Slow down with scent: L’Artisan Parfumeur Traversee du Bospore
Traversee du Bospore was inspired by a trip to Istanbul in 2010 by French perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour. The notes of sugared sweet apple, Turkish delight and very soft dusted powder, almonds and vanilla make it a rather original but well balanced easy to wear fragrance. To my surprise I found it to be very relaxing like a sunny beach holiday on a luxurious resort with nothing to do but read in the sun and enjoy the sound of the sea. I had several of those holidays years ago in Turkey and quite enjoyed them.
The fragrance opens with a sweet Turkish apple tea note dusted with a bit of cinnamon. I remember this tea being served in Turkish shops to tourists. The apple is slightly covered with powdery sugar and smells more like apple softly baked in butter with sugar than fresh green apple. The Turkish apple tea note is mixed with Turkish delight, a very sweet note as well. Both are quite original to use as top notes. What I really like about this fragrance is its originality by using these notes while still remaining very wearable.
Traversee du Bospore is the interpretation of Turkish (Eastern) scents by a Western perfumer which clearly shows he used notes he smelled as a visitor/tourist the Turkish delight, leather, apple tea. Bertrand Duchaufour did not notes more commonly used in an oriental fragrances by Western perfumers like Rose/Oud combinations, more ambery or resins notes.
While I recall reading online some people having problems with its sweetness to me it had the right amount. I get almond notes as well after some minutes although it is supposed to smell like pistachio nuts. The base smells of vanilla with some sweetness probably of the apple and Turkish Delight.
What does it do? I find the fragrance to be very relaxing and I use it to slow down or unwind. My bottle recently arrived but I have used it quite often as I really enjoy wearing it. I have to admit I bought this bottle without smelling it first and it was love at first sniff.
Notes: Apple, pomegranate, tulip, iris, leather, saffron, Turkish delight accord (rose and pistacchio), vanilla, musks.
Origin of sample: my own acquisition, tested on skin. Photograph: made by Esperessence
The title was inspired by photographer Christina Greve Slow down with stills Hashtag.
Have you smelled Traversee du Bospore? Do you like it?
May 5, 2017 @ 14:11
Its a beautiful scent. I only have a small decant and shall be looking for a bottle asap. I dont find that it is too sweet – as you say, it’s just right. Lovely review!
May 5, 2017 @ 17:49
Welcome to my website! If you can, do buy a bottle as it such an amazing scent. You might be able to buy them cheaper as the old package was sold for great prices, here in Europe. I do not know where you live and if this applies for you, though. Thank you 😊
May 7, 2017 @ 14:02
I have not tried this one. It sounds like my kinda scent! R
May 9, 2017 @ 12:40
Nice of you to drop by, R. It is really worth a try!
May 9, 2017 @ 11:31
This sounds absolutely beautiful! I love your description- that buttery apple and turkish delight! Wonderful. xx
May 9, 2017 @ 12:40
You might like it! Thank you, S!
June 30, 2017 @ 00:57
Traversee du Bospore is one of my favorite “tropical vacation” scents. I do not own a bottle – just a decant – but I take it with me whenever I go to Hawaii. I should probably invest into a FB before it gets completely reformulated.
June 30, 2017 @ 17:19
Hi Undina! Yes I was would buy a FB if I were you. The older bottles are still on sale here so maybe in the US as well. Interesting you use this scent when visiting Hawaii. I would link it more to the Mediterranean and not to a tropical island 😊
June 30, 2017 @ 17:25
I would have used it there too, but my vacations do not take me there 🙂
June 30, 2017 @ 17:37
I can imagine 😊, Undina. Would like to go to Hawaii and use Bronze Goddess or Nicolai Juste Un Reve.