Carré Blanc The Zoo 2018

Boy oh boy is this a green scent! Similar to Apsu by Ulrich Lang NY, but more in your face. A little sweeter, a lot sharper. I get very heavy green notes, followed by very heavy grapefruit, then hay. White woods splash in and out. Not noticing much in the way of rhubarb, orris, or tonka. This is a potent scent, I have a spray behind each ear and you can smell me a few feet away. It's actually giving me an headache which is extremely rare for a fragrance. I like it, one spray would be enough.

When Christophe Laudamiel is involved, you know that a fragrance is not just a fragrance, but a journey that oscillates between fascination and irritation. Carré Blanc by The Zoo is exactly that: an olfactory puzzle that cannot be deciphered in a single wearing. An adventure that leaves plenty of room for interpretation and emotions. The description on The Zoo's website already suggests that this fragrance is more than just a mere perfume. It is a statement.

From the very first application of Carré Blanc, a hint of freshly broken green fills the nose, lively and herbaceous. Grapefruit and rhubarb provide a citrus sharpness that is carried by a subtle bitterness. At first sniff, this can be perceived as sweaty. But before one gets used to it, warm, earthy notes come into play, wafting like a gentle breeze over a late summer field. Here lies the magic of the fragrance. A constant back and forth between clarity and warmth, between tension and security.

The base of Carré Blanc is a chapter in itself: Ambroxan. Some reactions suggest that the fragrance is not socially acceptable in the first few hours. However, after some time, the scent reveals its human, warmer side: soft, creamy, and powdery, one might almost compare it to an embracing warmth. The tonka bean adds a subtle sweetness that never drifts into the kitschy, but thoughtfully rounds off the fragrance. Suddenly, Carré Blanc has a sense of tact; it becomes almost cozy, but only almost.

Laudamiel's recommendation to spray the fragrance on clothing a day beforehand proves to be spot on and more palatable. On the second day, Carré Blanc unfolds its full effect. An ambered base, familiar, physical, and quite sexy. The scent lingers in the room, stays on the clothing, remains in memory.

It is also interesting to note that this fragrance should not be worn in places where one sits too close to strangers. Carré Blanc is not a quiet companion and demands space, but in a subtle and elegant way. Nevertheless, it is intense and could pose a challenge for some. And yes, it polarizes. For those who do not get along with distinctive and innovative scents, it might be too much of a good thing. But for lovers of the extraordinary, it is a revelation.

Carré Blanc challenges you while simultaneously offering a pleasant familiarity. It is a fragrance for all who appreciate Ambroxan in its most intimate form, paired with powdery, woody, and green notes. It invites you to keep smelling it, as its uniqueness is not only exciting but almost hypnotic. No mainstream, no crowd-pleaser, but definitely an experience.