R de Capucci (1986)
by Roberto Capucci

This was my signature fragrance for years. I love the large range of notes which are all distinguishable but are blended beautifully and never fight; it is amazingly uncluttered. The top is a blast of fresh celebration, very clean and pure champagne citrus. The heart boasts a beautiful deep rose and aldehydeic florals with some rich jasmine. The drydown is phenomenal, the balance of leather with the other notes simply astounding. I don't know why this is not more widely known or rated. The only thing it isn't is sexy. It's too clean for that.

R. de Capucci has a classical opening of citrus and aromatics with plenty of dry, powdery lavender. Next up is a very rounded sandalwood supported by toasty spices, including a distinct touch of nutmeg. There is a dry, edgy rose in the heart as well, its character sharpened by an angular bitter note that seems to emanate from the woods. Since there's quite a bit of powder in its composition, R. de Capucci might come off as stuffy and "perfumey" without this bitter edge. Instead, the scent registers as tough and uncompromising. It's no Yatagan, but it's certainly not trying to smell "pretty," either.

R. de Capucci's bitter note eventually reveals itself as a very sharp vetiver, which takes over for the rose as the woody accord's principal accent. The drydown arrives quickly, but it is extended and attractive. All traces of the floral and aromatic notes dissipate to leave the vetiver resting on a very mossy leather base. There is nothing remotely sweet in R. de Capucci, and the impression that it leaves is that of a particularly austere chypre.

If you like Yatagan but find it too confrontational for daily wear, it's worth seeking out R. de Capucci. It's just as dry and austere as the Caron, but less harsh and animalic. In fact, it's civilized enough to make a sophisticated office scent.

A delightful chameleon, this green chypre.

R starts out bright and green and clear, very citrusy without being overpowering. It then moves into a spicy carnation middle -- probably my personal favorite in the evolution of it all.

The final dry-down is really special -- masculine and dry without being overly powdery (not too much tonka!) and/or egregiously sandalwood-y.

Hirch_Duckfinder, I owe you one.

Great fragrance in typical 80s style. I don't see the comparisons to Aramis, seems to be a little closer to Antaeus than anything I've smelled.

Very masculine, refined, elegant and classic. A great purchase and despite being discontinued it can still be found online.

I don't know why RdC doesn't get much attention but it should, it's a lot better than most of the scents people usually talk about.

The easiest description of R de Capucci is a lighter and subtler and much more wearable version of Aramis. If you like the basic fragrance notes of Aramis you will really enjoy this one. It contains many of the same notes of the venerable 1960's favorite but is It's like a shy cousin that is a little more sensitive and interesting in the middle notes. The drydown is less glaring leaving out the sandalwood and with an addition of a small amount of leather/amber to soften the chypre effect. I find it very enjoyable, but I can't get past the similarity to the other one which I learned to avoid long ago.

The other reviewers covered this fragrance so expertly there is little left to say except for my personal observations and opinions.

This fragrance is slightly more formal than I expected it to be, almost along the same lines as Boucheron pour Homme, a very crisp citrus but with more green and less of the musk or powdery aspects. One of the most interesting aspects of this scent is the way the notes are almost separate in some ways, for instance when I sprayed R de Capucci on my undershirt after the pleasant initial green citrus blast I got a wild vetiver that seemed out of control, at least when I smelled the patch where I sprayed, but over the next few hours I observed the sillage. Of course the vetiver was still noticeable but it lost its wild quality. But it was still quite apparent in the patch where I sprayed.

As I sit here sniffing a card sprayed with R de Capucci I can say it it wasn't love at first sight but we got acquainted and now I am quite fond of this exhilarating scent. You should give it a try as well.