Fou d'Absinthe (2006)
by L'Artisan Parfumeur

Sharp. Chaotically peaceful. Similar to 'Let me Play the Lion' but greener and with a blackcurrant dropped in, which spoils it for me.

I don't understand the attraction to this fragrance at all. It starts off with a kind of hospital ward discinfectant smell to it mixed with the swill tray from a beer pump and then thankfully dies to a close to the skin spicy woodiness. I have to say you have to go through a lot of smelling unpleasant to get to the dry down, which is at best pleasant and at worst frankly rather average.

Thumbs down from me.

Anyone expecting the strong dose of artemisia (wormwood) found in Yatagan from this “absinthe” fragrance will be sorely disappointed. (Or relieved, depending upon taste.) Fou d’Absinthe goes on with a green herbal and sweet anise/licorice accord, backed by black currant and just a hint of bitter, astringent artemisia. As the scent develops, the anise remains prominent while the green notes and the artemisia blend with nutmeg, patchouli, and soft woods to form a bittersweet foundation.

The drydown is very smooth and leisurely, going down its own path with the artemisia and anise slowly fading into a mellow base of woods and nutmeg. This is an oddly warm and comfortable ending for a scent whose name invokes madness and an unhealthy, yet addictive beverage. Unexpected, versatile, and extremely pleasant.

First review here...

I received this as a sample, and I have really grown to love wearing this.
All marketing aside, just focusing on the scent: on me, copious amounts of nutmeg issue forth immediately, joined with warm spicy ginger and some cool fir way in the background. This nutmeg/ginger combo is very strong (even a little penetrating) and reminds me instantly of eggnog!
Then after about five minutes other notes emerge that seem to bring the fragrance into balance: patchouli of a kind that seems very green and bright, black pepper, and an exquisitly pure and rich balsam pine. I very much agree with odysseusm about this pine note, for me it is the real heart of the fragrance. Luckily on me it lasts quite a long time, seems like upwards of eight hours. I actually think the pine works extremely well with and is fixed by the patchouli, particularly because the latter is of such a high, bright, and cool quality that it doesn't sink the accord down into deeper, dirtier, more serious places.

Vibert nailed the drydown when he wrote it was leisurely and comfortable. With notes like artemesia, pine, and black pepper, one could assume this to be extremely aggressive and volatile. I find it instead very peaceful, cool, introspective, and calming. Perhaps this is due to the fact that to me all the notes smell completely natural.

Wearing this is actually a nice break from the more elaborately composed fragrances like Heritage (which I wear often and love). The quality of the overall fragrance combined with the conservative nature of the accord (very barbershop IMO as well) suggests a certain level of formality, yet it remains relaxed and natural, allowing me to dress this up or down as the situation requires.

This is a must have for me!

After a quick and pungent drink of absinthe, I went into the woods for a shave.

The smell of my shaving cream lingered for a while.

Other than that, not much happened.

I'm kind of still trying to decide what I think and like about FdA, but what I can say is that the liquer like note dominates on my skin. I don't get much pine at all (wish I did). I will say it does last long but doesn't project much. Pretty close to the skin here. I guess the best thing I can say about it is that the missus loves it. As of 3 full wearings now I could take it or leave it.