Rykiel Homme (1999)
by Sonia Rykiel

A pleasant grapefruit plus yuzu-tinged scent of little interest. But ultimately forgettable. This one will not stand out in the sea of men scents in the market today.

Rykiel Homme is a nice, long lasting modern fresh chypre fragrance. Best thing about it is that it is quite unique and uncommon. It’s like a little hidden gem.

Aromatic juice, it has slightly sort of “waxy”, salicylately fresh feel to it that I get from Tempore Uomo (Biagiotti).

If the one is looking for something that is fresh, gentle, reasonably masculine and not too popular, then this will make a fine choice.

Sonia Rykiel is surprisingly interesting house when it comes to men’s fragrances.


Rykiel Homme was composed by Jean-Marie Santantoni.

I really like this. Sweet grapefruit early on, then the middle reminds me strongly of YSL Jazz, which I used to wear a lot in my first job. I think it's better than Jazz though, certainly more modern but still with a generous helping of 80's nostalgia. It ends up as a perfectly accepable male woody smell - after half an hour I mostly get sandalwood from it. It's quite powerful and long lasting: I like that about it because I often find modern fragrances too evanescent, but others might find it overpowering.

Fruits are the welcoming waft of notes, quite sharp and rather off-putting These include yuzu lemon and grapefruit, which are usually knockout notes and not at all inviting nor indicative of what may follow.. Not outstaying their welcome though, the fruits make way for a subtler mid of sweetish fig, cypress, barely noticeable cypress and even subtler violet; the only redeeming attempt to floralise the middle notes. This doesn't really work as the fragrance has now almost disappeared and I really cannot distinguish the bottom notes except for a hint of woodiness. I can see why others like it though, it's just not my type; maybe the fruity-ish notes. Too subtle, almost nondescript and I won't be buying it again, but that's just my opinion so try before you fork out the cash.

For some reason it reminds me of Obsession.

I don't often disagree with the mighty Foetidus, but I do on this one - especially in as much as I think it's a thumbs up.

The blend of woods and fruit in this are very nicely executed in my opinion, I love the opening which is bright and fresh, but already suggestive of the spicier heart notes to come. The grapefruit is tempered nicely and is not harsh like many grapefruit openings, and it all blends beautifully with the cardamom and mint.

The heart notes reveal a spicey and very sensual middle with the violet very gently played, which a relief because violet can be a real bully if not well rendered. I get reference points to Mont Blanc Presence which I also love - except that this is very different in the drydown.

The drydown is a really nice woody gentleman's fragrance which is left with the warmth of the amber and some of the spicier accords from the heartnotes.

In my opinion this is a very pleasing scent which yes, can be worn to the office, but it also works well as an elegant and somewhat distinctive evening fragrance.

Recommended.