The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Anne Flipo and Florent di Marino created Mont de Narcisse in 2018 as part of the Les Paysages collection, a line that takes its name from landscapes and places. But this fragrance doesn't landscape. It interrogates. The name points to a flower, a specific one, and the composition that follows does something unexpected: it barely smells like narcissus at all. Instead, it builds a leather framework and threads yellow floral through it like a secret.
The choice to name a fragrance after a flower and then subvert that flower is a L'Artisan move. The house has always resisted easy categorization, and this is that instinct at its most concentrated. The narcissus here isn't the fresh-cut-stem smell one might expect. It's the idea of the flower processed through smoke, leather, and something animalic, a different register entirely. What remains is warmth, not sweetness. Complexity, not clarity.
The evolution
The opening is all lift and spice: black pepper, bergamot, a lavender-cardamom thread that feels medicinal in the best way. Green and aromatic. That phase lingers for a considerable stretch before the heart makes its entrance. The French narcissus appears, but filtered through immortelle, which gives it a smoky, herbal edge that nobody describes the same way. Plum and osmanthus keep the floral warm rather than bright. This middle section is where Mont de Narcisse earns its name, even if the connection isn't obvious. Then the leather takes over. Birch and vanilla in the base soften what could be harsh into something that sits close and polished. The drydown is the fragrance's true character: leather-forward, warm, intimate. It stays there for hours.
Cultural impact
Mont de Narcisse occupies a curious position: the name promises delicate florals, but the fragrance delivers something darker and more animalic. It rewards those who appreciate unconventional florals, particularly anyone drawn to dark florals or leather-forward compositions. The interplay between the narcisse and immortelle creates a scent that feels both familiar and strangely alien, challenging expectations with each wearing. This is a fragrance for those who like their florals with teeth.
