Fracas (1948)
by Robert Piguet

An iconic classic, which has become the supreme tuberose fragrance, by which all other tuberose fragrances are compared. It's confident, lush, and daring; a heady pungent tuberose with a strange woody-mossy drydown. It seems like a happy scent when first sprayed, with bright citrus, and orange blossom notes. This is deceptive, though, because Fracas quickly becomes a bolder, dark fragrance, that can be downright disturbing. It's like the DeChirico painting, Melancholy and Mystery of a Street, where the carefree girl is unaware of the dark shadow that is about to cover her. Don't expect Fracas to be pleasing to others at work, and when wearing it, don't expect to be stopped in the street and complimented for how clean and fresh you smell. It's not going to happen. But do expect Fracas to add drama to your life, and make your moments wearing it, into adventures. Everything is intensified within the bizarre and hypnotic atmosphere created by Fracas!

Yes please!! Not for everyone, as it's no shrinking violet (or tuberose) but there's a reason it has stuck around for so long. It's a decadent classic, a la Francaise. Unless you happen to be in Paris, I'd save it for evening. The body cream (which I got from Sephora, not sure it's available more widely?) is lovely.

It's about 11am on a hot, humid day somewhere in India. There is a beautiful woman going about her business. She has already bathed that morning and is dressed in a traditional sari so her skin is clean but she's already beginning to perspire lightly from the heat. She did a deep oiling of her hair with ghee(clarified butter), put it into a long rope braid that reaches her hips, and has decorated it with some blossoms of Jasmine and Gardenia. This is *exactly* what Fracas smells like to me. ON me, it is not nearly as strong as so many comment on. Nothing is strong on me. But it is lovely, exotic, unique, and long lasting.

To me this smells a bit tropical. It has the most beautiful creamy floral drydown. I use the roll-on edp and just put a small amount on, so I see no problem with it being too much.

I know it was made in the 40s, but something about it seems very 1960s-70s to me. I guess it was very ahead of its time then! This is very "groovy" for lack of a better word. Reminds me of something Mrs. Brady or Augusten Burroughs' mother would wear when she was getting ready in her Emilio Pucci dress in the beginning.

On me, I can't picture wearing this before 5pm, without smoking or without wearing brown and/or orange and/or avocado green. Not an everyday fragrance unless you're old enough to have been around in the 70s.

This is Robert Piguet's true masterpiece.

I feel the need to praise it after my somewhat unchivalrous comments towards Bandit, which I still maintain--er, never mind. Suffice it to say Bandit enthusiasts should try Caron's Tabac Blond, and the men's Dunhill '34 among others--

Fracas does the magic T to near perfection. Yes, I'm a tuberose freak, so it's difficult to remain objective.

But consider that Fracas is a floral which is so well balanced that it's never irritatingly 'floral' nor 'fresh'

Perhaps Luca Turin was smoking something he could not spell when he praised Tommy Girl to the sky; a juice that suffers greatly from both sins.

What kind of woman should wear Fracas?

I think it would help if she were drop dead gorgeous, or have a sense of casual style that would have put Jackie O. to shame.

It's a 'young woman's' frag only in the sense that it's upbeat and optimistic-- for someone who anticipates something wonderful and unexpected around the corner.

( Allegedly characteristics of youth, if memory serves. )

Now, having mentioned Dunhill '34 instead of Bandit for women, I must ask myself--can men can wear this?

Absolutely, if you're an androgynous rock star; otherwise you may be pushing the envelope too much.

Mind you, as usual, this is all simply my subjective, personal and infallible opinion.