Houbigant Fougère Royale: A first sniff from a tester

[mrclmind]

Thanks Jaime! I get on to read as often as I can, but only pop in to post occasionally!

[JaimeB]

So Jaime, you wouldn't happen to have the scoop on when the rest of the country is going to get a whiff of all this fougere-goodness?

So, here's the skinny from the rep:

You can call him at (415) 362-3900. Ask for the Men's Fragrance counter and then ask for Michal (MEE-hahl). He can let you know about immediate availability through him.

Other places around the U. S. will have Fougère Royale in stock about a month after San Francisco, which should be before Christmas.

[dacha]

Jaime, it's been a complete and exhaustive education; did you have an end time for the longevity?

[JaimeB]

Jaime, it's been a complete and exhaustive education; did you have an end time for the longevity?

I would say a good seven or eight hours for the EdP, although traces are still detectable the following morning. I haven't seen the Perfume Edition, and doubt anyone will until the official launch.

[DULLAH]

Wow, just tested this in EDP strength, and the quality is really really high!!

It's an extremely natural scent, very dense and rich, very green and moderately sweet, and yet, so very classy and masculine at the same time....without any overt flaws. It's not done in a style I would personally wear, but for those who love these older styled sweet/rich fougeres, this should be immediate grail status. Excellent job by a house I've never tested a drop of, but certainly will test as many of their scents as I can.

A must test for lovers of any of these scents:
Vetiver 48
Moss Breeches
Balenciaga pour homme
Feuille Verte
Black Orchid
Canali men
Himalaya
Bogart City Tower
The drydown of older batches of Green Valley


If Fougere Royale is any indication, this house is qualitatively right on the same level as Maitre Parfumeuer Et Gantier, Lorenzo Villoresi, Creed, and Guerlain's boutique/vintage fragrances. A+ for Houbigant.

[dmarino67]

Did you try this in Chicago? Neimans?

Wow, just tested this in EDP strength, and the quality is really really high!!

It's an extremely natural scent, very dense and rich, very green and moderately sweet, and yet, so very classy and masculine at the same time....without any overt flaws. It's not done in a style I would personally wear, but for those who love these older styled fougeres, this should be immediate grail status. Excellent job by a house I've never tested a drop of, but certainly will test as many of their scents as I can.

A must test for lovers of any of these scents:
Vetiver 48
Moss Breeches
Balenciaga pour homme
Feuille Verte
Black Orchid
Canali men
Himalaya
Bogart City Tower
If Fougere Royale is any indication, this house is qualitatively right on the same level as Maitre Parfumeuer Et Gantier, Lorenzo Villoresi, Creed, and Guerlain's boutique/vintage fragrances. A+ for Houbigant.

[DULLAH]

Yes. Nieman Marcus. From the "woven glass" bottle. A wonderfully impressive scent, so very great in quality and composition. Truly a masterpiece. Right up there with vintage Santal Noble and vintage Tabarome, as the cream of the crop for "old school" scents. Just not my particular style.

[gido]

is it bitter? the original is only slightly sweet, and rather bitter.

[DULLAH]

is it bitter? the original is only slightly sweet, and rather bitter.

Perhaps the topnotes are mildly bitter....but the drydown is ridiculously smooth, like a much richer, more mossy Clive-Christian-version of Vetiver 48's drydown with plenty of florals and tonka.

[arlecchino]

everything JaimeB has said, combined with everything DULLAH just said...

Woo hoo!!!

[fishercb]

I just rcvd the following email from LOFT in Monaco (owner of the Houbigant brand and producer of Fougere Royale):

Dear Chris,

Thank you for the interest you show toward Houbigant.

Fougère Royale will be available exclusively in Neiman Marcus stores and on Neiman Marcus online store, starting next week.

If we can be of further help, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best regards,

Elisabeth Perris

So for those of you outside San Francisco it should be accessible at NM online and other NM stores the week of Nov 1.

Chris

[scentsitivity]

Perhaps the topnotes are mildly bitter....but the drydown is ridiculously smooth, like a much richer, more mossy Clive-Christian-version of Vetiver 48's drydown with plenty of florals and tonka.

I am looking forward to trying this one! (Already was, but this description excites me).

[MHV]

This is a GREAT news for those of us in Canada. NM ships fragrance ground to Canada. Costs an extra 10$, but what the heck!

I just rcvd the following email from LOFT in Monaco (owner of the Houbigant brand and producer of Fougere Royale):

Dear Chris,

Thank you for the interest you show toward Houbigant.

Fougère Royale will be available exclusively in Neiman Marcus stores and on Neiman Marcus online store, starting next week.

If we can be of further help, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best regards,

Elisabeth Perris

So for those of you outside San Francisco it should be accessible at NM online and other NM stores the week of Nov 1.

Chris

[pelle]

A little off topic, but does anybody have a clue which Neiman Marcus in New York is most likely to have this one soon? I tried their store locater but it didn´t work for me.

I ask since a friend of mine is going to NY this weekend and I am really thinking of sending him in to blind buy a bottle for me - but where do I send him? I guess the most "down town" shop would be easiest to access and if you have any contact info so I can check availability it would be great too.

Thanks a lot in advance,
Pelle

[arlecchino]

^^^
Pelle, there is no Neiman Marcus in NYC, but there is one out in Paramus, NJ that is not far, and I think one elsewhere maybe in Westchester. But definitely none in the city.

[DULLAH]

After re-applying to get the topnotes again(yes the drydown lasts well many days on fabric), this is also strongly for the lovers of Trumper's Wild Fern and Penhaligon's English Fern

[mrclmind]

NM in Newport Beach doesn't have it, and they never heard of it being released either.

[rogalal]

Re: New York. Bergdorf Goodman is actually owned by Neiman Marcus and gets the NM exclusives.

Now if we can just get this thread to 10 pages and beat that Bleu de Chanel thread!

(It's actually quite funny watching the old folks hang out in here while the rest of the mens board worries about what turns women on...)

[JaimeB]

I bet we end up smelling better than they do, and also probably end up turning more women's heads on the perfume score alone. The worst tactic is trying too hard!

[pluran]

Hopefully it's decent.

[arlecchino]

Re: New York. Bergdorf Goodman is actually owned by Neiman Marcus and gets the NM exclusives.

Ah, well that's good news, so hopefully BG will get it when it rolls out to the rest of the NM stores, I'll be on the lookout.

[JaimeB]

Further update:

I spoke today with the Houbigant rep. The shipment has cleared customs and is expected in San Francisco early next week. The San Francisco store may begin to be able to begin charging customer accounts by Saturday for later pickup.

Other Neimans stores will not be able to accept advance orders until November 14. Delivery at those stores will be about one month after the release in San Francisco.

[DULLAH]

Further update:

I spoke today with the Houbigant rep. The shipment has cleared customs and is expected in San Francisco early next week. The San Francisco store may begin to be able to begin charging customer accounts by Saturday for later pickup.

Other Neimans stores will not be able to accept advance orders until November 14. Delivery at those stores will be about one month after the release in San Francisco.

Another update:

The 100ml perfume will not cost $600, it will be housed in some over-the-top Lalique presentation, and will cost $1,600. The 100ml EDP will be in the heavy woven glass spray, for around $170.

[JaimeB]

I have seen the publicity materials, which were forwarded to me directly from the company. The price for the Perfume Edition is $600. It comes in a lacquered box. No mention of Lalique crystal.

image27.jpg

As you can see, the bottle looks the same; it is the box and the juice which make the difference in this presentation.

[mr. reasonable]

In case my other non North American based brethren were wondering:

Thank you for contacting Neiman Marcus Online.

At this time, we are unable to send cosmetics
and fragrances to international locations. We
do apologize for any inconvenience this may
have caused.

We will gladly assist with placing your
order if you have an address within the
United States where the merchandise can be
delivered.

[jenson]

Jaime, Thanks for the wonderful review on the scent and the bottle!

[mikeperez23]

Another update:

The 100ml perfume will not cost $600, it will be housed in some over-the-top Lalique presentation, and will cost $1,600. The 100ml EDP will be in the heavy woven glass spray, for around $170.

Oh jeez...

[JaimeB]

Another update:

The 100ml perfume will not cost $600, it will be housed in some over-the-top Lalique presentation, and will cost $1,600. The 100ml EDP will be in the heavy woven glass spray, for around $170.

Oh jeez...

I have seen the publicity materials, which were forwarded to me directly from the company. The price for the Perfume Edition is $600. It comes in a lacquered box. No mention of Lalique crystal.

As you can see, the bottle looks the same; it is the box and the juice which make the difference in this presentation.

image27.jpg

Don't panic! I don't know where the $1600 figure came from, but Houbigant's own publicity calls it $600 for the Perfume Edition.

[DULLAH]

image27.jpg

Don't panic! I don't know where the $1600 figure came from, but Houbigant's own publicity calls it $600 for the Perfume Edition.

It was from some Russian broad at Nieman Marcus, she seemed to be reading str8 from the issued list, which designated the Lalique presentation. Perhaps there is a 3rd option, for the eccentrics?

[JaimeB]

It was from some Russian broad at Nieman Marcus, she seemed to be reading str8 from the issued list, which designated the Lalique presentation. Perhaps there is a 3rd option, for the eccentrics?

Perhaps it was just that she misread the number... especially if English was not her first language. I would think that Houbigant's presentation packet would have mentioned a super-deluxe version.