Lalique pour Homme Equus Lalique 2001 Eau de Toilette

Many Lalique scents share a positive feature: they smell creative. Maybe not entirely compelling, but really unusual, quite “niche” despite the really low price and the wide availability. L’Homme Equus isn’t an exception: it is in fact a really peculiar sort of herbal-woody fragrance standing quite on its own among herbal-woody fragrances. The woody notes smell vibrant and exotic, with that sort of aromatic “African” mood of scents like Idole de Lubin or Trussardi Inside Man (and similar fragrances featuring slightly less common woody notes such as mahogany or rosewood). Bracing and really realistic, powerful “woody” in the best and most natural meaning. There’s vetiver too, but just more as a nuance of the main woody accord, which smells quite complex and colorful. I never smelled a sequoia so I don’t know about that sequoia note, but it smells really good. Then, something leathery (the only flaw here; the exact same sweet-mellow dull leather note as in CH Men by Herrera) provides some “mainstream feature” to the exotic woody base, giving it a shade of weight and “masculinity” (and dullness as I said). Now imagine this, topped with a sort of Mediterranean herbal-spicy-citrus bouquet a bit similar to Rochas Aquaman, or Lanvin Oxygene. Grassy, kind of pungent, really aromatic and again, quite exotic (juniper stands quite above the rest). Some slight resinous-fruity nuances give some warmth and sweetness. And that’s it, there is no significant evolution to my nose except a general drift towards woody-ambery tones. A woody-herbal scent with a colourful sweet vibe and a unique, decidedly “exotic” feel. Refined, totally versatile and really enjoyable. Sadly it smells also a bit thin and quite short-lasting, but it’s a fascinating piece of mainstream perfumery surely worthy a try.

7/10

Amazing fragrance! Elegant, Classy and Sophisticated. The scent is spicy- woody but is not heavy. This perfume has a well-balanced composition . The Sequoia note is dominant in this scent. It opens up with like warm spicy then dry down is musky woody. It smells so good and reminds me of walking through the forest of the Giant Sequoia trees. The art of bottle design is very wonderful. Lalique Equus is suitable for the spring ,fall and winter. I really enjoy it and I love Lalique Pour Homme EQUUS EDT. I'm so glad that I have it in my collection.
TWO THUMBS UP.
Rating : 9 / 10

Lalique fascinates me time and again. For an outrageously low price online, I am thrilled by almost all of their fragrances; White and Encre Noir even belong to my permanent collection. And I won't even start raving about the skillfully crafted glass bottles. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks this way; I have even read occasionally that they should stick to beautiful bottles from other brands and leave the contents to others. I really can't understand this thesis, as I consider even the often-criticized Hommage to be outstandingly beautiful, so I am also curious about its flankers. Therefore, I didn't have to think long when it came to blind-testing Equus Pour Homme. I own and tested the EdT version; unfortunately, I can't compare it to the EdP. But perhaps a fan of the fragrance can briefly comment on the differences in the responses.

So where does this ride take me across the glassy landscapes of the Lalique kingdom?

First, a little anecdote about the longevity or rather the surprise effect of this seemingly innocent little horse. After the fragrance started beautifully fresh, spicy, slightly sweet, and exceptionally bright-woody, it bid farewell after a few hours; my nose was blind to the entire heart note, which seems more likely than blaming the fragrance for failing at this stage. Only hours later, when I was already tinkering with new tests, I smelled a fine-sweet woodiness on my wrist. I hadn't sprayed anything new there; it had to be Equus. Sometimes it goes like this; those who are declared dead live longer. I just want to highlight again about the fragrance itself: it is just as smooth and stylish and a unity as its bottle - all the fragrance notes create a pleasant everyday buffet from which the modern man likes to choose. Few edges and corners, but also no boredom.

Bottle: a heavy glass artwork
Sillage: not even a slow trot.
Longevity: due to the described issue, mega difficult - 3-10 hours :D

A fragrance with more facets and surprises than a superficial examination reveals. I'm glad I bought it and now have time to explore. And I can do this due to its enormous versatility all year round 24/7, especially in the office. But cardamom, a whisper of leather, vetiver, and juniper berries form the foundation, that much is clear!

It took me a long time to engage with the men’s fragrances from LALIQUE. In fact, I was quite familiar with some of the wonderful women’s scents and logically fell in love early on with the beautiful bottles and the glass/quartz art of Lalique.
One day, my search for a leathery scent led me to the perfumery I trust.
I have some issues with leather fragrances, as they often cause me headaches and sometimes nausea. Not infrequently, especially with BULGARI Black pour Homme, these scents remind me of the smell of an empty car after long exposure to sunlight, which I don’t find very pleasant.

“Are you familiar with LALIQUE?” asked the owner of the perfumery, and at that moment I could already perceive the first slightly peppery fresh note of this fantastic fragrance.
I did something I never do and immediately held my wrist out for spraying, sniffing this scent for a good half hour. God, was I happy to have found this fragrance, especially since I was already quite satisfied with Dior-Homme.

The scent is, like all Lalique fragrances, very clean and natural, which also applies to the ethyl alcohol used.
The top note is very subtle, fresh, and somehow English. Perhaps it smells like this at the Royal Ascot Derby; English lawn, leather saddle, and Earl Grey.
The spicy notes of the heart are also very pure and long-lasting. The pepper-like note probably comes from the cardamom, which, in my opinion, has been very pleasantly combined with the leather.
The leather in the base is for me very soft, clean, light brown, and pleasantly warm. When enough is applied, one can smell a slightly woody-sweet scent the next day, almost a hint of caramel alongside the still-present leather.

For me, the most exquisite leather scent I know (and I know a few). By the way, the fragrance is housed in a glass work of art. However, the plastic cap leaves something to be desired; I would have preferred something heavier, like with Fougere royale (Houbigand).
The scent is particularly elegant and has a moderate sillage at lower doses, being fully perceived only at close range. In larger doses and with a bit more warmth, it spreads quickly and can definitely be noticed in an entire room.

I love the scent.

Actually, I have my issues with some of the Lalique fragrances. Without much nose grumbling, I personally can't easily pass them.

Also, the topic of horses is not so familiar to me as a city person - which doesn't mean that one hasn't had some touchpoints there or possibly out in the countryside.

Nevertheless, my eye is pleased by the finely crafted horse head on the back of the glass bottle - and my nose is delighted by the pleasant contents.

From the very beginning, Equus gallops in a fresh to slightly sweet direction, where the bergamot groves can only be sensed from afar, while the spicy cardamom along with juniper berries seem much more tangible. Especially the juniper somewhat transforms into distilled gin and occasionally gives the impression that one is getting a few splashes of pear schnapps around the nostrils. At least that's how it plays out on my skin; on paper, the citrus notes come across more intensely.

After the long ride, it intensifies into a light, rather bright and soft wood. Gradually, citrus wafts shimmer through the air again, and I think that the citrus plant Amarys comes into play here, as a slightly bright resinous note cannot be denied. Vetiver also makes its presence known. This combination, especially in the drydown, is really different from the usual soft base note banter with amber, vanilla, and tonka bean.

However, those who speculated on leather, which is indicated and would have fit thematically, unfortunately come away empty-handed. At least I didn't perceive any of that.

Nevertheless, Equus is a loyal companion, a jack-of-all-trades that can impress with both elegance and robust long-distance qualities while also showcasing original features. Thus, I am somewhat reconciled with Lalique and the theme of horses!