The Best of État Libre d'Orange

[DieNase]

I don't know all of them. I love Fat Electrician.

[Trauerkraut]

Well...this was the 'Rien' day: a killer indeed! Unfortunately not my kind of killer: I took Alfarom's advice and went VERY light on the trigger; nevertheless the leather kept on dominating the atmosphere all day long. I showered it off as soon as I was home and sprayed myself with Éloge du Traître...which will not be my choice either: too Yatagan! Two more possibillities less! Tomorrow I will make my final choice: exciting!

[alfarom]

At this point I guess your not an ELDO type of guy

[Trauerkraut]

At this point I guess your not an ELDO type of guy

I guess you're right!
I've smelled them all and wore a couple, but I did not find the positive shocking surprise I was looking for.
There are some nice ones, some smell too female for my likes, one smelled like a fragrance I already have(Éloge du Traître = Yatagan), and the rest did not escape from mediocrity. So I decided to spend my voucher on one of the nicer ones: Je Suis Un Homme.
Thank you all for your nice and helpful contributions!

[LloydLlewellyn]

I'm late to this thread, but would like to contribute my two cents:
I also got the sample pack and decided on redeeming the voucher on Noël Au Balcon, a delicious Christmassy spice concoction à la Burberry London or Ambre Narguilé, with an added bonus of candle wax.
Others I love: the ultra strange and alluring Charogne (floral cinnamon bubblegum with a hint of melting plastic), Fat Electrician (caramel-burnt vetiver) and Like This (orange-coloured sweetness).
Haven't tried Fils de Dieu, which is indeed the one formerly known as Philippine Houseboy. Something tells me I may like this one, being crazy about Southeast Asian food as I am.

[alfarom]

So I decided too spend my voucher on one of the nicer ones: Je Suis Un Homme.
Thank you all for your nice and helpful contributions!

Good choice! Enjoy it!!!

[Kagey]

I guess you're right!
I've smelled them all and wore a couple, but I did not find the positive shocking surprise I was looking for.
There are some nice ones, some smell too female for my likes, one smelled like a fragrance I already have(Éloge du Traître = Yatagan), and the rest did not escape from mediocrity. So I decided to spend my voucher on one of the nicer ones: Je Suis Un Homme.
Thank you all for your nice and helpful contributions!

Yep, I knew that's the one you'd choose.

[Trauerkraut]

Yep, I knew that's the one you'd choose.

You were right! I hoped to find a potential 5 star surprise, but it did not seem to be there, so I took the one that suited me best.

[Alityke]

ELdO fragrances are unusual. I'm ambivalent about the promo material. Not sure it helps.

I think Alfarom is right, you either like the ELdO style or you don't. I guess that's true of all houses in a way but ELdO tend to be one of the more polarizing

[Kagey]

ELdO fragrances are unusual. I'm ambivalent about the promo material. Not sure it helps.

Well, stay tuned - apparently they're changing the promo material. The images are no longer on their website.

[Trauerkraut]

ELdO fragrances are unusual. I'm ambivalent about the promo material. Not sure it helps.
I think Alfarom is right, you either like the ELdO style or you don't. I guess that's true of all houses in a way but ELdO tend to be one of the more polarizing

...I like the style! Unfortunately the product does not match it's design. When you start a new concept, you should do that all the way: Pop Art packaging, advertisement, marketing for Pop-Art product. ELdO sells 'normal' product. The only really different fragrance of ELdO is Sécrétions Magnifiques...the rest could be sold by any perfume house. Pity!

[Alityke]

Is SM that different really? Its a marine floral, lots of houses do marine florals, they just don't tell you they smell of bodily secretions

[cacio]

Ali:

have you ever smelled SM? If not, you can check the seveal threads on it. There are flowers somewhere in there, but you have to concentrate to smell them.

But I agree with you that all marine florals are dreadful, even when they are not as exaggerated as SM. Even Le Labo Neroli, subtler than most, becomes unbearable to my nose in the drydown.

cacio

[Kagey]

Is SM that different really? Its a marine floral, lots of houses do marine florals, they just don't tell you they smell of bodily secretions

Yes, it really is different - unlike any perfume I've smelled. And cacio's right about the flowers. To me, they smell like cartoon flowers.

[Ralph]

There is nothing like Rien. Rien just rules:

[voodoodanny]

I'm in the exact same position as OP and am currently working my way through the samples. Tom of Finland, Eloge du Traitre, Je Suis une Homme and Fat Electrician are in the running so far and I'm sampling Rien now. I too have failed to hit on a five star mind-blower yet but there's still time to revisit a few more before I cash in my voucher.

Oh and I too can vouch for the repugnance of Secretions Magnifique! Salt, metal and flowery semen. Not pleasant at all.

[Kaern]

The Afternoon of a Faun and Malaise of the 70's (originally to be called Sex Pistols) are 2 new ones you may like.
Rien is as hard as nails -- I admire it but don't wear.
V&T is nice -- Bendelerious is fabulous and fun, but feminine -- I enjoyed wearing Je Suis un Homme.Rossy de Palma is one of the best 'roses' I know
There are some very good fragrances in the line, but are easily dismissed, which in part is of their own making due to the gimmicky nature of the marketing.

[Strollyourlobster]

I really admire this line. I find several of their scents to be an actual pleasure to wear. Eloge du Traitre may be my favorite (and I do find it to have more interesting chypre-like topnotes than Yatagan and so actually easier to wear regularly) but I also really like Like This and Jasmine et Cigaratte. Eloge du Traitre layered with Rossy di Palma is maybe my favorite rose scent.

[voodoodanny]

Malaise of the 1970s is indeed also sold as Sex Pistols, and in the latter guise is available for £4.99 for 50ml EDP from The Fragrance Shop (UK chain). I own it, naturally.

[Jojo Lapin X]

Malaise of the 1970s is indeed also sold as Sex Pistols, and in the latter guise is available for £4.99 for 50ml EDP from The Fragrance Shop (UK chain).

Say what?

[voodoodanny]

Say what?

Yessir!

http://www.thefragranceshop.co.uk/pr...ray-14197.aspx

[Kaern]

Yessir!

http://www.thefragranceshop.co.uk/pr...ray-14197.aspx

I'm at a loss for words-- maybe it was pulled and revamped? You might have the equivalent of God Save the Queen on EMI. I'd hang on to it.

[voodoodanny]

I'm about a third of the way down my bottle. They still have it so I might just get another and leave it sealed. I sampled Malaise of the 1970's yesterday and as you might imagine, my eyes lit up when I sniffed a VERY familiar smell!

[OctaVariuM]

I have to ask, what do you mean by voucher? I thought the coffrets were just either samples or 10mL bottles?

[voodoodanny]

Certain retailers offer the full set of 1.5ml samples of all 25 (as was) ELdO fragrances for £25, which includes a voucher for £25 off a full size bottle purchase. I got one for Christmas! It's not a cofret or a presentation box or anything, just a bag of individually bagged samples with a little fold-out info card in each one.

[Rüssel]

Only have tried Sex Pistols (not good) and Rien (not bad but not for the price they're asking for a bottle).