Les Senteurs Gourmandes by Laurence Dumont is one of those lines that often slips my mind for no particular reason. It used to be stocked at Sephora, where I have a hard time concentrating anyway (due to the crowds, the glaring lighting, and the loud music), but it’s not there anymore; and when I do spot this brand somewhere else, I briefly wonder, who exactly is Laurence Dumont? and, am I really in the mood for vanilla today? before my attention wanders elsewhere. Well, I actually am in the mood for gourmand fragrances this fall, and now that I’ve sampled a few fragrances from the line, I’ve found myself enjoying them.

My current favorite from Les Senteurs Gourmandes is Tendre Madeleine, part of the brand’s “Childhood Memories” fragrance family. Tendre Madeleine is described as “sweet, warm, and gourmet, a tempting treat from morning till night,” and its notes are listed as bergamot, cannelle [cinnamon], almond, vanilla, white musk and precious wood. Like many of this line’s fragrances, Tendre Madeleine is indeed dessert-inspired, but it’s soft and light enough to be wearable in most situations. It begins as a dusting of spice, just as much nutmeg as cinnamon, over a buttery sponge cake. There’s a suggestion of candied orange from the bergamot. The almond-marzipan note does have a hint of the so-called “Play-Doh” effect, but that’s something I enjoy in small quantities. The vanilla becomes most noticeable on its own in the late dry down…

Read the rest of this article »