Vierges et Toreros

This spectacular collaboration between star perfumers Antoine Lie and Antoine Maisondieu is a culmination of all that confounds and seduces me about fragrance: salient limbic responses and vivid flashbacks to sensations not felt in years. An oily tuberose bubbles over, bursting through a peppery seal, puff and fuzz, a mentholated unguent drying on sebaceous skin, fills my nose with this inexplicable bliss. What on Earth is going on? This smells freaking head-scratchingly gorgeous. Ylang ylang like over ripened botanic detritus being picked off of leather boots, lived-in denim dungarees, gentle florals growing furry and feral, "I am a lineman from the county, and I drive the main road" starts playing in my head. Vierges et Toreros smells like AM Gold, has that feel of those pale, faded TV slides used as interstitials in the 70s, announcing a community calendar, an exhibit at a local art museum, or the debut of a new public affairs program. "Oh the canvas can do miracles, just you wait and see" is what this fecund costus root accord croons in the heart, "fantasy it gets the best of me" as its goat-fur reverie and post-coital bedsheet essence grows more addictive over time. Nutmeg and perspiration arouses the senses; gee, I wasn't expecting that. The tuberose transitions from mentholated petals to lily whispers, a rugged leather is brushed senseless into soft suede and the Animalis Hypo base sheds more herbaceous and woody in this dusty vetiver haze. For those whose tastes are firmly planted in the likes of Kouros, Bel Ami, animalic fougeres and chypres from 35 plus years ago, and have yet to explore what 21st century niche has to offer—this would be a perfect gateway drug. A brilliant, absolutely brilliant fragrance.

I tried this on blind of the notes, only remembering people mentioned 'blood' in reviews & I'd been curious. I got a semisweet sandalwood-like opening with something thick and rich and oddly sweet I recognized from ELDO's Charogne (tuberose's richness mixed with their brand of leather + ylang), something zippy contributing an effervescent edge (ELDO's good at this, it's bergamot & spices here) and some other fun spices (light application of pepper, nutmeg, & cardamom the most). The combined effect was a fun, sweetish but lush floral with an increasingly buttery-feeling, gently leathery undertone, so yummy & unique! Unlike anything else I've tried, excepting that little bit reminding me of Charogne at the opening. BUT... 2+ hours later it morphed into an entirely different beast! Now it smells undoubtedly masculine, like something one of Lutens' musk scents (MKK, Mauresque) would produce as an offspring. I'm tempted to use the word 'dated' but don't let that offput you; I'm very, VERY attracted to this. And if I'm being brutally honest, it makes me blush a little because I feel like this would be something I'd smell on an older man, an older but strikingly sexy man who looks every bit his age and still makes the ladies swoon, a la Sean Connery. I love it! Very rich, almost powdery amber edge with lots of the smoothest pepper I've experienced, and a TON of dark, decadent musk. Very animalic, spicy, and rich smelling. As the Connery joke goes, it stops evolving and stays in the manly phase once it gets there because "Once you reach max level you stop leveling" (look up the pic, gamers will laugh). I love the opening on myself; I'd be strongly tempted to devour a man wearing the drydown. Hm. Decant or FB wanted!

Sensitive cowboy vibes. If you enjoy animalic notes at all, take any gasps of horror, wailing, and gnashing of teeth concerning this fragrance with a grain of salt. This is a cool masculine-leaning take on tuberose, and there's an avant-garde aspect to it, but ultimately I don't find it the least bit challenging. Just pleasant for what it is. This does for tuberose what Terre d'Hermes does for orange. To me it's vetiver dominant with generous black pepper on the front end and light tuberose humming in the background throughout its lifespan (as advertised), and yes there is an animalic aspect, but since that's a product of the costus rather than civet, deer musk, castoreum, etc, it stays well away from being pissy or barnyard-y and veers more modern, toward the smell of something that resembles good quality natural wool. If you have a sensitive constitution when it comes to smells, this may read as edgier than you'd prefer, but I doubt most will be even remotely offended by this unless all they're used to smelling is Macy's perfume counter testers. This also isn't nuclear in strength by any means. Previous versions might have been stronger, but I actually kinda prefer that my bottle provides adequate but not overwhelming projection and sillage since the scent's uniqueness more or less speaks for itself and doesn't need to be blasted into the stratosphere to make its point. This is a great one from ELDO, and it's a shame it was discontinued since it strikes such a great balance between wearable and innovative.

What a fragrance! I'm always looking for fragrances out of the ordinary, and I think I scored here! There are two ways to read this fragrance: 1- we get into the marketing game: "Vierges et Torreros". That is: "Virgins and Bullfighters". The name is well found: indeed, one can smell notes reminding clearly of blood (the virgins... not so virgins anymore) and the corridas (bullfights), a smell of animalic flesh and cowshed. While I agree with the blood image, to me it reminds me more of a goat farm, goat excrements, possibly rotting goat cheese haha! I would have chosen a different name personnally, mire like "goats and butchers", or "shepherds and slaughterhouse"... 2- you forget the name: aside of the fresh opening (ylang-ylang/bergamot), it morphs quickly into a linear base, that is a beautiful spicy tuberose (tuberose+black pepper+nutmeg) that makes this one lean strongly towards the masculine side. The drydown is about birch tar/leather+musc+vetiver. Also noticeable is a hint of cardamom. Whichever vision you should have, I think that again the duo Lie-Maisondieu made a total hit. A show of 21st century perfumery. I love it, but I admit it may not be the easiest fragrance to pull-off. In the same "range" as Histoires de Parfums 1740, but surprisingly I'm not a fan of HdP 1740... Strongly recommended to frag heads, but not as a blind buy. (I blind bought it, but I personally like "extreme experiments"). Spring/Fall nights, 30+ fragheads. (lovers of sephora's freshies: stay clear from it!)

Interesting one this..I purchased a 10ml sample to try it out, and on opening the bottle my first thought was "cheap, very alcoholic womens' perfume"...however, I applied some to the skin and then it was a completely different story. Initially, a heavy nutty floral note (the tuberose?) which dried down to a spicy leather, and definitely made me think of bull fighters and dust under the spanish sun....perhaps a hint of blood in there too. Fast forward to last night when I made the bold decision to apply this liberally to my neck and back of head before attending a black tie event. My experience of this fragrance this time was somewhat different...I seemed to be getting more of a coconutty tobacco scent from it, but always with a bizarre slightly cheesy body odour smell underneath....not wholly unpleasant, and as fan of animalic scents I appreciated the uniqueness of this. The longevity is superb (24 hrs+ on my skin) and sillage also good (although perhaps my dining companions were not so appreciative). I do like this and will continue to wear it on special occasions (it is not one for the office really). This is a really fascinating blend of floral, leather and animalic and I wonder if my perceptions of it will change as I wear it more often...this scent takes you on a journey, an adventure, and perhaps that is it's main attraction...there really is nothing else out there that resembles this one.

Vierges et Toreros is one weird scent. The opening is quite rubbery and thick. A bit like hot plastic. But there's also an orgnanic feel to it. The mixture of leather, rubber and tuberose stays constant for quite some time, but I do get occasional whiffs of nutmeg. When smelled from a little further away the leather and nutmeg are most prominent and create a very typical masculin smell (I'm not familiar enough with masculin fragrances to really describe this scent further). There's also a hint of hot milk, mixing with the leather-tuberose combo. This creates a strange intimate feeling, almost like skin after sex. I don't think I like Vierges et Toreros, but I don't dislike it either. It is very intruiging to say the least. I do find the last stage rather pleasing to smell, but it's still not very wearable. But is that always the point of ELdO? EDIT: Ok, I DO like it. A LOT. It's totally weird, but so intoxicating! The "typical masculin scent" is not so strong after all. And the leather, oh god, what a glorious, waxy, creamy, warm and sexy leather! The tuberose and milk create the most beautiful blend and the tiniest hint of blood raises this whole combination to another level. Tuberose for men or strong, butch leather for women? I need a bottle. Stat.

I was a bit hesitant to buy this one, reading all the negative review on this one, but after a couple of months on sale, nobody bought this perfume, hence, all things considered, I was compelled to buy this blindly... And the winner is me... of course... But this is a love or hate perfume, I give you that. It's true that the image floating in my mind the first time I sprayed this is a hospital corridor, because the leather here smells much alike to antiseptic liquid, maybe it's the mixing of leather and tuberose, but don't take it negatively. It is beautiful. Maybe the reason many people associate this with blood and linen because the brand intended us to think that way. But I tried to smell it without thinking about the image of blood on the card that accompany the purchase.... I conclude that this should be classified aromatic, medicinal, floral... It's really beautiful, and it's in the same vein as Clinique Aromatic Elixir... And the more time lapses wearing this, it gets better and better. Strong silage and longevity. No regret from me blind buying this perfume.

After finally acquiring some samples from another member on here, two full bottles came into my life within two weeks after many years of searching! What can I say that others haven’t? It’s tuberose, cardamom and goat leather. It’s a very weird combo, and it works so beautifully. Creamy, animalic, comforting but also VERY strange. Did they sell this one at Sephora when ELDO was sold there? Thinking about the masses going in and smelling this makes me think that’s why they discontinued it 😆 There is a slight goat cheese facet that is so funky I just can’t imagine it ever being mass appealing. Perfect fade to soft patchouli incense. It is absolute perfection and def one for the niche freaks if you can find it. If you can’t (because it’s pretty much impossibe), Luci Ed Ombré is actually a gorgeous replacement. It isn’t as animalic but it’s the closest you can get and it’s beautiful too.

Butch and bitter start, leather and glue, which is equally indolic and mentholated. The interlink between the floral and the animalic is clear from the very beginning. Instead of forming a dark and heavy duet, their texture is somehow elevated by a rubbery neoprene freshness. Tuberose takes the stage more and more with time аs the bitterness of leather fades and turns into soft new suede. This narcotic flower can often make you dizzy: here, it keeps your senses sharp, the way petrol fumes do. You can see in Vierges et Toreros the potential of smelling straight expensive, a part of an exclusive soliflore collection. But luxury was sacrificed for the sake of a rebellious concept: unrefined urban industrial elements counterpoint the lushness, opera was tweaked into punk. It's a challenge in a bottle. Pushes you out of the frame immediately.

I believe the best way to approach any ELDO fragrance is to disregard the name and the silly scenarios constructed for them for marketing shock value. Then you may really appreciate a few of their products. I personally love a couple of them, like a few more and not care for the rest, and hate one (guess which?). My loves are Rien and Vierges et Toreros. This one is a heavy leather scent, but kinda live hide rather than dead luxury shoe shop leather. The leather cord paired with costus evoke animal images, whilst the tuberose adds a touch of sweet floralcy without showing her true colours. I do find it projects much less than it did a few years ago, and doesn't last as long, so it has probably been watered down due to costs or people whining about strong perfumes. Still, I own it and I love it on me :)

My wife got a sample of this stuff and I quickly laid claim to it. This is my favorite scent. Period. It's everything I look for in a scent. Woods and Leather, Earthy and Bold, and with a twist to keep me wanting to smell myself again and again. It's a huge collection of bold notes, juxtaposed to create a ghost note that reminds me of iron, blood, hormones, and a hint of sex. And this was what I was thinking before I read the writeup. I don't honestly buy into gender in fragrances. Yes, some are clearly geared toward women, some towards men. Some I wouldn't wear because the do smell too "girly". But this stuff can go both ways easily. I appreciate the ambiguity. And this stuff lasts all day. Many I have tried, I don't care to smell anymore after a few hours, but with this, it transforms all day long.

sexy sexy sexy, it’s less trad masculine feeling than I thought it would be straight up leather and sweet, juicy tuberose which prevail for the entire thing with supportive nuttiness, citrus peel, pepper, cardamom, it all comes out fresh and dewy with a pretty floral veil labdanum and vetiver in the dry down bring out a cashmereish quality, I loved this not actually animalic or bloody to me but it feels post-exercise, and I can interpret the lingering spice notes as that warm back of throat sensation before you notice that your nose has started bleeding... lasts beautifully, I love it EDIT: where can we find this in 2026? can't even get samples anymore, so sad

A daring concoction, which neither assaults the nose nor insults it like a safe, easygoing scent. Transformative, influential, a little bombastic - but also extremely pretty thanks to the tuberose, which is both key and lock in a heavy and exotically carven doorway. Vierges et Toreros has an undeniable, masculine / feminine intrigue. However, some suggestible minds, overly swayed by the conceptual description or the name of this perfume, are ruining it for themselves. If you fancy there is anything like "blood" accord here, or anything else remotely offensive, you are letting the promotional materials spoil your response to this gorgeous fragrance.

wow, very unique and conceptual but wearable and addictive; for me the strongest notes are nutmeg and leather dry yet sweet and powdery; cardamon, labdanum and patchouli are present too but not in an herbal way. This has a very smokey feel to it. I would guess there is styrax in it as well or maybe some birch. All rounded and powdery pretty. Reminds me a bit of something from January Scent Project or Hendley.The base is very resinous and reminds me almost of conifer/evergreen. And, in the final final it is a creamy soft incense/amber that reminds me of the base of some Histoires de Parfums. It's all about the labdanum here.

Disclaimer first: do not wear this to the office or for a family gathering, I beg of you. But as a lover of leathery, animalistic fragrances, this is a huge hit for me. It opens with a strong, goat-like leather (unlike Liquides Imaginaire's Peau de Bête which read horse to me) that leans on the floral the same way a strong goat cheese can get floral note. My fellow cheese lovers will understand. On my skin, it then fades to a soft incense that is reminiscent of sweat, not your own but someone else's, making this scent incredibly sexual. Very appropriate for BDSM events, and night time forest rtuals.

Addictive and sexy smell. Very animalic to me, to the point where I can’t picture myself wearing it anywhere else than a club. Completely NSFW. If I ever encountered someone wearing this I would be obsessed with this person. Without knowing this perfume I would probably wonder if this person has ever showered or if it is a very niche scent. It definitely doesn’t smell pleasant or clean. Reminds me of goat leather, dog fur, sweat. This is an amazing work of art that I would keep in my collection to smell it from times to times and wear only in an appropriate setting.

The moment of pure bliss is what I felt when I smelled this unusual fragrance. Green tuberose, powdery leather, earthy patchouli, dry vetiver and inviting spices is what I get on my skin. Intense tuberose isn't something I would go for, ordinarily, but it is a star amongst these intriguing notes, and the perfume wouldn't be as vibrant without it. It is a very appealing mix. The scent is fresh and dirty, innocent and feral at the same time; I find it magnificent. The projection and longevity are both wondrous. What a masterpiece!

I love smelling ELDO's cheeky lexicality in its liquid form in those transcending moments when intent and content click. Putain, Rien, Jasmine are all excellent examples. All my favourite Etat tropes are at play with Vierges et Toreros. Leather, ELDO's library staple, here is raw skin and wet fur. Cheeky, challenging, addictive. Cool crispiness, so exclusive in ELDO's creations, lets the whole composition (and the wearer) breathe. The main flower is almost unrecognizable. This is what niche is about. *****

On me it starts with leather and spice, think that's the Toreros part, violent and strong. And then tuberose appears, and bergamot edge the leather softly. Patchouli is the base of the leather. The animalic part makes me kinda dizzy but it's still fascinating. 2-3 Hours later it turns into a gender combination of tuberose and leather, delicate and not so aggressive anymore. I admire this one, but since it's Etat Libre d'Orange, it may not be acceptable for many people. lol

What this reminds me of is, going to the library, and turning pages fast of an old book and having a whiff of it, old paper, woody, leather surrounded by something balsamic, have no idea What that is, maybe ylang ylang... I hate ylang actually but it so blended that I don’t detect anything apart woodiness and leather. Such a masterpiece. I can imagine A stylish man sitting in a mid century styled house.