Yasmin- Ayala Moriel Parfums

Jasmin soliflores can go wrong very easily. Make them too indolic and they're mostly unwearable in polite company. Use too much synthetics or cheap materials and you get a bathroom product. Combine the jasmine with too many other high pitched white flowers and you get the olfactory equivalent of a Celine Dion and Clay Aiken lovechild. But when it's done right, jasmine can take you places: a perfect summer night long ago with a special someone. A joyful early morning in the spring, the air is full of birds and hope.

Yasmin by natural perfumer Ayala Sender of Ayala Moriel Parfums is my definition of jasmin perfection. There's a balance between green and creamy; a mild and abstract fruity note that melds and becomes one with the skin. Yasmin is naturally sensual without any hint of vulgarity, and this is the perfumer's greatest achievement in this perfume. She succeeded in avoiding both the familiar clichés of jasmine-centered perfumes (we don't really need another Joy, right?) and the over-sexualized skank.

Yasmin is uplifting as it envelops the wearer in its beauty. The perfume is strong enough to be noticed without invading people's personal space. It's like wearing a very pretty dress that fits you to perfection and flatters you without screaming "fashion statement!". It's not tame, by any means, but you need to look (or smell) closely to notice the danger hidden inside.

Yasmin by Ayala Moriel comes in several sizes, both as a perfume oil ($65, 5ml)  and an alcohol based parfum extrait ($110, 9 ml) as well as a creme parfum. Available from ayalamoriel.com, where you can purchase sample sets, which is what I did.

Photo: myvintagevogue.com