Le Jardin de Fragonard - Santal Cardamome

The cardamom detonates immediately, bright and almost citric in its crisp attack, layered with black pepper's bite. Pink pepper softens the edges just enough to prevent harshness, creating an opening that feels simultaneously sharp and inviting—you're awake, alert, slightly electrified.

As the spice settles into a gentle hum, frankincense emerges with quiet authority, bringing an almost liturgical solemnity. Laurel and pimento bloom alongside, creating a savoury, almost culinary middle where the fragrance develops unexpected depth—it smells herbaceous now, vaguely aromatic, less purely spiced and more genuinely complex.

Sandalwood takes centre stage, but here it's austere rather than creamy, underpinned by benzoin's amber warmth that prevents it from becoming sparse. The musk wraps around everything like a second skin, intimate and slightly powdery, creating a woody-amber finale that lingers quietly for hours without ever becoming cloying or predictable.