Cantate by Yves Rocher

As I’ve mentioned before, my mother and I were absolutely obsessed with Yves Rocher perfumes back in the 90s. This was one of our favourites; we bought them in large bottles and minis, both EDT and EDP. Spotting a vintage 30ml sealed bottle on Vinted for €10, I simply couldn’t resist the nostalgia. It has been a delight, although as it’s the Parfum version we never used, it doesn’t quite bring back the exact memory. It’s floral and slightly vintage. The rose is very well-developed, with a touch of geranium, settling into a powdery iris with a hint of green. Then the spices come through, with strong cinnamon and, above all, osmanthus, which surprises me as it’s rarely rated highly because I detect it so strongly; it reminds me of Amouage’s Sunshine and adds a peachy note. The base is woody and becomes mossy over time. Sillage is moderate and it lasts 8-9 hours on skin, leaving a trace on clothes for several days. I love it but I know our relationship will be short-lived as I use it a lot and the bottle lacks a sprayer, having to be applied with the cap. Scent 7.5/10 Longevity 8.5/10 Sillage 7/10 Value for money -/10 Versatility 8/10 Packaging 8/10 Would I buy again? Yes

I picked up a miniature after reading it was similar to Putain des Palaces, which I tried and fell in love with. The price piqued my curiosity. They share notes, but Cantate lacks the powdery and leather touches that give Putain its strength and elegance, which this one misses. It’s not a bad fragrance (though it doesn’t last long), but compared to Putain, which I’ve fallen in love with, it falls short.

It has something that reminds me of Carmen by Victorio & Lucchino, but both are delicious and elegant. I have a bottle of Cantate with perfume at the bottom that has turned into an extract oil and I don’t wear it because this beauty is no longer available. I adore its cinnamon and osmanthus notes, so well-structured and complex; what a pity it’s no longer obtainable.