Eau de Hongrie (1979)
by Fragonard

Love the opening… a soft warm, dominantly jasmine with a bergamot backup. As obviously floral as the opening is, it isn’t flowery: It’s more warm and comforting… and acceptably masculine or unisex. But then I get a short-lived green note –the cistus – and it doesn’t sit right with me, because it’s a bit screechy and it interferes with the harmony of the florals and the growing amber note. After a half hour the cistus subsides and the jasmine / amber accord continues softly. Eventually Eau de Hongrie turns into an pleasant amber skin scent. I don’t get the incense that is listed in the pyramid and I don’t miss it. Sillage is not strong even before the skin scent phase, and longevity of the fragrance is average. I don’t know if this was meant to be a traditional eau de cologne but I really don’t see it as such...

I find it a very enjoyable fragrance.

29th January, 2011.

One of my top 10. This comes across fresh and soft, yet masculine. Lasts all day.

3rd October, 2010.

I was disappointed largely with Eau de Hongrie. Upon first application, it smelled strongly of a 1980s designer with Cool Water and Green Irish Tweed type notes. The floral heart and musky base was at least decent. I expected a light rosemary and citrus accord reminiscent of a classical eaux.

25th January, 2010.

Green herbal florals... but smells like a leather chypre. Odd little number that's fresh yet dark. It's a lot like Gramercy Park but less green. Good stuff.

24th September, 2008.

It is a nice bergamot labdanum fragrance. I do not get any jasmine in it. But cistus makes a great herbal here, lavanderish green. Masculine and original... Worths a try for herbal green scent lovers.

19th July, 2008.

Eau de Hongrie is one of my top ten. I love natural jasmine as a bona fide, starring note in men's/unisex frags and there aren't too many with such panache. The jasmine here is very natural, fresh and more high-pitched than that of average, indolic, African--especially Egyptian--types. The accord formed with the bergamot is the "grapey" type--an accord I can never get enough of. I have detected this synergistic nuance in many frags, especially Italian ones. Some people relate it in part to classic "barber shop" frags. It can be rendered like bug spray in cheap, synthetic blends or be glorious, mesmerizing and transcendental like it is here. EdH is warm without being sweet, fresh without being ozonic, very sensual while remaining dynamic, unfailing and eternal. Sometimes simplicity is more fascinating than a complex chypre--and when it's done with quality ingredients it will put a smile on your face all day. The price/quality ratio is quite agreeable.
EdH is in a similar class to MPG's Jardin du Nil, L'Artisan's Mure et Musc, Lalique Pour Homme, Byblos Uomo, CdG Rose, etc.
10/10

27th May, 2008.