Baudelaire Byredo 2009

It's a shame that someone from the family has already written about Memoir Man. I came to that conclusion on my own. And I certainly don't mean the explicit reference to Baudelaire in both. One might overlook that with a marketing-saturated shrug. Rather, there is a surprising similarity in the scent, although they take some time to develop and relativize in direct comparison.

First, there is the impression of wormwood, even absinthe (though I must assume the latter due to a lack of corresponding liquid experience) in the later initial phase. Memoir Man wraps this in a slightly smokier and woodier manner, while Baudelaire carries a spicy, almost fruity note. I wonder if this might be attributed to juniper, whose "raw" berries I unfortunately have not yet smelled. Fruity is basically the wrong term; I just can't think of a better one. The scent is at best vaguely fruity or floral. It is a kind of spice that is not yet dried like a spice from a packet. It is fresher, oily, yet free from any ethereal sharpness. Sigh. I give up. Try it out. It’s a test tip here anyway (yes, despite the following paragraph...), so I might as well mention that upfront.

In another respect, the beginnings each offer very clear differences. Two are nose-visible, and the first is downright brutal. The opening mix of Baudelaire with its peculiar musty cumin reminds me - I can't put it any other way - of the smell of a shoe when, for example, you haven't paid attention to where you're stepping on the unpaved path in front of our house. Unpaved walkways are known to be particularly suitable for driving away any decency (I won't even talk about rights) among light-shy dog-walking riffraff. Perhaps (certainly!) Mr. Baudelaire occasionally woke up in the gutter, and we are meant to remember that. Enough of that; it is quickly overcome and forgiven.

Let’s turn to more pleasant deviations: The sweet licorice throat lozenge note, for instance (reminds me of the one from the same manufacturer in 1996), which lasts about four hours, is limited to the Byredo, as is the leather, which mainly makes its appearance in the second and third hours.

Subsequently, the Byredo gradually threads itself into the territory where Memoir has already arrived: into a mahogany wood note, gently surrounded by smoke and a remnant of herb, while Baudelaire is slightly roughened by a patchouli addition. As different as the pyramid notes of the two dark fragrances may be, the character similarity is now greater than the paper form suggests. Or? Somehow not again. Baudelaire is sweeter, airier, and above all more restrained. The wood note develops from the sweet licorice impression, remaining more amber-like and particularly (patchouli)-dusty.

After the comparison day with Memoir Man, I, of course, followed up with another individual test day for safety, as the Amouage is indeed significantly louder and more enduring. Its wood note accompanies me well into the evening, while this one in Baudelaire has long yielded to the patchouli hours earlier, which in turn has already taken on the status of a lingering hint by the evening.

And now? Do I want to have it, since I already own Memoir Man? Years ago, I overheard a kind of self-talk at a well-known discount store. A…uh…strange guy (at least he apparently could read, which was not self-evident from his facial expression) held a pack of two microfiber cloths in his hand and said to no one in particular: "Wow, that's cool - you can put them in the washing machine and they’re good as new!" He said that and tossed three packs with two cloths each into the shopping cart. Aha. Or like in that East Frisian joke with the three wishes. After the first granted a beer glass that fills itself on command, the other two were: Two more of those!

Do I have to feel just as silly if I get this one now? After all, Byredo is slightly more expensive than a bag of microfiber cloths at A…. I do like it quite a lot. And it is somehow quite different... Hey, you’re different, do you hear? Hello? Doesn’t listen. It's gone. Hm.