Histoires des Parfums 1876 -- Mata Hari

The infamous Mata Hari was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who worked as a spy for Germany during World War I.  She was a promiscuous femme fatale, so her namesake fragrance should be deeply sultry, perhaps even a tad raunchy.   Ah, but it’s another fruity floral, starting out with a sweet cassis note, and a nice fresh juicy peach.  The ivy adds a touch of green before the heady floral bouquet comes on strong with lots of jasmine and rose.  The basenotes, apart from a bit of musk, do not assert themselves in any way as individuals and serve merely to give a sturdy base to the loud flowers.

While certainly not bland, Mata Hari is merely a pretty scent that gives no hint of wantonness, nothing that will get the blood running or fan the flames of desire.