Cartier is coming out with a new man's fragrance and I got the secret scoop...

[mikeperez23]

So, as many of you already know, I manage a real estate office (when I'm not a full fledged Basenoter) and my boss (well, one of my bosses) owns a huge, modern, completely renovated home in Miami Beach, just minutes away from South Beach.

He lives there, but since he is single (and young) he is never there. So, he decided to try and rent it out to short term renters. He has done music videos there, rented it out for photoshoots, movies (of the regular kind AND the adult kind) and more recently for company events. Since he is French, he has family in Paris and a network of business associates. He happened to get someone at Cartier who was interested in renting his house. I had to handle the billing for the company, and when I received the email from the Cartier rep, at the bottom of the email it went into detail about the event. It was a mens fragrance launch.

I asked my boss about it. Here's the scoop:

- Cartier is releasing a new mens scent named 'Roadster', named after their already popular line of luxury mens wristwatches. [BTW Pasha and Santos are also named after the respective watch designs of Cartier]
- The scent is shaped like a race car, white and silver was the color of the bottle that my boss saw. Apparently the 'car' sits flat, so that it looks like a luxurious, retro modern sports car, yet you can sit it up also to spray the bottle.
- The scent itself? Well, I have no idea what it smells like! Cartier brought down 80 bottles and invited 80 VIP's to this swanky party (in my boss' house) - he said that the executives he talked to, said that Cartier spent a quarter of a million dollars in advertising for just this event in Miami Beach. Many of those in attendance were high profile clients in South America, the Caribbean, Dubai, US, etc.

I searched the internet for any information on this scent and came up with nothing. Cartier must be keeping this under wraps.

As far as I can see, it's been seven (7) years since Cartier released a new mens fragrance that was NOT a flanker (the last mens release was the limited edition of Eau de Cartier 'Cartier de Ete' back in 2005).

As soon as I can get more information about Roadster, I'll post about it.

[msi_21]

I don't like the bottle: shaped like a race car!
(LoL!)

[Aerodyne]

I don't like the bottle: shaped like a race car!
(LoL!)

It should get slightly more mileage than the H2 fragrance. . .

[zztopp]

Named: Roadster....and shaped like a race car...wow, sounds like a bad joke.

[JaimeB]

Mike,

Congrats on getting the scoop! I'll reserve judgment on the scent until we know more. As for the bottle... bottle, schmottle!

[Delmar]

So that's the kind of thing my scent habit is financing - swanky parties in Miami!

[clgnafcnado]

THANK YOU FOR THE INFO!!! As far as the bottle, Cartier is not going to make anything tacky.C'mon guys!!!
Mike next party like this one, just Crash it Hehe....

[bront82]

He has done music videos there, rented it out for photoshoots, movies (of the regular kind AND the adult kind)

You make me giggle MikePerez ... giggle!

Very fortuitous of you to be right in the middle of all that ... perhaps he might let you take a whiff of his bottle?

[atrac]

I hope you don't get in trouble for posting this. Is it supposed to be a secret? If they spent a quarter of a mill on the party, it sounds like they mean business!

Of course, any one of those 80 guests could have leaked the info too. :P

[T. Rex, Esq.]

Named: Roadster....and shaped like a race car...wow, sounds like a bad joke.

Sounds like a naked lunge at the Chav market to me.

Maybe it's something they're planning on selling to Russian oligarchs and we're not supposed to understand it.

[reneirwold878]

I hope you don't get in trouble for posting this.

That's the first thing i thought too...you and your boss/company.

[sshak13]

long live cartier!

[Kevin Guyer]

Avon used to make bottles in the shape of cars.

[mikeperez23]

My boss is the one that told me all about it, he's an extremely cool guy and no, no worries about me getting into trouble talking about the fragrance.

And yes, my first thought when I heard him describe the bottle as a 'race car' is that it sounded like something Avon might do (or Disney for that matter). But the bottle he described it as very sleek, modern, luxurious, etc. Very classy, as Cartier does.

[G.303]

I do not like the thought of a race car bottle.....Yuck....Gary

[Scentologist]

Thank you for the wonderful scoop! You are so lucky to be connected to the industry like that! I agree with others in that I don't like the idea of a car bottle either. It sounds like something Avon or Drakkar might do since Drakkar was sponsored by a NAScar driver.

[overload]

my first scent was a little V.W. by avon. cant remember the name of it... then came brut, followed by my first "real" fragrance, tuscany.

soon after, i found "the king" and wore that as a siggy for 15 years.

[msi_21]

It should get slightly more mileage than the H2 fragrance. . .

I wish so.

[sanatik]

i am in a real estate agency too :--)

What we can say for the new one ist that it will not be an ellena creation, right ?

[mikeperez23]

i am in a real estate agency too :--)

What we can say for the new one ist that it will not be an ellena creation, right ?

Oh no. I don't think Hermes would allow that, Ellena is exclusive to them.

[mikeperez23]

NowSmellThis reports on the new Cartier Roadster, with picture (a very small pic) and the information that the perfumer is Mathilde Laurent (who also did some Guerlain fragrances: Pampelune, no. 68 Cologne, Shalimar Eau Legere and Guet Apens) and the official notes which are: bergamot, mint, vetiver, patchouli, labdanum, cashmere wood and vanilla.

Link http://nowsmellthis.blogharbor.com/b...9/3682404.html.

[HDS1963]

Oh bum!

My finances are going to take yet another hit...

I love Cartier Frags, Eau De Cartier is one of my favourites (especially when you apply it correctly, don't underspritz it) - I love Pasha too and Declaration.

I just know, having read that notes list, it's going to be a great smelling fragrance.

My poor bloody piggy bank is looking anorexic enough as it is...

(I hate the name though, "Roadster" - sounds like something Faberge would produce)

[Amit]

Sexeh!

[mikeperez23]

...

[mikeperez23]

A much better picture of the bottle can be seen here.

[pluran]

...the perfumer is Mathilde Laurent...

That's a good thing. It'll probably be a lot better than Pasha and Santos.

I prefer Laurent's Guet-Apens to L'Heure Bleue.

[teger]

I really enjoy Cologne no. 68 so I'm definitely looking forward to this release. Thanks for the scoop Mike!

[Futami]

Avon used to make bottles in the shape of cars.

OMG that just took me back to my childhood. I think my Grand Dad or Grand Mom had that avon bottle. I think the cap was on the back/trunk.

[MFfan310]

From the notes, this sounds like this will be a must-sniff.

I love mint, but have never been able to find a fragrance that has been able to have a minty enough mint note. Maybe this will be the one?

[G.303]

Now I have my hopes up for sure.
Gary

[mikeperez23]

Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeperez23

...the perfumer is Mathilde Laurent...

That's a good thing. It'll probably be a hell of a lot better than Pasha and Santos.

I was perusing my copy of Perfumes: The Guide this afternoon, and stumbled upon this tidbit about Mathilde Laurent in the Aqua Allegoria Pampelune review (which BTW I wore today for the first time - thumbs up!):

'...They [here Turin is speaking about the first 5 Aqua Allegoria's released], also benefited from the artistry of the brilliant Mathilde Laurent, who composed the first Shalimar Eau Legere and later left to take charge of bespoke perfumery at Cartier, the saddest waste of human talent since Rimbaud decided to study engineering...'

[fool]

The fragrance sounds very promising, although the vanilla worries me a bit. By the way, as someone pointed out on Nowsmellthis, the bottle appears to be modelled on the very distinctive crown of the Roadster watch.

[Oaksbluff]

hot Damn! I'm in.

although it surprises me that a mint fragrance wouldn't be launched for a northern hemisphere summer. seems like a good warm weather note. perhaps the heat in the target demographic of that swank shindig makes this irrelevant to time.

I for one am glad to see a major house releasing a new stand-alone fragrance. enough already with these endless variations meant to capitalize on another's successes. why would this bother me? I suppose it shouldn't. just seems like such a lack of conviction.

[Scentologist]

I am so relieved that the bottled stands upright and is in Cartier classic good taste. I had the mental image that the bottles was going to look skanky in the shape of a nascar! lol This fragrance will be on my radar for sure!

[Magnifiscent]

Though I was scared as well about the idea of a car shaped bottle (avon, disney etc docet hihihi...) I must admit the bottle looks classy and very cartier style (like the caps of their pens, watches details etc...)
Not sure about the juice. Uhm... a mineral fougere... I'm afraid they picked up the first nose in a bunch to create the luxury version of Pino Silvestre (like let me say the Rive Gauche YSL luxury version of Brut hihihi...) I highly hope I may be wrong.

[mikeperez23]

The Scented Salamander reports on Roadster, quoting the prices as $75 for the 50 ml and $100 for the 100 ml. Plus you can really see how they interpreted the watch design into the bottle design.

Link here.

[cedriceccentric]

I got Roadster about a month a go from a friend who went to a press presentation here in Brussels...

The scent reminds me of a discountinued Crabtree & Evelyn fragrance called Meridien, which was launched under their Scarbourgh (spelling?) brand, and also of L'Instant pour Homme. Fresh/minty start, rich/warm spicy/woody base (opposed to the "cold" spicies of Déclaration); with some sweetness in between it all. More of a fall scent IMHO. Roadster smells expensive and grown up. Quality... oh! the smell of it! Good lasting power. It's not super original, but much more so that 99% of what got launched recently.
The bottle design (if somewhat "nouveau riche") is pure luxury. Very, very heavy glass. Cartier will need to introduce a travel model if Roadster is a hit, I mean it's so heavy, it could be used as a weapon. The cap screws up perfectly.
The year isn't over yet, but I predict that Roadster will probably be my favorite meanstream release of 2008.

[mikeperez23]

I got Roadster about a month a go from a friend who went to a press presentation here in Brussels...

The scent reminds me of a discountinued Crabtree & Evelyn fragrance called Meridien, which was launched under their Scarbourgh (spelling?) brand, and also of L'Instant pour Homme. Fresh/minty start, rich/warm spicy/woody base (opposed to the "cold" spicies of Déclaration); with some sweetness in between it all. More of a fall scent IMHO. Roadster smells expensive and grown up. Quality... oh! the smell of it! Good lasting power. It's not super original, but much more so that 99% of what got launched recently.
The bottle design (if somewhat "nouveau riche") is pure luxury. Very, very heavy glass. Cartier will need to introduce a travel model if Roadster is a hit, I mean it's so heavy, it could be used as a weapon. The cap screws up perfectly.
The year isn't over yet, but I predict that Roadster will probably be my favorite meanstream release of 2008.

Thanks cedriceccentric.

It's always nice to hear from you - it's been a while since I've seen you posting. Welcome back!

[mikeperez23]

Columnist Giles Hattersley commented on Roadster in his article, 'A Man of Style: What to wear to court, cope with the British weather in style':

'...THE SCENT OF A MAN
Cartier has a new men’s fragrance, Roadster. The bottle, modelled on an engine piston, is terrific. Pity the scent is like something you’d get spritzed with in a Dubai casino toilet...'

Link to full article here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/lif...cle4392230.ece

Thanks to NowSmellThis for the link.

[anak]

Columnist Giles Hattersley commented on Roadster in his article, 'A Man of Style: What to wear to court, cope with the British weather in style':

'...THE SCENT OF A MAN
Cartier has a new men’s fragrance, Roadster. The bottle, modelled on an engine piston, is terrific. Pity the scent is like something you’d get spritzed with in a Dubai casino toilet...'

Link to full article here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/lif...cle4392230.ece

Thanks to NowSmellThis for the link.

"Pity the scent is like something you’d get spritzed with in a Dubai casino toilet. "

OUCH!!!

Cheers,
Al

[Delia]

If it's as good as Le Baiser du Dragon but for men, it'd be a really cool fragrance. I didn't test it yet though.

[NYCBoy]

Whatever happened to Declaration Essence Limited Edition?

See: http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/C...tion-3232.html

That is supposed to be a 2008 release, but I have no idea if it is available yet or where it might be sold. It sounds like a new composition rather than just a new bottle.

[zztopp]

smells like a 'Dubai casino toilet'? Wow .. I guess that ends the enthusiasm on display in this thread

[Futami]

I was able to sniff Roadster this weekend from a card. my inital impression was a citrusy minty opening which was quite nice. I'm not a huge fan of mint in fragrances but this was nicely done. Sorta reminded me of another Cartier scent pascha eau fraiche. Im not sure if I'd buy a whole bottle. but if this is what they spray you with in Dubai Casino restrooms then maybe I need to go to Dubai. I did manage to score a sample so I'll test it out and report back.

Mike, It was at bloomies aventura, if you want to check it out.

[Futami]

Ok so I tested this on my wrist today. Please take this review with a grain of salt it my first wearing of this scent and I am a newbie.

It starts of with citrus and mint, quite refreshing. Then about 10 minutes later or so the vanilla starts to come through. Twenty minutes later the citrus is pretty much gone and the mint and vanilla move the the foreground. It pretty much stays there for the rest of the trip. I did smell some florals and or woods peak through the mint/vanilla a bit at about 3 hours. But they were very much in the background.

Sillage and longevity are average. I've had it on for nearly 5 hours and I can barely smell it. I have to put my nose right up to/on my wrist. Overall a nice and classy scent but I don't see my self running out to buy a bottle. I actually like the bottle more than the juice.

This one doesn't strike me as distinctive as the rest of the Cartiers (santos, pascha etc) but it is more modern and sleeker (read not as many ingredients jockeying for the front).

Like I said please don't really on this as gospel. I am very new at dissecting scents.

[mikeperez23]

Mike, It was at bloomies aventura, if you want to check it out.

Thanks Futami. I'm calling my posse at Bloomingdales tomorrow!

[mikeperez23]

I couldn't get up to Aventura mall last weekend, but I was at Bal Harbour Shops and so I naturally strolled into the Cartier boutique to smell Roadster. They didn't have it! What's up with that?

The expect it in late September, whereas Bloomingdales has it right now. Talk about exclusive.

[everso]

Ok so I tested this on my wrist today. Please take this review with a grain of salt it my first wearing of this scent and I am a newbie.

It starts of with citrus and mint, quite refreshing. Then about 10 minutes later or so the vanilla starts to come through. Twenty minutes later the citrus is pretty much gone and the mint and vanilla move the the foreground. It pretty much stays there for the rest of the trip. I did smell some florals and or woods peak through the mint/vanilla a bit at about 3 hours. But they were very much in the background.

Sillage and longevity are average. I've had it on for nearly 5 hours and I can barely smell it. I have to put my nose right up to/on my wrist. Overall a nice and classy scent but I don't see my self running out to buy a bottle. I actually like the bottle more than the juice.

This one doesn't strike me as distinctive as the rest of the Cartiers (santos, pascha etc) but it is more modern and sleeker (read not as many ingredients jockeying for the front).

Like I said please don't really on this as gospel. I am very new at dissecting scents.

so they name a scent "Roadster"....which gives me images of James Dean in a Porsche 550 Spyder, and people rolling around through mountains in their vintage roadster/spyder/convertible/etc.....and then they add citrus, mint and vanilla to it?

that is NOT worthy of being called Roadster. PASS!