Roger & Gallet L'Homme (1982)
by Roger & Gallet

A fellow Basenoter was asking me about this so it inspired me to write a review. He mentioned it reminded him of Azzaro Pour Homme which came out about four years earlier and I imagine was a huge success in Europe. It's pretty plain to see why Roger & Gallet came out with L'Homme. Not only to compete with APH but to throw down their gauntlet in the late 70's early 80's arena of Powerhouse Mens Fragrance. Look at what was just coming out of the gate: Antaeus, Kouros, Trussardi Uomo, Polo, Calvin and Azzaro. We're talking Titans here. In fact, I'm surprised there wasn't one called "Titan"! It's very interesting that R&G, purveyors of super light classic colognes, managed to come up with one of the very best Powerhouse Mens Frags. Maybe it was one of the best because it still managed some understatement. I think it's actually better than Azzaro, which is still a top seller. It's more complex and warmer. It's kind of the love child of Azzaro PH and Calvin. The thinking mans powerhouse. So of course R&G had absolutely no clue as to how to market it. They had very odd ads in mens magazines. They looked like L.L. Bean ads. And you had to send away for the cologne and just take their word for it that it smelled good. Because you sure as heck couldn't find it anywhere in the United States. Anyways, take my word for it. This stuff is fantastic! Just make sure you get some new, because all the vintage I've acquired was vinegar.

30th April, 2011.

I need more of this scent to be certain. One of my top 10 faves.

15th April, 2009.

R&G L’Homme and Open start off as very similar scents. My initial notes didn’t distinguish enough between them, so I have resorted to the tried-and-true ‘two wrists, two fragrances’ strategy. L’H is a woody spice, Open is a spicy wood. Open is a bigger scent, with more sillage. L’H is more subtle and stays close to the skin. The wood in L’H is cedar (dry, a bit resinous), the wood in Open is sandalwood (brisk, soapy).
This is an excellent scent. Although I also like Open, I prefer the quietly dry cedar notes of L’Homme. Ylang ylang lends a slight jasmine softening to the cedar. The amber is restrained and not powdery. Quiet spices lurk in the background. This is a classic masculine scent, excellent and very enjoyable.

6th June, 2007.

This is an all time classic - much overlooked

Fresh, clean, soapy, m m m m m

Wish I could get me hands on some more of this

30th August, 2006.

A distinguished, masculine, soapy smell, distinct but reserved, enveloping but understated. A very acceptable, carefully crafted scent. A sort of 'Essence of Gentleman's Bathroom' aroma? Short on citrus, long on clean, quiet spice. It has, perhaps, something in common with Caron's Third Man in a toned down sort of way. (This identical review which appears for R&G Open is a 'clerical error'. Apologies).

3rd April, 2006.

I was able to test that one today.
I found it very sharp, very powdery/ambery!
It reminded me of Fragonard's Zizanie.
Someone wrote about the increased concentration and I agree it may be much better if it was smoother.
Nice but too strong for me so the neutral vote.

9th September, 2005.