O'Fraiche

I'm delighted to have a first full wearing of O'Fraiche, the latest release from Gallagher Fragrances. It’s quite the interesting blend of notes that don’t usually work together too well for me. I sprayed a little on last week when the decant arrived and while O’Fraiche definitely felt a little odd / different / unique, it was certainly in a good way, and I had really looked forward to giving it a full wearing. Certainly the name and timing of the release (spring) suggested that it’d be a fresh, perhaps even light, warm-weather-friendly release, but that would be an oversimplification in my estimation. Fittingly, though, it opens with a fresh burst of bergamot (and perhaps the orange blossom and orris), but as far as the main harmonic trio of notes, the mix of tobacco, grape, blackcurrant foster a fun counterpoint between the dry, ever-so-slightly cigar/cigarette-like tobacco leaf presence and the sweet, grapey fruity notes. I estimate that that some of the other supporting notes surround the aforementioned clique, and those supporting notes include vetiver, patchouli, sandalwood, musk, even birch tar, among others, and these help round things out a bit to make the fragrance feel complete. Its tobacco is primarily not a burnt tobacco, so O’Fraiche pulls me in several directions—fresh, fruity, tobacco, and woody/earthy—with only perhaps the fruity standing out slightly more than the others as I’m enjoyably reminded of the grape and blackcurrant. In fairness, blackcurrant especially stands out to my nose (in Creed Aventus and Atelier Cologne Musc Imperial, for example). Still, I return the word “balanced” to describe how it feels on me, and to that effect, it might be the most complete of any Gallagher Fragrances offering to date. I also like that it feels versatile and sophisticated: versatile in that it doesn’t feel too serious or season-appropriate, as I’d be comfortable wearing it warmer weather but feel it would be just as appropriate in the cold, and that it neither feels too playful nor too serious for dressed up occasions or simply relaxing, respectively. In this respect, it reminds me of the limited edition original creation from Dua Fragrances, Prestige Noir (one of my favorites of that house), a fruity tobacco in its own right, different in composition but comparable in terms of versatility. I suspected when first smelling it last week that it would be an instant favorite and can now confirm as much, that along with Rose All Dae and Vanilla Silk, it’s among my favorites of the line and I’ll have to restrain myself from nabbing a bottle today, particularly considering that it does not resemble any fragrance I’ve smelled. Its performance is definitely above average for the type of fragrance it is (as it is not a wintery, heavy, dark, or gourmand type of offering) and the pricing, at $175 for 100ml, falls under the $2/1ml mark that I regard as a reasonable marker for independent/niche perfumery. Overall, a very nice, versatile entry, and a bottle that's likely on my list. 8 out of 10

I love this fragrance. DG made the best summer tobacco fragrance ever created. I imagined 2 different images in my mind. The first image was running through a tobacco field with menthol close by. My imagination evoked this first image because this fragrance gave me a feeling of freedom. I pondered on it for a minute, and the next image that came to mind was walking into a humidor with menthol crystals close by. I'm well aware that this fragrance doesn't have menthol, but the combination of something in the fragrance gives it a mentholated vibe. I reviewed it without looking at other reviews, and then noticed someone mentioned a burning campfire. Yes, it's there, but obviously a burning campfire isn't a summer fragrance, and this was intended to be a summer tobacco fragrance. I think the notes and the way it smells are totally different from what I'm seeing on other reviews. If I were to compare it to the closest fragrance I know, I'd say Alt-Innsbruck, but then again. AI is tobacco flower, while this is dried tobacco leaves. It's a refreshing fragrance, and to me the other reviewers are cheating by looking at notes. Mr. Miami Cuddles on Youtube.

Mmmmmm , I love this ! The initial blast , I get black currant and the concord grapes, which is a combo that doesn't exist in anything else I own or have tried . AS this hits the mid-the grapes and red currants are still present , but i start to get a bit of smokiness which feels like "organic" cigarettes on me . I do not get anything resembling menthol , grassy , or boozy . In the drydown I am still loving the grapes , red currants , and smoke with maybe a bit of the bergamot . This doesn't lean masc. or feminine-perfectly unisex , bold and original. This could be my first full bottle from Gallagher Fragrance .

Its not exact, but in the same vein as Memo Irish Leather, La Yuqawam Ambergris Showers and Happyland Blue Fire. It does have a noticeable concord grape opening note that makes it more stand out from the others (the same way Blue Fire uses strawberry) but they all have a vibe of a fragrance being worn by a smoker. It's actually fun to wear. I have a FB and am loving it.

It's so freaking fresh. The opening is very robust, but the drydown is fresh, clean, invigorating, but herbal and interesting as well. There's nothing like it. It's not an every day perfume for me, but I do just love wearing it once in a while.