1826 (2001)
by Histoire de Parfums

I dabbed this on before watching the first episide of season 4 of the Tudors, so pardon my references. This is the episode where Kathryn Howard comes to court as Queen, and we the viewers get to see lots of bedroom activity.

Now I paid attention to this era in history class, so i know that King Henry was a fat old diabetic with an ulcer that stunk up the entire castle. I also know these folks didn't bathe, so how on earth where they able to 'get romantic'?

With this I approach 1826. Yes, it's a few centuries later, but the concept is still there. This is what I imagine those bodices smelled like, and I don't say that with a nod of praise. There is the strong musky note, aka the perspiration- saturated linen undergarment. This is covered up by frequent visits to the powder room, where a handful of white florals are smashed and rubbed all over the bosom. Picture yourself standing in one of those big rooms on a hot summers night; the windows are open to let in a stale breeze, and everyone is fanning their body odor about with a feathered fan scented with incense and patchouli taken from the peasant's church.

Sound good? Then give this a try. Sound like it would rub your bodice the wrong way? Then move on.

20th April, 2010.

Sweet and fruity from the very start, 1826 exudes sunny olfactory optimism right through its development. Rose and jasmine, cinnamon and ginger join the bright fruit in the central movement, which remains perfectly poised between fruity-sweet and spicy-dry. The overall impression is somewhere between a fruity fougère and a floral oriental, offering the freshness of the former and the sensuousness of the latter while miraculously avoiding the clichés that burden both of these overworked fragrance genres.

1826 is plenty potent and projects well off of the skin, but a certain inherent clarity of texture keeps it from cloying or overwhelming the nostrils. This is a happy, easygoing scent that should appeal to men and women alike. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys fruity scents but has tired of the trite, crass fruity florals and fresh fougères that crowd cosmetic counters these days.

13rd December, 2009.

overbearing top notes but has a nice finish

4th December, 2009.

1826 was inspired by Eugénie de Montijo, the last Empress of France - a beautiful intelligent woman of impeccable taste who apparently loved patchouli. In fact, within seconds of opening, the patchouli makes its presence known, turning sweet bergamot into something decidely darker and hippie-ish, until a violet note heralds the arrival of some white flowers to provide a brighter contrast. Unlike the others I have tried from this house, 1826's progression seems rapid, frantic even, the classic 3-tiered structure completely ignored. It's almost like a Royal Rumble, with notes of incense, patchouli, amber, ginger, vanilla, etc wrestling with one other for a shot at the title, and tumbling in and out of the 'ring'. And the winner? You. For this is indeed a fun, playful scent that doesn't seem to take itself too seriously.

26th November, 2009.

The opening of 1826 is a sweetened Bergamot which after the first few seconds is joined by patchouli. There is a nice spiciness to the heart notes that tames the florals and patchouli but that is so well integrated into the fragrance that it doesn't smell spicy. The amber and incense start poking through at about 20 minutes but like the spices in the heart notes these notes are integrated to work with the other notes to give them depth and character. After about 2 hours is when I get the most amber, a slightly dirty amber that doesn't seem too vanillic or sweet. On my skin it fades from existence after about 4 or 5 hours leaving only the slightest hint of perfume on the skin. This sticks fairly close to the skin and has very little sillage. I think this is more unisex in character than feminine as and such is worth checking out if you are into patchouli or amber frags.

6th March, 2009. (Last Edited: 24th March, 2009.)

I seriously can't fathom how a perfume that smells like My Little Ponies and cheap sandalwood fans has got anything to do with an obscure 19th century empress. Marketers need to get a grip.

A plastic peach-strawberry opening gives way to sandalwood and a bit of incense, and that's it. This is a scent for delusional socially-awkward types who still dream of turning into Disney Princess swans.

19th February, 2009.