Reviews of L'Air du Desert Marocain
by Tauer

herbal opening notes which reminds me of balms used in india..those ayurvedic ones which treats both with its vapors and warm healing qualities...for other references, think Amber Sultan or Spirit of the tiger...though they dont smell similar..but, they sure do are first kissing cousins. i enjoy such scents and it somehow blends well with the kind of weather we have here.
L'Air also implements the "scratchy" use of cedar oil, as witnessed in Guerlains Masterpiece, Heritage EdT(Vintage), in that L'Air has this dry, gritty, heat wave kinda accord. The basenotes is lightly creamy smooth with the herbal accord still presnt with a warm base of incense and amber. one of the best from the House of Tauer. i'd strongly recommend L'Air along with Incense rose, Vetiver Dance and Incense Extreme.
and ohh, it's 10/10 in the sillge/longevity department. 2 sprays should last for more than 24hrs.

A very peculiar opening indeed for this one. I can pick out vetiver, ambergris and in particular cedar, but I can't quite understand why the overall result is a damp rag that has become a little mildewy. No matter, as within 15 minutes L'Air du Desert Marocain has completely transformed and is radiating out the most wonderful dry cedar and incense aroma. The incense does catch the back of the throat a little but not so much as to be turned off it. That said there is no escaping the smell of the incense, I feel like I'm surrounded by a cloud of invisible smoke when wearing this. L'Air du Desert Marocain is also spicy but not fresh and vibrant spices. Instead the spices are stale and woody, like a bag of Garam Masala that's well beyond it's use-by date. The result in summation is a fragrance that smells ancient and mystical.

The top notes have a sweet, creamy-citrus quality that segues into a more interesting drydown of frankincense, cedar and amber. A more vanillic quality is apparent deep in the base, but in general this remains a simple, dry amber once the sweetness of the top notes departs.

I think L'Air is a fragrance that gains tremendously from subtle use. A heavy application and this can be unpleasantly blunt and tarry, with a rather off-smelling citrus at the start, but applied sparingly and the effect is much more pleasing and refined.

If I was going to spring for a niche amber this wouldn't be it, but it's very wearable and rightly popular.

Living in the driest state in Australia I am used to the desert. The desert here is a huge open space that somehow crushes in on one, squeezing the moisture and energy out of every living thing that is not tough enough and ready for its onslaught.

LDDM represents a different kind of desert: a desert in which one is enveloped by smells and sensations that caress rather than crush.

From its opening to its end LDDM is captivating rather than confronting, and calming rather than exhausting.

The spices are dry without being desiccated; the petitgrain adds a wonderful twist; the incense is soft and slightly smoky (like in Incense Rose); and the cedar and amber are dry and slightly honeyed.

When I wear LDDM I find myself entranced by the place it conjures in my mind, and this is reflected in a calm satisfaction as I go about my day.

What a beautiful and unique fragrance. Smells mature without smelling "old" and has an air of adventure that makes me think of the middle east. It smells kind of dry, spicy, dusty and incensey (I smell lots of frankincense) but the base is moist and thick, composed of amber, vanilla and vetiver. This is definitely another fragrance that words cannot do justice in describing - you simply have to try it yourself.

If you want to try to guess what L'air du desert smells like before trying it, check out Andy Tauer's website and read the listing - it smells almost exactly how he describes it, both in imagery and ingredients.

I see LdDM being worn by someone who is rugged and mature in personality. Completely unisex, although I find it better suited to a man. A final word of warning is that LdDM is rather potent and lasts forever, so take it easy on the trigger for this one.

A modern masterpiece.

9/10

What a lovely oriental! LDDM is an exotic dry honeyed incense and swirling spice with an ambery base and vanilla. Tauer deserves the praise he's been getting.

After several wearings, I have become quite enamored of this scent. So much so that I bought a bottle. A dry amber that gradually becomes amber+incense. Very nice.

After reading the reviews, I decided to try a sample as I didn't want to drop $100 on a bottle without trying first. Upon initial application, I found L'Air to smell very similar to Obsession (which I have never liked). I was immediately glad that I didn't splurge on the whole bottle. HOWEVER, after about an hour, it started to transform into something wonderful. It reminded me of my years in southern Spain. It smells wonderful and takes me back. I have been wearing this non-stop for the past few days now and I absolutely love the drydown. Yes, it is very sweet, but not too sweet (not quite cloying), and the whiffs come and go for well over 8 hours. It is definitely exotic and could be classified as almost synthetic, but yet it's different (hard to describe I suppose). I can see where the one reviewer said he smelled like a new plastic/rubber toy, I totally smell that too. But, I like and will be sure to purchase a full size bottle.

Quite unique scent, very well balanced. I love the dryness of it, and detect a lingering rose note as a counterpoint. Not unisex, but androgynous. Longevity and sillage are good. I only own a sample, but will very soon get a bottle!

At first I wasn't sure what to think about this one. On first application, it came across as quite faint. I also noticed some similarities with Lonestar Memories, and initially deemed L’Air as a lighter version of Lonestar – how wrong I was! After re-applying, the differences became a lot more noticeable. L’Air also reminded me of the amber drydown of Piper Nigrum. However, while Piper Nigrum was slightly irritating for me to wear, L’Air was simply sensual and intoxicating.

The sweetness balances perfectly with the spices and is never overwhelming. As for sillage, it isn't loud but is definitely present. There's also something almost 'effervescent' about the spicy sweetness of L’Air that I really love – it just simmers on the skin very nicely. After several hours, the drydown blends perfectly with my skin chemistry in the most natural way. Amazing.

Personally, this is everything that Richard James should have been but wasn't (and a sore disappointment in all the main departments). L’Air is truly magnificent and is definitely in my top five.

[Original submission date: 25 May 2008]

The first niche scent my wife and I both liked and that I had to own immediately. From the opening long into the drydown, this has become one of my favorite scents. It is warm, dry, spicey, woody, with a background of amber that doesn't overpower. Five stars.

This is like sitting in a very dry sauna. Lots of cedar. Works amazing in the warmer months. Great on both men and women.

This stuff smells fantastic. I'm beginning to think my nose is easy to please. Anyway, I feel I'm in no way qualified to explain this smell. If pressed I'd say something stupid like "it smells like the desert air," and that would just be due to "desert" being in the name. I'm sure if I were just a little dumber I would think that this smelled like "the sweet stuff you eat at the end of a meal."

I am, however, qualified to say that this is potent, unique, and doesn't irritate me in the slightest. I'm more often irritated or nauseated by a smell rather than finding that I actually don't like it. Even smells that I like bother me a bit, but not enough to put in the review because it's barely noticeable.

Whatever you do, sample this first because it is very unique and you may find that it's not for you.

Oh my gosh, this fragrance brings back such great memories. Memories of spring camping in the high desert of Joshua Tree National Monument. The scent of the campfires, the scrub and brush, even the smooth jumbo rocks the area is famous for. L'Air du Desert Marocain really evokes a 'scentscape' for me and I love it! I may not want to wear it often, but I definitely need to have it around for the sniffing.

Very dry spicy oriental. As if you're sticking your nose in a bag of maroccan spices, cedar shavings, a stick of incense and fresh sand of the Mahgreb desert.

The funny thing is, I think the closest designer scent is Gucci PH (the one with the pencil shavings). L'Air has less pencil shavings, more spices, and better longevity. But the dryness and the theme of both scents are remarkebly similar.

I don't get the connection with Terre d'Hermes, which is waaay more citrussy than L'Air.

When my sample first arrived, I was disappointed that it wasn't at all what I expected. Fortunately I decided to give it a try anyway, and at this point (with my sample almost gone) I don't know what I'll do when I run out. I love it! I need it! It is absolutely brilliant all the way through, from the beautifully spicy open all the way to the soft, warm drydown. Absolute must-have for me.

Have to agree with majority here : This is very good stuff.

I even like the initial burst of this one : the smell reminds me of mix between nail-polish and some fruit candies. This doesn`t last that long though, perhaps 20 seconds.

This dries down for a smooth and warm blend that smells stunningly natural and well made to my nose. Sandy and dusty without being too dry, this really is a match made in heaven with the concept : I actually can imagine myself standing in the middle of the desert, feeling alright, breathing in the warm solar air.

Very dry oriental scent but truly impressive and long lasting. I first discovered the name of this fragrance
on basenotes and then decided to blind buy it considering all the positive reviews.
Today, I don't regret my choice.

This one finally came through for me, on my fifth try. Found myself smelling amazing after wearing it for an hour. Lasts at least 7-8 hours on my skin. Fantastic scent!

When I first tried this, I didn't know what to think. It smelled pleasant, sure, but wasn't like WOW OMG AWESOME. But then... as great scents are apt to do... it wormed under my skin... and I kept returning... and returning. This perfume smells like a memory. Its opening notes are incredibly clear. I can smell the open spaces, the dry wind, the sweet amber (my skin always brings out sweet smells). It really is a memory in a bottle. A peaceful, contemplating scent. Plus, Andy Tauer comes across as an awesome, accessible guy. I suggest ordering stuff directly from his website -- he has samples and reasonable prices! The ONLY reason preventing me from snatching up a full-size bottle of this piece of art (and yes, this feels more like an artistic work than just any ol' perfume) is that I don't think I can carry it off very well. I look like a fruity/flower kind of girl, and I lack the mysteriousness and gravitas for this lovely scent. But who knows? Who cares? Once my sample runs out, I think I'm getting this. Darn you, Andy Tauer, for bringing me just one more step closer to homelessness. At least I'll SMELL GOOD! ;)

I THINK THIS IS THE BESST OF TAUER'S FRAGRANCES. IT'S HAUNTING AND THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT, ANYWHERE. A BEAUTIFUL FRAGRANCE!

Just WOW!!! This is one of those scents I love wearing to bed. It always brings good dreams. Spritz on the neck, hop in to bed, dream of flying on a magic carpet in the "Morocain" desert. A masterpiece!

Tried it in the winter and smelled tar and sweetness. Not unpleasant, but it did not develop. When I was cooking something with onions and Chinese spices, I found out it mingled well with the scent I was wearing. I had a bit of the sample left and decided I should probably try it again in spring/summer. I tried it again in spring and the combination of a tar smell and the sweet spices reminded me of a pancake restaurant in my hometown, which is located in an old ship. This makes this scent a bit of a gourmand for me that reminds me of a place which is 2 km from my home, instead of reminding me of far away deserts. The bitter tar note is a good counterpoint for the sweet spices and gives it the needed masculinity for me to be able to wear it. I think this scent is definitely on the masculine side of unisex.

I really like it and it is quite unique, but I don’t think I will buy a bottle of it. The problem is that I don’t see many situations were I could wear this one in public. For a day at home it is great, especially in the summer holiday. In a relaxed state of mind this scent is able to transport you to a time in the past and it has an adventurous feel to it. The tar note reminds me of wooden ships and brings to mind images of pirate films.

This is a dusty, dry scent, just like the name implies. I get raw cedar, which makes this scent really dry and woody. What comes up in my mind as eyes closed is the desert, some camels, merchants selling herbs and spices, strong sunlight, and dust. It's really that good!

Wow, this stuff rocks! If you are a fan of exotic scents, this is a must try. My wife and I both love it. It is sweet (vanillaic), dry, cedar-woody, spicy in the background, strong with good sillage. One good spray on my test wrist lasted almost 24 hours, despite a shower and a few hand washing sessions (not scrubbing my wrist though).

Initially it was a bit much, but everytime I tried not to like it, I just couldn't. It kept beckoning for a closer deeper look, and it felt almost like a taboo...you feel you shouldn't but you just can't help but get close. It is so well formulated and richly blended that you can't help but like it.

I checked the Andy Tauer website and they have samples of everything they or rather he makes for a reasonable price and flat rate shipping anywhere in the world. The stuff is definately worth a second look.

Andy is very personable too...a real person that you can reach out to, he actually doesn't mind if you want to get to know him; how cool is that? I have never been a niche frag kinda person, but Tauer has def got my attention! A+++
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

What a wonderful fragrance .....perfect for an evening at 'Moyo at Spier'...'Under the starlit African sky, set in a garden in the Western Cape Winelands, Moyo at Spier is unlike any other restaurant. Bedouin tents and gazebos are placed throughout the garden and create a setting similar to a nomadic African village.'
Many South Africans will be familiar with this place.......and this is what I picture, when I wear this.............Perfect!
A big thank you to Andy Tauer.

I detect a faint citrus top note and then an effect similar to DK's Black Cashmere (minus the sweetness). L'AdDM is arid and appropriately named. Very good execution, which I can appreciate even though this is not my category of scent. Happily there was no heavy incense, as I expected. Blasphemous as it is to say, I think this could be layered with other scents to good effect.

Everything written about it is true...Dry- evocative - Sensual. I got this one recently and still am learning the subtle nuances of the composition...but if you ask me to summarize it I'd say its top notes have a faint resemblance to Boucheron's Jaipur pour homme with Amber Vetiver and faint hint of Incense in base notes...The dry down is too complex to put in words...subtle smooth presence ...its a must sample and then a must buy


another one that is a must buy from Tauer is Incense Extreme


..

One of my holy grails, and this is the fragrance that led me into the world of niche perfumery. For me, this is where it all started.

The initial blast feels like a gust of dusty desert wind just blew into the room, true to the name. Words escape me, but the opening is uplifting and simply divine. There's resinous amber, supported by a hint of that tar note which Tauer seems to be fond of, and vanilla. Yet, despite the dosage of vanilla, LDDM somehow retains its wonderful driness throughout - I don't understand how it's done, it's almost like an oxymoron. Rock rose keeps things lively in the middle notes, also.

Sillage is decent, but not overpowering. It lasts and lasts, easily endures 10-12 hours. In both respects, it's just what I want from a fragrance. Perfect.

Full credit goes to Tauer for this remarkable and ground-breaking scent!

Andy has truly captured the dry heat and dustiness of the Maghreb desert with this fragrance. From first spray one is overwhelmed with the radiant hotness within... its dry husky cedar takes center stage while exotic cumin, petitgrain & coriander spices scuttle over it, as would a scorpion on the desert sands. This fragrance has a vintage quality - as though it has permeated from the pages of an old Agatha Christie novel, where british archaeologists dab their brows with pressed handkerchieves, and caravans of desert nomads roam the dunes. It is both romantic and robust, and, much like the desert itself, unrelenting. The parched and arid amber has an aura of equatorial warmth, and is juxtaposed carefully with soft jasmine and rose. The transitory notes and dry-down are so remarkable - one cant help but feel oneself transported to another far-flung landscape at dusk, under a rising Moroccan moon.
This fragrance will be appreciated by those whose passions lie beyond the mainstream and the predictable. "L'air du Desert Marocain" lulls and woos the wearer and draws one in... just like the pages of a timeless antique book.

L'Air du Desert Marocain is one of the better fragrances I've worn. Tauer uses some of the finest ingredients and understands how to put them together like very few can. It's an evocative scent capable of enhancing any number of pleasant thoughts. The design is immaculate, and though the beginning stages of the drydown threaten to become a little too vanillic, the scent magically mellows, evolving into a dry subtly smoky balsamic-resinous cedar amber with enough ambrein to keep it smooth as the organic rhythms resonating through your mind. Like any good fragrance should do, L'Air du Desert Marocain maintains redolent output for the ten to twelve hour duration. And while the sillage is always discernable, it generally just becomes a part of you rather than surrounding you like a halo. I have a hard time with most orientals, but this fragrance is sufficiently voluptuous yet infinitely wearable. It's a masterpiece and I'm glad to have the opportunity to be a part of it.

Get to it, for otherwise you'll never know.

One of the most stunning fragrances I have ever smelled. It smells very similar to Guerlain's Heritage or Floris' Santal, but has a "sandy" element to it. It truly smells of a burning sun mixed with sand, mixed with incense, in a beautiful way. Others around me claimed to have smelled chocolate(!) after 6 hours of wearing this scent. It is simply mystical and one of the nicest fragrances I have ever smelled. I would call this much more masculine than feminine. While it has similaries to Santal by Floris, it smells less sweet, and dries to something a bit more dignified. This could be worn to a wedding or business meeting. Lasts forever.

Nice spice/citrus opening (I don't get much, if any, cumin) wrapped in bone dry cedar (astoundingly dry). The complex drydown through the labdanum/jasmine to the vetiver and amber is remarkably balanced. Monster longevity, Goldilocks sillage (juuuust right) make this unique, serene, mesmerizing fragrance one of my top 5.

Sultry, hauntingly beautiful, perfect redition of the air of a dry desert wind! I love, love, love this evocative, sensual fragrance. It's beautiful: dry, spicy, warm, elegant, and extremely long-lasting. It reminds me a little of POTL Luctor et Emergo sans cherry liqueur...because it has that outstanding "dryness" that must be terriby hard to capture. I am a lover of the desert, so smelling like desert air never fails to transport my senses to a place of happy moods and energy.

Early evening desert winds refresh the punished air as a smoky offering to the Eternal God wafts into the village spice sellers shop, in a simple cedar building at the edge of a trading oasis. He stops from his tasks recognizing the lambent serene presence that has come to him, and he prays looking out at the sky blending purple-blue with pink, and the same comes to me,as I lift my tired head from the computer screen at Eliot's violet hour in the Big City.

L'Air du Desert Morocain opens as a very heavy amber and honey blend, quickly joined by some sweet citrus and a beguiling touch of smoke. Over the first few minutes the honey and amber settle into the background while the smoke intensifies and a very well-rendered tobacco note steps forward. The citrus persists for some time, like a cool breeze that lifts the composition and keeps its sweetness from from becoming ponderous. Some incense pushes its way forward over time, while the sweet amber resurfaces, and then grows more and more dominant. The drydown is sweet, smoky amber and persists for a long time.

This is a complex and impressive oriental scent that will appeal to lovers of the Serge Lutens line. While it's individual notes and tone recall such Sheldrake/Lutens classics as Ambre Sultan, Chergui, Arabie, and especially Fumerie Turque, it's not derivative of them. In fact, it's better balanced and quite a bit lighter, which I think makes it much more wearable. A very fine scent

Yes, it's as dry as a bone that's been sitting in the sun for a thousand years. The opening notes of incense do not prepare you for the driest, sandalwood dry down on the planet. I love this one.

The opening spices reminded me of that old 1960's standby - Jade East. But the haunting dryness of cedar and vetiver behind the spices adds an otherworldly incense, a kind of dry spicy resinous wood with a hint of vanilla. A complex sent that is very unique caravan of spice, dry woods, and intrigue.

I have a problem. A big problem.

Tauer raised his prices on L'air du desert Marocain unceremoniously and I took umbrage at this practice. After a certain amount of discussion, I remain unconvinced at the bait and switch pricing tactics he employed with this perfume.

Luckily, this review isn't about Mr. Tauer's deplorable pricing strategy, it's about the quality of the perfume and intellectual honesty requires that I give a review on that basis.

That said, L'air du desert Marocain is simply great! The light citrus topnotes are accompanied by an Amber overlord that asserts its presence throughout the perfume's progression along the time line. It's a gentle Overlord and cushions this perfume's initial presentation to the nose. It then takes over and bathes the wearer in a shimmering glow, much like a heat wave bouncing off faraway desert sand dunes.

Technically, this is a perfect blend of ingredients and the longevity is incredible. The sub-par packaging belies its origin as the product of a one-man operation but that is quickly forgotten after a few sprays.

First sniff out of the bottle is dry, but not brittle. Spice--is that a hint of mastic?--coriander,something stoney, but just blowing by on a dry, rich breeze. Dry and woody at mid-note, with incense. I long for complex, rich orientals and can't wear them. I smell like an old harlot. This, however, is complex enough to suit me and interesting enough to draw my attention. Probably a man's scent, but I'm frequently comfortable there.

Unlike anything I have smelled before. Like said before it's all there. The spices, the smokyness,not unlike CdG's Avignon, which creates the dry "dessertair"like feel.
The sweet , ambery tones , combined with the citrus. It all blends very well and leaves an incredible wonderfull smokey, ambery layer on your skin. It's definately more suitable for men, to me.

With a name like ‘L’Air du desert’ I expected it to be airy and dryly aromatic. I wasn’t prepared for the vitality of the opening—the cedar and the vetiver are quite dynamic. L’Air du desert marocain’ lets you know immediately that it’s a substantial new player in the field. The cedar and vetiver are apparent from the beginning as they join the bitter orange and the other citrus like scents—I can’t smell the coriander. The strength continues in the mid notes which are a rich woody / floral—very masculine IMHO. The scent is so long lasting that I get a little impatient waiting for the drydown, which, it turns out, is worth waiting for. Lots of wood and amber, especially amber, in the drydown—rich, complex, smooth. L’Air du desert marocain is an all-around wonderful scent: energetic, beautiful accords, great longevity, substantial but non-aggressive.

Sample of L'Air de Desert Marocain arrived in the mail today. Very nice, longevity and sillage are impressive. Similar to #2 Spiritus/Land by Miller et Bertaux, some might even say near identical. Hints of frankincense, ginger, incense and rose. St Charles Shave also makes a handmade cologne called 'New Spice' thats very close to this.

I have no idea why this is listed as a women's scent, it works I think better for men. Definitely has some sweet notes in there, but not at all cloying. There's a delightful smokiness in the midnotes and in the drydown, I sometimes think I can smell a dry stoniness, like the night wind blowing in off the desert. Have gotten frequent compliments, from "something smells nice" to "are you wearing Old Spice" (it's as spicy as that low-end classic, but much dryer & more complex). After spending all summer looking for the perfect summer fragrance, I've found it.

Very nice, quite dry, the first addition to my wardrobe. I should note that the pamphlet I got from Tauer lists this as being a unisex fragrance. It's really unlike anyting I've tried before and I can't wait to wear it out!

Starts out with lovely, dry oriental spices and a hint of (floral?) sweetness. Dries down to a wonderful skin scent, hardly smellable, just a warm, dry, spicy, ambery, salty aura.

Beautiful, just beautiful. Complex, strong, natural, undeniably sweet but never too much, lasting power is tops, sillage is definitely there but never aggressively so. This is a *masterpiece* of a fragrance, Mr. Tauer deserves all praises. The best praise yet? My husband, who hates "smelly things" because everything gives him an allergy fit...this is the only scent ever in his entire life that he *wants* to wear, and wear it *daily*, and he does it not as a nice thing for his wife but because *he wants to be surrounded by this beautiful scent*. There it is, how can I praise more than that? One thumb up isn't enough.

Spices, herbs, lots of cedar, and a rich, long-lasting amber drydown. This does invoke images of deserts and sunsets. Indeed, this scent is intended for men, not women (though I'd classify it as unisex).

This isn't as dry as I thought it would be. Maybe it's not that it isn't dry, but rather that it doesn't feel dry. There is definately a dry landscape somewhere within this scent, but there is also some sweetness and something a tiny bit juicy to balance it out. It has a very natural feel to it that I absolutely love. I will be surprised if this scent isn't still in my top 10 a few years down the road. Sexy, easy to wear, original. What more can one want? I'd also like to add that this scent earned me the most gushing compliment I have ever recieved. I was damn close to complimenting myself too before this girl did it for me. Good times. Everyone should try this scent. I can't imagine how this wouldn't make a fantastic addition to any fragrance afficionados wardrobe.

Dry and spicy as the name suggests. It lasts forever and gets complimented frequently. Now in my top ten for sure. Tauer classifies this as a man's fragrance so it should not be listed as women's, although I can easily see women wearing it as well. Great stuff, particularly for the price.