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Post by Trésor
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Where I grew up the opportunities to express my authentic self were few and far between, it was not until later in life when I’d developed a certain degree self confidence that I was able to manifest who I truly was and see that very person staring back at me from the mirror for the first time. It was in significant part through the exploration of exquisite fragrance and rituals of beauty that I found myself growing more comfortable in my own skin and experiencing a newfound symbiosis between body and spirit.
The one thing I recall so vividly with a great deal of fondness from these early years is so simple, the pacifying aromas that would accompany the application of my skincare and makeup. With each breath inward I could feel myself transforming, the chrysalis breaking away and the gentle warmth of lambent sunbeams filtering though upon my skin. As you can imagine, this olfactory landscape holds a rather profound emotional significance to me so when I came across a fragrance that encapsulated this sacred microcosm with such ease and incredible grace I was moved to tears. Sensual Orchid is a time capsule, the contents of which are the essence of what afforded me threads of hope and unimaginable joy when both were in short supply.
Sensual Orchid by Jerome Epinette for LM Parfums 2012
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Mandarin orange, almond, neroli
Heart: Orchid, jasmine sambac, ylang-ylang, peony, heliotrope
Base: Vanilla, musk, woody notes, cedar, labdanum, benzoin
Upon my initial breath I am taken by the heartbreakingly voluptuous vapours rising forth from my skin, crystalline wedges of mandarin orange glistening with cognac dew drops falling gracefully into an ebbing ocean of almonds imagined as heavenly cream. The technicolor petals of sumptuous ylang ylang rise from beneath the surface, radiant in hues of canary, languid with lashings of the almond cream and what’s now materializing as sweet, fleshy coconut. This achingly luscious olfactory texture calls to mind that of the creams my grandmother would apply each and every morning and night, a practice she passed down to me and one which would later exhibit itself as the genesis of one of my greatest passions. A veritable kaleidoscope of indulgent florals unveils itself, each petal metamorphosing into another before the one preceding can be identified in full. From narcotic jasmine, jovial peony, the syrupy richness of heliotrope to what I swear are tendrils of libidinous tuberose and back again in a display of decadent hedonism and dancerly motion.
Photo Stolen FotoCommunity
As Sensual Orchid dries down it takes on the scent of something very dear to my heart, the aroma which resides within the silk lined leather bag where I keep my favourite makeup, the cherished treasures that have done well to assuage dysphoria in the throes of growing up as a transgender youth in an environment of hostility and rage. A dulcet aura of soft vanilla permeates the background, not unlike the aroma of my beloved Russian Red lipstick. A gleaming hologram of cashmere woods flickers, redolent of the shavings of well loved kohl pencils, illuminating the diaphanous dust of delicate French face powder dancing in the air.
Photo Stolen DeviantArt
On my skin Sensual Orchid radiates in full bloom for just about six hours, tapering into a translucent whisper for another three until it finally exists as an exquisite memory. Initially the sillage is considerable but as time passes Sensual Orchid recedes closer and closer to the skin until finally fades away, becoming a sensory delight for only those you choose to draw near.
Further reading: Australian Perfume Junkies and Scented Hound
Jovoy Paris has €195/100ml
Osswald NYC has $225/100ml
Do you have a fragrance that reminds you of a particular metamorphosis in your life?
Until next time, my darlings.
Trésor
Australian Perfume Junkies 
Hi Tresor. What a beautiful review! I don’t know if any perfume can live up to what you wrote, but you did make me want to check it out and that rarely happens. I found LM Parfums on Luckyscent and several of them interest me. Will throw in some samples with my next order. Thanks. 🙂
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Hello Maya!
You’re so kind, thank you! I really adore the LM line myself, I’ve had wonderful luck with the ones I’ve been able to try and I’ve found great love with a couple of special ones like Sensual Orchid.
Please let us know how you enjoy them when you have a chance to try. 🙂
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Finding Opium back in the ’80s was like finding myself. Recognition from the first spritz. I wore it like a second skin for more than a decade.
I love Sensual Orchid, btw. I also love this sentence: “With each breath inward I could feel myself transforming, the chrysalis breaking away and the gentle warmth of lambent sunbeams filtering though upon my skin.” Never stop writing, please.
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What a beautiful fragrance to accompany you on that journey! There is nothing in this world quite like Opium.
Thank you so much! When I wrote that line I was in tears, I can think of few emotions in this lifetime greater than that one experiences when freedom illuminates upon you.
That compliment means the entire world to me. I appreciate it so much.
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So enjoyed reading this, Tresor! Beautiful writing about a beautiful perfume. Sensual Orchid is one of my top favorites. Oddly enough I never wear it when I go out and tend to reserve it for evenings at home.
Do you have any other loves in the LM line? I am crazy about Hard Leather, which is just about the polar opposite of a Sensual Orchid but also very beautiful.
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I’m so happy you enjoyed my piece! Thank you. I’m also so happy to hear that you love Sensual Orchid as well, it truly is a special perfume. I quite like to wear it in solitude myself, though it is beautiful in so many situations.
I do love others in the LM line and Hard Leather just so happens to be one of them! I am also incredibly fond of Epine Mortelle, Chemise Blanche and Army of Lovers. Have you tried any of those? I would love to hear your impressions.
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I love Epine Mortelle. Chemise Blanche is so very pretty but, on my skin, so very fleeting. And haven’t tried Army of Lovers yet. There’s always another one to try…
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This a stunning post, Tresor. Thank you for putting so much of yourself into it. I strongly feel that perfume has the power to transform us – or rather it can help bring out parts of our inner selves that are repressed. It’s very moving how much this was the case for you.
I must discover more about LM Parfums.
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What a beautiful compliment!, Thank you, Tara.
I could not agree with you more. Perfume has such incredible power, such deep connection to our emotion and memory. That’s certainly been the case in my life. I am so honoured to be able to share my experience with each and every one of you. It is an incredible privilege.
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I like Sensual Orchid but it doesn’t move me like it does you. I’m not sure I have a metamorphosis perfume in my life. I’m due for a metamorphosis I think.
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I am certain you wear it beautifully, Poodle.
I think we could all use a metamorphosis from time to time. It does the soul a great deal of good, much like exquisite perfume. 🙂
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What a fantastic review Tresor. I liked it, but found it a bit too sweet personally, but I have the feeling given the right place and worn at the right time it would work for me. Thanks for the link love!
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Thank you so much, Steve!
It is a particularly sweet potion but I agree with you entirely, I think in the time and in the right place you might just find yourself falling in love as I have. 🙂
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Hey there Trésor,
Lovely review. I found this really sexy and I am hoping to grab a bottle one day. It’s my favourite of the line but I’ve not tried them all yet.
Great imagery as always.
Portia xx
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Hello, darling Portia!
Thank you very much! I can imagine you wear this like an absolute bombshell. It suits your ebullience and joie de vivre so perfectly.
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I can’t wait till we one day get to have a meal, chinwag and a beverage Trésor.
Portia xx
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What a lovely and deeply personal post dear Tresor. I cannot imagine the pain and sorrow of those transformative years, but I do know the incredible power that the tools of scent, cosmetics and fashion bring into our lives. They do bring us into self expression of some of our deep feelings and desires and transform emotions into manifest personal beauty and our hearts feel released and bursting with emotions. It is very much a crucible of self exploration and discovery of who we are and what we see. What a painfully lovely journey you have the courage to share and how graced we are by that.
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It is my pleasure to share with you. Though they were difficult I am thankful for every moment, without them I am not sure I would be who I am today or have ever grown to love myself in the same way. I am so grateful for your incredible love and unyielding support. I believe it was Dostoevsky that said beauty will save the world, I could not agree with that statement more.
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Thank you, Tresor, for such a beautiful, touching piece of writing. It is truly moving. Again – thank you.
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Oh, my goodness! Thank you so much!
The pleasure is mine, I am so happy to share.
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