A few weeks ago I was googling around for a good heliotrope perfume and came across a thread on Perfume of Life about L.T. Piver Heliotrope Blanc. I had never heard of L.T. Piver. It turns out, Piver has been around since 1774, and is a well regarded perfume company in Europe, but isn’t well known in the U.S. I found it Heliotrope Blanc at Escentual.com, in the UK. I’ve always enjoyed fragrances with a heliotrope note but never tried a heliotrope soliflore. I ordered Etro Heliotrope from Aedes last month but it’s on backorder and I haven’t received it yet.I’ve been curious about heliotrope for several years now. Usually there’s a quality about heliotrope-heavy fragrances that I adore. For instance, I love People of the Labyrinths Luctor et Emergo but this is a cherry gourmand rendition of heliotrope. Barbara Bui, a recent love of mine, also has a strong heliotrope quality. The classic Guerlain Apres L’Ondee is prominently heliotrope as well as some mimosa fragrances like Parfum de Nicolai Mimosaique and Caron Farnesiana.
This heliotrope curiosity led me to plant it in my garden a few years back. Heliotrope flowers are either white or purple so I planted both. The actual flowers are intoxicating. Heliotrope is one of those unmistakeably sweet aromas, similar in it’s striking uniqueness, but not in smell to honeysuckle, lily of the valley and lilacs. White heliotrope is the more floral of the two heliotrope flowers. The white flowers are baby powder soft and sweet but not almondy or cherry-like. Finding a perfume that resembled the white heliotrope has been on my to-do list for some time.
L.T. Piver Heliotrope Blanc is exactly what I’ve been looking for. I’m head over heels smitten with this stuff. Heliotrope Blanc is delicate, powdery and cozy, but it also has a sexy sweet side that seems much more wearable than the cherry almond variety. Heliotrope Blanc initially makes me think of marshmallows dusted with talcum powder served next to a vase of white heliotrope flowers. It is sheer and transparent so I simply bathe in it. If you apply a lot, it lasts close to the skin for quite some time.
For anyone out there salivating at the idea of Heliotrope Blanc, please leave a comment, and I will draw one lucky person who will win a 5 ml decant of it. The drawing will close on Sunday, September 6th and I’ll announce the winner on Monday, September 7th.
