The Afternoon of a Faun

I am truly captivated by the scent of immortelle—dried flowers and solvent-extracted absolute blend into a warm, herbaceous aroma that feels almost idyllic. It reminds me of wildflowers under the sun, their dry, baked essence with the earthy scent beneath them. My first encounter with this note was through Annick Goutal’s Sables, a soliflore that captures the essence of immortelle, bringing out its fenugreek and maple nuances beautifully. Histoires de Parfums 1740 offers a darker, leathery interpretation of immortelle, which is rich and inviting. Afternoon of a Faun, however, is something entirely vibrant—it’s like a bright autumn sun: radiant aldehydes complement the bold resinous myrrh and large sweeps of oakmoss, all tied together with floral notes. The way immortelle plays into this blend feels almost gregarious, but it’s the artistry in balancing these elements that truly stands out as perfumery genius. The scent has a mercurial quality—it shifts at times, allowing rose and orris to take center stage before they retreat, only to return alongside the moss weaving in and out. Myrrh asserts its dominance at certain points, then yields, creating a dynamic interplay that keeps you engaged. This dance of notes makes it an exhilarating and enjoyable experience—there’s a sense of suspense as the scent evolves on your skin and in your space. Afternoon of a Faun is nothing short of olfactory seduction.

It's tricky to put into words, but this one starts with a strong floral note that quickly shifts to a sweeter, tobacco-like undertone. Bergamot adds a bright sparkle before the fragrance settles into a more grounded resonance. As it dries down, resinous and earthy notes become more prominent, giving it depth and complexity. A truly unique and evolving fragrance, this one feels artfully crafted, though it’s not my personal style. If you're into floral perfumes with depth, this one could be a great match for you. It has a delicate, almost ethereal presence, but the sillage is subtle, leaning slightly feminine. 7/10

I prefer the opening over the drydown. The opening is vibrant, green, and mossy, while the drydown feels sad and uninspired, making it seem less promising than expected.

On the fence about it, I might consider sending it back to the site I purchased it from due to the price and size I received. However, I’ll have my mom try it first since she enjoys scents like this one—it could make a nice gift for her. It starts off crisp, floral, and powdery with lots of rose notes, reminiscent of Chanel No. 5, which I’m not particularly fond of. But the dry down is appealing—once the florals fade, it transforms into a spicy maple-syrup scent, though it takes a while to settle into that phase. I also pick up earthy wet leaf notes, though not as prominent as I’d hoped. After wearing it a few times, my feelings about it are still mixed, but it’s slowly growing on me. I’ve decided to keep it despite my initial uncertainty—I lost the box anyway, so no use in returning it. My opinion of it really depends on my mood and mindset when I wear it. That’s something that can probably be said about all perfumes, but usually, I form an opinion quickly. This one, like many others by ELDO, has a unique quality that changes with each wear—whether I like it or not doesn’t matter to me anymore—it’s all about the experience. It’s been great for this fall weather, especially now in November when all the leaves are on the ground. The scent reminds me of jumping into a pile of leaves—it’s dry, dusty, and sharp in a nostalgic way. While I’m still not a fan of the floral aspects, overall, I like it.

The top note was sharp and splashy, as I learned from Eldo’s perfumes, where they advise not to overvalue top notes because it might lead you to dislike a perfume later on—like how I felt with Tom of Finland and Dangerous Complicity. I gave it some time before the middle note revealed its true nature: sharp but complex. Initially, it had the peppery bite of bergamot, but as I moved my nose away, a dusty, dirtied-floor scent emerged, making it feel both intricate and overwhelming. After 30 minutes, the base note arrived, still sharp and evoking an exact memory of Estee Lauder’s Intuition for Women—a sharp, yellowish pepperiness with a vintage, almost aristocratic vibe. While I found its sharpness a bit grating, I decided to give it another try to see how my feelings might evolve.