Rocabar 1998 Eau de Toilette

8.0 / 10 361 Ratings
Rocabar (Eau de Toilette) is a popular perfume by Hermès for men and was released in 1998. The scent is spicy-woody. It is still in production. Pronunciation

Main accords

Spicy
Woody
Green
Fresh
Citrus

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes Top Notes
JuniperJuniper CorianderCoriander LemonLemon BergamotBergamot
Heart Notes Heart Notes
CedarCedar CypressCypress CardamomCardamom CarnationCarnation VioletViolet
Base Notes Base Notes
FirFir BenzoinBenzoin OakmossOakmoss PatchouliPatchouli VanillaVanilla

Perfumers

Ratings
Scent
8.0361 Ratings
Longevity
7.3271 Ratings
Sillage
6.5268 Ratings
Bottle
7.7258 Ratings
Value for money
7.167 Ratings
Submitted by DonVanVliet, last update on 06.04.2024.

Reviews

7 in-depth fragrance descriptions
9
Bottle
7
Sillage
8
Longevity
9
Scent
Salva

71 Reviews
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Salva
Salva
Top Review 41  
Rocabar, you're so wonderful.
"A perfume for the nomad in search of the great outdoors." - J.C. Ellena
[...]

Why I have a special weakness for classics and especially French houses became clear to me again when I discovered the Rocabar EdT from Hermès. This happened a few months ago, when I was in a department store and snooped through the scent shelves...

Scents such as those from the Terre range, the many Hermès gardens, the two Voyage treasures or the sisters of the Merveilles line from this house have been known to me for a long time and I have already been able to get to know most of them.
However, until a while ago I was not familiar with some of the somewhat older classics that originate from this brand. Among them were for example the Equipage EdT, Amazone EdT, Bel Ami EdT or also Calèche Soie de Parfum, just to name a few. All of them are really very special scents, which are definitely worth to have them in your collection (if you are fond of classic scents).

Now when I test several fragrances of a similar genre and from the same house over a longer period of time, I usually choose the one that logically smells most unique to me personally. And in this case it was the Rocabar EdT...

According to my research, the name probably originated from a combination of two different languages. It is derived from the English 'rug' (blanket) on the one hand and from the French 'à barres' (striped) on the other hand.
This is intended as a tribute to the traditional saffron horse cover with blue and red stripes from the Hermès saddlery.
[...]

I think the fragrance itself is just great. The initial aromatic freshness, which becomes so unique for my nose, especially with the juniper note, is a real dream. Expressive, clean, pure, noble and damned interesting is my head note.
This fresh beginning is then transformed into an even more intense heart, in which I perceive further sounds of woods and first spices. I especially smell the cypress, which gives the fragrance an aroma similar to that of spruce wood.
Towards the base, it then develops into a sensual, balsamic-sweet and slightly warm charmer, which, however, retains its earthy-woody touch through the patchouli.

As I would characterize this Rocabar EdT as aromatic-woody and slightly spicy overall, I see it most suitable in autumn or on cooler days in spring. Because of its composition I think it is suitable for every occasion. Whether during the day in everyday life or in the evening when going out, with the fragrance you are always sprayed excellently.
It is a classic through and through, which would like to be worn by men.

You don't need to worry about a weak durability or sillage. At least on my skin I can smell it for a good 6-7h. And it is room filling in the first 3-4h as well, before it retires afterwards.
Conclusion:
When the Revered Sir Ellena says the sentence I quoted at the beginning, there must be something about this fragrance. And for me it is also very special...

From the various classics I mentioned at the beginning, I liked the Rocabar EdT best of all, so it has been in my collection for a while now and is - like all my fragrances - handled with kid gloves
I find Rocabar simply wonderful, as basically all classics from the house of Hermès... Only sometimes you have to make a choice, and mine fell on him...
[...]
Many thanks for reading it!
21 Comments
8
Bottle
7
Sillage
8
Longevity
9.5
Scent
Hautgout
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Hautgout
Hautgout
Top Review 29  
Man without horse


"A man without a belly is not a man" (or something like that) is written in many a poetry album of a man in his late forties... But a man without a horse - is like a cup without a handle. What remains then (in case of manageable financial circumstances) is the (used?) horse blanket of Hermes after which allegedly Rocabar should smell... With the best will - who has never sat in a car of a horse fool (horse fool), to whom the smell - which inevitably welds itself into the upholstery - is completely indifferent, does not know what he says, if he (I, you, he, she, it) claims Rocabar would smell like horse (inside) or horse blanket...
Dear fools (horses): the good news in advance. Rocabar does not smell like a horse. Even if you stand motionless for 3 hours with riding crop in the living room and stare at the ticking clock on the wall.
The scent: In predominantly English-speaking forums, one is disappointed again and again that the first hour is phenomenal the scent but then would digress into triviality.
What is true: Rocabar smells equally fresh/clean as balsamic/spicy/soft. The vanilla (ouch) which appears in the last third also acts here not at all like a foreign body - Rocabar is hermestypisch super balanced... and impresses more. like the here so hyped "Eau".
Many a one goes before rapture in the knees and stands with Arthroseschäden not so fast again up. Understandable (the rapture).
The scent "roc't" and smells very high quality.
Remains only to hope that some CEO of a leading French cosmetics company before he bites in the morning with unbrushed teeth in a piece of Brie, has mercy, pauses and reflects on the old reformulation - that has namely more Bumms.
And anyone hoping for horse here will be disappointed. Possibly hopping with
Alcohol or drug abuse Lady Loxley with tangled hair and look in moonlit night over the paddock...

12 Comments
7
Bottle
9
Scent
Dean81

1 Review
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Dean81
Dean81
12  
A timeless classic
Just at Douglas completely unsuspecting sniffed at Rocabar and... wow. A timeless classic for a man who doesn't have to prove himself. No angular fragrance, but noble and very harmonious.

Or to put it another way: If you're more of an Allure Homme sports wearer in the office and you hire Rocabar on the day of salary negotiations, you'll probably be offered the raise directly, instead of having to ask for it. Yeah, it's such a smell for me.
1 Comment
9
Bottle
7
Sillage
8
Longevity
8
Scent
HugoMontez

71 Reviews
HugoMontez
HugoMontez
Helpful Review 8  
Fall in a forest
Rocabar is so good and unique that i can't put my finger on any note in particular.

There's a woody and sweet resinous thing going on (definitely Benzoin mixed with cedar) but the opening adds fresh citrus and herbs, and the coniferous aspect is always present with probably the fir and cypress helping it out.

What a ride. Although it seems weird, the dry woodiness, the herbal and fresh opening, and the coniferous heart are masterfully blended with the sweet amber base making this fragrance one of the best fall and early spring scents ou there.

Gilles Romey, who had created Eau de Rochas Homme (1993) Eau de Toilette , was capable of making another interesting creation with classic elements put in a different way. The coniferous smell is present in may classic men's fragrances but mixed in a woody amber/oriental base is pretty new and unique for the époque.

Somewhere in between the greens, woods and resins, i find ionones from violets but in a way that it seems like iris to me. Buttery, creamy, lighlty floral. So delicate that between these powerful materials is quite easy to get unnoticed. But it makes the difference. It's like the incense in Un Jardin sur le Nil . Which is always there but under the green mango and the plastic grapefruit.

Hermès pre-Éllena has some special and timeless aura around. BelAmi, Eau de Hermès, Equipage and Rocabar are quintessential fragrances that need to be discovered and experienced. BelAmi is one of the best leather based scents, Eau de Hermès is a classic spicy leather that inspired Éllena work, and Equipage screams gentleman.

But Rocabar is probably the one that links the past with the present best, and represents a beautiful time of the year which is autumn. The performance is good. Lasts all day, creates a bubble around you, is not a strong projector but is always present. Everytime i get a whiff, i feel at home, in a fall day, around lumber and a forest. Peaceful.

4/5
0 Comments
9
Bottle
8
Sillage
8
Longevity
8
Scent
Rickbr

190 Reviews
Rickbr
Rickbr
Very helpful Review 2  
Sophisticated restrained fragrance
Hermès is an interesting designer in comparison to the other ones when it comes to the world of perfumery. While even the most classic bend toward the latest trends and trying to get the easy money from the young audience, the traditional brand of leather goods maintains a consistent line which is refined, more mature and with almost no perfume out of production. Even creations of little attention like Rocabar remains in production showing how refined is the offer of Hermès for both the male and female audience.

It is interesting how the perfume is constructed, a mixture of chypre with a dry resinous and spicy oriental feeling, something able to transmit a rough and at the same time velvety, texture something that seems to marry well with the inspiration of the tissue. If you watch the close aroma skin you notice a smell that brings to the mind a semisweet chocolate aroma, product of a very sophisticated patchouli. What projects, however, it is an aroma that mixes a smell of dry, cold and fresh spices, resins, citrus and an astringent smell of classic herbs.

Rocabar may seem at first a scent that disappears quickly into the skin, but if applied with greater generosity is possible to notice its sleek smell forming a sophisticated aura with shades of moss, wood, spices and resins. It's the kind of perfume that does not seek to attract attention, that exudes confidence, security and good taste. Not for many, but matches very well with those who seek this kind of more mature and sophisticated elegance.
1 Comment
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Statements

2 short views on the fragrance
HermeshHermesh 12 months ago
8
Bottle
6
Sillage
7
Longevity
8
Scent
A good combination of woody notes, freshness and fine spicy warmth. Sophisticated, round and stylish in the drydown.
0 Comments
HugoMontezHugoMontez 3 years ago
9
Bottle
7
Sillage
8
Longevity
8
Scent
A great duality between classic and modern. Sofisticated and elegant. Woody-spicy with a fougère backbone. A really good piece of art. 4/5
0 Comments

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