Gendarme

This is an excellent "moist" soap scent, richly verdant compared to Mugler Cologne. It has less of the dry, sticky soap-residue aspect of Mugler, so I take it to be more idealized, whereas Mugler is more realistic. The EdC is largely just a weaker version of the EdP, which allows it to approximate the airy soap aura of having just gotten out of the shower, while the EdP is more like standing near a waterfall in an idyllic tropical garden. This extra lushness of the EdP, which I think is partly due to extra wintergreen (or something that reminds me of WG), makes it rather sweet, but the sweetness is very natural and unobtrusive. Sniffings of other Gendarme scents will further demonstrate this theme: they use such natural-smelling ingredients that the considerable sweetness of some of their scents becomes muted and pleasing instead of insistent and cloying. Based on my limited experience, I think the EdP has more batch-to-batch variation. Strangely, the EdP stays closer to the skin/clothes in spite of how concentrated it is, so I think that its supposed advantage gets nullified, and I find myself reaching for the EdC more often. Also, the EdC comes in smaller sizes than those of the EdP, which is exactly the opposite of how they should be packaged!

claytonmarionneaux is right, I don't think you can get any cleaner than Gendarme. For a right out of the shower scent or the smell of freshly washed linens hanging on a clothesline on a beautiful sunny summer day this is it. I did a side by side test, Gendarme EDP with Gurlain's Vetiver and Patrick by Fragrances of Ireland and Gendarme came out the cleanest. Patrick for about $30 gave Gendarme a serious run for top spot and initially was a little stronger and a little soapier, Vetiver because of the tobacco was the most mature. All had staying power and all are very good. "Slick Willy" Bill Clinton wore Gendarme dailey. Vetiver was President Kennedys signiture scent and both were considered ladys men. Based on what you like and your budget if you're looking for an everyday clean scent, (what woman don't like men to smell clean and non- offensive) these are some of the best in their price range.If you're looking for something greener (violet leaf) I love Lightscape by Ulrich Lang. Oh by the way, when you think the scent is gone, it's not. I've gotten compliments on all of them after I thought they were gone. Nov 17 2013

Eau De Parfume version - rocks! Every description here works for me so I’m not going to bother other than to add: - at first I thought it was a creamy subtle lavender with a touch of jasmin until I saw the note table - Exceptionally close to Almost Transparent Blue(more citrusy), Aqaysos (more Cedar and vanilla)and Fougeres Marines (it’s salty marine relative) - all brothers from another mother and its distant cousin Tauer L’air Du Desert Maroccain - as it’s type of class this/these perfumes are not meant to knock every one over but thier strength, linearity and longevity are a lesson for even Amouage, Parfum De Marley and Xerjoff. The sort of smell that if it was sound it would be Metalica playing the biggest rock concert in your city two miles away only today they are doing a jazz version instead vibrating your room with reverberations whilst you have you fresh shirts being ironed today on this hot summers but you, your cool cos you have an ice cold sweet lemonade quenching your Thirst. The people dancing in your garden move into your room cos for some reason there’s something even more attractive about you today...

I’m upset that I’ve missed out on this all these years. Man this stuff is addictive! It’s by far the most clean fragrance I’ve ever had the pleasure of wearing. The leather is so well done that it’s almost transparent, but it holds together that feeling of manliness within the fragrance. Also, if you’re not a big fan of jasmine, give this one a shot and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how attractive and non-intrusive it can be. It might seem to disappear on your skin after an hour but it’s definitely still present. You’ll become well aware of this when the compliments start pouring in from down the hall at work, it’s that diffusive.

Gendarme captures the essence of Southern California in the summertime. It evokes images of swimming pools, suntan lotion, the beach, shopping, and patio dining in the SoCal heat. The true magic of Gendarme reveals itself on warm or hot days and balmy nights. While you may catch hints of its charm in cooler temperatures, it truly shines in the heat. The Eau de Cologne performs well on my skin, lasting around 7 to 8 hours. Although it sits close to the skin, a warm summer breeze can lift the scent and carry it to those nearby. It is definitely worth checking out.

I bought this last night because I'd heard good things about it. It's a very soapy clean scent. What initially popped in my head when I first smelled it was Coppertone sunscreen, which is not a bad thing in my opinion. It has that clean and fresh beach vibe. It's a very nice 'neutral' scent that seems very balanced. I've sprayed some colognes on similar to this that I wanted to wash off immediately. Not this one though. It's very pleasant. I'm thinking this will be a go to for work and daily wear.

First few minutes: uhg, dense super old soapy sophisticated fragrance with lots of citrus... somehow reminds me of the bathroom of an expensive hotel (complete with an attendant at the sinks). 10 minutes in: what? Smells like coppertone suntan lotion! Just transported me to the pool/beach in the summer, and smells amazing! 12 minutes in: comes to fragrantica to confirm that other people agree about the suntan lotion facet, confirms, and writes up this review. 15 minutes in: continues to enjoy...

I love this stuff! Nothing smells like it. My mom bought this for me during Christmas in 2017. I sprayed it on me and wow I fell in love. Not many people know about this one which is nice because I don't want to smell like everybody else lol. People always stop me and asked what I'm wearing. It's so clean,crisp and sexy! I also love how it lasts all day. I don't smell it past an hour but 8 hours later I still get compliments. This is also my signature scent;) get a bottle yummy

Gendarme is a light soapy jasmine with a sheer touch of leather. When sprayed, it gives its user a clean out-of-the-shower smell. As for as projection and longevity is concerned, Gendarme stays close to skin and lasts (at best) about 4 hours. Be that as it may, Gendarme is practically inoffensive, which makes it suitable for both genders and all occasions.

Wow. By chance I learned about this brand. I'm blown away by the quality and beauty of this scent. I get lots of jasmine, that it doesn't project as a feminine note, perhaps because of the underlying leather. It's a clean, fresh, scent. A 'happy' fragrance. I like it a lot and I'm happy that it doesn't smell like the rest of men fragrances.

I love this fresh and clean smelling fragrance. Perfect for a spring or summer morning. If you want longevity more than40 minutes you must use the aftershave balm before applying. Then you will get a couple of hours. Perfect first cologne for the young man in your life too.

This is a great cologne. It smells nice, clean, and soapy. I've had the Eau De Parfum version before. I actually think the Eau De Cologne has more longevity. The best way to describe this cologne is Clean and Fresh!

As reviewed below "Angel's breath" is a great way of putting it. Why do I feel like this scent is a best kept secret for those who like clean scents? It's immaculate.. I don't care what anyone says.

Best clean and refreshing scent hands down! Nothing like it, it's been out since 1983. It can be worn on all occasions, work, casual, suit and tie. Very inoffensive and classy!

Love it, and will always put it in my top ten! Found it by accident. The effort to find this definitely worth it. Apprectiate the maker, too.

I love this fragrance however it doesn't last very long. It's best for an evening out or an evening in if you know what I mean.

Clean shower smell, short lived, but I like it. This cologne got me started in fussing around with colognes.

Reminds me a bit of child though florals are softer and nice smooth understated leather accords

Robert Downey, Jr Bill Clinton Hugh Grant Bradley Cooper George Bush, Sr ...and me :)

Pleasant and clean. One of my favorites for when I want to smell pleasant and clean.

There isn't much going on in this one. It's just a linear soapy creation. A bit overpriced for what it gives but which fragrance isn't these days. I get hints of jasmine and citrus but they're faint, very faint, and the leather and incense notes are almost non-existent but they're there somewhere, lingering around all the light florals. Still, they all work in harmony to create a very clean, masculine scent. If you enjoy Prada Infusion D'Homme, this is one to try. It's just a lighter version, not as sharp nor as potent and definitely not as elegant, which isn't a bad thing. Also, you know that clean barbershop vibe that you get from Canoe For Men by Dana (1996 release)? Well, this also has that type of clean feel to it. It's perfect. It won't offend and smells like clean, fresh linen. Even for a cologne concentrate, it actually holds up pretty well. It's very aromatic and lasts 4-6 hours, roughly. I believe every man should have a nice, clean fragrance, in their fragrance arsenal, to wear in casual settings, and this one, along with a couple others, is mine. It just gives you that fresh out of the shower feeling, which I love! There is also an edp version of this, which I feel defeats the purpose of this cologne, but I have no basis for comparison so until I try it, this one will do nicely.

So many movie stars and politicians (including several US presidents) have worn Gendarme since it was introduced in the late twentieth century, and I was always curious why. After finally getting my hands on a sample, I immediately understand its popularity now. It has a blend of soft jasmine, green notes, and citrus with practically no edges and no development, so it produces the impression of a beautifully manicured garden lawn at a museum or a mansion (I keep thinking of the gardens at the Huntington Library in Pasadena). It produces an atmosphere of cleanliness and freshness and relaxation, but it draws very little attention to itself. It's the perfect scent for the office because you'll smell great without calling any attention to yourself, which is exactly what politicians always want. The problem for me, though, is that it's so linear and quiet it's not very interesting. (Also: the longevity is disappointing: this was pretty much gone in three hours.) But it does exactly what it sets out to do, and I can see why it would be especially popular among people who feel the need to use fragrance but don't want to smell like they're using fragrance.

I'm in the entertainment industry and one of the most commonly used fragrances on set is Gendarme!! Go figure.. My guess is because it's super clean, non cloying and inoffensive. Perfect for up close scenes, or smelling good in front of the in your face invading personal space paparazzi..(if you're that fortunate) :-) ...Smells like clean lemon and linen.. I prefer Neroli portifino Tom Ford but this is comparable and in the same family of fragrance for sure.. If you're in search of a hot weather scent that keeps you feeling cool and fresh even when the hot bulbs are flashing, this is it!!! I highly recommend this as well as Neroli, but of course Gendarme has the price advantage..Stay fresh my friend!

For anyone looking for a light soap scent this is a nice choice. It's essentially a light musk cologne with light citrus and a nice dose of what seems to be natural jasmine grandiflorum. With the cost of natural jasmine being so high it's nice to spray something where it is truly noticeable. It's a good cologne for casual wear or work ... it's also one of those colognes that is quite different depending on how many sprays you apply. One gives you an 'out of the shower' clean freshness that lasts for a few hours while two or three sprays really brings out a nice Jasmine and airy musk note. Nice cologne for the light, fresh, clean and natural smelling crowd.

Clean, non-offensive and simply smells good. I use this often when at an office or in daytime settings. To me it opens a bit feminine but dries down to a good unisex scent. On my skin I have to use five sprays or it just disappears completely. Projection is fair and it stays fairly close on me. So I don't get many compliments unless someone has to get close. Then I hear..."You smell really clean" After all the entertainment industry hype and LL Cool Jay going on and on about it I expected more. Maybe I had my expectations a little high. In the end it is however good enough that I will likely always have a bottle on hand.

There was a store in our local shopping mall that sold this fragrance and I got my first bottle in 1991. Just bought it again so I could reminisce. It is quite a clean smell; very soapy and fresh. It leans a bit more feminine for my current tastes, but certainly, no one can be offended by this fragrance. To me, the perfect time to wear this is during warm weather and especially at an outdoor event: wedding, backyard barbecue, etc. A very nice, pleasant fragrance.

Finally fell for the hype machine and got my first bottle of Gendarme eau de cologne 2 days ago. My take on this? Its a super weak version of Mugler Cologne (by Thierry Mugler)! I'm sure I will not be buying another bottle. As this is a cologne it does not last beyond an hour. Its not offensive but just blah! Buy Mugler Cologne guys....thats the real McCoy.

I can see why politicians and celebrities wear this. They want to feel clean despite the stinking decadence that surrounds them and dwells within their hearts. It is analogous to Tom Ford’s habit of taking 15 baths a day and Lady Macbeth’s compulsion to wash her hands and shout “Out, damn spot!” I’ll avoid Gendarme for these reasons alone. Bad karma.

The "celebrity" scent. Well its something you'd want to wear if you don't want to seem like your wearing cologne. It's more like you just took a shower then grabbed your clothes out of the dryer that had like 10 dryer sheets. A clean scent overall.

It’s been some years since I tried this one but it smelled very distinct to me. It had that children’s bubble wand bubble juice smell. So it came across as very clean and sudsy. I liked it better than the female version which was simply softer.

Gendarme rocks. I take this over neroli portofino and creed original vetiver hands down. Save your money on np and OV, and get gendarme. Then use the money on another Tom ford or creed.

The notes are only suggestions, and not very helpful. How about this instead: White musk Fresh laundry Spearmint Jasmine

This displaces Prada L'homme as "THE quintessential office fragrance".

Soft, classy sunscreen, salty ocean, green florals. Dominant hand lotion. Airy and uplifting like a sunny day at the beach. Starts sharp lime zest and turns lemon verbena. Iris builds. Overall, dominant soapiness reads generic, if well-made, hand lotion. Too Mom/Grandma. Instead, try CB I Hate Perfume’s “101 At The Beach 1966” which is more potent, but just as nostalgic. 1ST TRY: On first application, bursting fresh flowers on the sea coast. Smells like the Mediterranean ocean blowing salty wafts into your shower. Clean, effervescent, and uplifting. Beachy sunscreen that’s appealingly balanced by dry floral notes. There’s an addictive balance that reads beach day. Exquisite contrast between gentle sweetness and mellow milkiness - both are rich and bright in a curious way. Impressively unisex. Personally, the soapy/sunscreen is too dominant, but it does blend well. Don’t regret trying, it’s a special one!

immediate thoughts of sunscreen and bug spray on the top note. after mellowing out imagine perhaps a hotel room, the smells are fresh and clean. it does smell green for sure, so if that's your thing, maybe give it a try. as for the jasmine note, honestly i don't smell it at all. when comparing to a jasmine green tea smell, it pales in comparison. 2/10

I’ve had somewhat nearly throw up after I have sprayed it on. This person told me I smelt like an old lady! When I mention that thought to others, they immediately agree or say “old man”. That being said, I have had others say it’s fine. My thoughts are, this is fine, but way overrated

Very pleasant, inoffensive and rich! This is very suitable for work environments and casual wear, even formal. I got decent longevity but unfortunately, the projection was very mild. With a stronger projection, this would have been a sure winner!

Opens a little sour and harsh, is barely there light jasmine in the middle, and totally gone within the hour.

I bought this years ago. I was very disappointed as it smelled like kids bubble bath.

It's clean. It's soapy. It's light. It smells kind of like laundry. But for me, there's also a bit of a headache-inducing quality to it and it reminds me of a Glade bathroom spray. For a clean, soapy scent I prefer Mugler Cologne which I believe has more body, more character, and ultimately smells better. I was expecting something great from Gendarme, considering its reputation, but I was disappointed in this one.

Kinda smells like an alcoholic suntan lotion to me... Not terrible, but it's okay.

After much deliberation, I have moved Gendarme to my "signature scents" list. I suppose my only hesitation in doing so was my own ignorance in thinking. I assumed it could be a signature seeing it only cost me 35 dollars when there are some bottles in my collection that are well over 100. Gendarme is proof that you do not need to spend half your paycheck in order to get an absolutely brilliantly made fragrance. It keeps finding its way back into my hands, even with over 140 fragrances I continually choose Gendarme for daily wear. I just cant seem to find a better alternative for a clean, fresh, masculine scent that exudes sophistication and class. Thierry Mugler's Cologne, Prada Infusion, even Tom Ford Neroli Portofino, to me cannot compare to this (though the Tom Ford is mainly due to performance not quality). Gendarme opens with a citrus and verbena cloud, which although sounds tried it is very much unlike any citrus you've experienced. The main selling point for Gendarme, in my opinion, is that its truly designed to be a scent that develops on your skin as you're wearing it. It's almost "lotion-like" in a sense that it seems to envelop the wearer. This isn't a fragrance that will scream to get attention. It's not a 1 Million or a Le Male that border on ostentatious. But its not subtle either. And perhaps its best quality is its universal nature. One would think a citrus verbena fragrance would primarily be a summer scent. But here it is, the end of October, and I'm wearing this while its 40 degrees outside. I find it works all year despite its "summer" notes. And this is the true definition of a signature scent. I'm halfway through my bottle, and will no doubt part with another 40 dollars when the time comes.

I've long wanted a clean, fresh and soapy scent, but have had quite some difficulty finding the right one. You have Prada Infusion d'Homme which is nice but a bit too anonymous. You have Creed's Original Vetiver which is quite good, but really not worth the price. Of course there is Mugler's excellent Cologne. Yet none of these ever really hit home with me. They all did a nice soapy take on a fresh scent, but they all came across as too dull. However, the original soapy scent - Gendarme - gets it just right. It opens with a blast of citrus and lemon verbena. Then it progresses to a green and floral heart where I mainly get jasmine and some fresh crisp vetiver. From there it goes to the drydown which is a faint whisper of incense and leather. Everything about this scent is about faint whisper. It's not like Amouage's Reflection Man where the jasmine note is in your face. Instead Gendarme is a composition where subtlety is key. Everything is in grand moderation here. You get little complexity, instead Gendarme acts as an aura that stays with you for most of the day. I must admit, I find it hard to really describe Gendarme. I get the listed notes, but the overall effect is quite different. The main smell of it, is something I'd associate with clean dry linen sheets. There is nothing here to offend anyone. Gendarme is the pinnacle of a well behaved scent. Really, for those looking to buy a scent that will please everyone, then get Gendarme. It's only downfall is that it may come across as too anonymous at first sniff. Give it a try though, it's a damn fine fragrance that is immaculately crafted. Longevity is very good - 7-8 hours. It's very subdued, but it stays present at all times. Rating: 8.5/10

This review is for the EDP version, available on the gendarme website. I've lived in the world of Bond #9 and Creed fragrances for quite some time now, over 15 years. I was intrigued by what I was reading about this fragrance, and I always enjoy the stronger versions of fragrances, so I bought a 1 1/2 oz travel spray of Gendarme EDP, and I must say, in a very GOOD way,I've never worn anything quite like this. Two phrases come to mind: Delightfully unique, and amazingly long lasting. First, the longevity is amazing. I've never from any cologne experienced this kind of staying power in a cologne. Wherever you apply it, you will still be smelling it the next day. Seriously. And not just a faint trace, but an actual scent that never stops develoing. Second, there's something about this cologne unlike any I have -- and in a good way. In the reviews, many use the terms "clean" and "fresh". True that. But, there's something in this fragrance going beyond a generic clean freshness. It sort of reminds me of suntan lotion, but in a sofisticated blend exhuding classy casualness so appealing you'll find yourself sniffing yourself through the day (make sure no one's looking). As far as others are concerned, there will be a little "something" drawing them in about your smell. The citrus, the lavender, the bergamot, and everything else holds together, develops, and gets better as time passes. This has rocketed to my top three go-to's. The EDP version is just that good!

Someone I love very much wore this cologne in the 90's. I had the opportunity to smell it again so this is a review of my feelings about it after I have studied it's composition. First of all I love it on any man that wears it. It's a decidedly masculine scent because of the strong leather and musk. I can handle leather and musk but the way this fragrance is built clearly belongs on a man. The citrus opening is this scent is rather strong. It's an acidic bitter citrus. It's a lot of lemon. There is also verbena which I usually like but here it's pungent. I would wear this cologne for myself if it wasn't for all that citrus. Fortunately the rest of the time Gendarme is a warm floral-incense. I can smell that jasmine flower and the incense. Aromatic, even a tad exotic and had it been for additional notes sandalwood patchouli myrhh etc it would pass for an Oriental. The dry down is pure leather. It's a leather based cologne similar to Aramis. If you like Aramis you'll like this. This is a beautiful sophisticated manly scent. It has a freshness, warmth and inviting tone. Yeah it smells better on a mature man but essentially anyone can wear it if you know how to wear it and where. It's more of an evening cologne, very formal. Gendarme means police officer in French. If they smell like this I'm all over that cop LOL

Big fan of “fresh” scents, and this is my go-to freshie. This scent is extremely easy to wear. The citrus notes in the opening aren't sharp, the florals aren't overly floral, and the green/herbal notes aren't overly vegetal. My nose interprets the leather as more of a suede. Like @Santos89 said below, it's not really what you'd expect to smell based on the listed notes, and it's difficult to describe this one. All I can say is that it smells really really good. There is something about this scent that just hits the spot for me. Yes, like the other reviewers said below, it's simple and linear, but there is something truly lovely about that simplicity. It's effortless and reliable, and it doesn't morph into something weird while you're wearing it. Been through a loooot of bottles, and it always smells the same. Some of the other reviewers say that this has lousy longevity but I get at least 6-8 hours with this one. The most helpful thing I can probably suggest to anyone looking to try or to purchase this is, stick with the juice sold in the glass bottles. A few years ago I bought the biggest size in the metal container, but it just didn't smell as nice or as bright. Ended up giving that one away, and have only bought the 4oz glass bottles since.

I discovered this googling colognes worn by us presidents. Bill Clinton and Bush 43 came up on my search. I figured, if it is good enough for presidents, it is good enough for me. When I put it on, it smells like a mix of a white dove soap bar, original white ivory soap bar, zest aqua pure, and irish spring soap all together with light jasmine. Hope this helps, since it is kind of hard to describe scents. This is my favorite spring and summer cologne, won't use anything else for the time being. I am 37 and new to wearing colognes.This Gendarme cologne is very unique, distinct, smells very clean, and it does not overwhelm people. It does not have the department store cologne smell at all. It is in a class of its own. I know there are other colognes that have tried to copy Gendarme, like Mugler, Mugler attempted to copy Gendarme, Gendarme was first. You can't go wrong with this. I have noticed ladies giving me the eye just a little bit longer than before I was wearing this stuff. Very subtle cologne, but gets the point across, " I smell clean." Also, this cologne has something that two hours later you can no longer smell it on you. However, everyone else around you smells it up to 6 or 7 hours later.

I've been happily wearing Gendarme since 1990 or so and it is an absolute staple in my fragrance wardrobe. It's casual, fresh and soapy. I won't use the descriptor 'clean' because 'clean' really should smell of nothing at all. Others have tried to copy it - the Clean brand (their "Ultimate" Clean), Pure Grace (Philosophy) - but Gendarme was the original and the one to get it just right. It's the scent of a lovely, creamy soap; a little citrus, a little floral from the jasmine, slightly herbal and then a long lasting but light musk. Your nose will tune it out after a few minutes, which might tempt you to over-apply, but that's not necessary. You may not sense it, but it's there. I've been complimented on my scent choices from time to time, but Gendarme is the only scent in my entire collection that's made someone follow me down the street to ask what it was.

It's very simple, but VERY appealing - dominated by the verbena and jasmine. Quite soapy, but one of those soaps in the bathroom of a $200-a-person restaurants where you keep smelling your hands because it's so above the norm. Quite a spectacular summer fragrance. I wish it came in EDT/EDP strength so I could wear it to work and have it last until the afternoon - but as it is it's a great "week-ender" for application as you head out for errands or for a few re-applications as the day goes on. As HighCountryEsq said, it really is summer in LA - specifically in the Hollywood Hills, because as you walk into the neighborhoods north of Franklin/Los Feliz towards the byzantine streets that wind along the hills like vines, you are surrounded by jasmine as it seems to be overtaking every other fence lining the sidewalks.

Very disarmingly different for a men's fragrance. I love it. Airy, ozonic jasmine supported by green notes, skin musk, and citrus. It definitely conveys suntan lotion and being at the beach, but somehow does it without any coconut or tiare/plumeria notes. It's very easy to wear and widely appealing, but I love that it still has a sexy, carnal edge to it -- like a man's chest tanning in the sun. The EDC formulation is predictably short-lived, but luckily there is an EDP version which I look forward to trying.