Costume National Homme (2009)
by Costume National

A rare thing: a scent with the kind of warmth and spice you would appreciate in autumn/winter, yet with the balmy, breezy, sun-soaked vibe you'd also associate with spring and especially with summer. Seems to be an all-arounder. I wore it for autumn/winter two years ago, wore Sycomore last autumn/winter, and have now returned to CNH; still wonderfully creamy, with light woods and mellow spices. Very similar to Egoiste, but softer and more subtle. This deserves 9 out of 10.

This is an incredible fragrance. Notes include cinnamon, clove, and honey, but to me they combine to smell like spicy coconut. It has great sillage and projection. This is gourmand. Spices used are sweet and this may be a better winter/cool weather fragrance.

Read all the great reviews about CN Homme and finally ordered a sample with a recent purchase. This is a heavenly fragrance that is reminiscent of Tauer's LAdDM, maybe a tad sweeter early and more incense driven later. Not exact copies, but similar. It would probably remind one of any sweet incense fragrance though. On the opening, I got lots of honey, cinnamon and clove, very sweet and lasting close to two hours plus. Amber and incense notes work their way through the spices and a pleasant amber, incense and warm wood base developed and went well past the 8 hour mark. A very good scent that would wear well on a cool evening or winter day. Definitely a thumbs up.

I liked this. Reminds me of Tauer No 02 L'Air du Désert Marocain
Incense & sandalwood. The drydown reminds me of the fragrance that surrounds you when you go to a Restoration Hardware or a Hollister. This one lasts and lasts. I will definitely wear this again.
Projection and longevity average. I was noticed.

Costume National Homme is one of my favorites to reach for when the weather turns cold. It's ostensibly a sandalwood scent, but to my nose it's about 70% the fake but comforting smell of movie theater popcorn butter. But it's the support system under the faux butter that takes something that really could have been awful and makes it great.

So what's there? I smell the late-00's niche mainstay mix of cedar, frankincense, and smoky iso e super, as well as dried fruits, cloves, and pie spices. The end result smells a bit Serge Lutens, but could also be fairly accurately described as Jubilation XXV drenched in butter. But even if those descriptions make Homme sound less than attractive, it smells unique and wonderful and I highly recommend it.