Lyn Harris for Marks and Spencer

When I heard back in the summer that Lyn Harris of Miller Harris was to create a diffusion line of six fragrances for Marks and Spencer, well I was a little excited, to say the least. While Miller Harris doesn't occupy the olfactory place in my  heart (!) that Guerlain does, I've developed a soft spot for them over the last few years, with L'Air de Rien and the lovely autumnal La Fumee among my favourite scents. However, the Miller Harris creations range from around £62 - £130, so the prospect of a Lyn Harris composed fragrance at £25 a bottle, was an attractive prospect indeed.

The six fragrances released in late September, available in selected stores and online are
La Poudree, an oriental, with raspberry, peach, rose, orange flower, iris, vanilla and musk.
La Fleur, with gardenia, Indian tuberose, woods, vanilla bourbon and musk.
La Rose, rose petals with galbanum, red berry, patchouli, musk and amber.
Le Cologne, with bergamot, lemon, Seville orange, rosemary, vetiver and amber.
Le Sauvage, with grapefruit, Seville orange, cardamom, angelica, oakmoss, vetiver and tabac.
Le Noir, with bergamot, green mandarin, lavender, patchouli and amber.

The Cologne, Sauvage and Noir are branded as men's fragrances, though I haven't found any of the Miller Harris 'men's' fragrances overly or prohibitively masculine, so after much deliberation, I placed an online order for Le Sauvage and La Poudree.

 

 

 

The packaging is great; very restrained and classic, much in the same vein as Miller Harris. Now to the fragrances themselves. La Poudree is the oriental that I'd hoped for, unmistakably related to Guerlain's classic Shalimar, and bearing more than a passing resemblance to Fleur Oriental by Miller Harris. It lacks the rich denseness of the Guerlain, however  and lacks its longevity, requiring a refresher spray every two or three hours. Its a much softer, rosier affair altogether. It isn't lacking in complexity, however, and I've really been enjoying wearing this in the daytime, something I wouldn't normally have the nerve to do with the majestic Shalimar.

 

I'm a little disappointed with Le Sauvage, though much of this may be to do with the time of year. Its lighter than I'd anticipated; more citrus and less oakmoss, vetiver and tabac than I'd hoped for. Its a very appealing number though and come next summer, will no doubt take its place with my beloved Caron Pour un Homme, Sisley 2 and other light and refreshing spritzers.

 

I've recently had a sniff of Le Noir and it was wonderful; very herbal, deep and spicy. And no more masculine than feminine from what I recall. One for the wishlist...