EIGHT & BOB

I always love a perfume with a story, and this is certainly true of Eight & Bob. Some cynics have suggested that it is merely a romantic fabrication, featuring a young Parisian perfume enthusiast who befriended JFK, who, with his famed charm and charisma, managed to coax a sample from the Frenchman who, until then, guarded his formula closely. JFK later requested eight more samples for friends, and one for his brother, Bob - thus came the name Eight & Bob. This original scent was only released commercially in 2012, and is seemingly the same formula as the pre-WWII version that so charmed JFK. I bought the discovery set, and naturally, 8&B is my first one to try. An elegant, slightly unusual, aromatic masculine cologne, it is classic yet distinctive, and smells expensive, made from high-quality ingredients. 8&B has a spicy-citrus opening, more aromatic and warm than fresh - well-rounded and natural-smelling. Cardamom is used to perfection here, adding green, peppery spice without being dinner-y or discordant. Ginger follows, warm and powdery rather than freshly-grated. It becomes nutty and woody, slightly gourmand in a non-sweet manner like Cloon Keen Castaña - warm, well-rounded and very autumnal. As it develops, the clean floral heart comes to the fore. I get a nice neroli note, adding a citrus-tinged floral quality to the heart. Clean, natural-smelling jasmine rounds it out, complemented by the soft woody notes. The nuttiness and soft spices persist - it is well-blended throughout. The drydown is dominated by a soft, musky amber accord with a dash of earthy patchouli complementing it nicely. The woody notes persist. Dry vanilla gives the amber a balsamic quality, keeping everything smooth and well-rounded as it fades to a musky, slightly sweet skin scent with soft spices remaining. Sillage is moderate and the longevity is surprisingly long-lasting. A top-notch transeasonal masculine (that is soft enough to be unisex depending on taste), 8&B is timeless and classic yet slightly unusual. One of my favourite masculines - I'm glad that it is as good as its romantic origin story. 4.5/5.

This fragrance reminds me gentlemen from another era, it’s elegant, sophisticated, a bit retro but not in a bad way. This fragrance reminds me of an era I never lived in, the roaring 20‘s and 30‘s of the last century, when life was much better. Every time I wear 8&Bob I imagine Albert Fouquet and a young JFK in the south of France enjoying life surrounded by beautiful, elegant and sophisticated women. When tattoos and piercings were only for very few people, unlike today, unfortunately. This is a fragrance for an over 30, well put together man. It’s ok to be worn in the daytime, in spring, in summer (but not in the super high heat) and in the first weeks of fall when the temperature is still pleasant. Ideal for office wear and for leisure for a gentleman who is sophisticated but without being pretentious. It’s a slightly informal fragrance, but yet elegant and masculine, without being a macho man type of fragrance. Very good longevity and also good (but not super loud) projection. Not a fragrance for those who like modern frags, metrosexual and super sweet. Albert Fouquet did a great composition back then and I’m not surprised the American jet set in the 30’s felt in love for his fragrance. 8&Bob it’s citrusy fresh, zesty due to the ginger, floral, slightly sweet and woodsy. It smells classy, elegant, clean, masculine but not over masculine. It can be worn while dressed up but also if you wear more casual clothing (but not worn out jeans and T-shirt please). If this fragrance was a movie, it would be Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen. I imagine this would be the fragrance worn by Owen Wilson, jumping from the 20’s and the 2000’s. This fragrance it’s a bit snobbish, yes, but I’m in love with it, and I hope Albert Fouquet from wherever he is now, looking down here to me, wearing and enjoying his creation, doesn’t get too upset because an average guy is wearing a creation which was made for people like JFK and Hollywood stars of the roaring 30’s.

I first encountered this beauty in a favourite concept store in central Madrid not that long after it was released. I loved it immediately even though it somehow remains in my canon of "trustworthies" rather than on the far shorter list of lovers who could drive you to madness with desire. At the time - as now- I took the story with a pinch of salt. And please don't be offended if you can send me links to credible historic documentation. Somehow I think I will be even more impressed if it was all an invention of pure fiction as I still suspect it might be. That side bar addressed, the juice itself is impressive and seductive. Okay, so maybe I am an easy target: it has numerous woody notes to which I am clearly susceptible; it has a creamy, complex base; and it has a lovely combination of spice-citrus notes floating above to put that sparkle in your smile. It's its classicism that impresses me rather than the much more arriviste tales of a young JFK lounging around on the French Riviera in the 1930s. Yes, I was that little boy who loved nothing better than to be taken to an old-school barbershop with wood-panelled by my grandfather. And this veritably unravels those vaguely remembered scents. In my mind I experience it as very male because it connects to so many of those personal memories of traditional male grooming. But in pure fragrance terms such delineation is silly in today's world. It is a great fragrance for all who love it.

I went on a 9 hour road trip with my fiance recently. It was the peak of winter in NYC and I sprayed in the morning right before the trip. We'd arrived to our destination 9 hours later, got ourselves situated, socialized, etc. Right before bed that evening, she hugs me and says "you smell good". I didn't reapply nor did I spray anything else. Eight & Bob travelled with me in the winter and managed to stick around for +/- 12 hours. I think that's pretty amazing for what's categorized as a "Spring scent". This may very well be an all-year/signature scent afterall! As for the comparisons to Fahrenheit 32: There are PLENTY of fragrances that smell alike (Ambre Narguile/Dolcelisir; Aventus/Fresco; Green Irish Tweed/Cool Water/Floris JF; 1 Million/EVERYTHING; etc.), however every fragrance is its own creation with its own aura. I cannot confirm nor deny the claim of this being similar to F32, but I CAN form an individual opinion to my fragrances rather than simply tossing it under the very dismissive "smells like" category. Whether the story is true or not is really irrelevant, to be honest. If you like the fragrance, then ENJOY THE FRAGRANCE!

The whole JFK backstory doesn’t interest me at all. In fact, I would probably use that as an excuse for not even trying Eight and Bob. But try it I did, and was instantly rewarded. There is just this swoon-worthy combination of vanilla, woods, and citruses, underpinned by a prominent dose of ambergris, that instantly uplifts my spirits, no matter where I am or what I’m doing. I’ve found this to be a versatile fragrance that works well in all seasons, perhaps with the exception of a blistering summer heat. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so that shouldn’t be too much of an issue. 8 & B is also a unique fragrance, at least to my nose. The closest comparison I have found was Cartier Roadster, but haven’t done a side by side to confirm that hunch. However, at ~$175 USD for 100 ml, this is definitely not a blind buy. But I do believe this is a fragrance every gentleman 35+ would do well to sample at least once, and see if it strikes you as much as it did me.