Musc Monoï Eau de Toilette by PARFUMS DE NICOLAÏ

Patricia de Nicolaï, who is celebrating the 25^th anniversary of her company this year, has introduced a new fragrance, Musc Monoï Eau de Toilette ($50 or $120). It has been available since June. I was happy to receive a sample - the Nicolaï line is one of my favorites - and I promptly fell in love with it. The sweet people at Nicolaï sent a 30 ml bottle to my mother to celebrate her birthday!

In order to celebrate the oncoming summer, Patricia de Nicolaï is launching Musc Monoï, her new Eau de Toilette, which invites you to holidays. "For many years I have been in love with the famous Ambre Solaire oil," explains Patricia. She said she had always wanted to create a fragrance using this wonderful smell, a reminder of sunny beaches. She continued, "A fragrance with a powerful sensuality that smells on your skin like a hot summer day was my main obsession!"

For Musc Monoï, the amber note of ambre solaire has been softened for a more modern musk facet. Combined with the benzyl salicylate molecule associated with the ylang flower, Musc Monoï is strengthened by jasmine, magnolia, and neroli. The fresh and heavy marine scent of the calone, the sensuality of the coconut, and the velvety trail of sandalwood blend for a perfect, captivating fragrance.

Nicolaï herself was the nose behind this marvel. The top notes are neroli, lemon, and petitgrain. The  middle notes are ylang-ylang, jasmine, coconut, calone, and magnolia, The base notes are ylang ylang, sandalwood, and musk.

I hate to make comparisons between fragrances, but despite the fact that it has a completely different character from Guerlain's Teracotta Le Parfum Eau de Toilette, it reminds me of it. It's a summer fragrance that summons the beach. It could be a winter fragrance that satisfies your longing for a summer day. Musc Monoï adds a hint of the sea to the beckoning summer scents of warm skin, suntan oil, and umbrella drinks. It definitely takes you to the sea, preferably a tropical island, but it also leaves a sensual note to the skin - not animalic, but warm and comfortable.

Musc Monoï is available on the PARFUMS DE NICOLAÏ Web site, LuckyScent, Beautyhabit, and Twisted Lily. Try it and see if you aren't transported to the tropics.

Photo courtesy of PARFUMS DE NICOLAÏ