Eloge du Traitre (2006)
by Etat Libre d'Orange

Eloge du Traitre is a herbal-pine affair, reminiscent of such masculine releases from the ‘70s and ‘80s, therefore making it nothing groundbreaking or original. I also agree with the Yatagan comparisons too but these type of fragrances do not interest me at all.

A very deep, insidious note that everyone else says is pine seems more of a dank, dirty rock under a pine tree with a rose decaying underneath it. We all smell things differently and each fragrance develops differently on the skin. This never deviates from the aggressive herbal and animalic leather and patchouli notes. Someone described this as a n aromatic fougere. Same as Cool Water. Cool Water is much more pleasing to the masses and well, I guess I'm "the masses". Eloge du Traitre just seems difficult to understand, on purpose... like a child that keeps saying no to a parent.

Eloge du Traitre opens with a very fresh, icy pine that is quickly joined by cool green herbal notes. The geranium and jasmine mentioned in the scent's description are well hidden, and serve more to soften the edges of the fragrance than as leading elements. The heart of Eloge du Traitre is the cold heart of a pine forest in winter, all still and frosty in the early morning light.

The pine and a certain sharpness in this scent may be what remind some reviewers of Yatagan, but I find the resemblance superficial. Eloge du Traitre has none of the artemisia that shapes the heart of Yatagan, and does not approach the older scent's dry, feral potency. Ultimately rather simple and not terribly exciting, though it might well appeal to those who find Yatagan just too overwhelming.

I like this a lot. Herbal-pine scents are a favorite style for me, and this is a good treatment of that. There is an excellent aromatic opening of pine and artemesia (here spicy and tarragon-like) with other herbaceous notes. Very green, dry, and full-bodied with real appeal and vitality. A hint of cloves gives spicy-wood depth and a tangy quality. Lingering in the background is the whiff of burnt wood and ashes... the traitor is burning his bridges behind him. Then another tangy note emerges, a chord of patchouli and leather. Not excessive but certainly assertive. At times this chord reminds me of Christmas spices or an orange with spices stuck in it. This has good longevity and a very satisfying dry-down. It is similar to Yatagan. I’d characterize the two as follows. Eloge du Traitre has more pine and greener notes in the opening. The dusky and ashy notes are distinctive. The patchouli-leather notes are more pronounced. It is a more outdoorsy scent, a bit drier and more austere. Yatagan is beautiful in its 80’s old-school way. A smoother, richer green. More aromatic and darker, richer and more suave. Each scent is fantastic.

Oh yes, the powerful blast of pine and herbal & medicinal leather bring immediately Yatagan to mind, but EdT is cooler and cleaner. Not bad at all.

I love this scent even though I see some similarities with my Yatagan by Caron too.
EdT is sharper and fresher version of Yatagan, like the young brother.