Home > Musings > Hilde Soliani’s Miss Tranchant: An Olfactory Journey to the Seaside
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Scented Synopsis
- A Sea Change in Gourmand Perfumery
- Miss Tranchant : A Culinary Surprise in a Bottle
- Redefining Gourmand
- From Sea Spray to Buttercream
- The Gourmet Drydown
- A Gourmand for the Daring and Unafraid
- The Verdict : A Must-Try for Adventurous Gourmand Lovers
- Michelin-Starred Inspiration : The Mauro Uliassi Connection
I want to thank Hilde Soliani for so graciously sending me several of her fragrances to sample and experience. I am now officially a gourmand lover.
A Sea Change in Gourmand Perfumery
Definitely, the fragrance that opened my eyes and heart to gourmand scents was Hilde Soliani’s Miss Tranchant. In fact, only recently did I give this genre of scent any serious consideration. Thanks to this incredibly unique creation by the lovely Italian artist, perfumer, theatre performer, and jewelry designer, HIlde Soliani. But forget everything you think you know about perfume. The Queen of Gourmand, has concocted a scent that smells like the sea had a fling with a stick of butter. Yes, really.
Miss Tranchant: A Culinary Surprise in a Bottle
Miss Tranchant is a rather eccentric creation by the Italian perfumer everyone knows for quirky, edible-inspired scents. It’s totally unlike your average gourmand or aquatic fragrance (if you’re looking for those, check out my guide on setting up your summer scent wardrobe). Miss Tranchant is a bold departure from the usual sugary suspects of the gourmand genre. She’s a unique blend of marine and gourmand notes and a prime example of Hilde Soliani’s knack for taking ordinary ingredients and turning them into unforgettable perfumes.
Redefining Gourmand
I’ll be honest – gourmand is a genre of fragrance I’ve often avoided. As someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, the idea of smelling like a snack never appealed to me. While there are fragrances in my collection many consider gourmand, I don’t necessarily qualify them as gourmand. For me, a true gourmand fragrance goes beyond simply containing edible notes. It should a gourmet dinner that evokes a sense of indulgence with a side of gluttony. And—most importantly—it should smell delicious enough to eat.
It’s Not Just Dessert Anymore
Of all the perfumes in my collection, very few would I consider to truly be gourmand. Miss Tranchant is one of those few. While she certainly embodies the essence of a gourmand perfume with her edible notes, Miss Tranchant is not your typical sweet treat. Think less dessert cart and more Michelin-starred seafood platter. She’s a savory gourmand, an unexpected fusion of salty and sweet. This is a scent I would absolutely enjoy eating.
From Sea Spray to Buttercream
A Salty-Sweet Surprise in the Oyster’s Pearl
Miss Tranchant greets you with an immediate burst of salty air, so incredibly real it’s a shocking splash of an unexpected wave. This isn’t the sanitized, “ocean breeze” you might associate with typical aquatic perfumes. No, this is the raw, unfiltered smell of the sea. It’s an amalgamation of the rousing chilly seawater, the mineral tang of seaweed clinging to rocks, with an almost metallic bite of oyster brine.
More Than Just Brine
It’s not a monotonous ocean spray; Miss Tranchant is more of a complex tidal pool of scent. Indeed, it’s the aroma of a freshly shucked oyster with barely a squeeze of lemon cutting through the brine. In addition, there’s a faint metallic edge, a little reminder of her marine origins. Ultimately, these nuances are what make Hilde Soliani’s perfumes unique. She has an innate ability to tell a story through scent. Her perfumes will undoubtedly take you places.
A Melt of Butter
As the waves of scent begin to settle, Miss Tranchant incorporates the briny depths of the sea with the creamy richness of butter. This is not a stick of butter from your fridge but more of a golden pool of melted goodness drizzled over freshly shucked oysters. It’s rich and suprisingly blended to perfection.
A Culinary Twist
Additionally, the butter adds a warm and decadent sweetness that delicately balances the initial saltiness of the oysters. Imagine the aroma of browned butter or shortbread cookies wafting through the air. In essence, it’s a fragrance that feels as much like a taste experience as it does a scent. I find Hilde’s ability to translate the flavors of a gourmet meal into a wearable work of art.
The Gourmet Drydown
As Miss Tranchant settles on your skin, she begins her final act. There’s a lingering echo of the seaside, like the ongoing sound of the waves from a conch shell. The briny notes begin to soften, the butter mellows, and a delicious mingling of salty and sweet emrges. There’s a slight earthiness here in the drydown, grounding the otherwise airy, mineral scent, and lending it a surprising warmth and depth.
Miss Tranchant is fragrance of playful sophistication. She’s the woman that knows how to have fun while still exhibiting an air of elegance. It’s a scent that will pique your curiosity, invite you to linger, to savor the moment, to indulge your senses with something completely unexpected.
A Gourmand for the Daring and Unafraid
Indeed, this is not a fragrance for the masses. If you prefer predictable scents, steer clear of Miss Tranchant. But, if you enoy the unconventional, go ahead and give her a try. She’s fearless and requires a bit of courage but promises an experience that will garner glances and start conversations. If you’re looking for a scent that’s unusual, challenges expectations, and will leave them guessing, Miss Tranchant is your oyster. (Pun intended!) Also, did I mention she lingers around ten hours on my skin and into the next day on my clothes. So far, Miss Tranchant is the most unique take on a gourmand fragrance that I’ve encountered.
The Verdict: A Must-Try for Adventurous Gourmand Lovers
Definitely, Miss Tranchant challenges the conventional norms of what a perfume should be. She’s a fragrance for those who crave something different and aren’t afraid to take a walk on the wild side of scent. She’s for the foodies, the adventurous, and for those who appreciate a touch of the avant-garde in their lives. Miss Tranchant is a wonderful display of Hilde Soliani’s genius. I find it amazing how she masterfully blends seemingly disparate notes into a magnificent, delicious whole. I’ve been wearing Miss Tranchant on and off for an entire year and each time I fall in love with her a little more. This perfume might not be for everyone, but those brave enough to wear it, expect to be rewarded with a perfume that smells as playful and surprising, as it is smells delicious.
If you’re a gourmand lover with an adventurous palate and unfamiliar with the fragrances created by Hilde Soliani, I strongly suggest getting your nose on some samples. If you’re an offbeat character with an audacious soul, this might just be your perfect match. Love it or hate it, there’s no denying Miss Tranchant’s unique charm. So, I highly suggest you give her a try! Let the salty-sweet scent take you to a place where oysters and butter reign supreme. Samples are available at Scent Split, so you can experience this peculiar fragrance for yourself.
Michelin-Starred Inspiration: The Mauro Uliassi Connection
Miss Tranchant is a dedicated to three-star Michelin chef Mauro Uliassi, renowned for his innovative seafood dishes. HIlde sought to capture the essence of his culinary artistry in a bottle, translating the briny freshness of oysters and the velvety richness of butter into a wearable scent experience. For two months every Spring, Mauro Uliassi and his team take time off from the kitchen to develop their menu from a collection of perfumes and scents collected for this purpose throughout the previous year. I just absolutely love this connection!
