Heya ULGers, You’ve probably read me banging on about Le Galion’s Aesthete before around the scentbloggosphere. From a brand that I love so many fragrances from it stands head and shoulders above the rest for most wears in my life. Whenever I seek it out it tends to stay on the desk or grab tray, getting regular spritzes for a few weeks. It’s a throwback beauty to a time when the gents fragrance were interesting and thoughtfully produced. The nose, Vanina Muracciole, has done some other work for Jovoy Paris and my favourite from Masque Milano: Kintsugi. Nicolas Chabot, the brands owner and creative director, has a perfect sense of balance when overseeing perfume creations. A knack for ensuring that even though the ingredients might be unusual or confrontational the end product is always a perfectly poised, wearable, piece of olfactory art. Sometimes that balance is construed by those seeking envelope pushing weirdo scents as boring but I think as those perfumistas hit a certain point they will understand the quiet beauty of Le Galion. It’s like the Le Galion oeuvre is made to make perfumers sigh in delight and resignation that they’ll probably never get to make something so exquisite.
Aesthete by Le Galion 2015
Top: Davana, mandarin, saffron, incense
Heart: Leather, oud, guaiac wood, castoreum, jasmine
Base: Sandalwood, vanilla, musk
This year Aesthete is celebrating 10 years! I’m celebrating 10 years of it being a staple in my collection and noticing that my bottle is down to about 1/3 have recently put a new bottle at the top of the To Buy List.
One of the excellent things about living in 2025 is that even though Aesthete is a traditional masculine, there is room for EVERYONE to wear this leather bound lovely.
Opening is a smoky incense-heavy woody saffron with a smooth, sandalwood creamy white floral. The oudh is dark and medicinal when it shows up as we head for the heart. Aesthete is rich and earthy but also refined and elevated. I can’t think of another oudh heavy fragrance that is so wearable and still holds such darkness and grit. The dry down sweetens just enough to be a noticeable warming and this earth/wood/oudh/vanilla base pumps out softly for hours and hours. A spritz on chest, nape and one wrist is enough to take me through a day and have whispered remnants next morning.
This is one of my true perfume loves that resurfaces a couple of times a year for many wears.
Does Aesthete sound like you might enjoy it too?
Portia xx
Undina's Looking Glass 
Well, to be completely honest, Portia, I’m a bit apprehensive about your endorsement of Aesthete. Why, you ask? This would be the third perfume you’ve suggested, and two previous ones that I’ve purchased and adored. Perhaps Aesthete is my future. It has all the qualities that a Flaconneur couldn’t resist.
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Woo Hoo! That’s a lovely apprehension Flaconneur. I’m glad we snap on some fragrances and that two have found their way into your collection and heart.
Portia x
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I’ll pass on the leather and oud, but I’m sure it smells fabulous on you, Portia!
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Ahhhhh, I think we might have talked about your no to oudh before RR but leather is a bit of a surprise. That must take a whole swathe out of your perfumery choices?
Portia xx
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I like soft suede type leather notes, but the heavy birch tar notes are a big no for me.
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Definitely steer clear of Aesthete then RR
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I like soft suede type leather notes, but the heavy birch tar notes are a big no for me.
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Like Rickyrebarco, I think I will leave this to you dear Portia …. I have never been able to like oudh! But I am thinking I should take a sniff at Le Galion generally.
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Yeah, oudh is not for everyone JillieCat. Sadly the Le Galion crew seems to have run out of 2ml samples to order, hopefully they will re-ignite them soon.
Portia xx
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Like RR I struggle with oudh. Leather is up my alley though.
I need to explore Le Galion. It’s on my radar
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Hey Alityke,
This may be too much oudh for the first hour, it’s not the lead player but it does give a good showing.
I’d love to read if you do get to the Le Galion oeuvre. I think you’d definitely find some loves.
Portia xx
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Le Galion is a very elegant perfume house and it needs more attention. Unfortunately just like some other readers, I don’t get along with oud and leather in combination so I’ll pass on this one.
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I’m surprised how many of you eschew the Leather/Oudh combo. It must have made the last couple of decades a minefield for sampling or spritzing in store Neva.
Nice that someone else is a Le Galion lover.
Portia xx
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