Lalique pour Homme (1997)
by Lalique

I used to wear this a lot. It is obviously well blended and the fragrance materials within it are very good. I just stopped liking it after a while. After a while it was as if I was wearing a big giant vanilla/sandalwood tart on my chest. It has a definite warmth to it and for what it is it is very good, but I just couldn't take it any more and finally gave it away. It definitely has its admirers and I think it serves its purpose, but I can't see myself ever wearing it again.

Sorry, all I notice is the pepper.

I received this as a Christmas gift from my colleagues at work (as I am known as the fragrance freak! :-) ). I had high hopes for it when I saw the bottle, but I was quickly disappointed (somewhat) once I tried it. In fact, it immidiately hit me that this smells just like Polo Sport. Ok... probably a better version of Polo Sport, but very close. It has a mossy opening, with some fruits up front. They dissappear quickly to a powdery/vanilla middle and base. I like it enough, but Polo Sport is good enough too, don't really need this if you have that!

Oh, I really am conflicted about this. Bought it blind on the weight of its BN review rep, and because it's a Maurice Roucel creation. My very first impression was of a very distinct old man-smell... Perhaps a rich, old man, but definitely dusty, old and a tad overripe. I was NOT feeling it. But then after paying another longer visit, leaving it sit for a spell, I didn't mind it quite as much... Started to get some of the cedar and citrusy bits... And then the drydown was... mellow, seasoned, urbane.

So whereas my first reaction was to swap this for something/anything asap, I am more inclined to live with Lalique for a while. See how the old gent feels in the autumn, maybe.

Btw, kids... It's just a glass bottle, NOT Lalique crystal. You CAN get this frag in the really good glass, but you'll pay accordingly.

Top note : Bergamot, Mandarin, Lavender, Coriander
Middle note : Pepper, Anise, Geranium
Base note : Cedar, Sandal, Amber, Vanilla

I admit that Chanel Allure homme has been one of my guilty pleasures. Its not the most remarkable fragrance, but it wears remarkably well on me, has ample depth, is suitable for all occasions, and that milky oriental woody spicy accord is tenacious yet never overbearing. Its a workman-like fragrance like a studious student who does follows instructions to a tee, is clinincal in his execution and understanding of concepts, yet lacks a creative spark. A student who takes his mentors work and keeps building on it throughout his career, never diverging from the well set path . Enter Lalique pour homme, the mentor of Allure homme.

Lalique pour homme smells similar to Allure homme. Considering that it was launched in 1997 and Allure homme in 1999, it seems that Polge was "inspired" by Roucel's juice in the fancy crystal bottle. Add a dash of a porous lavender note to the fresh burst of allure's citrus opening and you have Lalique's opener. Mildly spicy heart notes power both the fragrances, although the cedar is more prominent in Lalique. The distinctive sweet woody spicy milky oriental accord is present in both, but its heavier, richer and better blended in Allure. The reticent vetiver in Allure adds a touch of earthy woodiness to the tonka + santal + vanilla drydown, while the cedar in Lalique keeps things lighter, airier, fresher. Lalique is your late night sensual madame being graceful and ladylike. Allure is the lady of the night (no not those kind!).

So there you have it. The most "creative" mens fragrance from Chanel within the past decade or so was actually by Maurice Roucel not Jacques Polge. However, I prefer Allure homme to Lalique because of its richer composition and depth, but many might prefer Lalique's lighter, cleaner rendition of this oriental woody smell. Maurice Roucel is the Super Mario of the perfume world in more ways than one. Still, Super Mario was the original platformer and deserves a thumbs up for all the other platformers it has inspired !

I find Lalique pour Homme to be another overly-sweet woody scent. Rocabar and Tuscany and Bijan Black for Men fall into this same category. LpH has a brisk opening with good citrus notes. Then – too briefly – there are some interesting cedar traces. Unfortunately (to my taste) they are swamped by too many florals. The dry-down is the worst: very sweet, vanilla dominated, and powdery. For a classy woody scent which is lovely but more restrained and dry, and which has truly excellent cedar notes, try Penhaligon’s Opus 1970.