Star rating: 5 stars–outstanding/potential classic, 4 stars–very good, 3 stars–adequate, 2 stars–disappointing, 1 star–poor.
Wearing tuberose soliflore is like eating a bar of dark chocolate in one go. In other words, it can be intoxicating to the point of decadence and overindulgence. Yet, sometimes it is exactly what one craves.
The aforementioned houses share the same perfumer, Jean Laporte, who after leaving L’Artisan Parfumeur founded Maître Parfumeur et Gantier. L’Artisan’s interpretation of tuberose (created in 1978) is pure butter, interspersed with honeyed petals. It opens up on a sharp and slightly abrasive note, however it mellows considerably as the drydown approaches. The result is a lush spicy tuberose scent, which is a bit closer to gardenia than a true tuberose.
Maître Parfumeur et Gantier Tubereuse (1988) renders its tuberose as a thousand layer cake. The layers of creamy soft tuberose appear to unfold further and further, laced with minute spicy and distinctly green undertones that make this fragrance more complex than that of L’Artisan. The green note is very pronounced, and it may not appeal to someone seeking a perfectly creamy tuberose soliflore.
Update: L’Artisan Tubereuse has been discontinued.
12 Comments
Robin: I like both versions, but probably the MPG better. The L’Artisan is a little too thin for me. And neither is as lovely as Fracas! In fact, I was never interested in tuberose as a note until I fell in love with Fracas. June 18, 2005 at 11:17am
barbarafromcalifornia: Based upon your delicious reviews of tuberose, I think I will give these fragrances another go!
You write beautifully. Thank you for all the great information, V! June 18, 2005 at 11:42am
Victoria: Robin, you are right–Fracas is an unsurpassed tuberose. I do like these two though and I own L’Artisan Tubéreuse, which was a gift. I like MPG one too, but I do not think that I need both at the same time.
Barbara, I am glad that it is useful! Thank you for your sweet comments.
xoxo June 18, 2005 at 12:41pm
Atreau: I’ve been meaning to try Maître Parfumeur et Gantier’s Tubéreuse as that is one of Angela’s favorites and we are scent twins on floral fragrances. I used to think in the past that fragrances that were too green didn’t work on me but lately they have been. June 18, 2005 at 8:16pm
Victoria: Oh, S, it is not too green, just a touch more green than most tuberose soliflores. I think that you should give it a try, esp. if you like tuberose. June 18, 2005 at 8:37pm
Diane: Hello dear! All I have to say is if only MPG Tubereuse weren’t so expensive… June 19, 2005 at 12:33am
Victoria: Yes, it is certainly expensive. I am glad I am well stocked on tuberose soliflores at the moment to crave another one. June 19, 2005 at 5:08pm
mreenymo: Okay, confession time: I love L’Artisan Tubereuse! I think it combines all the best things a tuberouse soliflore has to offer. It starts out with a hint of the mentholated thing (a la Tubereuse Criminelle), moves into the butter stage, my favorite (a la MPG), and then dries down into a yummy, slightly citrusy floral. I detect no gardenia-like finish as you do.
I thought that I would like MPG better, because of the lovely buttery stage. But the dry down on me is similar to the dry down on me for MetM. UGH! Way too musky, almost pine-like. But the good news is, I get to save $170.!
I have loved your week of tuberose reviews, V. Thank you so much!!
Hugs and love! June 20, 2005 at 12:00am
Victoria: Dear R, all of MPG fragrances contain the same musky base, with differing tenacity levels. Tubéreuse contains less of it, however it does nevertheless. Some people do not mind the musk, however if I wear MPG fragrances too often, it is the only thing I begin to notice. Even now, I can envision it clearly. For this reason, I prefer to wear L’Artisan Tubéreuse, even though it is slightly thinner to my nose than that of MPG.
I am glad that you liked the tuberose week. As it is over, I realize how many other tuberoses are out there. Perhaps, it is something we will have to revisit, much to Laura’s dismay! xoxo June 20, 2005 at 12:07am
Liz Larsen: I was given L’Artisan Tuberose as a gift and it is gone. I have tried countless scents and nothing comes close for me! What do I do?? September 30, 2014 at 9:48pm
Victoria: In the “Find a perfume” section you can select tuberose as a fragrance note–there are many reviews here, and I’m sure you can find something to replace your favorite. October 1, 2014 at 9:10am
Liz Larsen: Do you have advice on what else I might like? September 30, 2014 at 9:53pm