Roadster

Cartier Roadster EDT: Mathilde Laurent 2008 "Aromatic Fougere" Mint, Vetiver, Vanilla, Patchouli, French Labdanum,Bergamot (Source: Fragrantica of course--they rule!) I am the same same jackass that wrote the quite negative review on Cartier Declaration. I purchased the gift kit--full sized bottle with travel. It seems I was having a negative 'B.O.' reaction to the Cumin. I make Indian Food and Mexican food all the time and love cumin. Sometimes a bottle of dry cumin spice can be strong and kind of "murkier" than the cumin that I so love. So what are we driving at with this overexplanation?! Well. . . . I now love Cartier Declaration. I also bought Pasha and also Roadster EDT. Oh yeah, I just did a blind buy of Cartier Eau 'd Vetiver. It contains Mint, Licorice, and Vetiver--That's it! I am particular on Vetiver but I know they will get it just right. I now have total confidence in Cartier. So much confidence that I also know they will get that pesky Mint just right. Darn--so much talk of toothpaste and dental rinse when it comes to Mint. Uh. . . . right. It's official: I am a wild fanboy of Cartier. It fits my personality and can offer a spectrum of blends: Declarative--like Cartier Declaration, subtle like Roadster. I have great passion for Cartier. Their philosophy fits my approach to fragrance. Not since Dunhill Pursuit has the whole service panel of joy buttons been pushed all it once. Roadster is so different to me, at least. Somehow I smell a non-sweet(Labdanum?), and ever so slightly animalic quality though not in the notes list. I guess the Vetiver has some "root" and maybe the Patch is not run-of-the mill. I just love that funky Patch. Also, I think the Labdanum is making some kind of accord with the others. Also, there is a green, grassy/weedy or even slightly like hemp in the blend. It dries down pretty fast as it is an EDT after all. I think the Mint must be supersonic. Uh wha? I flunked the IQ test on the cap. I kept trying to open the very tip. Just grab the dome and gently rotate it. Duh. One point here that is most important to me. Mathilde Laurent may be one of the greatest perfumers of all time. So different, grounded in tradition yet so advanced . Not even I can find the words. I encourage everyone to re-visit Cartier or try it for the first time. I just was not up to speed and able to grasp Cartier Declaration. Wow. Wow. Wow. Daring, elegant, expansive yet having a certain amount of restraint. Pasha is similar in that you may not get it or dismiss it as something familiar. Maybe it is just that. I did not get Pasha at first and it evolved over time, temperatures, and body PH. I spray it all the time because the open is absolutely tops. I am now a Cartier boy with Dunhill supervising it all.

Ok, so I just got this and am immediately very intrigued and loving this fragrance. First thing to note is how amazing the presentation is with the bottle and cap design. What's weird is that this has a magnetic cap that nobody's talked about yet in any of the reviews I've seen, maybe because it's very lightly magnetic, it's not a strong magnet like the magnets on, for example, Dior Eau Sauvage or Sauvage lines, but that's because the cap also locks into place and doesn't work the same way traditional magnetic caps do. Cap is designed to look like the crown on Cartier's Roadster watches and just looks really elegant. Overall 10/10 bottle design, it's also a really nice heavy bottle, Cartier always knocks their bottle designs out of the park and I've noticed that watch/jewelry designer houses (Cartier, Bvlgari and Van Cleef & Arpels namely) have some of the most gorgeous bottle designs. This scent is an immediate love. I haven't determined the longevity, sillage or anything like that but this is definitely a more masculine release that you can wear year round in my climate here in Minnesota. It has this photorealistic mint note that's absolutely my favorite of any mint note I've smelled in any fragrance. Absolutely masterful work with the way this one smells. If this has as good of longevity as I suspect it will have and continues to project like I'm feeling it most likely will, then this is going to the top of my all time favorite designer fragrances. I'm going to thoroughly enjoy wearing this one in the spring. I'll probably pop back in here sometime in the next year to give a real review of this and give a more defined take, but I'm very excited about this one to the point where I had to at least put these initial impressions out and hopefully others can get their hands on this at a halfway decent price. For a discontinued gem, this is still available for reasonably cheap and that's why I rated this as a "good" value, I actually think this is a fantastic value for having been discontinued and it's amazing that this probably used to go for around $30-35 just a few years ago or so. Get it though, especially if you like mint. Think expensive minty aftershave and shaving cream, that's what this smells like.

What can I say about this fragrance? Probably one of the best designer fragrances ever released and arguably the best mint rather niche or designer (and yes I am considering Geranium Pour Monsieur from Malle). The opening is a big mint..bombastic, spicy, cooling as if you just bathed in an expensive mint soap, the cooling effect gives way and the vetiver takes center stage, but is accompanied by a very smooth and natural vanilla. The fragrance is relatively sweet and spicy with the bold mint still floating around and this is where I think this fragrance outright destroys every other mint on the market. This lasts from maybe the first 30 minutes down into the 4 hour mark. The vanilla calms down and the mint though very presence now plays second fiddle to the sharp and bold vetiver (think Terre d'Hermes). This vetiver carries the fragrance to its end. There is still a gorgeous mint, a slight glaze of vanilla but this becomes about the vetiver about 5 hours in (consistently testing). I would add there is a bit of added sweetness by the labdandum but it is just enough to not let the vetiver become a nuisance to the wearer. I am not one for bottle presentation as you can't see this one buried amongst its friends; however, the bottle is beautiful and very durable and maybe the most unique in my collection. This is extremely versatile, a signature for anyone who enjoys mint and vetiver and an outright classic! First ballot hall of famer this one is. Scent: 5/5 Durability: 5/5 (lasts forever and projects very well) Versatility: 5/5 Value: even at retail 5/5 but can be had for much less Overall: 5/5 top ten designer in my opinion could be top 3!

This smells like the house of the rich couple who lived across the street from me as a child in a subdued pink Victorian house in the middle of downtown. They had two English bulldogs. This is absolutely niche scent, would be easily in that category in a stronger concentration with lower availability and higher price. The open is cool and spicy and green and literal and natural. And dry like the most dry chardonnay imaginable. I love cartier style too. The bottle does matter. This bottle looks great next to my other Cartier bottles which all are the highest quality presentation. It is crushed mint plant leaves, stems, stalks, the whole thing. The vetiver and spicy patchouli notes are strong. The patchouli blends smoothly and seamlessly with the mint. As if one mintchouli plant got stepped on and mashed into earthy vetiver. And for me the vanilla is persistent. I do agree with some other reviewers about the use of labdanum in this - I could do without it. It adds an authoritative heaviness and seriousness that I personally would prefer to be a fresher, or more floral, or peppery note. My goodness Mathilde, what this would have been if that were a geranium note instead! I am not especially certain anyone would think it is sexy but it smells strong and powerful and rich and authoritative. And beautiful.

Yes, there's mint in it, no need to mention it anymore i guess, especially since there seem to be people out there that can only smell the mint and nothing else. I don't really get that, I think it's quite a sophisticated scent actually. Even though some people claim the opposite, to my nose the mint and patchouly are very well balanced, hints of wood and vetiver give it a refined touch, the vanilla adds a kind warmness to it, making it great to wear on dinners or business related events. To me the scent is classy and cozy, not too heavy, not too light either, well balanced and comfortable to wear, also not offensive because of the moderate projection. Works very well on summer evenings, and might work just as well in every season, in that aspect it's quite versatile, even though it's perfect on more formal occasions, i don't think you need to be all dressed up to wear it either, so it might be a great signature scent. In short: Classy, cozy, warm, kinda fresh, and pretty versatile. - Scent :8.5/10 - Sillage :7/10 (not too strong, but just perfect for this type of scent) So imo 10/10 - Longevity :8/10 Total: 8/10 I really love it.

I am surprised this perfume is not marketed as unisex because it is so lovely and I absolutely enjoy this perfume in the high heat we are experiencing in my country, Nigeria at the moment. I blind bought it on sale and thought to myself I could always give it to my husband if it is too masculine. Oh no, I am keeping this for myself. I get the freshness from the mint and bergamot and the perfume is stronger than I expected for an EDT. I like how calm the patchouli is here and doesn’t overpower and I definitely get the vanilla in the dry down on my skin after a few hours. I wake up and use two spray of this perfume and it puts a smile on my face. I have over a 100 perfumes and this afternoon I reached for this again and added 2 spritz’s of O de Lancôme and it was a perfect combo in the humidity. Will I repurchase? Oh yes, especially since it is a discontinued item and will be difficult to find. So glad I took the plunge. The bottle is heavy glass and classy too. Sillage is moderate and longevity is very good for an EDT. Women, give this a trial if you find it and love scents like O de Lancôme or the EDC range of Hermes.

This is my first review. I bought Declaration at a high price and this was a 'gift'. I think some people don't like the labdanum note in this one. I find it very complex myself. Reminds me of Givenchy pour Homme, but it gives me a headache. Roadster doesn't, I find it more balanced, and as it start drying down, it goes very elegant. Mint and Vanilla notes are in the right place not to be too present, but make a great work with all other notes. You have to try this one with calm, wait for its charm to emerge. (Hope my english is good enough) ___ Es mi primer comentario. Compré Declaración a un precio elevado y este fue un 'regalo'. Pienso que a algunas personas no les agrada la nota de labdanum (no sé la traducción). Yo mismo la encuentro muy compleja. Me recuerda a Givenchy pour Homme, pero esa me da dolor de cabeza. Roadster no, la encuentro mejor balanceada y mientras se evapora se vuelve muy elegante. La menta y vainilla están en el lugar adecuado para no estar demasiado presentes y hacer un gran trabajo con las otras notas. Roadster debe probarse con calma y esperar a que su encanto surja.

"Roadster" definitely strikes me as a fragrance that is smooth and classy from start to finish. It undergoes some changes throughout the evolution. Mint is definitely the star of the opening act, nothing harsh or synthetic about it. More like a fine mint julep than an average mouthwash. After an hour or so, the mint fades into the background, and the vetiver takes over. "Roadster" moves from fresh opening to a more earthy lean. This change is more of the fresh cut grass than smoky pungent ashtray kind. Like a freshly washed t-shirt that got a sweaty workout on someone who showered just before workout, and rubbed into grass. This new identity wasn't put-offish, but more like moving from the "absolutely adore smelling" category into the "don't mind occasionally projecting this vibe" type. Projection was solid, yet not overwhelming. I got at least 6 hours on my skin (swim workout and shower time by then). In a world where so many frags are gone within 2 hours on my skin, this is very good performance. Based on this test spray, I'm tempted to add "Roadster by Cartier" to my rotation.

This is one of the best natural mint fragrances I've encountered. Mint is blended beautifully with a soft, mild vanilla and supporting vetiver. Roadster is a cool, casual, sophisticated fragrance. It has low sillage and I cannot imagine this could ever get overbearing, so spray with a heavy hand if you want it to be noticed. For me, it behaves less like an obvious "cologne" and more like a personal aura of fragrance that radiates very close to the skin, exuding such a fine, comforting, quality scent. Aesthetically, the bottle is one of the nicest in my collection, a beautiful piece of art. I love this fragrance- it can be worn any time: mint makes it relevant in summer/spring, but it is not a classic "freshie" as it contains labdanum/patchouli, which makes it more versatile for cooler temps. Again, it projects quite modestly, so cold weather would probably overwhelm it. A debonaire gentleman's casual perfume for sure. Great job, Cartier!

perfume de primeira !!! roadster abre forte demasiadamente,4 sprays no maximo para não ficar com nauseas,rsrsrsrsrs... seca para baixo na pele em 30 minutos e espalha a menta pelo ar,madeira com baunilha é cheiro que completa a fragancia,porém a menta segue exalando, trazendo um toque de sofisticação e agradavel a quem sente,aveludado e combina bastante com blusa branca,permitindo um rastro de elegancia para quem sente e para quem usa uma especie de soberba,rsrsrs projeçao na primeira hora é otima,a partir que a baunilha e a menta se entrelaçam e formam a base do perfume a projeção é de meio metro(um braço de distancia)isso a partir da primeira hora...desde entao a projeção continua quando é feito movimentos deixando quem sente intrigado com o poder de uma fragancia exclusiva,autentica e única,fixação de 7/9 horas,super casual sem perder o requinte,clima quente nem tanto,mas nunca tão úmido. CARTIER BEST-SELLER !!!

A Best Kept Secret... I have a handful of Cartier fragrances which Roadster is near, if not at, the top. If you like vetiver fragrances with a "hint of mint", add Roadster to your collection. Roadster smells great, has decent performance, modestly priced, readily available, super flexibility, and not to mention, comes in a cool bottle that makes for interesting conversation. The list goes on and on... Cool and refreshing on those hot South Carolina summer days - but with flexibility to be worn across seasons and to any event. Office safe and a crowd pleaser. Final tally for Cartier's Roadster is 4.4 stars out of 5 stars. I haven't worn this in months, but today I realized this fragrance is a "best kept secret" rockstar..!! Highly recommend adding to any collection and throwing out a solid Love for the Fragrantica community. Enjoy your day and happy fragrance hunting...

Feeling more like Spring instead of Winter, I had a chance to wear this in a mid-February day in Texas, where is reached almost 80 degrees. I remembered why I'm not the biggest fan of this fragrance - it's a strong herbal mint blast that has a bit of a woody dry down. Nice bottle, good atomizer, and projects for a few hours and sits on the skin for at least 6 hours total. As some recent posters pointed out, don't do what I did and blind buy this! It's very different, some will love, others will find it too out-of-place. It can really only be worn during Spring, I can imagine this being too much in the heat, while not totally fitting colder weather where gourmands and boozy fragrances are preferred. I have a full bottle so I will break this out occasionally and give it a few more chances, but it's a fragrance that I just have a hard time finding the occasion to wear.

New bottle and box! Ok, almost the same bottle they just changed the ugly plastic looking part to the same metal as the rest. I can't wait to empty my bottle :) Since I'm here I write a review about this favorite of mine. For me there is a special wheather for roadster which occurs in spring. You know when the sun is shineing, there is a cool breeze in the air. Its cold in the shadows but warm in the sun. When you wear a jacket when you go to work but lose it on the way home. The mint, the vanilla and patchouli and the vetiver finds its perfect balance in this kind of wheather. If it's too warm it turns into patchouli and thats not a good scent for me when its hot. If its too cold the vetiver breaks the perfect balance of the notes and ruins it for me. A must try for spring and dont be afraid of the initial mint blast it will go away and you get used to it by time.

Cartier Roadster presents a very simple composition but it is a very classy one, as in less is defenetly more kind of approach. It is odd but I don't get much of the mint some say is very strong. For me it is very dorment natural mint which is overpowered by labdanum and vetiver. Vanilla makes it a bit talc-y. But yet again, it is a fragrance that one wears to pretend he is not wearing anything at all, it smells of clean and gromned body, a male body. He is so clean that he is about to put something on, let's say some Declaration, but decides to go without it. Roadster are among those kind of scents that are the equivalent of the "natural" make up some women do just to look natural, but that was achieved by applying some cosmetics though... I will keep wearing it, I kept it for more than 6 months unopened, and say I am not wearing snything whatsoever.

I really want to review this one, because I think it is truly, beyond any shadow of a doubt, an amazing fragrance, a modern marvel that I wish to never live without, however I'm going to give it even more time. This is not a review I intend to take lightly. If you are reading this and wondering, "well, should I buy it?" the answer is yes, unless, for whatever reason, you despise mint. Mint, however, is only the visible tip of the colossal, complex, and abyssal, " iceberg" that forms this entire fragrance. There is so much more at play here than merely... mint! Yes, if you like mint, you will love this. If you appreciate niche-quality designer fragrances, totally unique scents, and/or modern masterpieces of perfumery, you will also love this. I happen to fall into both groups. My review, forthcoming...

Beautifully blended to evoke a luxurious yet somewhat laidback vibe. The mint is so carefully balanced against soft, sweet accords - it’s not a sharp mint but a very delicate one that gives the fragrance a distinctive edge. I’ve never smelt mint handled this way, it’s very impressive. Long lasting with a decent projection. Not at all loud, it’s quite an understated affair and all the better for it - it quietly exudes a calm sophistication whilst feeling open and friendly. Very versatile too, I think it would suit any occasion, formal or casual, and could be worn for most of the year, though perhaps not winter. To me it’s completely unisex, a very modern creation embracing aspects of both genders. All in all, an excellent contender for a signature fragrance. I love it!

Roadster de Cartier is an underrated and unique fragrance that offers something rare: a combination of fresh mint with a rich and full-bodied base. It breaks away from the generic market trends, betting on a bold, elegant and timeless olfactory construction. It is a perfume that appeals more to perfumers and collectors, but it can also surprise those looking for a refined and different signature. Final score: 9/10 A modern classic, with just the right amount of freshness and depth. Ideal for those who want to stand out in a discreet but sophisticated way. Longevity and Projection Longevity: Excellent 8 hours Projection: Moderate to strong in the first few hours, then becomes more intimate Sillage: Sophisticated, discreet, but striking

This can be a pretty strange fragrance at first as the opening is a bit cacophonic due to the mint / vanilla clash. But the dry down is very very nice. Personally I also started to like the opening as it’s so unique. The drydown is a mix of Sweet Mint, woodsy with a splash of vanilla and a good dose of patchouli gives this fragrance elegance and a perfect balance between modernity and vintage aromatic fragrances like YSL Pour Homme or Armani eau pour Homme. Very masculine , elegant but also somewhat experimental. It’s hard to describe it. The mint note is excellent and I wish more fragrances had a mint note as good as this. I love the bottle and cap as well and the longevity is way above average for me. Good sillage too.

Hate/Love fragrance. People around me seems to like more than the expected based on reviews. (I think it's more difficult to like Cartier Roadster tasting than smeling someone wearing) This is a green wood fougere, but it's balanced by the vanilla and labdanum (modern and mineral vibe). Kind of classic type, built in a modern way. So it evoques dynamism in a classic and rich way. Use: Better for strong personality / dynamic executive person. Give it a try, if you don't like, give another try months later. I started liking it(a lot) suddenly. Cartier Roadster make me feel like I'm driving on a long forest/snow road with the car window open (should be a roadster car, with no roof, but ok!) That cold clean wind in my face.

An accord that impresses upon the mind the feel of metal - chrome tailpipes and bumpers on a vintage sports car back when it had 4 original miles on the odometer. The freshness of mint and vanilla in the wind while traveling on a sturdy, masculine, very welcome cruise down Iso E Superhighway. The simplicity of the structure is the key to its success. It's not triangular or linear; it's circular. It winds its way into its basenotes. It's at once citrusy and woodsy and it has shape. Laudable use of Iso E Super. Captivating to the unsuspecting, but subliminal in its effect. A daily go-to for the person who values subtlety and innate class in a fragrance. An Aston Martin, a Morgan, an Auburn, take your pick.