L’ARTISAN PARFUMEUR
BANA BANANA

2019

PERFUMER
Celine Ellena

Violet
Mace
Pepper

Banana Flower
Iris
Jasmine

Amber
Tonka Bean
Musk

Banana is not a note you come across often, let alone as namesake for the fragrance. L’Artisan is no stranger to unique compositions and here they managed to pull off an actual banana scent in a non-gimmicky way.

The banana is only prominent in the opening. I get a mixture of styles. A lifelike banana (more so from the outside, rather than peeled. Perhaps more unripe than sweeter and riper, with some light green touches. But it also makes me think of a fresher, banana yoghurt or ice-cream a bit.

It’s sweet, but not overly so and it’s clean. As mentioned, the banana doesn’t last past the opening (although I can somewhat picture it throughout if I try really hard). After 15-20 minutes a combination of (candied) violet and powdery iris comes through. The fragrance that it reminds me of the most is Pharrell x Comme Des Garcons GIRL; with a similar violet, but the L’Artisan is sweeter, brighter and much smoother (it feels better constructed I’d say).

While it starts more on the fresh side, kind of like a shampoo or lotion to me, it grows at the same time cleaner, more powdery, yet also sweeter in resinous way . Violet is the most prominent note and while I think all the real magic is in those opening minutes, the drydown is also pretty solid in my opinion. A fun and remarkably versatile fragrance.