Declaration

Those new to the world of perfumes, or perhaps only keen on the world of fashion or jewelry, would likely understandably assume a masculine marketed eau de toilette from a brand like Cartier, known far more for its exquisite jewelry, would give us something that smells like their brand aesthetic and style: modern and elegant, with a touch of gaudiness that always stays firmly on the side understatement, and cold and shimmering well-polished metals and jewels. Translated to roughly what the perfume equivalent would be: cold and icy, yet diffusive and inviting - plenty of bergamot or citrus, probably some aldehydes, bright spicy woods, elegant and high-quality materials juxtaposed of only just slightly conflicted natures in such a way to create prismatic colors like precious gems. Even today with the superbly talented Mathilde Laurent at the helm, Cartier emphasizes its style in its jewelry more than its perfumes, the latter of which the brand is surprisingly quiet on given the tremendous talents they've employed over the years. Declaration has been lauded as one of the best masculines of the last 30 years, widely considered to be one of Jean-Claude Ellena's best compositions. It is a good timeline-marker for his transition to a minimalist style and his launching from renowned perfumer into superstardom status. All of this considered, in other words, newbs would likely have a strong feeling what this will smell like before they spray it. And they'd likely be wrong. The initial sprays result in a massive and diffusive cloud of tissue paper thin and crinkly bergamot and bitter orange - bitter... very bitter. Only very slightly sour, the citrus accord comes across so dry and void of their typical juicy life-giving energy that they feel like bones-turned-to-dust blowing with a dry wind. Then comes the cardamom, loads of it. Pungent, aromatic, and equally dry and tissue-paper-like as the citrus, it is the star of this fragrance propping up the top citrus accord so very gently before the dry down happens then it simply takes over. As we proceed to the second dry down, highly green and aromatic but slightly swampy vetiver becomes the cardamom's dance partner and they slowly and delicately weave in and out of each other over the perfume's remaining time. Incredibly evocative and interesting, it is also bizarre. This is Kerala in a bottle. It smells like India with its exotic spices and vetiver fields. Who would wear this? Besides someone from India, I suppose. I can't imagine Cartier's typical clientele, especially in the late 1990s, wanting anything to do with this perfume. However, Declaration owes more than a little to Eau d'Hermes, which is remarkably similar in its use of Eastern spice, bergamot, leathers and animalics. This feels like JCE's homage to Roudnitska's classic, done in his own signature JCE style - perhaps resurrecting an old, novel idea during a time when that idea wasn't exactly in fashion. For that reason, its determination to be daring, bold, weird, highly alluring yet challenging, and for its absolutely masterful composition, I completely adore it.

The thing I like most about Cartier’s Declaration is its shape, which is more like a tracing of a space that is filled up with aromatic materials, which drift and swerve throughout wear. In sudden and spontaneous moments, everything comes into alignment: it is order amongst the most minimal form of chaos. That is, you can detect the gentle imposition of a form that respects the natural state and tendency of things. It is more of a coaxing than a command. Declaration is a minimally structured perfume, and to great effect. It sweeps with its torrent of spices; a wind that carries the smell of cardamom, black pepper, cumin, ginger, caraway, cinnamon, and coriander seed to become a vortex where cold chases hot and hot chases cold. Refreshed with bitter orange, the pith and zest of this citrus fruit is scratched by the woody raspy surface of this fragrance, releasing vaporous oils upon contact. The spices soften the wood, dredging it in an aromatic bouillon or briney infusion. Its development is impressively punctual, as it flits with quiet dramatic flourishes. Jean-Claude Ellena labours to ensure that these ingredients flow in the same direction, while enabling Declaration to expand. Much of Ellena’s stylistic and technical hallmarks are on display in Declaration, as is his love for ISO-E Super and Hedione. Declaration is a woody perfume above all else, made of cedar and vetiver, rendered transparent and approaching weightlessness. Ellena masterfully hollows out the core of this wood, mobilising its spicy materials as they rush in and filling up this now empty space. It is like a gas rapidly filling up a container, so they reach equilibrium. Even more, Ellena is able to hide surprises in a perfume so starkly illuminated; as if a room made completely of glass manages to host secrets. Declaration does not dry down per se - it rather repeats its structure in a reiterative way. I have always maintained that it is a Mobius strip for this reason. As one spirals through aromatic herbs and spices, woods, and citrus notes, all of this is coated in a floral-musk made of hedione, iris molecules, and tannic tea-like notes. It is known that Ellena is a Pascalian. Here the esprit de géométrie works upon the esprit de finesse - and it is only with later work that we find that Ellena has gained the confidence to work with less. Finesse, of course, the skill and reserve to let materials ‘be’.

Freshly crushed dried coriander seeds & freshly squeezed lemon.. extra sour, bright citrusy, and peppery ..the opening is like a nuclear blast fills the place in seconds! ...extremely classy.. very formal... I bought it the first time when i was very young maybe 17, and always thought that this fragrance would suit me more when I get a job after graduation!.. It's PERFECT for the office... it has the vibe of the early mornings on the weekdays .. getting dressed ..preparing coffee thermos .. spraying some of this beauty ..perfect start..fresh, active, classy 👌 it is the perfect example of the "OFFICE" / old-school fragrance type...It does belong to the same category as Terre dHermes EDT but with loads of sharp bitterness..sourness ..extra fragrant coriander seeds, less black pepper, and without the candied semi-sweet orange peel note in dry-down as in Terre D Hermes EDT.. they are different but both fill the same gap classy ..mature, elegant..chic. My mother used to tell me: you smell like a VIP... Declaration was my Mom'S favorite more than the other fragrances I owned ...wearing it was enough to put a BIG smile on her face and receive the 1st compliment... I noticed that women love/admire this fragrance so much! Performance? Back then 15+ years ago the performance was very good I don't know about nowadays batches.. it used to project heavily during the first hour..& last all day on clothes.. a very clean dry down on the skin for 6 hours .. a very good performance IMO. Price? I repurchased it many times (with the masterpiece Must De Cartier Pour Homme🧡) ...I guess Declaration edt is cheaper now around 80$... unfortunately Must De Cartier pour Homme is discontinued! Sad it's a CRIME!!! Definitely blind buy safe fragrance 100% classy elegant unique fragrance and unique amazing bottle design /atomizer! I LOVE IT.. 9/10 Update: I recently tested the Parfum version.. it's richer and sweeter... same scent but enhanced . I recommend the edt in the morning because it's fresher & lighter it suits the office more... the Parfum denser & smells more like an occasion fragrance suits evening time and cold weather... both are great👍

One of my favorite releases from the 1990s, Declaration sees master perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena heavily inspired by his mentor Edmond Roudnitska, with Declaration inheriting qualities from the latter's seminal Eau d'Hermes. However, the modern palette, including ozonic materials, allows for Ellena to add sophisticated dimension and exciting dynamics. The citruses, particularly an exhilarating bitter orange and quenching mandarin, are elevated by an effusive, camphorous cardamom, woody, cool and bright—the most forward note to my nose. Then we find its ensconced in umbellifers: the warm, carnal feel of cumin and caraway. It is here that we see where Ellena draws inspiration from Eau d'Hermes. However, there is an aromatic artery running through Declaration, reminiscent of birch leaves in a sauna, the somewhat minty pinch of armoise, with the addition of a tea-like hedione. The heart has a notable ginger as these aromatics settle. There's an even-keeled dose of Iso E Super, just enough so as to exalt the woody fond of vetiver and cedar. This is where we can see it as the progenitor for Ellena's Terre d'Hermes, where he would ramp up the IES for that so-called "flinty" effect. What's also noteworthy is the use of irones (orris) to bring it all into a softer focus, keeping the spikes and spurs in check, and accounting for a certain formal panache. Declaration is technical mastery brought to a mainstream release, pushing the envelope just enough, exciting and somewhat polarizing. But how does it feel? For me, it feels blissful, elegant, and sensual, all in measured amounts.

This perfume, which made the name of the Cartier brand in the world of perfumes, is the timeless perfume, and the icon of the world of perfumes. Rather, it is the truly legendary perfume.A must-have for every perfume lover. It is not possible to create an aromatic creativity and a dazzling masterpiece in this unbelievably attractive form , Only by a super genius, Jean Claude Elena. I own a copy of the 2016 production, its performance is good, its longevity is high, with a sillage more than average, the design of the perfume bottle is very attractive, and it is the most design of a perfume bottle that I like. I smell orange with beautiful notes of cardamom, caraway, vetiver , perfectly balanced, between freshness and warmth, woods , spices, citruses ,flowers.Comfortable , high quality scent, it is the perfect perfume for me, because of it I became attracted to every perfume I hear it contains cardamom, which is perfectly employed here. A perfume for all seasons, for morning and evening, but I prefer it in times of moderate temperatures, and I think that it fits with formal or semi-formal clothes, and I do not think that young people in the prime of life will like it, so it needs to be tried before buying. It is one of the most perfumes that brought me positive comments and compliments. Several times I was asked about the name of the perfume that I wear, and womens find it very beautiful for men, so If you want to look like you smell elegant and attractive and give the impression that your taste is high, this The fragrance you are looking for . It's the signature perfume