Esprit du Roi Penhaligon's 2011

Esprit du Roi is, in my opinion, a significantly underrated fragrance from the traditional house. Created by Duchaufour in 1983 and reissued as part of the Anthology Collection, it has received some harsh criticism here - "Heartless Tomato King" titles a valued commenter. I find this somewhat understandable, as it does work with a rather unusual and in this context very atypical note - the tomato leaf. Nevertheless, I would title this fragrance differently, something like the Courageous Mint King. For me, that is the truly standout note of this fragrance, which is also presented in a variety of ways. In the opening, there is a very fresh, invigorating mint, accompanied by the aforementioned bitter-fruity tomato leaf and distinct citrus notes, which later develop into a more herb-tea-like character, when a dull, dark green impression reminiscent of Jelängerjelieber becomes noticeable. Here, Esprit du Roi gives a very calm impression. Additionally, there is the rose geranium in its distinctly minty expression in this case. At no point do I have associations with toothpaste or chewing gum. The unifying element seems to be, as with Night Scented Stock from the same series, a dark undertone of vetiver and patchouli, which here, complemented by a gently scratchy moss base, forms a distinguished foundation for the otherwise somewhat rustic fragrance experience described above. Altogether, the components come together well and create a surprisingly chypre-like perfume for the established gentleman, capable of shining with quirky beauty and British humor.
Duchaufour plays here, fascinatingly for me, with invigorating and calming aspects that somehow form a cohesive whole. Another valued commenter concludes with the following words: A rarely noticed gem in Penhaligon's back row. Although it has now even fallen to the back. Nevertheless, I will just leave it at that.