sniff test: chopard happy lemon dulci

Chopard Happy Lemon Dulci, eau de toilette, 100 ml

Chopard Happy Lemon Dulci is an uplifting fresh citrus-themed scent featuring notes of ginger, green leaves, sweet apple extract, orange flower water, mango and cucumber. Perfumer Dora Bagriche was tasked with formulating a scent that would make a positive impact on your mood. She handpicked a range of natural ingredients that made her feel happy when she smelled their aroma. The result is a fragrance that expresses a true joie de vivre.

She Says

Like that glass of ginger or cucumber-soaked spa water (so easy, yet you somehow never remember to try doing at home!), this scent is incredibly refreshing and has the same nose as runaway hit Glossier You (Dora Baghriche). The opening zing is an extremely luminous citrus burst before juicy apple slices come into it and a sprig or two of herbs—not unlike the brightness of D&G Light Blue, but sweeter. If the name Happy weren’t already spoken for by Clinique, this would be it: In aromatherapy, citrus oils are thought to have a natural uplifting and energizing effect and so does this perfume: After smelling it, I went for a jog then made a batch of lemon thyme bars. 3.5 out of 4

He Says:

I met perfumer Dora Bagriche several years ago in New York City at a press launch for a Juicy Couture fragrance. It was hosted in a glass tower overlooking Fifth Avenue complete with rows of long tables accented with outrageously opulent floral displays and cupcake pyramids. After the new brand manager presented a multi-media performance worth of a Lady Gaga concert, he briefly introduced Dora across the room before returning to his pyrotechnics. (I think he landed a big job in advertising shortly after the luncheon.) I ran over to Dora and asked for a quick photo. At the time she was gaining a reputation for taking traditional ingredients and treating them in unique ways. For the Juicy scent, she gave the rose noses a spicy kick and froze the raspberry ones. I wrote a story about her and dubbed her the rebel perfumer.

So, when I saw that Dora had created Lemon Dulci, I was immediately interested. The scent opens with very high quality lemon notes. You can almost taste the juicy citrus. But Dora keeps the lemon from overpowering with mellow apple that blend beautifully. A whiff of orange flower adds personality and mango is a clever way to add sweetness without the ubiquitous vanilla. Cucumber adds the final touch in what is one of my favourite scents of the past couple of years. GQ Asia recently voted it “most energizing scent” of the year. That makes me happy to hear. 4 out of 4