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

Fou d'Absinthe by L'Artisan Parfumeur - One is initially treated to a bittersweet blast from the stimulating melange of greenness spurred by ansinthe, with its dusty, dry, medicinal dimensions; angelica, with its heavy, sweet, musky attributes; star anise, with its smoky, rich, licorice character and black currant, with its strong, fruity bouquet tinged with a cat urine slant. Percolating with a faint backdrop of a coniferous forest, this somewhat brisk blend meanders to the inviting heart. Here, woody clove, spicy-sweet ginger, cinnamon-like nutmeg and a hint of lively pepper shower the green opening, and impart their warmth, while resourceful patchouli adds a warm earthiness with its slight nutty and musky overtures. The foresty background is still here, and carries this flavorful concoction to the awaiting base. Robust conifers take center stage with the fresh and slightly camphorous woodiness of pine needles and the balsamic, christmas tree aroma of firs. Cistus bestows its terpenic and pine-like facets and vague illusions of amber and leather. A faintly rugged and quintessentially outdoorsy drydown ensues. This all-season, masculine composition has good projection, a 12-inch, scent cloud, and very good longevity, 10 hours; and should be experienced, especially on cool evenings.

23rd January, 2012.

I tried Fou d'absinthe when it was launched and it was a total let down for me. For the first 15 or 20 minutes, I could not have enough of that strange yet interesting fragrance. After 30 minutes or so, I wanted to cut off my wrist!!! What was intriguing and exotic at first suddenly became very barbershoppy and synthetic. I retried it this weekend (using a sample) and the results were very different. I did not get the barbershoppy/synthetic effect that time and the dry down was rather good albeit excessively discreet. The longevity was ridiculously short though (about 2 hours). Although Fou d'absinthe is not a bad fragrance, it is certainly not worth the outrageous L'artisan parfumeur's prices.

2nd December, 2011. (Last Edited: 5th December, 2011.)

It is masculine. It is piny, green, and woody. I do wish the smooth absinthness would keep it's glaze throughout the experience, but it does fade. In fact, it fades to a powdery vibe that can downgrade my opinion of a fragrance a bit. However, that isn't my "issue."

My "issue" with this fragrance is the similarity to Polo, which is absolutely not a bad thing, BUT, Polo conjures images of older Italian gentlemen in the Bronx wearing suits sitting around a coffee shop on Arthur Ave., and so does Fou d'Absinthe. The imagery is so strong that I can only guess it comes from actual memories from my childhood. Even if I were more of a toughguy, this can never be for me because of this association.

23rd October, 2011.

Next to Absithe by Nasomatto but more sweetly spicy and aromatic and  less earthy and incensey. A deep breath of mountain that comprises all the aromatic, bitter and sweet elements of the forest. The olfactory agreement of spices-blackcurrant-ginger-distillate of anise plus aromatic-balsamic plants and a touch of pepper produces a sparkling almost liquorous and anyway fizzy initial blast that delights the senses and discloses the lungs. In a while the spicy-aromatic-resinous breath is strengthened by all the power of the conifers of the base that teleport you in the middle of the forest by a prickly balsamic breeze. A very woodsy fragrance with a mild pleasant core, a touch of leather in its composition and a good level of boldness.

24th September, 2011. (Last Edited: 23rd November, 2011.)

If you've ever spent time in the great pine forests of northern Wisconsin, you know Fou d'Absinthe. This is my favorite confierous fragrance by far. It is a unique fougere-- resinous, spicy in the middle, slightly earthy and hauntingly evocative in its pine-fir base. This is not Polo, not Pino, not Blenheim Bouquet. If it is confierous you want, you've got to try Fou d'Absinthe. Longevity is very good if the scent is properly applied. Two sprays at the neckline, below a shirt will hold Fou d'Absinthe on my skin for at least 8 hours. A spray on the wrist only gets me about 4 hours. This is a great cool weather frangrance, which I find very versatile. The Holy Grail is in sight, but there are miles to go before I sleep, miles to go before I sleep...

23rd April, 2011.

Yep, I agree with most of the reviewers here: it's very masculine, very piney and doesn't really soften up much later on. It talks tough right 'till the end.

I'm not tough enough for this one.

14th February, 2011. (Last Edited: 25th April, 2011.)