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Monday, September 27, 2010

Ormonde Jayne Sampaquita


Sampaquita, is probably the least exotic-smelling perfume in Ormonde Jayne's group of lush tropicals. Known as the national flower of the Philippines, sampaquita (more commonly spelled sampaguita) means jasmine sambac. So, basically, this is a jasmine-centered scent, but with a twist- the typical OJ grass/wood/pepper touch.

I'm not a big jasmine fan and it takes a lot to make me love jasmine soliflores. The closest I got recently was with the exceptionally made and utterly gorgeous Love And Tears (By Kilian). Sampaquita is not quite in this league, but it still works for me. I don't think of this Ormonde Jayne creation as a true jasmine. It's a lot more unisex than many scents that focus on this note and has a very sheer, watercolor-like quality rather than the usual sultriness. The opening is a bit challenging, though. It's too sharp and makes my eyes water until things settle down a little. The rest of the scent is sheer flowers over a green wood and musk base. It's easy to wear and feel clear and cool like a waterfall. I'm not even bothered by the water lily and muguet, a combination that usually sends me running for the hills.

Sampaquita is light-weighted and light-hearted. It's not on the same level of Ormonde Jayne's true masterpieces, but sometimes this is the right thing to wear on a miserable rainy Monday.

Ormonde Jayne Sampaquita (£68.00, 50ml EDP but also in a £54.00 travel spray version and a full range of bath, body and home products) is available from ormondejayne.com (they ship worldwide) and for the lucky ones also in the London boutique and in Harrods.

Art: Sampaguita Flower by Yencagulada on deviantart.com

4 comments:

  1. I find this smells a bit like hairspray when I initially spray it, but it quickly settles in to something much prettier!

    Apparently this is a really popular bridal perfume. I can see that - there is something very pretty and joyful about it. I do agree that it doesn't have the power of Ormonde Woman or Tolu.

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  2. I just found your blog and it's my new favorite! It's the best blog EVER!! Thank you, thank you. xo

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  3. Long time lurker, first time to comment. HAD to comment as I am Filipino and as you said that is our national flower! :) I love your blog, btw. It occupies precious real estate on my
    bookmarks toolbar. :)

    I love sampaguita but have never worn the locally made sampaguita perfumes as they've invariably been too strong and headache-inducing. I would love to be able to try this.

    Sampaguita flowers are often made into leis to provide fragrance for cars and homes. When you flag down a taxi, you'll inevitably find a sampaguita lei looped around the rearview mirror. Families that have altars at home will also drape them around the icons. It's also often made into bridal bouquets and church decorations. One wedding I went to had swags of sampaguita in between the pews instead of the typical tulle. Beautiful and fragrant at the same time.

    This flower will always remind me of home.

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  4. Like Ganda - the Filipino flower shout out made me comment. I have yet to go to the Philippines to visit my mother's family but I just get excited over the littlest things that are from the Philippines. I wish this perfume was local so I can at least get a whiff of it and it would just give me a sense of what my mother's birth place feels like.

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