ISABELLE LARIGNON
Mandi Rhubi
2025
PERFUMER
Isabelle Larignon
bergamot
sweet orange
lime
green mandarin
black pepper
juniper
elemi
rhubarb
blackcurrant
galbanum
cedarwood
cypress
Vetiver
‘A fresh, green and sparkling fragrance for Ladies and Gentlemen longing for summer and wild herbs! Mandi Rhubi is an ode to joy. Its zesty fruits are like sunshine on your skin, its greenness is a call from nature… A joyful fragrance, Mandi Rhubi is an eau de vie that infuses like a Gin Tonic! It’s the genius of the party, the sensuality of summer nights. It’s that magical, intense moment ephemeral moment of a vertical dance that expresses a horizontal desire…’ – Isabelle Larignon
I’ve appreciated Milky Dragon for some years and finally met with Isabelle during Paris Perfume Week in 2025, where I tried her latest launch, Mandi Rhubi. A surprisingly fruity-smelling fragrance on first impression, which I was on the fence about (which is part of the reason Isabelle was so kind to send over a travel spray for me try and review more properly).
And this is an interesting perfume overall. The louder, more vibrant tropical fruits are really just for the opening and they fade quickly. Whereas a sharp, citrussy fruitiness lingers along with increasingly green and earthy tones.
Mandi Rhubi reminds me of the more common grapefruit-cannabis blends, but less… obnoxious? It feels very natural. I was reminded of oily and soily hands one would have from working in a garden, but in other moments of a cleaner, aloe vera shampoo.
It’s grassy, glossy, vibrant, but more so vibrant in a plant manner, than a fruity manner. Or perhaps, like growing fruits in a garden; the outside of the skins, the earth, roots, plants etc. attached, not clean, sliced, store-bought fruits. Maybe it’s because my mind went in this direction, but at one point I started picturing hints of basil and tomato leaf.
I get a lot of vetiver, but it never feels too earthy, never feels woody, muddy, nutty or even sweet. I don’t get the gin tonic, sparkling vibe per se, but I do get a constant invigorating, clear quality, as mentioned, in a fresh green-zesty shampoo direction.
Definitely on the grassy green side for my personal taste, but I was intrigued by the smell. It retains all of its sharpness, clarity and acidity throughout, making it excellent for warmer weather.