Santos Cartier 1989 Eau de Sport

Here’s another one for the slightly older crowd, pardon: those who are no longer quite young. In the 1980s - when the protagonists of tennis were not called Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, and Murray, but rather Lendl, Wilander, McEnroe, and Connors - there was a French player named Henri Leconte. This Henri Leconte was quite successful - making it to the semifinals now and then and occasionally winning a tournament, but he never quite managed to secure a major title - and was popular for his humor and lifestyle.

Henri Leconte had - unusual for a professional athlete even back then - a little belly throughout his entire active career. Not a big one, but still considerable for someone who earns his living through sports. And he also had a bit of a prosperity chin. Perhaps that’s why he never won a Grand Slam title. It was due to the red wine and Mousse au Chocolat, Cassoulet and Foie Gras, Bœuf Bourguignon and all the other temptations that one - at least the cliché in the 80s - could not resist as a Frenchman.

Cartier's Santos Eau de Sport is - just like Henri Leconte - a creature of the 80s through and through. And one that - again like Leconte - shows quite a bit of performance, but is probably too joyful, pleasure-seeking, perhaps too comfortable to push into the very front row - and that’s exactly what makes it so lovable. Despite the 'Sport' in its name, it is a typical 'late Fougère' of its decade - and has nothing in common with those that today carry 'Sport' in their name. For many noses socialized today, it is undoubtedly too Old School. For everyone else, a sunken jewel.

Conclusion: hardly available anymore - and if it is, then for mountains of money in often questionable quality, which is regrettable. Cartier Santos Eau de Sport is one for those who prefer to live rather than just perform unconditionally. One for a connoisseur, a bon vivant, who is open to bodily pleasures. With or without a little belly and prosperity chin.

Once again, a title that has no connection to the scent, far from it, dear readers of my comment, here I tell you the story of how I came to own the Santos Eau de Sport by Cartier.

Many men enjoy playing skat, I can too, but I prefer chess.

So, in the autumn of 2008, I participated in a chess tournament with 16 players, and since I play quite well, I made it to the semifinals.

And here I lost to a chess brother against whom I had never lost before and have not lost again to this day; this was surely due to the nasty robber chess that was unfortunately prescribed to be played.

And yes, you guessed it again, the Santos Eau de Sport by Cartier was my prize (it seemed to want to come to me), but I didn't just take home the sport that evening, no, I also won its brother, the Santos from 1981
which I won from my colleague in the other semifinal.

I still rejoice over my prizes today; unfortunately, the regular Santos is almost used up, but I still have a 3/4 bottle of the Sport.

Unfortunately, the Sport is an absolute rarity (that's why hardly anyone here knows it) and is hardly available anymore, and if it is, then at exorbitant prices; currently, a bottle is up for auction at E... for 398 euros, an absolute crazy price.

But now to the scent, which is not so easy to describe; the Sport is a beautiful, robust, true gentleman's scent, starting off slightly citrusy fresh with a noble note of herbs, I can recognize coriander and rosemary.

The transition to the base note is somewhat blurred; the freshness of the lemon remains longer, but warmer woody/floral notes of jasmine, clove, caraway, orange blossom, patchouli, sandalwood, and coniferous wood come into play.

After about 2 hours, there is again a slight flowing transition to the base note, which is simply genius and elegantly crafted; distinctly noticeable are amber, oak moss, musk, vanilla, and tonka bean, all harmonized with a wonderful warm wood accord.

For a sport scent, the Santos has a surprisingly strong sillage and a longevity of about 7 hours on me, not bad.

The bottle, with its dark green yet translucent garment, is the most beautiful I have ever seen; the sprayer works reliably and produces a fine mist, simply elegant.

Santos Eau de Sport glorifies the famous Brazilian pilot Santos Dumont and is exclusive and charming.
It glorifies courage and elegance, luxury and prosperity.

Ah, wonderful! This scent is for me the epitome of a men's classic - this is how an English barber shop should smell, this is how I imagine the ideal aftershave. Masculine and robust, yet truly of the finest quality - with an earthy-woody base note that even has subtle powdery hints.

The classically modern bottle deserves a special mention - it pays tribute to aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont and the watch that bears his name from Cartier.