French Ave

French Ave moves from fruit to wood to leaf, in a simple and well-judged line. Fig comes first. It is sweet, milky and slightly green, and bay leaf and bergamot keep it from turning jammy. The bay adds a savoury, herbal note, and the bergamot gives a brief, bright lift. The heart is dry and woody. Cedar gives a clean, pencil-like structure, vetiver adds a smoky earthiness and musk softens the edges so the woods feel smooth rather than sharp. The finish is the most distinctive part. Tobacco and hay give a warm, golden, slightly honeyed dryness, like a barn on a sunny afternoon. It is cosy without being sugary. As an extrait it sits close to the skin and lasts a long time. It suits anyone who likes a grown-up, low-key scent. Wear it from autumn to spring, at work, on weekends or on an evening out. Oakcha no longer sells French Ave (its page has been removed from oakcha.com), and this page records it for owners. Bottom line: a sweet fig and cedar scent that dries to tobacco and hay.