Top Notes 
Lemon
Bergamot
Heart Notes 
Lavender
Neroli
Violet
Base Notes 
White musk
Patchouli
07/05/2022
MrHonest
114 Reviews
MrHonest
4
A reminder of simpler times.
Having been a devout fan of the much hyped edp (which is more of a rosey benzoin tea scent), I felt like I had to get this one to complete the set, if not to experience another one of Roudnitska’s creations.
The initial blast is almost identical to Honey & Lemon from J-Scent with that deep syrupy honey and fizzy lemon combo. Fantastic stuff. There’s a touch of something spicy-mossy in the background too, but it’s still a good distance away. Within about 5 minutes, all of that is quickly left behind to make way for an obvious, yet perfectly blended lavender and violet. And make no mistake, it’s a quality lavender, not the cheap sort that ladens the shelves at your local candle shop. There’s also a strange skin-like funk in there that kind of reminds me of the inside of a shoe?? It’s a bit bizarre, but not entirely unfamiliar nor unpleasant, and it only seems to become somewhat noticeable in the transition before the lavender takes over at the 10-15 minute mark. Combined with what’s left of the sweetness from the honey (the lemon is completely gone at that point), the violet, musk, and some kind of spicy mustiness creates the effect of a gentlemanly fog slowly rising from a tweed jacket. A beautiful blend, but very different to what you get in the opening.
In fact, it only took me a few minutes to understand why this scent was so lovingly nostalgic. Initially, it was a love at first sniff with a hint of familiarity; but the longer it stayed on the skin, the more obvious it became that the barbershop-y lavender blend was shockingly similar to Mennen’s Original Skin Bracer aftershave from the 1980s - minus the vanilla. That scent would be forever associated with my father when I was just starting gradeschool and would eventually go on to embody my childhood – multi-coloured breakfast cereals, Dick Tracy, early morning fishing and Super Mario Bros. It was also one of the first fragrances that began my love for aftershaves and later, perfume. But as the violet begins to fade at about the 30 minute mark in Moustache, a touch of patchouli becomes evident, leaving behind a moderately soft, quasi-sweet lavender, musk and patchouli until the very end.
Overall, despite its popular reputation as a lemony fragrance, Moustache edt is anything but. In fact, it’s predominantly a soft and gentlemanly lavender for most of its life, if not for the first half hour where nearly all of the magic happens. From the massive blast of honeyed lemon, to the strange funk, soft violet and beautiful lavender drydown, it’s quite a journey to take in such a short period of time; yet frankly an absolute joy to experience. Kind of like life.
I can only imagine what life in France must’ve been like only a few years following the second world war when the original Moustache was perfumed, but there’s a small part of me that feels hopeful whenever I smell this scent - like things are looking up, or that a brighter dawn is just on the horizon - timeless beauty perhaps, or the cover of a fresh book that promises an exciting, yet comforting adventure. Whether or not that was Roudnitska’s original vision is beyond me, but I’m certain that everyone could use a bit more of that sentiment nowadays.
As for performance, longevity and projection are below average (especially the projection), but there’s still the option of jumping on the edt concentree if you’re looking for a louder and more animalic version. The trade-off is the presentation, which is significantly better than the older bottles imo, with heavier ribbed glass and a beautiful golden metal cap. I absolutely adore it. Top tier at this price point.
As for the similarities with other fragrances, I get the comparison with Eau Sauvage edt, especially with that lemon and lavender, but it’s far less herbal and harsh than both AdP’s Colonia and Artisan Pure. In fact, it’s nowhere near the Varvatos tbh. Moustache is simply smoother, gentler, less green, more reassuring, and frankly, more beautiful. Can’t say that those looking for an outright fougere like Azzaro’s Pour Homme or Beau de Jour will be completely satisfied, but the gentlemanly French touch is unmistakeable. A near perfect scent for a burgeoning father who enjoys soft fragrances with a touch of nostalgia. Perhaps not a 21st century bestselling club banger - whatever that means - but a timeless symbol of hope, dedication and work ethic in simpler times. Cher Edmond, je vous salue.
The initial blast is almost identical to Honey & Lemon from J-Scent with that deep syrupy honey and fizzy lemon combo. Fantastic stuff. There’s a touch of something spicy-mossy in the background too, but it’s still a good distance away. Within about 5 minutes, all of that is quickly left behind to make way for an obvious, yet perfectly blended lavender and violet. And make no mistake, it’s a quality lavender, not the cheap sort that ladens the shelves at your local candle shop. There’s also a strange skin-like funk in there that kind of reminds me of the inside of a shoe?? It’s a bit bizarre, but not entirely unfamiliar nor unpleasant, and it only seems to become somewhat noticeable in the transition before the lavender takes over at the 10-15 minute mark. Combined with what’s left of the sweetness from the honey (the lemon is completely gone at that point), the violet, musk, and some kind of spicy mustiness creates the effect of a gentlemanly fog slowly rising from a tweed jacket. A beautiful blend, but very different to what you get in the opening.
In fact, it only took me a few minutes to understand why this scent was so lovingly nostalgic. Initially, it was a love at first sniff with a hint of familiarity; but the longer it stayed on the skin, the more obvious it became that the barbershop-y lavender blend was shockingly similar to Mennen’s Original Skin Bracer aftershave from the 1980s - minus the vanilla. That scent would be forever associated with my father when I was just starting gradeschool and would eventually go on to embody my childhood – multi-coloured breakfast cereals, Dick Tracy, early morning fishing and Super Mario Bros. It was also one of the first fragrances that began my love for aftershaves and later, perfume. But as the violet begins to fade at about the 30 minute mark in Moustache, a touch of patchouli becomes evident, leaving behind a moderately soft, quasi-sweet lavender, musk and patchouli until the very end.
Overall, despite its popular reputation as a lemony fragrance, Moustache edt is anything but. In fact, it’s predominantly a soft and gentlemanly lavender for most of its life, if not for the first half hour where nearly all of the magic happens. From the massive blast of honeyed lemon, to the strange funk, soft violet and beautiful lavender drydown, it’s quite a journey to take in such a short period of time; yet frankly an absolute joy to experience. Kind of like life.
I can only imagine what life in France must’ve been like only a few years following the second world war when the original Moustache was perfumed, but there’s a small part of me that feels hopeful whenever I smell this scent - like things are looking up, or that a brighter dawn is just on the horizon - timeless beauty perhaps, or the cover of a fresh book that promises an exciting, yet comforting adventure. Whether or not that was Roudnitska’s original vision is beyond me, but I’m certain that everyone could use a bit more of that sentiment nowadays.
As for performance, longevity and projection are below average (especially the projection), but there’s still the option of jumping on the edt concentree if you’re looking for a louder and more animalic version. The trade-off is the presentation, which is significantly better than the older bottles imo, with heavier ribbed glass and a beautiful golden metal cap. I absolutely adore it. Top tier at this price point.
As for the similarities with other fragrances, I get the comparison with Eau Sauvage edt, especially with that lemon and lavender, but it’s far less herbal and harsh than both AdP’s Colonia and Artisan Pure. In fact, it’s nowhere near the Varvatos tbh. Moustache is simply smoother, gentler, less green, more reassuring, and frankly, more beautiful. Can’t say that those looking for an outright fougere like Azzaro’s Pour Homme or Beau de Jour will be completely satisfied, but the gentlemanly French touch is unmistakeable. A near perfect scent for a burgeoning father who enjoys soft fragrances with a touch of nostalgia. Perhaps not a 21st century bestselling club banger - whatever that means - but a timeless symbol of hope, dedication and work ethic in simpler times. Cher Edmond, je vous salue.
1 Comment
MrHonest
HugoMontez
