La Vie est Belle L'Extrait

The red fruits explode with almost aggressive vitality—dark berry compote undercut by frankincense's white-hot resin and bergamot's clean citric slash. It's a jarring combination that shouldn't work yet does: sweetness immediately bracketed by something austere and slightly ecclesiastical, the bergamot preventing any descent into dessert-counter territory.

Orris butter emerges to soften the opening's sharp edges, introducing that characteristic iris-root earthiness and powdery haze that feels distinctly vintage. The Damask rose settles into something subdued and talced, sitting adjacent to rather than integrated with the red fruits above—you're aware of parallel narratives running simultaneously rather than a cohesive blend. The powdery accord dominates here, creating an almost maquillage-like quality, as though you've walked through someone's dressing room.

The oud arrives with minimal fanfare and questionable conviction, accompanied by subtle spice notes that feel more theoretical than experienced. Rather than providing anchoring warmth or woody depth, it simply extends the powdery-floral structure into the distance, the fragrance gradually becoming a whispered memory of itself without meaningful transformation or development.