Ladies and gentlemen, a new feminine fragrance has graced the shelves of Parfums de Marly, the French perfume brand inspired by the Château de Marly, a royal residence to which King Louis XIV freed himself from the formalities and protocols of Versailles. The spirit of this château was one of pleasure and indulgence; the Sun King hosted many a boisterous party at this estate. The brand has made a name for itself in the world of niche fragrance–the 10 feminine scents, housed in opulently curving glass bottles draped with color-coordinated tassels, have been granted an 11th sister. Enter Palatine.
Palatine, whose name means one who may exercise royal privileges, comes in a gorgeous transparent violet bottle, reflecting the heart note of this fragrance: violet petal. Smelling sweetly of mandarin, bergamot, and pear in the opening, Palatine metamorphoses into her signature note, as well as lavandin and a floral bouquet, in the heart once settled on skin; later, she’ll end her olfactive performance with sandalwood, patchouli, musk, and vanilla in the base.
Palatine is somewhat different from Parfums de Marly’s previous releases. She is a fresh, sophisticated year-round fragrance that transcends age and season. Likeable, yet still unique, she evokes a field of purple flowers, the breezy air mixing the scent of florals with fresh powder from a guest of the château’s pristinely-coiffed wig as he walks by. There is a natural sweetness, a honeyed warmth that ties this unique aroma together and ensures it will work in all climates. Personally, I think Palatine is now the safest blind-buy purchase from the house–I simply can’t imagine someone not liking her majesty.
