Anatole Lebreton has stunned us for years with inspired, romantic, grown-up fragrances that confidently walk the line between vintage glamour and modern artistry; it should therefore come as no surprise that his first vanilla scent is unlike any other vanilla we've smelled before. Fleur Cachee is an exotic dream of a 15th century Portuguese caravel ship laden with spices and precious woods, berthing at a bustling trading port to unload its goods. The vanilla in question is actually two distinctive specimens: an indulgently rich vanilla absolute, and a more floral, spicy CO2 extraction, which combine to create a vanillic profile as elegant as aged liquor, smoothing and gaining complexity and bouquet as it interacts with the spicy, citric pop of timut pepper and the grassy herbaceousness of fenugreek. Turmeric lends its own intensely savory spice, while the warmth of the balsamic woods in the heart and base notes balance gourmand richness. For centuries, the spice trade between Europe and Asia brought together the world's most distinctive ingredients with often novel results. Fleur Cachee is a truly unique vanilla that glows with the rewards of this serendipity.
