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Paradoxe is a scent of contrasts, and this version plays them well. It opens with bergamot, pear and mandarin: fresh, juicy and light. Almost at once the heart arrives with neroli and orange blossom, backed by jasmine sambac. The result is a clean, luminous white floral that feels modern rather than old-fashioned. The warmth is in the base. Amber, vanilla and white musk wrap around the flowers, with a trace of benzoin adding a soft, resinous sweetness. The house calls the style floral amber, and the amber is what keeps it from feeling too fresh or too sweet. It stays smooth and skin-close. This is a versatile women's perfume, and the house suggests it for daily wear, the office, evenings and social occasions. Use fewer sprays for work and a few more for the evening. It is comfortable year-round, with a slight lean to autumn and spring when the amber glows. As an eau de parfum it lasts well and keeps a gentle, pleasant trail. Bottom line: a clean white floral with a warm amber heart that fits most days.