Lavande 31

Bergamot and neroli on top; lavender through the heart; musk, tonka bean, and amber in the base.

A deliberate refusal of the comfortable lavender-pillow-spray cliché. The opening is bergamot and neroli — citric, sharp. The heart is lavender, but rendered dry and aromatic rather than sweet. The base of musk, tonka, and amber gives the whole thing a slightly dirty, modern undertone that keeps the structure interesting on a long wear. Worn day or night, warmer weather especially, by anyone who has gotten tired of the soft, soapy lavender that has dominated the category since the late 1990s.