“Perfumes are the feelings of flowers.” ― Heinrich Heine

I’ve recently become interested in Alchimia Apothecary after sampling a few of their scents (namely Thuderstorm…I’m in love! Smells like the closest thing to an actual Midwestern thunderstorm).

I purchased sample sizes of their LE Blossoms Collection when they were offering a 15% spring discount recently. Overall I would say this collection is very easy to like (assuming you find floral and fruit scents generally pleasing). This is one of those collections I’d highly recommend to those just testing the indie waters. While the scents are most certainly not “one-note”, they are not what I would would call highly complex. Many of these had good lasting power on me, especially considering most of them are fairly light floral scents. I’m thinking a lot of these would layer well over each other.

I love to photograph flowers, so I figured this was a nice opportunity to share a few of my favorites!

Fleur de tilleul (Linden Blossom): “In this Blossom blend, we are showcasing the delicate aroma of the linden blossom. Bright dewy clovers fuse together with the sweet gracefulness of rosewood. Green tea brings in a perfect balance of green sharpness and herbal woodiness. The top notes fade somewhat into the background and a rich honey note makes an appearance mixing with the linden blossom, adding a richness that encases this scent into perfect balance and harmony.”

Nice and floral, but not overpowering. Smells like a muted down lilac, much like something I would smell while walking down a street in my town in the spring. Very natural smelling.

Fleurs de cerisier (Cherry Blossom): “The refreshing tides of watery greens wash over the delicious air of cherry blossoms in this unique and delectable blend. The barest presence of cherry accentuate the delightful whispers of pink floral notes. Churning with bubbles of crispy cool water notes, this refreshing brew is fused together with the subtle sophistication of translucent amber.”

On first application it smells really clean, not powdery or soapy, just clean. It kind of reminds me of dryer sheets or a shampoo scent, but in a good way. Fades into a lighter version of this scent, but fades away pretty quickly (it was a ‘lighter’ scent from the beginning). This is a generally very pleasing scent that I would not call generic.

Fleur d’olivier (Olive Blossom): “Olive blossoms are complimented by the sweet deliciousness of pistachio leaves and the barest peppering of aromatic white sage. Sharp bursts of teak peek through the sweetness and unite with a dark, yet subtle Spanish moss. The fresh aromatic scents of a bright spring morning top off this blend to create a scent that is perfectly balanced and wonderfully unique.”

My least favorite of the bunch. I actually got a free sample of this in another recent Alchimia Apothecary order and disliked it then (at that stage of its incarnation it was called Fleur d’olive). I’ve tried it several times wanting to like it, but it just smells rubbing alcohol-esque my skin. No me gusta.

Fleur de pommier (Apple Blossom): “Apple blossoms are showcased in this eclectic fusion of scents. A zesty mist of ruby red grapefruit and white ginger greet an aromatic bouquet of apple blossoms, scatterings of peonies and the barest touch of rose. Mouth watering ambrosia melds into an alluring combination of crisp apple wood and thick ribbons of white patchouli.”

I get a bunch of green apples. Not super sour, but with some tartness to them. It’s a bit reminiscent of the apple scent in Haus of Gloi’s Olde Cider Haus (but without the spicy/cider-y feel to it). It faded away on me pretty quickly though.

Fleur de prunier (Plum Blossom): “In this installment of the Blossoms Collection, fruity meets floral in a stunning collaboration. Candied Kakadu plum blossoms, plumeria and transparent hints of jasmine coalesce into sweet and decadent fusion. A wondrous combination of plums, lychees, raspberries and other tropical fruits unite to create a harmonious and mouth watering mix.”

This is an easy to like smell. Reminds me of something you’d find at Bath & Body Works. A fruity borderline gourmand scent (mainly because it smells delicious and plum-like enough to eat!). It sticks around for a while on my skin. It’s not complex, but it’s definitely pleasant.

Fleur de pêcher (Peach Blossom): “Peach blossom dominates in this fruity floral blend of harmonious aromas. Nectar laced honey flowers peek out behind green branches that give life to every bud. Delicate twigs of rosewood combine with flirty pink florals and deliciously aromatic white tea.”

Yeah, this is definitely peach. It doesn’t smell bad (not even close, I really like peach scents), but it is a bit ordinary and one-noted.

Fleur de bambou (Bamboo Blossom): “Blossoming bamboo is a natural phenomenon that was traditionally seen as a curse. Thought to be a sign that starvation was coming, bamboos of the same cohort, regardless of geographic locations or climate conditions all blossom at the same time. Shortly after, the entire batch dies. That this happens from absolutely no environmental impact, but through a trigger in it’s genetic composition is absolutely fascinating and more than enough inspiration for this amazing act of nature. This blend has bamboo ebbing dangerously close to the river banks. The aromatic rice flowers are lapping up into the scatterings of wild poppies, bamboo saplings and tall green grass. The weight of the blossoms has the bamboo bending heavily to brush the surface of the gently tricking current.”

This might be my favorite of the bunch. It’s a green scent with a light floral note. It smells clean and would pair well with green tea. Maybe it’s just my imagination run wild (and having read “Memoirs of a Geisha” one too many times), but I do love “green Asian inspired perfumes” (like Darling Clandestine’s Serpentina and Alchimia Apothecary’s Geisha).

Fleur d’oranger (Orange Blossom): “The oranges are in full bloom with this installment of our Blossoms Collection. The orange trees are in full bloom and brimming with petals ready to travel with the next incoming breeze. Hints of citrus are in the first stages of being born, budding from the safety of the heavy protective branches. The earth beneath your feet mixes with the heady aroma of peppery green leaves. You can almost picture the massive orange tree towering above you as you breathe in the captivation this blend inspires.”

Unlike some of the other fruit blossom scents, this one actually smells like the blossom and not the fruit itself. This is a beautiful white flower scent, a true orange blossom. I really like this one.