Before I start with my review for "Moustache" by Rochas, it is important to clarify that I have no knowledge whatsoever of the fragrance "Le Vestiaire - Tuxedo" by Yves Saint Laurent - which is repeatedly used as a comparison in the few existing online reviews (allegedly approx. 80-90% similarity)!
So...this small detail out of the way, I have now fixed the following five criteria before my evaluation: Scent, silage, performance, bottle, application and price
Scent:
Opening with a good pinch of pink pepper, the fragrance does not convey the tangerine as prominently and sweetly as Chanel's "Allure Homme Sport Eau Extrême", but I think I can at least imagine that it tames and tames the scent of pepper a little. Other scents, which also carry the pink pepper in the top note, seem much stronger to me. All in all, the top note lasts only a few minutes, but then merges relatively unnoticed into the heart note and should therefore not disturb anyone.
As I already wrote in my statement, the heart note - to my mind - is very similar to the heart note of Givenchy's "Gentlemen Only" from 2013, both of which are made mostly of cedar, but have completely different accompanying fabrics around them. While Givenchy's vetiver gives the fragrance a rather pungent wood note, the rose used in "Moustache" makes it rounder and softer. It's as if you were smelling the same piece of wood, but with "Moustache" you smell it from a greater distance, which makes the impression less oppressive but more coherent. The scent of cedar is still part of the base note for a while, but the heart note leaves the skin after about 1.5 - 2 hours.
Contrary to initial expectations, the sweetness of the fragrance is subtly restrained even in the base note with its patchouli and the vanilla-like scent of the benzoin it contains. Yes, "Moustache" certainly ends in several sweetish variants, but at no point does it seem overloaded with this sweetness, as the remaining cedar - even if only faintly perceptible - restrains it at all times. And in this way the scent remains without any further development before it finally leaves the skin after another 2-3 hours or so.
Sillage:
As far as the silage is concerned, the fragrance plays this strength out wonderfully, especially in the heart note and in the transition to the base. The pleasant woody note, combined with a slow onset of sweetness, ensures that one leaves a sufficient and perceptible, but never oppressive scent trail. Only the pepper in the top note might cause a short twitching of the nose for some, but for all the others it should be long gone because of its short presence. In the base note, and thus at the end of its life, "Moustache" becomes a very tight "skin-scent", so it is hardly noticeable except for the person wearing it and very close other people.
Performance:
On the subject of endurance, opinions seem to be very divided. While "Moustache" on my skin disappears after about 5 hours, it should still - at least according to the online reviews" - easily last 8 hours or longer with some other person. Not bad at all, in my opinion this would be the point where the greatest potential for improvement would be found, especially since this fragrance is an eau de parfum concentration.
Flacon:
Here, "Moustache" or Rochas plays along with the greats of the fragrance indestry without any problems or even outstrips them. The flacon looks valuable and stable, has a well-functioning spray head and a high-quality (at least in terms of weight) metal cap. Despite, or perhaps because of, the ribbed surface of the glass, the bottle (in all sizes) sits securely in the hand. The look (in my eyes nice to look at) is, however, as always a matter of taste, as a certain reminiscence of times gone by - the original "Moustache EDT" dates back to 1949 - cannot be denied
Possible applications:
Thanks to the rather moderate sweetness of this fragrance and the generally rather reserved projection (the topic "spraying over" is not considered here), "Moustache" can be used wonderfully in leisure time, as well as in the office or similar locations. It can also be used in different seasons (which I don't believe in anyway - you will never complain about a good scent because of the weather). If at all applies: the warmer, the less sprays should be used because of the sweetness.
There should also be no limit to the age of the person wearing the perfume (and yes, I think this categorization is nonsense, too). Only the younger candidates among us should be aware before a potential blind purchase that "Moustache" is none - I repeat: none! - Fragrance of the category "Bleu" à la "Sauvage", "Bleu de Chanel" or e.g. "Dylan Blue".
Price:
If there's one thing you can't blame "Moustache" for, it's probably its excellent pricing policy or the grandiose relationship between high-quality fragrance, bottle size and price.
Just like e.g. "Bentley for Men Intense" or "Encre Noire" you get a high quality fragrance with a more than great price tag, which makes you wonder how much extra charge the company name alone might cost some other brands.
Just for orientation: I was able to secure the 75 ml bottle at a price of just under 28 €.
Conclusion:
So who is "Moustache" the right scent for? In any case, you shouldn't expect a loud market crier who also casts a spell over the environment with his uniqueness. Even a fragrance that covers most of the
It is (probably) not to be found here. Moustache" is much more a discreet - in some moments very quiet - perfume, slightly reminiscent of old times, which compared to its Eau de Toilette from 1949 (or the new version "Moustache Original 1949" from 2018), however, has been extensively changed or adapted to today's noses in order not to appear old-fashioned.