LouBe

My lovely and buoyant stepson let everybody know that "his birthday comes soon", which means he actually will be 6 in a few... weeks. He also let know that he wants a perfume.
So now I am on a mission to find a fitting scent. A real scent, in a small bottle, not costing me a leg.

As he also claims to be a "beau gosse" ("handsome kid "in French), my eye got caught by this one, with a cool bottle too. I took the chance being in Paris to stroll in a shop of Fragonard and test it and... was disappointed.

All I got is a generic blueish showergel. The only slightly interesting note here is the grapefruit (not the realistic grapefruit of "Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune | Guerlain" mind you, no something more in the Dolce &Gabbana Light Blue line sense of grapefruit, but not as good). I couldn't associate this perfume with the lively and restive kiddo...

I tried also "Eau des Aventuriers | Fragonard" which I found more challenging (more of a green perfume) and wasn't appropriate either.

The only point it got me to is now I know that I want something more citrusy, fruity and /or fresh for him...

I stumbled on a mysterious sample a friendly Parfuma gave me a few months ago. Scribbled on it was just "Ambre Fragonard". Must be this Rose Ambre as Fragonard doesn't have any other Ambre offering.

Upon first trying, I was delighted by this not too sweet, very comforting amber. I felt the urge to chase down a bottle the next time I am in Paris (which happens to be the day I am writing this).

But then I thought "well it's,well, *reminiscent* of "Ambre | Réminiscence" ...
I tried it yesterday and a few hours later the Reminiscence. And they indeed share a common note, which is more subdued in the Fragonard. I guess it's the patchouli from the note pyramid.
The Reminiscence is on me more floral, more old-school and feminine leaning, and a bit drier. The Fragonard has not that much rose, is a bit sweeter and easier to wear for younger folks. Both have a good longevity. Prices are in the same range, rather cheap. They are marketed for women, and I like them both.

But eventually I feel I don't need both of them. When I'll finish the travel size of the Reminiscent I bought from the very lady that gave me the Fragonard sample, I might go for this one.

I have to thank the nice perfuma who sent me a sample of this one. It's a lovely classic cologne.
The opening is strong, for 10 to 30 minutes, which makes me a bit self conscious if I have to wear it in public. When it settles you are left with a clean powdery dry-down which is really pleasant.
The longevity is of a few hours, which is really good on me for a cologne concentration. I reapply it if I want to go with it through my day (which I do).

Granted, it's very classic and "mature". My grand father could have wear it. But for me it's a compliment, as he was a funny and eccentric dandy.

Upon showing the travel size I got from a nice Perfuma, everybody wanted to test it: my girlfriend, her son and me. Everybody got as much sprays as they wish. That is one spray for my sweetheart, one for the boy, and, well, quite a few for me.

We then stared each other, both repeating "wait a minute, it reminds me, gosh, wait, it reminds me of ... but of what ?"
I suggested that it may remind us of a nice old lady, a beloved grand ma.
"When was it released? she asked.
- 1970
- Well, that explains a lot.
- And guess what, the house is named Reminiscence"

I guess it was worn by old ladies - back in the 1980's.

Still, it is still here and for a reason. I don't care if it might seem feminine or old-fashioned. I can get wafts of it during hours and it feels good.

It is as comforting and supporting as the lap of your grandmother.

A lot of people mourn the discontinuation of this one. I respect that of course. But on me I feel it is a cloying cherry-tobacco bomb.

I got a sample of it a few weeks after my sister offered me a bottle of "L'Homme Idéal (Eau de Parfum) | Guerlain". At that time it was still possible to find a bottle of Pure Havane at a reasonable price. I found out I had already a bottle of cherry-tobacco themed fragrance. Pure Havane felt redundant and I didn't chase it down.

This year I gave another try to my sample. I fund it overly sweet in comparison to "L'Homme Idéal (Eau de Parfum) | Guerlain" (which is already sweet). Time to make someone happy with what's left of my sample.

A lot of people mourn the discontinuation of this one. While I will eagerly spray "L'Homme Idéal (Eau de Parfum) | Guerlain" thinking of my beloved sister, I wil also mourn. RIP "A*Men Pure Malt | Mugler" . But that's another story.