Bleu de Nice — Patchoulis & Parfums Rares

Bleu de Nice is not a shop but a Nice-based maker, a patchouli specialist since 1987. The house sells directly, with no middleman, mainly through its website. It is this short supply chain that explains prices well below those of standard perfumeries.

Its signature is the Concept of 7: seven patchoulis all compatible with one another, which can be worn alone or blended on the skin with a simple spray. Patchouli Pur, Poudré, Sensuel, Ambre, Santal, Musc, Vanille. The house also makes women's and men's eaux de parfum, in the same spirit of high concentration.

Good to know

There is no shop to visit: you order online and are shipped from the Nice workshop. Orders come with free samples. A set of three patchoulis runs around €85, for example. Mailing address: BP 1377, 06007 Nice Cedex 01.

Visitor reviews

Highlights: Customers praise an impressive choice of patchoulis and quality that lives up to expectations. Lasting power comes up in almost every review: the fragrances hold for a long time, which is rare. Prices, well below those of shops, are a major draw. Fast, careful delivery, with free samples and often a personal note in the parcel, builds loyalty. Many say they no longer buy their patchouli anywhere else.

Areas for improvement: Everything happens online: you cannot smell before buying, which calls for knowing or being willing to try patchouli. The perfumes are powerful and very tenacious, a choice that will not suit everyone. The very salesy communication style can be off-putting.

Overall impression: An address apart, for patchouli lovers after lasting power and maker prices. To order knowing what you are getting.