Esprit du Tigre

Esprit du Tigre doesn't actually smell like Tiger Balm, I have the stuff in my cabinet, but it has the same sinus-clearing effect. Mint is the dominant note followed by some soft and very natural clove, a twist of lemon, and something smoky. There is an Iso-E-Super type of synthetic cedar-wood base that I don't typically enjoy, but in this perfume it creates a watery effect that I like. Translucent as this fragrance is, it lasts many hours and projects in periodic wafts. It's is a good spicy cologne for the warmer months as it never becomes cloying, but I also enjoy the watery smokiness in winter. To me it has an interesting balance of warm and cool...like Tiger Balm. Edit: I see that 5 years later, almost to the day (May16, 2020!), I can now safely say that I only wear this in the summer. As soon as the weather heats up, every May, I crave this one without fail out of the hundreds of bottles in my possession. I find the heat actually helps it project, and it’s translucent quality prevents any chance of it becoming cloying. It’s like iced chai (the real Indian stuff, not Tazo)—spicy and refreshing. Still a keeper in my book!

This unique fragrance opens with a peppery, subtle blend of spices, mint, and incense with dark smoky wood. There is a trace of sweetness in the wood, either from the incense or from the resinous quality of the wood itself. There is also a bitterness to the wood, which may be from the camphor. I envision this as an extremely well constructed and unique, masculine interior space,(which is not to say that it is a "masculine" fragrance..it's very unisex to me). Perhaps it is the interior of a hunting lodge, or a cabin deep in the forest, intended for solitude, reflection, and meditation. In the dry down, there is the resinous wood, tempered by the cardamom and incense with a slight trace of the remaining camphor. The wearer of this fragrance displays an invisible sign which reads, "Do not disturb, or else."

Mmm...I love it. I can see the Tiger Balm alright but this is sweeter and a tad softer (thank goodness! lol) This is one bright herbal dream. I agree about the heavy dose of cloves, camphor and mint. I suspect part of the reason I enjoy this so much is because it unlocks all my many Far East memories. The magic of this fragrance for me though are the Indian cardamom and cinnamon notes. That's what makes this a love as these two add enough sweetness to prevent it becoming too masculine. There is some more green added via the vetiver. I think EdT most resembles Tiger Balm after an hour or two but closes smelling very green and delicious. This is a good fragrance to wear when you suspect you might be going down with a cold. I find it very comforting. Good silage and moderate longevity.

This perfume is absolutely stunning, despite my oldest review.... It awakens me both mentally and physically! It has a camphorus, spicy, warm presence that hugs my senses! I feel something smoky in the background, perhaps slightly peppery too... The peppermint here is sugary, edible, as if it's sweetened by anise and mastic! So lovely! In the 25 degrees, no matter whether day or night, this is an incredible perfume. Once you have worn perfumes of this quality, it is so difficult to compromise with mainstream fragrances. Perhaps brands should consider upgrading both their ingredients and their perspectives, because the gap between niche and mainstream slowly gets chaotic...

Esprit du Tigre is a fantastic fragrance. So unique. So well executed. So happy to own it. The opening is incredibly addictive - with that camphor/wintergreen/ Vicks Vapo-Rub blast. On my skin, it also teeters the line into smelling a bit like gasoline. Projection is great. Longevity is 6-8 hours. This perfume is the ONLY thing I want to wear on really hot, dry days here in Los Angeles. The cardamom here is a creamy, savory, nutty, soapy thing - it makes this fragrance totally wearable for women in my opinion.