Fougere Royale (2010)

Even though this is a reimagining of the original 1882 Houbigant Fougere Royale, which defined an olfactory family, I do consider this reimagined Fougere Royale to be the modern-day defining classic Fougere. The word "fougere" is thrown around way too indiscriminately, and when someone inaccurately refers to a frag as a "fougere", which happens often, I reference this frag. A note about performance of Fougere Royale: I judge performance (longevity and projection), in terms of how I personally can smell it. I don't care much if someone 5 or 10 ft. away can detect it or not. For good performance, I expect to catch occasional whafts of scent drifting naturally to my nose for several hours, without me going looking for it. That's after three sprays on my shirt in the upper chest and two on each long shirt sleeve at the wrist. And two at each wrist on skin. Pretty heavy application, maybe a total of 11 sprays. I expect those occasional whafts maybe 6 or 8 hours later. With Fougere Royale I certainly got that performance. In fact, after wearing it all night, sleeping in it, and waking up maybe some 16 hours after application, it was so strong I was hesitant in washing it off. It was weaker and I kinda had to go looking for it a bit more, but still impressive. And the scent profile is so pleasing I just didn't want to wash it off. In other words, very good performance. Perfect. P.S. This is very similar to Amouage Bracken Man. Although I still consider Houbigant Fougere Royale 2010 as THE reference Fougere for fragrances still active/marketed today, Bracken Man is probably the most photorealistic Fougere in history. It smells exactly like the green of the frond, and the damp earthiness of the soily roots of a marsh/swamp plant - presumably a fern (if a Fern had a smell). I think Bracken Man best exemplifies Paul Parquet's quote about his original 1882 Fougere Royale: "If God had given the fern a smell, this would be that smell". So maybe the best reference Fougere is Bracken Man after all. But this 2010 Fougere Royale does NOT smell closer to YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme. Nor is 2010 Fougere Royale more of a modernized Chypre than a Fougere as someone else in this forum suggested. Don't make me laugh people. Update: Stay away from the Dua Fragrances clone of this. It's off, and its nauseating and headache inducing. Update: the 'Earthy' accord should be higher in the stack than the 'Floral' accord.

Fougère Royale (Rodrigo Flores-Roux), first presented in 1882 (Paul Parquet), is a milestone composition in the world of perfumery. It was the first perfume with the scent of fern (Fr. Fougère), from which the aromatic family (fougère), so popular especially among men, takes its name. Fougère Royale opens with a duet of lavender and geranium. It smells undeniably masculine and elegant. A bit retro, but this does not significantly affect the perception of the composition. The beginning, above all, gives the impression of being very clean. This is due to lavender, which is responsible for the soap and clean accents of the scent. The smell is really fresh, but this freshness is very specific. It is unlike anything else and extremely hard to describe. It has something green and pine-like in it. Additionally, it was achieved without an excess of citrus fruits, yet the effect it creates is really pleasant. The geranium itself, on the other hand, is only slightly sweet and floral. It gently scratches the throat, emphasizing the masculine nature of this perfume. As time passes, Fougère Royale, on the other hand, leads us deep into the dark green forest. In the heart, the two aforementioned notes are joined by cinnamon. The scent does not transform significantly, but it gains a new dimension. It becomes more aromatic. From everywhere, we are surrounded by the eponymous ferns spreading their cool, slightly straw-like scent. In the base, on the other hand, Fougère Royale becomes very mossy. However, the oak moss present in the composition is soft and intensely green. The presence of patchouli is also significant in this phase. It can be felt very clearly. It is dry and truly niche. The amber that accompanies it gives it some more sophistication. It smoothes down the scent and softens its sharp edges. It has something creamy-vanilla about it for which the tonka bean present in the composition may be responsible. This is how Fougère Royale ends, leaving us somewhere in a damp yet sunny and bright forest glade. 🔸🔶🔸🔶🔸🔶🔸🔶🔸🔶🔸🔶🔸🔶🔸🔶🔸 🔹Main note: Lavender 🔹Author: Rodrigo Flores-Roux (Paul Parquet - 1882) 🔹Launched: 2010 (1882)

Houbigants Fougere Royale was my fragrance find of the year 2016. I know it's been around since 2010 but I only managed to get my hands on this and Cologne Intense last year thanks to my friend Mohit at Project Perfumery India. What a beautiful composition this is, kudos to Rodrigo Flores-Roux.I have not smelled the original Fougere Royal but if this has managed to capture even half of that, It must have been fabulous. This version of Fougere Royale has been my most complimented fragrance of the year and as long as you are well dressed, this hits the spot every single time. Fougere Royale is one of those compositions that has a lot of notes blended together so well, it's hard to pick them apart too much individually. Top notes I get lavender mixed with a green citrus and some bitterness from the Chamomile. Mid notes are dominated by florals- mainly Geranium and carnation with underlying hints of spice from the cinnamon. The base is mostly oakmoss, what you would expect in a Fougere, although here the Tonka bean adds a wee bit of sweetness that actually works in conjunction with herbal notes from the clary sage. Projection is good but conservative arms length. Longevity likewise is good,in the 6-8 hour range. This is a year round fragrance and if you spend a lot of time in formal clothes, definitely signature scent worthy. I would be remiss here if I did not thank Lanier Smith as it was his recommendations of this fragrance, both here on Fragrantica and on Youtube that made me curious about it. This is everything he says it is and more. In conclusion, I would say that if you have any sort of interest in classic fragrances like Azzaro PH, Eau Sauvage or even stuff like Chanel Pour Monsieur, or you are just looking out for a good, masculine, year round frag, do yourself a favour and check out Houbigant Fougere Royale. The bottle is understated class as well. Just fabulous stuff all round. Highly recommended.

The rolling hills are saturated in a calming green, the sky an equally vast and ominous grey. The wind carries a meditative lavender and barbershop geranium causing your mind to wander with the currents. A warm, dusty cinnamon and carnation meet in the flurry of wind, a tinge of budding ferns hiding amongst the commotion. The sun peels intricate patterns through the pale sky, exuding a soft warmth that reaches out to you. You can smell the earth warming up around you - the contrast of the dense cold and the pervasive warmth fills your mind with wild wonders. You let yourself dream for a while - the world shifts and sighs as the hours pass you by. The night brings a subtle chill so you wrap your thick coat around you and marvel in its mossy sweetness. The ferns and foliage speak to you in warm tones and soft riddles as you meander toward your destination. Dawn is coming and you want to make sure you get the best view... Day 75 - In situ Listening to: Claude Debussy - Clair De Lune Notes: I have no reference to the original, but this is a modern classic in its own right. This fume dances between a modern fresh and green fougere and something of a barbershop classic. Like others have noted, it really does smell like an update and homage to a bygone era - it still captures the rominticism of aeons gone by. It opens with a crisp and bright bergamot, lavender, and mysterious greenery (maybe ferns) before meeting a very lively and powdery geranium. I have noticed in my fragrant explorations that cinnamon is commonly paired with carnation and it appears here to add force to the geranium and the powdery presence. The scent oscillates between the herbal and floral notes while gaining an ambery oakmoss and tonka accord. This sort of mood lasts through to the end - a little musky, warm and mossy, and a hint of chalky barbershop! I can't help but love its classy and romantic feel!

I'm so glad I finally made this mine. I tried it in about 2013 I think? (I'm sure I penned a review... obviously not) managing to score a few samples and I was very impressed, with a classic and brilliantly executed fougere. However, other fragrances took priority and it's taken me until now to make it mine. Seemingly simple at first but has loads of layers and depth to it. The opening is fresh bergamot but only for a split second before waves of green, lushness and aromatic lavender and camomile embrace the senses. This truly evokes the natural, fern smell of the fougere name perfectly. The settled fragrance fritz between this lightwieght, upbeat, perfumery and a darker more earthy and masculine heart. This juxtaposition of contradictory, Schrodinger's cat-esque, super states is what true art can do for you. It has two main constituents which I love and that's geranium and carnation and they come on strong in the drydown. There's also an element of something a bit hand cream like and waxy even, slightly unpleasant (clary sage I reckon) peeking through only at times making the intrigue build even more. As we go right into the drydown the patchouli in the base kicks more and more giving it more substance and dirt. For a fougere with such green credentials so strange that it has shades of oriental warmth about it too. It starts to get a bit like Opium pour Homme, or even Bois 1920 Sushi Imperiale all that hazy carnation and spice. Almost faultless perfumery, I'm charmed by Fougere Royale it's superb. Guys you need to get this stuff. It's not the strongest fragrance in the world but the quality is there and if you over spray it like I did, it performs very satisfactorily indeed.