Fête d'Hiver - Winter Festival is created by natural perfumer Ayala Moriel as a tribute to the beauty of winter. It's a most unusual fragrance, as the spicy warmth surrounds a central theme of tropical gardenia, a flower I tend to associate with spring and summer. What makes this gardenia scent so interesting is it's harmony with heavier notes of amber, nutmeg, incense, rose and sandalwood. They blend together beautifully, creating a symphony of white petals and spices as soft as snowflakes. The gardenia and rose notes are perfectly balanced with a spicy edge of nutmeg and allspice, and the incense and amber add depth to the delicate gardenia. A well done execution of complicated notes that manage to come together in a winter wonderland, and one of the most unique gardenia perfumes I have come across in my perfume explorations. Good sillage and lasting power of about 3 hours on my skin. This fragrance is one of the highlights of Ayala's collection.

Ayala compares Fete D'Hiver to powdery, fluffy snow, and she's right. A perfume with rose and spice notes sounds like it must be heavy and dense, but this one isn't. It does indeed have a "fluffy" feel to it. And festive too! The orange and spices remind me of enjoying a mug of mulled wine at a Christmas market. Fete D'Hiver is not a loud, strong fragrance (it is a natural perfume, so it doesn't have the huge throw of many synthetic blends), but it unfolds beautifully over several hours on the skin.

Not sure what other people are smelling, but this is primarily orange blossoms. I don' t find that particularly winterish, though it may be a bit festive. Bois d'Hiver is much more winter-like, and neither of these lasts at all on my skin. Seriously disappointing for perfume that costs this much for so very little. Cool bottle though. Very cool bottle.

I tried Fete d'Hiver and instantly fell in love with it. Right away when wearing this the orange and the nutmeg jump off my skin right to my nose and gives me this happy feeling. Then as it warms up on my skin the rose and all spice creap up to play making it more sensual. In the lovely dry down I smell the warmth of amber and sandalwood engulf me with the orange and rose still lingering. This is not a gourmand scent but a nice oriental amber. Fete d'Hiver is a wonderful scent that can be worn year round and will keep you coming back for more.

This is one of my favorites from Ayala's line. Resinous woody base underpinning a warm bright slightly citrusy spicy happy scent.

Right out of the bottle, it is amazing! I smell the spices (nutmeg and allspice) with the florals (rose and gardenia) mixed in. Upon first application, it deepens immediately, taking you by the hand to the incense, amber and sandalwood. The spices, rose and gardenia slowly make their way to the background. This is such a rich and slightly spicy oriental/floriental. Awesome!

Delightful, versatile fragrance consisting of a balanced mixture of flowers, a touch of citrus, and well-chosen spices on an amber and sandalwood base. Appealing as both a floral and an Oriental perfume. Natural florals make it soft and wearable. Plus, the spices increase the projection and longevity. I especially enjoy the allspice, which carries a seasonal, wintery association. More jolly than Nuit de Noel.