Hemp & Leather Robbie VanGogh 2011

Well, my dear Apicius! What else can I say? First of all, thank you for the sample.

Robbie states on his homepage that he wanted to create fragrances that are not intrusive, that do not rush ahead of their owner (or lag behind) and that are simply meant to be good. And of course. And legal. Because he likes cannabis so much. But that's not so rare for a musician of this caliber, I think.

The longevity is really not outstanding; after about 3-4 hours, the THC cloud has dissipated. But until then, kids!

First of all, all the ingredients are beautifully harmonized. I smell leather first and directly. A soft leather note, light brown suede. This lingers on my skin until the end. Goal achieved already. Hemp appears again and again in the background, subtly. So if you're buying the fragrance to get high, forget it! But feeling a bit tipsy might be possible. However, the alcohol note is not prominent, like for example in Ambre Russe or the Rouge Pomegranate I recently tested (Champagne, although that wasn't the intention there).

And I can also perceive the juicy tobacco blend. However, there is still a subtle sweetness present. From the very beginning. Not sticky, not gourmand, but noticeable. Apicius, you really make it hard for someone to write a follow-up comment. Everything has already been said.

What immediately came to mind with Hemp and Leather: Bikers. But not the hardcore rice burner racers, nor the scruffy wannabe bad boys. No, in my mind's eye, a few rugged guys, not quite young anymore, cruised comfortably on their very subtle Harleys (Low-Rider, Fat Boy!!) - or alternatively restored Indians, Nortons, old BMWs - along sunny winding roads. The weekend is here, the business suits are hanging out to air on the balcony, the family is doing whatever families do. Dad is out with the buddies. And in the evening, after he has reunited with the family, the kids tucked into bed, and grandma brought in for babysitting, he and mommy dress smart-casual, like they did 10 years ago when they weren’t so established, and head into the city. To a cool club. Not a disco. A jazz club. Where smoking is still allowed. And everyone is mega-relaxed, smiling gently to themselves, happy that life is beautiful.

So somehow urban. The lady is constantly hanging on the neck of the old biker because he smells so good. Where else, if not in a dimly lit, smoky jazz club, would you dare to hang on to each other like that? Composure, please - not in public!

Jokes aside. This fragrance is very, very pleasant, stays relatively close to the wearer, is well put together, almost cozy in its appeal. Unfortunately, the longevity might just be enough for a nice evening. But it’s worth it!