretty and graceful.  After 15 minutes or so, the florals begin to grow, becoming more lush and slightly sweeter with the jasmine most pronounced along with a creamy ylang-ylang.  The sandalwood provides a touch of dimension under the budding florals.  As the perfume continues to grow, the creaminess expands to create a milky wrap around the florals as if it’s trying to contain the uncontainable burgeoning blossoms.  I keep waiting for the florals to explode, but instead they blossom and grow large without shouting.  The perfume culminates in this creamy haze of floral and lightly woody and sweet delightfulness.

From the Neela Vermeire Creations website:

Lake Pichola is the crown jewel and central focus of the princely city of Udaipur. A myriad of colourful historic, architectural and spiritual re!ections fall on this splendid water body – the sunlight and moonlight of each season bringing out the eternal and timeless beauty of Lake Pichola. Our latest fragrance captures such countless re!ections on the lake from the past to the present – showcasing the splendour of opulent and vibrant flowers, princely spices and precious woods taking us on an unforgettable and hypnotic fragrant journey. Once you have experienced the diverse and stunning beauty of these indescribable re!ections you will understand the true meaning of timeless luxury and e”ortless beauty….

TOP NOTES Cardamom, cinnamon, saffron, juniper, magnolia, neroli oil, clementine, bergamot

HEART NOTES Orange blossom absolute, rose absolute, tuberose absolute, Jasmine sambac, ylangylang

BASE NOTES Benzoin absolute, sandalwood, driftwood, vetiver from Haiti

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  Daybreak.  The sun, warmth and quietness opening up to a new and glorious day.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE PICHOLA:  reflective, jeweled, comforting

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT PICHOLA:  Kafkaesque, The Goodsmellas, Persolaise

BOTTOM LINE:  Pichola is the quiet cousin of the fantastic Bombay Bling.  Both are incredibly uplifting floral beauties and there is an unmistakable connection in their composition.  But, Pichola is more restrained and subdued.  It’s as if the Bombay Bling party has ended and it’s time for some down time to reflect on the excitement of the day.

• Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
• Scent: Oriental Floral
• Nose:  Bertrand Duchaufour
• Classification: Unisex
• Expense: Launching in April 2015 in the US. EU residents can place orders via the Neela Vermeire website for 205 Euros for 60ml.

Sample courtesy of Neela Vermeire Creations.