What perfume would the Mona Lisa wear? What would she smell like? What is behind that enigmatic smile? The popularity of the Mona Lisa is the fact that it leaves so much unsaid – for years people have wondered who she is (although it is now pretty much agreed who the subject of the painting is), what she was thinking and why this, of all paintings, is the most famous in the world. All good questions to ponder, if you ask me.
Niche brand Histoires de Parfums appear to have their curiosity piqued by Ms. Mona too, and they’ve taken the enigma that is the Mona Lisa and tried to capture her essence in perfume form. The name ‘7753‘ refers to the dimensions of the painting – “a hidden number for a hidden smile” as the brand puts it – and the scent aims to recreate the emotion of the subject. Whether that rings true or not, I can confirm (spoiler alert) that it is a cracking tuberose that I’ve been enjoying immensely!
7753 stands for the dimensions of the Mona Lisa painting for this perfume is not the perfume of an image, nor the mere perfume of a woman past – it is the perfume of the woman. It is the scent of an emotion, of this undecipherable glance, of her unexplainable beauty, of her immersive power and her drawing us in. It is the perfume of our own enthrallment. A hidden number for a hidden smile.
Histoire de Parfums
The Notes
Top: Italian Bergamot, Ivy and Ma Khaen Berry
Heart: Tuberose, Barbary Fig and Heliotrope
Base: Vetiver, Sandalwood and Oakmoss
How Does it Smell?
Crisp, cool and green. The initial blast makes me think of a florist’s workshop. The cool, misty air is filled with the scent of sweet, dewy petals and the icy greenery of freshly cut stems. It is instantly recognisable as a tuberose, but this is not your bubble gum sweet, heady Fracas bombshell, no, this is something much more serene and sedate. So tuberosophobes can rest easy, this one is not going to bite heads off. It may just nibble at them instead.
This tuberose is wrapped in ivy. The vines and leaves envelop it, stifling its intoxicating air and replacing it with a breeze of verdant freshness. Heliotrope intensifies the green impression, adding a nutty facet and a dash of powder. This all makes for a unique tuberose perfume that hovers somewhere between vintage and modern. It feels very 1980s and completely 2020 at the same time – it’s of our time but also of the past, and I find that utterly fascinating.
Vetiver becomes prominent in the base, as the white floral character subdues. It’s grassy and cool (as is much of the fragrance, tbh) but it also brings touches of earth and moss. The vetiver adds a dry element into the development, tempering all the softness and dewiness of the beginning for something a bit sharper. In terms of longevity, 7753 sticks around on the skin for most of the day and has a moderate trail. It’s no powerhouse, but there’s something attractive about its unassuming charm. It really does evoke the subtlety of that famous smile…
I admire 7753 for its unconventional take on tuberose. By amping up the camphor and green facets it presents the idea of tuberose cuttings in a florist’s shop. The cool, crisp nature of the fragrance is completely refreshing, both literally and contextually, and even for me, who loves and owns many tuberose fragrances, 7753 feels new. There is glamour too, with the powdery warmth evoking the auburn/vert colour pallet of da Vinci’s famous painting. Overall I think it’s an interesting olfactory exercise that showcases a familiar note in an unfamiliar way, whilst remaining wearable. It makes me smile, perhaps not with a smirk as iconic as Mona’s, but a smile nonetheless.
Availability
7753 is available in 15ml, 60ml and 120ml Eau de Parfum.
Disclaimer
Sample (full bottle) gifted by the brand for review. I was not paid for this review and the brand had no say in the content.
The Candy Perfume Boy 