In 500 Years, Etat Libre d’Orange honours the children of the Renaissance.
In a world ruled by organised religion, the Renaissance saw a rebirth and reimagining of pagan myth and legend from antiquity. A radical movement, it encouraged a secular, three-dimensional approach in art, philosophy and politics.
This led to more realistic and profound depictions in art, which quickly proliferated due to their intense, visceral impact on the people. For the first time, there was art for art’s sake – for the purpose of aesthetics, of pleasure, of beauty, of opulence.
A change in the world order delivered to you in a perfume, 500 Years carries the majestic memory of rose, the power of spices and a sense of something precious.
NOTES
Top: Bergamot HE, Cardamom Pure Jungle Essence™, Saffron
Middle: Turkish Rose Absolute, Oud HE, Geranium Burbon HE
Base: Amber Woods, Patchouli, Suede
HOW IT WEARS
Rich and warm, 500 Years opens with the subtle heat of saffron a sparkle of fresh spice and citrus. The velvety, almost marshmallow-y Turkish rose in the heart is the star of this fragrance, and stays prominent through the duration of its wear. The dry down is a sensual, earthy concotion of oud, amber, and patchouli. With impressive lasting power (6-8 hours on the skin) and projection, 500 Years lives up to its description.
LORE LOVES
During the Renaissance, the Medicis commissioned Botticelli to paint the iconic Birth of Venus. Legend has it, the painting lived in one of the Medici bedrooms, behind drawstring curtains. 500 Years paints such an olfactory picture – gold corded ropes drawing back heavy red velvet curtains to reveal vivid, vibrant, sensual beauty as part of some erotic undertaking. The combination of rose and oud in this fragrance is totally intoxicating – the rose feminine, deep and sweet, while the oud adds a woody, animalic edge to the fragrance. The best bits of the Renaissance, bottled.
ABOUT THE BRAND
Founded by Etienne de Swardt in 2006, Etat Libre d’Orange is an ambitious, audacious perfume house. Its name meaning “Free Orange State” in French, this is a house with an emphasis on originality, audacity, authenticity and freedom of expression. Each of Etat Libre d’Orange’s offerings is uncompromisingly surprising and knows no constraints in terms of creativity nor raw materials.
A perfumer for LVMH for many years before going rogue, Etienne de Swardt founded Etat Libre d’Orange with a view to turn the commercial fragrance industry on its head. Its launch certainly made waves, not only due to the raunchy fragrance names, but for the compositions themselves.
Read any review of Etat Libre d’Orange online and you will see a wide range of opinions, from disgusted to delighted, from aroused to inspired. We are obsessed with the daring whimsy of this fragrance house and so excited to have it at Lore!
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