FRANCESCA BIANCHI
FREEFALL – LUXE CALME VOLUPTE

2021

PERFUMER
Francesca Bianchi

Bitter Orange
Tangerine

Galbanum
Tropical Fruits
Ylang-Ylang
Hyacinth

Iris
Benzoin
Vetiver
Opoponax
Sandalwood

‘An elegant yet intense fruity-floral ambery fragrance with fresh and green nuances, LUXE CALME VOLUPTE is a luxurious, opulent scent expressing the longing for a place of sensuous calmness, a suspension from daily worries, a break from human angst. In our historical moment, I felt the need to offer not a challenging, divisive creation but something which could bring comfort to the spirit, an invitation to connect to oneself and temporarily forget about the daily concerns. “Luxe Calme Volupté” is a recurring verse taken from Baudelaire’s beautiful poem Invitation au Voyage: There all is order and beauty, Luxury, peace, and pleasure. In this poem Baudelaire invites his lover to join him to an exotic place where they can live in calmness and peace, still reflecting his decadent aesthetic. Luxe Calme Volupté is also the name of a major painting by Henri Matisse – very dear to me – conveying the same ideas that have inspired my perfumes, i.e. the contraposition of calm and peaceful character from one side, sensuous and decadent elements on the other.’ – Francesca Bianchi

Before this release I’d only tried a couple of the heavier, and heavier-handed Bianchi releases and I must say I was pleasantly surprised by Luxe Calme Volupte. It’s uplifting, bright, but still has that ‘edge’ that I’ve come to expect from the brand. There’s an earthiness and a bit of a dirtiness to the florals in the opening. Combined with a slightly bitter green citrus.

Texture wise this is not a citrussy or fruity scent which you might expect given some of the notes. It leans heavy into the dry powdery vibe from the galbanum and iris, given this a more retro vibe. The closes I’ve smelled to Luxe Calme Volupte is Levent Seraglio, but this iris reminds me a bit of Xerjoff Irisss as well. However, this Bianchi is significantly more fruity and it has a tropical tinge.

That tropical fruit juice vibe sticks around for the entire wear, which is quite impressive. I’d say this was my favorite Bianchi until the release of Liberte Neroli and Unspoken Musk, which I think are even better.