Country Henry M. Betrix 1980 Eau de Cologne

This is one of the first fragrances that I have dealt with in detail, namely in my childhood. Admittedly, this was only in the form of a fragrance sample that my parents probably received as a gift from some perfumery sometime in the early 1980s, had no interest in it and quietly passed it on to me "to play with". However, fragrance samples back then were often still comparatively opulent, a 5ml bulk bottle with a screw cap in a green and gold box. All very stylish and today a coveted vintage collector's miniature. I didn't play with the bottle, but kept it carefully in my treasure chest and smelled it devoutly on occasion. It was one of the cornerstones of the first phase of my passion for perfume. I learned that fragrances in bottles can be a suitable means of transportation for extended fantasy journeys - something that is still central to perfumery today.

"Country" - the name says it all and outlines very well where the journey is heading: it comes across as a rich, mossy, woody and spicy-green fragrance, a prime forest scent. While it starts with a pleasant, slightly herbaceous freshness, this quickly gives way to a deep, spicy warmth. The resin notes and the light leather note in the base are clearly recognizable throughout. A complex, old-school fragrance with some components that are unfortunately rarely used today - not least because of new regulations. If pronounced forest fragrances (unlike woody fragrances) are not necessarily in vogue today despite the prevailing green lifestyle, this may be due not least to the fact that it has become difficult to use real oakmoss - which belongs in every real forest. In any case, here you can be sure that you have the original in the bottle and you can test yourself for incompatibility. I personally love oakmoss and have never experienced any problems.

In keeping with this old quality, the longevity is also outstanding compared to some newer fragrances. The eau de cologne has a longevity that hardly any eau de toilette can compete with today.

Of course, the fragrance has long since been discontinued and would probably seem a little old-fashioned to the masses today. In my opinion, however, this is completely wrong. This is most likely due to the fact that it is only available as a vintage fragrance and in the corresponding packaging. Not that it is tasteless, on the contrary, but by today's standards it is a little out of date, simply because it has never been modernized, as has been the case with many other fragrances that have held up better on the market over the years. And the external impression does help to shape perception. A thought experiment: what would it be like to bottle "Country" in a chic, modern bottle and place it in a contemporary range? I'm sure it would find its fans.

"Country" really wasn't particularly exclusive in its day. It was more likely to be found on the lower shelves or even in drugstores. And even today it is still quite affordable for a vintage, sometimes selling for well under €1 per milliliter at auctions. For its quality, that's not exaggerated - today you pay more for many a weak-chested trend fragrance.

A few years later, still in the eighties, I got to know Aramis Devin and immediately found it very similar. As the latter is still available, he has become something of a Betrix surrogate for me over the years, even if I'm certainly not doing him justice: After all, "Devin" was released back in 1977, three years before "Country". Conversely, the Betrix fragrance should probably be seen as a kind of substitute "Devin", or at least as "Devin"-inspired. This is supported by the fact that Aramis obviously introduced the generic term "Country Eau de Cologne" with "Devin" in order to specifically appeal to a class of urban-socialized Americans who, at that time, increasingly wanted to escape the increasingly violent urban environment, either actually or with the help of scent-guided fantasy journeys (see above) - "Devin" as a vehicle of olfactory escapism (see the illuminating review by Axiomatic). The flacon design of the two fragrances could provide another possible indication of such a borrowing. Although the silhouette is rather classic, the similar shape of the cap in particular cannot be dismissed.

Be that as it may - "Devin" may be more original and may also have shaped the market category. In terms of quality, "Country" is in no way inferior, it is certainly not a cheap copy but an independent fragrance that goes in the same direction, but I personally like it even better because it is a little fresher, the forest a little lighter, so to speak.

Thanks to a complex swap here in the forum, I was able to get hold of another bottling of Country after decades and refill my old bottle. It's now back in my treasure chest and I can enjoy it again from time to time. My thanks for this to Parfumo, but especially to Minigolf!