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Modern Summer Fougère
The surest way to hate Fougère Zero is to measure it against the established original Fougère by Harry Lehmann. With this massive, classically bursting, bone-dry scent monument, to which not only I have dedicated a 10-point commentary here, "Fougère Zero" has far less to do than Coca-Cola with Coca-Cola Zero (due to the somehow fitting allusion, the name also gets 8 points), namely almost nothing at all. One must appreciate this fragrance as an independent scent. Only then can one like it.
The original Fougère was discontinued due to the whole oakmoss allergy thing, by the way, not just the EdP but also the Cologne. This is all the more regrettable as I was too late for a stock-up purchase. Instead, after a few weeks or months of experimenting, Mr. Lehmann introduced this completely oakmoss-free New Fougère into the range, which, according to reports, is also quite well received by customers.
He certainly deserves that, and despite all the pain over the exit of the one true Fougère, I would like to drum up a bit of support for this scent with only one owner (me), no wishlist editor, and at least one note-taker (Bravo, AmyAmy!).
Fougère Zero comes across to my nose as a very modern interpretation of Fougère without fear of synthetic notes (also with aquatic nuances), which is meant descriptively and not derogatorily. The scent is - typical Lehmann - rather linear, but one can already discern a certain development.
I perceive the beginning as distinctly fresh-green with the already mentioned tones flirting with the aquatic. It is not sweet in the true sense, but has some light green mint dust notes that convey a slightly sweet impression (one could think of a good peppermint gum or the distant scent of Menthe à L'Eau wafting over from a Parisian bistro table). This makes the scent, although I generally don't have much to do with this young-old box, in my opinion distinctly compatible with young men.
Unlike the compact, massive original Fougère, "Zero" is voluminous and expansive and has a certain mass (I wouldn't call it "light"), yet it is airy and relaxed. If it were a gourmand, I would think of that fluffy chocolate with air bubbles; since we are dealing with Fougère in the forest genre, I would say: loosely piled, somewhat moist, but still a bit swirling grass, fern, and foliage.
Over time, Fougère Zero becomes a bit drier and more classic, but after a few hours, perhaps four or five, the fun is over here as well. The new formula apparently had to forgo not only the moss but also some fixatives.
Fougère Zero somewhat reminds me of two other recent Lehmanns, namely (especially because of the "mint dust effect") the rather unpopular "Jubiläum 90," and then "Mirage," primarily due to the very special synthetic freshness that I described there as "ethereal." Mirage is also well received here in the Parfumo forum, and I would, although I find Mirage to be uniquely, mysteriously, and balancedly more distinctive, also wish that for this scent.
The review comes just in time for the approaching summer season (despite the fact that it is raining outside and one would actually want to turn the heating back on after a week, I have no doubt that we will soon have 40 degrees again): For just like Mirage (or also like Esterel, but quite differently from the original Fougère), this is a clear summer scent with an integrated powerful refreshing kick.
EDIT (on the occasion of Konsalik's reply): Since I am not aware of any other "Zero" from HL and I cannot find this one on the Parfum-Individual website (which may not mean anything, as the offering list there is notoriously unreliable), it cannot be ruled out that this fragrance has already been discontinued again. This would have the disadvantage that I just advertised a scent that can no longer be purchased. But the advantage that I would now be in possession of a kind of "Blue Mauritius"!
The original Fougère was discontinued due to the whole oakmoss allergy thing, by the way, not just the EdP but also the Cologne. This is all the more regrettable as I was too late for a stock-up purchase. Instead, after a few weeks or months of experimenting, Mr. Lehmann introduced this completely oakmoss-free New Fougère into the range, which, according to reports, is also quite well received by customers.
He certainly deserves that, and despite all the pain over the exit of the one true Fougère, I would like to drum up a bit of support for this scent with only one owner (me), no wishlist editor, and at least one note-taker (Bravo, AmyAmy!).
Fougère Zero comes across to my nose as a very modern interpretation of Fougère without fear of synthetic notes (also with aquatic nuances), which is meant descriptively and not derogatorily. The scent is - typical Lehmann - rather linear, but one can already discern a certain development.
I perceive the beginning as distinctly fresh-green with the already mentioned tones flirting with the aquatic. It is not sweet in the true sense, but has some light green mint dust notes that convey a slightly sweet impression (one could think of a good peppermint gum or the distant scent of Menthe à L'Eau wafting over from a Parisian bistro table). This makes the scent, although I generally don't have much to do with this young-old box, in my opinion distinctly compatible with young men.
Unlike the compact, massive original Fougère, "Zero" is voluminous and expansive and has a certain mass (I wouldn't call it "light"), yet it is airy and relaxed. If it were a gourmand, I would think of that fluffy chocolate with air bubbles; since we are dealing with Fougère in the forest genre, I would say: loosely piled, somewhat moist, but still a bit swirling grass, fern, and foliage.
Over time, Fougère Zero becomes a bit drier and more classic, but after a few hours, perhaps four or five, the fun is over here as well. The new formula apparently had to forgo not only the moss but also some fixatives.
Fougère Zero somewhat reminds me of two other recent Lehmanns, namely (especially because of the "mint dust effect") the rather unpopular "Jubiläum 90," and then "Mirage," primarily due to the very special synthetic freshness that I described there as "ethereal." Mirage is also well received here in the Parfumo forum, and I would, although I find Mirage to be uniquely, mysteriously, and balancedly more distinctive, also wish that for this scent.
The review comes just in time for the approaching summer season (despite the fact that it is raining outside and one would actually want to turn the heating back on after a week, I have no doubt that we will soon have 40 degrees again): For just like Mirage (or also like Esterel, but quite differently from the original Fougère), this is a clear summer scent with an integrated powerful refreshing kick.
EDIT (on the occasion of Konsalik's reply): Since I am not aware of any other "Zero" from HL and I cannot find this one on the Parfum-Individual website (which may not mean anything, as the offering list there is notoriously unreliable), it cannot be ruled out that this fragrance has already been discontinued again. This would have the disadvantage that I just advertised a scent that can no longer be purchased. But the advantage that I would now be in possession of a kind of "Blue Mauritius"!
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