Parfums de Marly Valero Extrait de Parfum

What It Smells Like

Parfums de Marly Valero is a fresh aromatic extrait de parfum built on lavender, geranium and ambrox. It belongs to the fougère family, the barbershop style defined by lavender and herbs over a warm base, and it is offered at extrait strength, the most concentrated form of perfume.

The opening is citron, bergamot and juniper: bright citrus with the cool, gin-like bite of juniper berries. The heart is where the fougère character shows, with lavender and geranium, a leafy, rosy-minty note, supported by nutmeg and the dry green scent of cypress.

The base is ambrox, patchouli and sandalwood. Ambrox is a clean, mineral amber material that gives a long, smooth trail, and the sandalwood adds a creamy woodiness that rounds off the herbs.

Fragrantica's community ranks fresh spicy as the leading accord, followed by aromatic, citrus, woody and lavender. It is a recent release with a smaller and more divided vote than the house classics: 3.41 out of 5 from about 500 ratings. It comes in a different flacon from the main range, rounded, with a sculpted horse head on the front.

Who Made It

Parfumo credits Valero to Hamid Merati-Kashani; Fragrantica does not list a perfumer for it.

Hamid Merati-Kashani is a perfumer at dsm-firmenich and the name behind much of the modern Parfums de Marly range. Layton, Althaïr, Althaïr Exclusif and Valero are all credited to him. His signature is a warm, polished base of vanilla, woods and spice that stays smooth however much volume he gives it.

Who It's For

Valero is for people who like classic men's aromatics and want a refined, modern one. Fragrantica lists it for women and men, although the house presents it as a masculine.

It is fresher and more traditional than Layton or Althaïr, with no vanilla to speak of. If you want a sweet, attention-getting scent, this is not it. If you want something clean, well-groomed and quietly expensive, it deserves time on your skin before you judge it.

When to Wear It

Fragrantica voters place it in spring and summer, with fall third, and day far ahead of night. Lavender and citrus are at their best in mild, bright weather.

It works as a daily fragrance for the office and for daytime occasions where you want to be neat rather than loud. As an extrait it sits closer to the skin than an eau de parfum of the same style, and it wears smoothly through the day.

About the House

Parfums de Marly was founded in Paris in 2009 by Julien Sprecher. The house takes its name and its imagery from the royal château of Marly and from the perfumed court of Louis XV, an era when fragrance was worn lavishly and horse racing was a royal passion. That is why every bottle carries a crest of two rearing horses, and why several of the fragrances, Herod, Godolphin and Darley among them, are named after celebrated horses.

The style is generous and easy to like: rich, long-wearing compositions, each built around one clear idea and usually signed by a well-known perfumer. Parfums de Marly is a boutique-only house at Redolia. It is sold at our perfumery at 92 West Main Street in Somerville, New Jersey, and not through the website. Read how our boutique-only houses work, then come in and try it on skin before you decide.