The story of Sisley
Hubert and Isabelle d'Ornano founded Sisley in 1976 on a simple idea: skincare built around plant extracts. It is still a family company with a taste for rich formulas. Its perfume story began with Eau de Campagne, a green scent built on the smell of tomato leaf. The first big success came in 1990. Eau du Soir, composed by Jeannine Mongin with the d'Ornanos, takes its cue from the mock orange of Spanish gardens. It is a floral chypre in the grand tradition, broad and dark. Soir de Lune carried the line forward in 2006. Dominique Ropion made it brighter, warmed with spice and honey. The range has grown since, with newer scents such as Soir d'Orient. Still, the two evening chypres remain the house's best calling card in perfume, well away from the sugary trends.
An olfactory signature
The house speaks classic chypre, the language of oakmoss and labdanum. Eau du Soir opens on bitter grapefruit, then unfolds a dense heart where mock orange meets rose and carnation. Moss and patchouli in the base give it the depth of a forest floor. Soir de Lune is more golden. Coriander, nutmeg and pepper warm the opening before a heart of May rose and mimosa set on honey and sandalwood. Both share a sense of scale that is the opposite of today's sheer florals.
Which Sisley perfume to choose?
Our database holds two Sisley floral chypres. Eau du Soir is for lovers of structured, slightly austere scents on autumn and winter evenings. Soir de Lune is easier thanks to its honey and spice, and it works better in daytime. One or two sprays are enough because both last for hours. They are expensive, so wear a sample for a full day first. To place Eau du Soir, smell Guerlain Mitsouko or Clinique Aromatics Elixir, two chypres from the same family.