Magnolia by Daniel Josier

They sell me magnolia here, but it smells like nothing at all. In fact, I’m baffled that anyone else can detect it. My nose must be a factory-made ornamental plug, because even the citrus notes aren’t making an appearance. Don’t get attached, though; this is a floral, and besides, it’s quite sweet, though the source of that sweetness remains a mystery. I’ll blame the Indian neroli. I also detect a slightly cooked fruity note that I couldn’t identify at first but eventually did; it brought back memories. It took some effort, but I found it. It smells exactly like Clamoxyl—the powdered kind I didn’t know the name of when I was little, but which smelled like strawberry or something similarly sweet and synthetic to me. Mr Josier christened it Magnolia; he could have called it Fresisuis with equal accuracy. Patchouli? Vetiver? Where? I’m infinitely relieved by this absence. I must admit, I decided to buy it precisely because of that Clamoxyl scent (and a good offer), which I find very fun and different from what I currently own. However, no one should buy this unless they are paying a super price, because it is as ephemeral as the invisible magnolia it carries. The box, which has a poor shadow so you can’t see it well, states ‘eau de parfum’ clearly. I mention the poor shadow because it’s the kind of box that opens like a DeLorean; if you grab it carelessly, the bottle goes to the floor. By the way, the bottle is ugly, though not as much as the cap. What on earth is the cap? It weighs a ton, as if it wants to jump headfirst out of the DeLorean box. I would urgently propose a change of packaging for their line, because as a niche brand, they leave much to be desired in both quality and aesthetics. In summary, it’s a nice perfume, a ‘cute little floral’ disguised as niche, in an ugly bottle. I genuinely like Daniel Josier; he truly does. He has perfumes that are very good, such as Interdit Absente (which, as they won’t discontinue), but he needs to be pushed, otherwise he will rest on his laurels, and we don’t want that. Mr Josier, if you are among us, get rid of Josune first; no matter how much love you profess for her, she is a La Vie Est Belle. Leave Absente alone and put more magnolia in Magnolia. But the most important thing is: CHANGE THE PACKAGING!!

Describing my favourite Daniel Josier is difficult because it moves me, and I only want to enjoy it without thinking, letting myself be carried away. Magnolia doesn’t just delight me; it hypnotises me and keeps me trapped between its petals. I am a fanatic of dense, spiced oriental perfumes, but Magnolia is exactly the opposite: delicacy, subtlety, freshness, softness, and brightness—an ethereal character impossible to ignore. It reveals its beauty petal by petal: first, delicious and sparkling citrus notes emerge, highlighting the cheerful bergamot that wraps around fresh green accords, as if rain had just wet a lush field. Then, that sublime magnolia caresses my skin. I have known it since childhood; it is the most natural and beautiful I have ever smelled, fresh with a creamy vanilla-like touch. What a magnolia, Mr Daniel Josier! It is the absolute protagonist, but amongst the greens, the sandalwood, the bergamot, the soft vetiver, the earthy patchouli, and some hidden jasmine blooms, you fall in love. It is in my top 5, ageless and timeless; its beauty is atemporal and classic. It captivates little by little until you are at its feet, totally devoted to Magnolia. It encloses a world of emotions; Daniel Josier has immortalised this flower. You are art.

An interesting citrus-floral blend from Daniel Josier. It begins with a citrus note with a soapy touch that soon merges with greens and flowers; the magnolia, which they say rules, is accompanied by jasmine and rose. On my nose, I swear there is a spicy red fruit, like a berry, although I won’t declare it; perhaps it is the effect of the lemon mixed with the green notes. Honestly, I fail to smell the magnolia: despite being the star, it sounds more citrusy-spicy than floral to me. The woody base with soft sandalwood, patchouli, and vetiver closes an cheerful and sparkling fragrance. Fresh and youthful, but the magnolia remains hidden, less evident than in the Frederic Malle version. Perhaps there is a synthetic component, like a musk base, to boost it. Longevity and sillage are moderate, perhaps just adequate, but very pleasant.

Of Josier’s offerings, Magnolia is perhaps the most unfairly overlooked. Its citrus and floral accords create creamy sensations with just the right touch of sweetness, inviting you into a space not always valued in modern perfumery: calm and well-being. I am fascinated by its opening: clean, captivating, as if a lemon sorbet were falling onto your skin. The dry-down arrives quickly to reveal the floral bouquet, its essence. Unisex but leaning feminine; a man can wear it if he knows how to style it: comfortable, relaxed, casual clothing. Magnolia will give you the appropriate touch of elegance. Ideal for spring and, above all, summer. Hurry up and try it. The master meditates with the pillow to remove it from the catalogue.

Magnolia is a kind, elegant, and easy-to-wear perfume, very feminine and versatile, though nothing groundbreaking to my nose. It’s one of those scents you can wear any day and it suits you well without being intrusive. After a sparkling opening of bergamot, it’s a very clean citrus floral. Nothing more, nothing less. On me, it has good projection and lasts around 8-9 hours. As a wardrobe staple, it seems like a good fragrance, although it hasn’t set my heart on fire. Scent 6/10, Longevity 8.5/10, Sillage 7.5/10, Value for money 6/10, Versatility 8.5/10, Packaging 8.5/10. Would I buy it again? I haven’t bought it.

A total disappointment. It smells of neither magnolia nor any other flower; it’s purely citrus with woody notes. Just another one. The longevity is ridiculous for the price.

A lovely and elegant fragrance, nothing intrusive. I give it 6.5 for the trail, as from the very first minute it sticks to the skin and doesn’t project further.