Visa

Notes: violet leaves, bergamot, mandarin, ylang-ylang, rose, immortelle, orange flower absolute, peach, pear, patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, moss, vanilla beans, benzoin, leather accord

Aurelian Guichard's update of the 1945 Robert Piguet scent has strong roots in the classics, yet is really a modern fragrance.  His fondness for the peach note (see Bond no. 9 Chinatown) shines through once again, as, on my skin at least, Visa is all about peach.  Or, rather, the note that we are supposed to recognize as peach but really is nothing like the real thing.  Funny how we get trained to recognize something as being one thing when it's actually another.  Cherry Life Savers, for instance, taste nothing of real cherry, yet that synthetic red flavor registers instantly as "cherry" in most brains.  

But...pretending the fruit note is a "real" one, it is, however, not fresh.  It's not a juicy white peach just plucked from the tree, but rather more like chunky fruit preserves.  Think of those plump and gorgeous Australian glacé apricots glistening with sweetness and you'll be on the right track.  Beyond the fruit there's a blend of rich floral notes, rose and some immortelle; a soupçon of patchouli and a bit of leather accord to ground the fragrance. 

Overall, Visa is rich and sweet, but not cloying.  Full-bodied, but not heavy.  Elegant yet playful. It is available exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman in the US, Harvey Nichols in the UK, and Le Bon Marche in Paris.