Équipage (1970)
by Hermès

It's taken me a few wears over 3 months of ownership to 'get' Equipage, and I can now put it on my absolute favored list. Overall, Equipage is just plain classy. It's masculine without reaching into overbearing as Polo can be, and its understated without being simple. The Equipage experience conjures images of 'proper' gentlemen dressed in a tweed suit pursuing some dandy pursuit such as fox-hunting or perhaps driving an old MG in the countryside.

The opening consists of a bergamot and pine/green accord that, to my nose, creates the impression of containing lavender in its combination of sharpness offset with sweetness. I'm not as good as my peers at identifying specific floral notes, but clearly carnation and lily of the valley play a role in rounding out the fragrance and giving it depth. As the sweetness of the opening fades the coniferous heart emerges, presenting the an incredibly balanced woody/green accord, rounded out by light florals. The drydown is quite musky creating a long lasting, powdery wood. I don't quite catch distinct vetiver or patchouli, but their influence in creating the base are obvious. Just as lavender isn't a listed note in the opening, but the other notes hint at it, leather isn't a listed basenote, but the combination of musk, woods, and vetiver create a comfy-worn leather effect.

On my skin the movement from opening to base is fairly rapid - about an hour - but overall the fragrance lasts on my skin 5-6 hours. Given the fact that you can pick up a 100ml Equipage for about $40, this may be one of the best quality-for-you-dollar fragrances available today.

My review is based on an early-80s vintage bottle of Equipage. I've never smelled modern Equipage, but the Guide says it hasn't changed much. I'm anxious to try modern Equipage to determine whether I can replace my almost-empty vintage bottle with a new bottle or whether I need to make the investment in an vintage bottle again.

Beautiful frag. Well constructed floral. I do not find Equipage strong in any of the accords. It's like it has a governor spring and the volume never exceeds good taste.

I found the opening to consist of the top and middle accords at once....and it was very enjoyable. The basenotes are a toned down leathery wood that is just barely powdery on me.

I am glad I got the chance to pick up this gem. Thumbs up.

Blast of pines and citrus creating an aura clearly reminding one of the powdery notes of PDN NY. This ones a herbal, floral chypre with terrific concentration of bergamot and pine in the opening...it take least 15 minutes for this gem to unveal it's true beauty behind the massive opening...it's floral bed..an accord which i haven't experienced with such clarity, radiance & Zing, ever. one never really comes to know how hours pass by and the floral elements melt into a earthy leather notes...feels like this scents was sprayed on saddle leather two days back...gently wafting and reminding the wearer of each phase it went thru..as if a flash back.
A true gem..this one will remain a a staple in my wardrobe and is a kind of scent that i will go to naturally...a classic.

This remains one of my favorites. Easy to wear and supremely elegant, Equipage feels starched and rich, cool with a bit of spice. Unlike so many others, I can't imagine tiring of this one.

I must be unrefined, because I found this fragrance to be exceedingly too floral with way to much sillage and projection. I expect elderly ladies to wear this scent for brunch. In my view, this isn't a masculine scent. Well, I suppose that 18th century French male aristocrats might have worn this concoction on the way to the guillotine, but not modern men. All the positive reviews confuse me -- perhaps a few of you paying false homage to the vaunted Hermes?

Équipage is a lovely masculine floral. The scent opens with a sparkle. A muguet accord in a top note is not extremely common in masculine perfumery, but in Guy Robert's hands it is handled with great discernment. The carnation and pine poke through and lend a more masculine feel to the whole gentle dance, while the jasmine note stays coyly in the background giving support and ambiance. I also smell a distinct clove zing which is probably some type of eugenol being used in the carnation accord. The Vetiver draws the floral notes down into the base of the fragrance until all that is left is a soft woody leather effect. It's a very tender fragrance. I was too young to wear Équipage when it was introduced but I suspect that floral chyphre scents where probably not very common among men in 1970. I would venture to assume this was somewhat groundbreaking in its day.