HAROLD & MAUDE
DELICIEUSEMENT SENSUELLE

2023

PERFUMER
Nejla Barbir

TURKISH ROSE
JASMINE
ORANGE BLOSSOM
TUBEROSE
INCENSE
CINNAMON
SAFFRON

VANILLA ABSOLUTE
WOODY NOTES
MUSK

‘A carnal, addictive perfume, to be worn on the skin. Its floral, warm and voluptuous heart composed of Turkish rose, Egyptian jasmine, orange blossom and heady Indian tuberose, is reinforced by spicy notes of cinnamon and saffron, then incense, dark and bewitching. The base is a sublime moment, when the irresistible vanilla absolute is magnified by the accords of wood and musk! – Harold And Maude

The brand launched in 2023 and all their fragrances are created by Nejla Barbir, who worked on Dior Dune (1991). Now I have a chance to cover 3 of their releases, courtesy of the brand. 1 that I already knew I liked, 1 that is great, but less up my alley and this, Delicieusement Sensuelle, the (pleasant) surprise.

This fragrance opens quite bright. A lot of florals are listed, but I also get a sharp, bitter acidity from a fruitiness up top. Texture-wise, this feels more modern and the opening reminded me a bit of something that you could find in the YSL Libre line or perhaps closer, BDK Pas Ce Soir, with a lot of orange blossom. Which is to say, pleasant, but I wasn’t completely sold instantly.

Giving it a mere few minutes however, it gradually smooths out and the vanilla starts to come through as the star of the show. You keep a lot of the floral nuances and a general traditionally feminine leaning tinge, but this rather quickly turns into a vanillic skin scent that I greatly enjoy.

As soon as the acidity begins to fade, Delicieusement Sensuelle starts to remind me of the drydown of fragrances like Guerlain Gourmand Coquin. Or perhaps, a more feminine leaning Dior Bois D’Argent. Ever so slightly smoky and spicy, but overall, mostly a powdery vanilla in the later drydown.