07/16/2013
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Papa Said No
I bought this as a gift for my father who is a sort of the debonair suit and tie kind of fellow, who would have easily fit into "the Rat Pack" right next to Frank Sinatra. Anyway, he has been known to sport cologne from time to time, though he prefers that I call them "Shaving Balms" and he tries to apply all of them to his chin. Just for reference, some of his past favorites were Puig's Quorum, Xeryus by Givenchy, Halston Z-14 and Versace Man Eau Fraiche (the latter of which I had to kindly ask him to refrain from wearing when I come to visit).
Anyway, having smelled Gendarme 1998 and recalling it had a cult following as the 'ideal office scent' for a man, with its fresh citrusy top notes and low to moderate sillage, I figured...how could anybody not like this one? With notable accolades from the likes of Burt Reynolds to Janet Jackson, seemed like a safe bet. No! Not only did my father not like this at all, he sent it back to me claiming that, and I quote, "You [I] accidently had one of your ladies fragrances shipped to my address."
So, here I sit with a really large bottle of this stuff, with which to contemplate the existential peculiarities of the individual olfactory experience. Gendarme is now cross-marketed in the US, at least, as a unisex fragrance. Indeed the notes and feeling of this scent are totally gender neutral. Gendarme starts on citrusy, slightly herbal and turns soapy within the first 30 minutes. Initial it is quite pleasant and I could easily see this as an everyday, professional signature scent because it is totally not offensive. . However, as it dries down, I find it veers into strange territory I detect a mossy, mildewy undergrowth, though a close examination of the 1 year old bottle indicates no turbidity, or signs of microbial corruption. As I have said in my review of Carriere, by the same house, it bears a striking resemblance to Carriere, and I find the two fragrances interchangeable in the Soapy Scent Category, with the exception that Carriere doesn't turn have the dank earthy and mildewy base that I detect here. This unpleasant note is followed by a condensation of that soapiness to the point of irritation and suddenly I realize that the citrusy top is no longer a zesty juicy note but rather a plasticky smelling verbena note. As for the leather, it is in minute quantity and I would never detect it outside on reading about it in the notes. I am wondering if this has been reformulated since the 90s or am I just loosing my mind? I recalled a crisp Amalfi lemon, a balmy green note, over a mild gentle incense note, with a notable leather and clean white musk base that was simply prince charming in 1998. "Wherefore art, Thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name;"
Anyway, having smelled Gendarme 1998 and recalling it had a cult following as the 'ideal office scent' for a man, with its fresh citrusy top notes and low to moderate sillage, I figured...how could anybody not like this one? With notable accolades from the likes of Burt Reynolds to Janet Jackson, seemed like a safe bet. No! Not only did my father not like this at all, he sent it back to me claiming that, and I quote, "You [I] accidently had one of your ladies fragrances shipped to my address."
So, here I sit with a really large bottle of this stuff, with which to contemplate the existential peculiarities of the individual olfactory experience. Gendarme is now cross-marketed in the US, at least, as a unisex fragrance. Indeed the notes and feeling of this scent are totally gender neutral. Gendarme starts on citrusy, slightly herbal and turns soapy within the first 30 minutes. Initial it is quite pleasant and I could easily see this as an everyday, professional signature scent because it is totally not offensive. . However, as it dries down, I find it veers into strange territory I detect a mossy, mildewy undergrowth, though a close examination of the 1 year old bottle indicates no turbidity, or signs of microbial corruption. As I have said in my review of Carriere, by the same house, it bears a striking resemblance to Carriere, and I find the two fragrances interchangeable in the Soapy Scent Category, with the exception that Carriere doesn't turn have the dank earthy and mildewy base that I detect here. This unpleasant note is followed by a condensation of that soapiness to the point of irritation and suddenly I realize that the citrusy top is no longer a zesty juicy note but rather a plasticky smelling verbena note. As for the leather, it is in minute quantity and I would never detect it outside on reading about it in the notes. I am wondering if this has been reformulated since the 90s or am I just loosing my mind? I recalled a crisp Amalfi lemon, a balmy green note, over a mild gentle incense note, with a notable leather and clean white musk base that was simply prince charming in 1998. "Wherefore art, Thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name;"
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