Speakeasy Frapin 2012

Speakeasy opens for business with a rum-laced tropical fruit punch accord and a twist of lime over an underlying soft mint. During the heart phase, powdery suede leather emerges with the powder most likely derived from the liberal use of benzoin. Mixing with the powdered leather during the dry-down are the remnants of the booze-laced fruity open, now joined late by non-animalic white musk and slightly sweet tonka bean rising from the base. Projection is minimal and longevity is average.

The official list of notes for Speakeasy is quite long and interesting, but I confess they are either well-blended or nonexistent as I could not detect most of them. For all its laundry list of notes, Speakeasy really smells like tropical rum fruit punch over powdery soft suede. It is a relatively subtle scent on the whole that unlike fragrances like the disappointing Enchanted Forest that are much more innovative but polarizing using a similar theme, Speakeasy really is more wearable and safe. Wearable it is, but uninspired about sums up my opinion of the scent. The bottom line is Speakeasy can get people to enter its doors with an average 2.5 stars out of 5 rating, but it will have a much harder time convincing folks to continue to imbibe as there is nothing "illegal or illicit" in this club.

I seem to be on an eternal, frustrated quest for an oriental that is rich and luscious, and yet light and airy enough for warm weather.

I am pleased to say that Speakeasy seems to be, in fact, one of those elusive fragrances.

I was skeptical about the citrus, white musk and mint notes, as they often signify, within a unisex frag, a masculine freshness of which I am not a fan.

As it turns out, Speakeasy judiciously uses these very notes to take the sweet, oriental earthiness I crave and make it warm weather-friendly.

Never has the phrase, "Less is more" been more fitting.

SPEAKEASY is a Gorgeous Scent. Complex, Elegant, Modern, Boozy, Airy and Tobacco. You can't go wrong with it, It smells so good and very pleasant. One of the Best and Unique Opening in the Frapin Collection, I fell in love with it at first sniff! I tried it on my skin and I bought it. It opens up with a bit sweet fresh spicy , boozy, green and floral notes in the background then dry down is warm spicy, resinous, Tobacco, leathery and ambery. In my opinion, It is very smooth and soft, Easy to wear, Easy to Love. I really enjoy it and I love it. This is suitable for cold weather. I'm so happy that I have it in my collection. Longevity is Average. Highly Recommended.
Two Thumbs Up.
Bravo Frapin !
Rating : 9 / 10

At the outskirts of the city, there's an old tavern with an old wooden door. On either side of the entrance, mint leaves are planted. You open the door to find soft pink lighting, a wooden parquet floor, damp with rum, tobacco leaves scattered around, mixed with broken cinnamon sticks everywhere, as if only merchants of these goods ever visit this place! There are beautiful hostesses in the tavern serving drinks. Would you like some tonka beans? Are you looking for the labdanum ? Congratulations, you've found warmth and the perfect drink in our tavern!

Frapin's olfactive portfolio is a Jumanji, full of exotic things barely presented before. And Speakeasy is one of the most peculiar ones made by a nose who knows how to turn smells to fluent stories.

Opens with an inexpressible powdery boozy air mingled with fizzy citrus and minty geranium. The base, on the other hand, is structured around balmy powdery ambergris which reminds me femme fatal Ambre Gris by Balmain in a more pronounced facet and more powdery and less warm render. I expected more tenacity and projection but when I imagine how alerting it could be with greater power, I say ok it's quite enough, therefore 3/5 yet, it is complex to the point that I'm not satisfied by my review.