L'Eau du Caporal L'Artisan Parfumeur 1985

With a son in an officer's rank, all related clichés quickly become relative, especially since the guys (and gals) not only need courage but above all a pronounced talent for logistics and perseverance. The inclination to glorify a brand that uses military ranks as names for perfumes is as far removed from reality as campfire romance is from trucker life or St. Pauli at night is from the lives of men on a container ship. However, the substance from which perfumes are woven comes from spheres that rarely deal with mundane everyday life, and that's a good thing.

The scent has certainly taken me by storm. L`Eau de Caporal is a perfume that can not only be worn by the opposite sex but truly appeals to both sides of our humanity. At least, if one is not looking for sex in a bottle, and if the need for cuddling is not too pronounced. For me, this is a scent for adult, cultured people who place great value on aesthetics and do not prefer a perfume that must be original or extravagant at all costs.
Admittedly, the scent is clean and "neat." And it is a bit serious too, but behind this strictness lies a certain nonchalance and the knowledge that nothing is as hotly eaten as it is cooked. I may be accused of aging gracefully, but with many scents, I would prefer to wave my hand and ask if there isn't a smaller option available.

Those who immediately think of older gentlemen when they hear the term "fougere" will be enlightened by L`Eau de Caporal. The scent is fresh-spicy and energizing with a beautiful base that reminds me of long-gone Chypre times. However, Chypre times when this fragrance direction was not yet adorned with opulent floral notes but truly reflected the aura of the Mediterranean world. Jacques Fraysse proves with L`Eau de Caporal that refinement in a scent can indeed be achieved with a few well-known fragrance notes and that there is no need for exotic spices or niche experiments to create a wonderful perfume.

For those who do not need perfume to underline secret dreams, as a corset for self-confidence, or to feel a sense of belonging to any kind of group, but rather want to wear a scent with unpretentious self-evidence, L`Eau de Caporal comes highly recommended. It is now right at the top of my wish list.