Bleu Intense

Another review written with nostalgia, but without losing objectivity: Bleu Intense, the late fougère. I've had mine since 2010, that is, a batch before L'Bel reformulated the perfume around 2014 and IFRA began its crusade against certain types of ingredients in this and other perfumes. Bleu Intense is an aromatic and mossy perfume, closely related to classic fougères and chypres, although I don't perceive it as a copy of anything specific. The perfume opens with a powdery cardamom, closely followed by clary sage, which lends the herbal aspect to the fragrance, reminiscent of classic barbershop scents. Before long, the clary sage gives way to a sharp, briny scent of sea and ginger, revealing the true protagonist of this perfume: moss. It's a classic moss, accompanied by a note somewhat forgotten these days: healing wood, which makes the moss even more earthy and earthy. Without the notes, I have a very clear image of this perfume. I imagine a man from the 70s driving a Malibu along the boardwalk of a coastal city. It has a scent of the sea on one hand, while the car's interior is a combination of aromatic leather and a musty musk, which can transport you to those herbal, full-bodied, and masculine scents of classic men's colognes—clean and virile. Although I maintain that the perfume doesn't resemble anything specific, we obviously can't ignore its cousins from which it clearly draws inspiration, from Creed's Green Irish Tweed to Davidoff's Cool Water—those old-school herbal perfumes where Bleu Intenses finds its clear inspiration. I'm not familiar with the new version of this classic, so I can't compare the strength of the original to the newer versions, but for me, it's a moderately long-lasting fragrance, lasting a stable 6 hours. It projects strongly for the first hour, then fades into a more subtle, personal scent for the remainder of its life. It's versatile, like most chypre fragrances, and given its aroma, it's clearly aimed at a male audience, preferably at least 35 years old. However, it's not a difficult fragrance to wear at all; it simply belongs to the old school and would likely be misunderstood by younger generations. For me, it's a 2/4, and I'll explain why. It's a decent fragrance, but I've noticed two significant flaws. The first is the structure. It's a chypre fougère, but the herbal aspect is so fleeting and fades so quickly that you barely have time to appreciate it. The moss is much more persistent. Secondly, Bleu Intense arrives at a time when there are better options in the classic fragrance market, making it stand out primarily for its good price (approximately $13). However, considering the price, it's still not a bad option. I can recommend it as a gift for a father or uncle who would appreciate it, or for personal use if you're drawn to these kinds of scents. Its vintage feel is a nice reminder of the origins of men's perfumery.