Jaïpur Homme (1997)
by Boucheron

It's funny how often Givenchy Pi gets a mention whenever a powdery vanilla scent is discussed, and more often than not the scent under review would come out tops. But is that really a reflection of the scent's superior construct or more a case of Pi's relative ineptitude? With this question in mind I put JAIPUR HOMME to the test.

And walked away impressed. Forget Pi, just forget it. Jaïpur Homme is in a different league altogether. While it is similarly powdery, the vanilla sweetness stays light, possibly lifted by the heliotrope in the opening and tempered with the lightly spicy touch of nutmeg and cinnamon in the middle. Once you have mastered the art of applying fragrances, the result is an oriental of such refined sophistication that even my favorite Arpège pour homme finds itself in the shade. Fans of this genre should buy it with confidence for I must say that arguably, Jaïpur Homme is to Boucheron what Shalimar is to Guerlain. SUBLIME.

This review is for the EdT formulation. I have not managed to find the EdP in Australia, but I’m aiming to get it eventually.

Jaipur pour Homme is a captivating oriental. It is simultaneously elegant, spicy, sophisticated, and comforting.

For those of you who appreciate the vanilla in Givenchy Pi, JpH is a whole lot more sophisticated and less linear. JpH is as elegant as Chanel pour Monsieur, but without the over-the-top sweetness. It is as sophisticated as Opium pour Homme, but without the punch from the unbalanced spiciness. JpH is as soft and comforting as Dior Homme, but never becomes as cloying as Dior Homme tends to become.

For the first six hours on my skin JpH EdT has reasonable sillage, and after this turns into a skin scent. I can still just smell it twelve hours after application. It is so beautiful that I want it to stay stronger and last longer than it does.

Like Boucheron pour Homme, JpH initially felt a bit too refined for daily wear for me, but I very quickly got over this. Wearing something so refined and captivating every day (no matter whether in a suit and tie, or in shorts and a T-shirt) is, in my opinion, a very good thing to do.

JpH opens with a combination of heliotrope and citrus. The heliotrope is moist, lush, and slightly herbaceous, and the citrus is smooth and sparkling. This combination is quickly followed by cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and vanilla, which persist throughout the day. The spices are beautifully blended, and mesh elegantly with the heliotrope. As the day goes on the vanilla becomes more and more apparent, and the spices stop it from becoming linear or uninteresting. As JpH reaches the final phase of its dry down a combination of amber, sandalwood, and soft incense emerges, lending the fragrance a subtle resinous tone.

I gotta get me the EdP, just in case it is even more beautiful than the EdT.

* Months Later *

I now have the EdP formulation of Jaipur pour Homme.

It is even bigger, better, and bolder than the EdT, and the longevity is fantastic.

The spice notes seem to be clearer and deeper in the EdP formulation, which makes the development and dry down of the fragrance even more enjoyable. The heliotrope seems shorter lived because of the extra spice, but this isn’t a problem.

There are significantly more wood resins in the base of the EdP, which balance beautifully with the vanilla and spices. The resinous base adds some additional masculinity to the fragrance.

The EdT of Jaipur pour Homme is lovely, but it is definitely worth finding the EdP for all of the extras that it embodies!

First time I tried it was on a chili December evening in a department store. I had heard about it from a friend, so I asked if they had a tester.I walked around the mall for a while. More and more I found myself sniffing my wrist with a big smile on my face. It was unlike any oriental I have smelled before. It was big, powerful, warm and sensual. That time I did not care about the notes. Just knew I liked it very much.
It is s a very special scent. Spicy, woody oriental, pretty much in the category “love me or leave me”. It is strong without being cloying, a composition of restraint and opulence all in one. The vanilla here is not “the last resort” of the drydown. In fact it holds the structure together with a warm sensuality.
I use the EDP and EDT/ Jaipur Fresh is for a different review/. Both have their place in my wardrobe. One for the luscious complexity, the other for the same reason, and for being toned down without losing its character.
Longevity is superb – 16+ hours EDP and 10+for EDT.
If you end up falling in love with this one like me, you’re in luck. Not everybody can appreciate it, thank god! There is no chance that a bunch of Aqua Di Gio lovers will be running around smelling like you.
Jaipur is well worth the experience if you like a well balanced oriental.
Have to agree with foetidus – it is one of most the beautiful masculine olfactory creations in the designer world.

It took me a while to get into Jaipur, but the patience paid off. Definitely not a cologne to just throw on before playing football with the guys - this is a dressed up, powdery oriental that oozes formality "class" and confidence. The interesting thing about Jaipur is that while it's austere and formal, it also has a very exotic feel - it has a spicy undertones which bring to mind far off lands in the East. I like this "split personality" of Jaipur a lot. I like both the EDP and EDT versions; I own the EDP and have sampled the EDT, and personally I don't find a huge difference betweeen the two, except that the EDP is a bit warmer and a little heavier. I don't agree that this is solely a cold weather scent. Spray it on lightly in the summer, and it's still great. A great fragrance also for a guy who wants to exude confidence, Jaipur will deliver the goods. Two thumbs up for Jaipur Homme.

I have tried EDT. It is a strong one with mixed spices in the opening which give it highly oriental character. Maybe, it is too much for a person like me who lives in touch with an oriental society because it is more or less associated with traditional or religious spheres of the oriental life. However, the middle and base notes start to divert from this excessive oriental line for me to a more sensual one similar to that of Pi, which can be more acceptable and familiar for many. It is quite long lasting for an EDT and its sillage should be satisfactory. I can't imagine its EDP version. Both should be used sparingly. I will give it a neutral for its opening notes which are disturbingly too oriental for me, so try before you buy it.

This was just nasty on me, and not "sexy nasty"; it's "Who put the angel food cake down the laundry chute?" nasty. I starts out mild and sweet, a slightly spicy, rather gourmand vanilla; a distant cousin of Habit Rouge, but during the drydown an acrid detergent note takes over entirely.

If the sillage wasn't so weak, this would be a wrist-scrubber...

( I tried this on the suggestion that it's a superior version of Burberry's London. It's nothing alike to my nose. )