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Rue Rancé

Eau Duc de Berry Rancé 1795 2009

7.3 / 10 24 Ratings

A perfume by Rancé 1795 for men, released in 2009. The scent is spicy-woody. The production was apparently discontinued.
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Main accords

Spicy

Woody

Fresh

Fruity

Citrus

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Bitter orange

Mandarin orange

Coriander

Heart Notes

Rose

Black pepper

Cardamom

Violet

Base Notes

Cedarwood

Vetiver

Nutmeg

Oakmoss

Ratings

Scent

7.324 Ratings

Longevity

7.217 Ratings

Sillage

6.115 Ratings

Bottle

8.018 Ratings

Submitted by Louce · last update on 04/21/2024.

Source-backed & verified

Interesting Facts

The fragrance was part of the collection Rue Rancé.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Reviews

4 in-depth fragrance descriptions

02/18/2015

8Scent 5Longevity 5Sillage

Leimbacher
2873 Reviews

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Leimbacher

5

Amethyst Pour Monsieur

... or perhaps the Grown Man's Aventus? *provocative look*

As I read the comments while simultaneously experiencing the first impressions on my wrist, I was prepared for the worst & thought I couldn't have chosen a worse/quieter/inappropriate scent to test while I have a cold. But luckily, it quickly fades away for me, yet is strong enough in the first few hours to make an impact and impress. A wonderful, fruity gentlemen's cologne full of feeling, clarity, refinement & summer!

This really makes me eager to try the other Eaus from Rance, almost to the point of considering a purchase at that sexy price. Unfortunately, the classic bottles with ribbons are so rarely seen in stores. And in Munich, just as Apicius writes, I completely overlooked them amidst the pompous neighbors. How far ahead of his time Apicius was almost 4 years ago is once again evident in his intriguing & fitting comment - yet I'm only just now catching on. I bow my head ;)

Eau Duc de Berry is an ultra-light fruity scent, without becoming too feminine. Unisex but naturally impeccable. It dances sweetly between powdery musk and noble fruits; I would have guessed a mix of forest berries, pineapple & mandarin. A faint lilac would have suited Eau Duc de Berry very well as a scent color, although I am a bit surprised that the good Taurus didn't find it a bit more praiseworthy ;) It's hardly spicy for me, rather green, zesty, summery, refined. The rose adds a lovely touch in the background & cedar wood closes quickly and almost imperceptibly.

Bottle: Chloe For Men
Sillage: an absolute wallflower
Longevity: 3-4 hours, then it's time to reapply!

Conclusion: for those who appreciate fruity-beautiful, classic Eaus of substance (and/or also Amethyst by Lalique or the pineapple in Aventus) and who can't get enough of subtlety, this is a real match!

09/24/2014

6Scent 2.5Longevity 2.5Sillage

Taurus
1175 Reviews

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Taurus

Very helpful Review 6

The Fleeting Duke

This Duc de Berry must be quite a shady nobleman. Hardly announced, with a restrained orange-spicy opening, he already vanishes again, leaving behind an almost ethereal trail with slightly sour and bitter notes. Here and there, a few rather greenish woody molecules push through, but the duke is hardly present after a short time.

Jean de Valois, duc de Berry, or Jean le Magnifique (1340-1416), to whom this fragrance is dedicated, was one of the greatest art patrons in history. During his lifetime, numerous churches and castles were restored. He was also a passionate collector of treasures, rarities from nature, and portraits of contemporaries. He collected so-called Books of Hours, with the most famous being the richly illustrated manuscript "Trés Riches Heures," one of the grandest masterpieces of book painting.

As far as I could research, the fragrance was created by Jean Rancé in 1818 and then presumably reissued in 2009.
Unfortunately, from today's perspective, the Eau Duc de Berry hardly does justice to any potential cultural claim, in my opinion.
I know only a few fragrances where I had to use so many drops, as here, to even gain an olfactory impression - and yet it seemed too timid to me. Well, what did come through, that subtle orange-spicy blend with sour woody undertones, has its charm in places, but it is still simply too little. If it were more concentrated and substantial, I would gladly pay more percentages, but we should better stay grounded in reality.

For fragrance historians and nostalgics, it might be an option, but for everyone else, it is likely more of a riddle that causes irritation.

01/20/2012

3Scent 10Longevity 7.5Sillage

Sammy
90 Reviews

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Sammy

Has taken too long to settle

Rance 1795 and I just don't seem to get along. Everything I have tested so far has been mediocre for me. This one doesn't bring me any real joy either. Everything feels so oversaturated and clumsy to me. I find this scent very spicy and woody-green, and not to mention quite sour. Somehow, the overall character of Duc de Berry reminds me of the aroma of green tea. No, I prefer to drink that.

Sammy :-)

10/13/2011

8Scent 7.5Longevity

Apicius
1328 Reviews

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Apicius

Very helpful Review 6

A Class of Its Own!

A very difficult class are the "Eau" fragrances from Rancé. They are almost indescribable, simply because they are so subtle and restrained. There is hardly anything to grasp onto, hardly anything that stands out as a fragrance note.

I first encountered these perfumes years ago at the upscale Douglas in Munich on Theatinerstraße, and I didn't understand them at all. All of them. They are located right next to the Micallef range - a brand whose creations leave nothing to be desired in terms of opulence. Anyone who has already tested such things while perfume shopping cannot be reached by the subtle Eaux from Rancé anymore.

Everything about the Eaux from Rancé is understated, classic, conservative. Whether the attributes boring and old-fashioned also apply would need to be answered.

Eau Duc de Berry can be considered a men's fragrance. The ambitious perfume enthusiast knows Houbigant's straightforward, extremely spicy, and downright boisterous Duc de Vervin. But Eau Duc de Berry is the complete opposite: just a hint of everything - citrus, floral, spices, iris, amber, woods, and musk. This jumble results in something like perfume itself, which hardly exhibits any character. The few elements that make up this overly subtle fragrance are not even traceable in the fragrance pyramid. I particularly felt at the beginning of the development a similarity to chocolate notes, but then also a very subtly leathery character that extends into the base. I am aware that these impressions are likely illusions and that the fragrance materials typically responsible for them are not present. Eau Duc de Berry can best be described as a powdery musk scent, but certainly not as a pronounced iris perfume.

Eau Duc de Berry is light, transparent, and quite pleasant. It is nothing spectacular that really wants to attract anyone's attention. The wearer is merely surrounded by a delicate and fine aura, and the people around them may not even consciously perceive it. Even if one is probably never approached about a fragrance like Eau Duc de Berry - it could be that one unconsciously treats its wearer with more sympathy, politeness, and respect than others. For me, these values are somehow captured in this scent. Thus, the decision for this or another Eau from Rancé could almost be seen as a private statement.

Eau Duc de Berry, but also the other Eaux in this line, surely have a hard time making themselves noticeable to buyers in the hustle and bustle of pedestrian zones. They are not particularly widespread either. Perhaps this is one reason for the completely twisted pricing policy. For under €60 / 50 ml, it is at mass market level, yet the quality is to be rated much higher. In general, one does not do justice to this line and Eau Duc de Berry in particular with the distinction between mainstream vs. niche. Eau Duc de Berry lacks any effort for loudness, eccentric individuality, or even avant-garde-elitist attitude, which characterizes many niche perfumes. This is reflected, not least, in the fact that the perfumes in this line have been almost completely ignored on Parfumo so far.

Who buys this? I find Duc de Berry and the other Eaux from Rancé very appealing, as I am increasingly interested in subtle fragrances. Nevertheless, personally, I find there is too little statement here - a little more courage, a little more noticeable character would be welcome.

I would be very pleased if more Parfumo users would take a look at these underrated fragrances soon.