TAUER PERFUMES
SOTTO LA LUNA GARDENIA

2014

PERFUMER
Andy Tauer

Gardenia

Gardenia
Green Notes
Rose

Gardenia
Vanilla
Tonka Bean
Sandalwood
Jasmine

When it comes to Tauer, I’d smelled them often in stores (with the famous L‘Air Du Desert Marocain being my favorite), but until recently, I never added one to my collection. And to be frank, I’m not sure if Gardenia will remain there long term (edit: it didn’t), but it’s a fun one. Read on to find out why.

Sotto La Luna Gardenia is one of the strangest floral scents in my memory. From start to finish, it’s a contrasting mix of almost gourmand sweetness and slightly green flower petals.

I have to admit that I don’t really know how gardenia smells aside from in other perfumes. Here the floral element is powdery, retro-smelling and the whole ordeal is sweet. I would argue this is as much or more so a vanilla fragrance than it is a floral gardenia.

From the opening you get this bready and milky, pastry-like vanilla and tonka. At the same time a dewy, greenish, soft flower lurks beneath it. It’s almost dusty powdery. The unusual combination got my attention in store, to the point where I bought it out right, but I haven’t really gotten used to it yet.

As it dries down there’s moments where I appreciate it more and the sandalwood base comes through. Like a floral and slightly cloying version of Frederic Malle Dries van Noten.

Gardenia is interesting and I find wearing it more of an exploration. I can see myself wearing this occasionally at home, as more of a contemplative scent, but less as a perfume to wear for others.