Fougere Bengale

تجسم یکی از زیباییهای زندگی روستایی؛تعامل بسیار قدرتمند با طبیعته. ساکنان اکثر روستاهای مناطق غرب و شمال غرب و هم چنین زاگرس مرکزی؛انس و وابستگی زیبایی به طبیعت زیبای اون مناطق دارن و طبیعت غنی زاگرس هم؛این مردم رو مستقل؛خودساخته و بلند همت تربیت کرده. و فوژه بنگال برام خاطرات زندگی و حضور در اون مناطق رو زنده میکنه.این عطر زیبا واسه من ادامه ی همون حس و حال گذار از تابستان به حال و هوای پاییزی مناطق کوهستانی و سر سبز در عطر کورسیکا فیوریسا هست اما اینبار از یک زاویه ی دیگه! ظهر یک روز پاییزی؛مقابل خورشید تنبل و خسته ی اواخر مهر ماه از تپه ای کم ارتفاع؛به دهکده ی محصور در جنگلهای انبوه و مزارع وسیع خیره شدم.جایی که بام مسطح بیشتر خونه ها مفروش شده با نعنا؛ریحان؛شیوید و شمبلیله و کلی سبزیجات معطر دیگه که حالا دیگه خشک شدن و اون سبزی و تیزی خودشون رو از دست دادن و بر پشت بامهایی دیگه؛آخرین برداشتهای مراتع شبدر و یونجه گسترده شدن و خورشید ملایم پاییزی اونا رو خشک و آماده ی ذخیره در انبار کرده. حجم زیادی از برگهای ارزشمند و خوشبوی تنباکو که استادانه خشک شدن و رایحه ی گرفته؛خاکستری و گس اونها داره اعلام میکنه که دیگه وقتشه که ما رو با حترام توی قوطیهای زیبای توتون؛جا بدین. از میون جنگل؛برگهایی که بعد از یه بهار و تابستون پر از خاطره؛درختشون رو ترک کردن و بر زمین مرطوب و نمور جنگل؛هم نشین گیاهان و بوته های خشک شدن؛در کنار هم؛عصاره ی خاطرات سبز بهار و تابستونشون که حالا خاک گرفته شدن رو به نسیم می سپارن و نسیم خنک؛با افتخار به آغوشش میکشه و از تن مزارع شخم خورده ای که خاکشون هنوزم عطر جادویی ساقه های گندم رو با خودش داره؛عبور میده. انگار زمین و زمان سکوت کردن و همه فقط و فقط بو میکشن و از این جادوی پخش شده در هوای تنبل پاییز؛مسحور و مدهوش شدن! اگرچه در یکی دو دقیقه ی اول بویی بسیار تند و تلخ از فلفل؛نعنا و زنجبیل شما رو کمی شوکه میکنه اما خیلی زود رایحه ی زیبایی که بالا بهش اشاره کردم شما رو در خودش غرق میکنه. جناب کورتیشیاتو در خلق فضای محبوبم به حدی استادانه عمل کردن که هر جای دنیا این عطرو بو کنم؛رهسپار همون محیط و حس و حالش میشم. خیلی خیلی دوس دارم این عطرو.برای خیلیا یه عطر ادویه ای خواهد بود اما واسه من یه جادو و شعبدست که یه فضای رویایی رو برام مجسم میکنه. تا مدتها این فضا و رایحه همراه شماست و حضور فلفل گرمی و تندی قشنگی بهش میده که لذت بوییدن کار و حضور در اون فضا رو بیشتر میکنه. محو این رایحه ی رویایی بی اونکه متوجه عبورلحظه ها باشید جلو میرید تا اینکه بویی خزه ای نمناک؛کمی دودی و کمی شیرین به مشام میرسه. احتمالا خزه؛پچولی؛تنباکو و وانیل این فضا رو به فضای اصلی کار اضافه میکنن و تا انتها کار به همین سبک و سیاق خواهد بود و فقط در پایان رایحه ی اصلی کم رنگ میشه و کار کمی شیرین تر میشه. فوژه بنگال عطری متفاوت و با کیفیته که حس طبیعی ملموس؛آشنا و آرامی که با خودش داره هر طبیعت دوستی رو سر ذوق خواهد آورد و البته عطری کلاسیک مدرنه و کسانی که از روایح کلاسیک لذت می برن رو هم خوشحال میکنه.عطری گرم؛صمیمی با موندگاری بالا و پخش مناسب که بیشتر مناسب آقایون جدی و رسمیه... فوژه بنگال منو یاد جمله ای از نابوکوف میندازه که میگه: هیچ چیز گذشته را زنده نمیکند؛مگر رایحه ای که با آن در ارتباط باشد. کامنت:م.ع (سایت لوکس بایر (با امکان تست سمپل

تجسم یکی از زیباییهای زندگی روستایی؛تعامل بسیار قدرتمند با طبیعته. ساکنان اکثر روستاهای مناطق غرب و شمال غرب و هم چنین زاگرس مرکزی؛انس و وابستگی زیبایی به طبیعت زیبای اون مناطق دارن و طبیعت غنی زاگرس هم؛این مردم رو مستقل؛خودساخته و بلند همت تربیت کرده. و فوژه بنگال برام خاطرات زندگی و حضور در اون مناطق رو زنده میکنه.این عطر زیبا واسه من ادامه ی همون حس و حال گذار از تابستان به حال و هوای پاییزی مناطق کوهستانی و سر سبز در عطر کورسیکا فیوریسا هست اما اینبار از یک زاویه ی دیگه! ظهر یک روز پاییزی؛مقابل خورشید تنبل و خسته ی اواخر مهر ماه از تپه ای کم ارتفاع؛به دهکده ی محصور در جنگلهای انبوه و مزارع وسیع خیره شدم.جایی که بام مسطح بیشتر خونه ها مفروش شده با نعنا؛ریحان؛شیوید و شمبلیله و کلی سبزیجات معطر دیگه که حالا دیگه خشک شدن و اون سبزی و تیزی خودشون رو از دست دادن و بر پشت بامهایی دیگه؛آخرین برداشتهای مراتع شبدر و یونجه گسترده شدن و خورشید ملایم پاییزی اونا رو خشک و آماده ی ذخیره در انبار کرده. حجم زیادی از برگهای ارزشمند و خوشبوی تنباکو که استادانه خشک شدن و رایحه ی گرفته؛خاکستری و گس اونها داره اعلام میکنه که دیگه وقتشه که ما رو با حترام توی قوطیهای زیبای توتون؛جا بدین. از میون جنگل؛برگهایی که بعد از یه بهار و تابستون پر از خاطره؛درختشون رو ترک کردن و بر زمین مرطوب و نمور جنگل؛هم نشین گیاهان و بوته های خشک شدن؛در کنار هم؛عصاره ی خاطرات سبز بهار و تابستونشون که حالا خاک گرفته شدن رو به نسیم می سپارن و نسیم خنک؛با افتخار به آغوشش میکشه و از تن مزارع شخم خورده ای که خاکشون هنوزم عطر جادویی ساقه های گندم رو با خودش داره؛عبور میده. انگار زمین و زمان سکوت کردن و همه فقط و فقط بو میکشن و از این جادوی پخش شده در هوای تنبل پاییز؛مسحور و مدهوش شدن! اگرچه در یکی دو دقیقه ی اول بویی بسیار تند و تلخ از فلفل؛نعنا و زنجبیل شما رو کمی شوکه میکنه اما خیلی زود رایحه ی زیبایی که بالا بهش اشاره کردم شما رو در خودش غرق میکنه. جناب کورتیشیاتو در خلق فضای محبوبم به حدی استادانه عمل کردن که هر جای دنیا این عطرو بو کنم؛رهسپار همون محیط و حس و حالش میشم. خیلی خیلی دوس دارم این عطرو.برای خیلیا یه عطر ادویه ای خواهد بود اما واسه من یه جادو و شعبدست که یه فضای رویایی رو برام مجسم میکنه. تا مدتها این فضا و رایحه همراه شماست و حضور فلفل گرمی و تندی قشنگی بهش میده که لذت بوییدن کار و حضور در اون فضا رو بیشتر میکنه. محو این رایحه ی رویایی بی اونکه متوجه عبورلحظه ها باشید جلو میرید تا اینکه بویی خزه ای نمناک؛کمی دودی و کمی شیرین به مشام میرسه. احتمالا خزه؛پچولی؛تنباکو و وانیل این فضا رو به فضای اصلی کار اضافه میکنن و تا انتها کار به همین سبک و سیاق خواهد بود و فقط در پایان رایحه ی اصلی کم رنگ میشه و کار کمی شیرین تر میشه. فوژه بنگال عطری متفاوت و با کیفیته که حس طبیعی ملموس؛آشنا و آرامی که با خودش داره هر طبیعت دوستی رو سر ذوق خواهد آورد و البته عطری کلاسیک مدرنه و کسانی که از روایح کلاسیک لذت می برن رو هم خوشحال میکنه.عطری گرم؛صمیمی با موندگاری بالا و پخش مناسب که بیشتر مناسب آقایون جدی و رسمیه... فوژه بنگال منو یاد جمله ای از نابوکوف میندازه که میگه: هیچ چیز گذشته را زنده نمیکند؛مگر رایحه ای که با آن در ارتباط باشد. کامنت:م.ع (سایت لوکس بایر (با امکان تست سمپل

I have been working my way through my samples of Parfum d'Empire, and they are very good overall, it is clear that where M. Corticchiato excels is in the creation of earthy chypres and I guess, fougères. Fougère Bengale is an excellent example of the genre, classic in style but with some slightly unusual points of interest. Herbal and spicy throughout, it is a deliciously earthy masculine scent, darker than other fougères. FB has a very aromatic opening, led by a realistic lavender note. Mint adds some herbal brightness, but is nicely restrained. Curiously for a fougère, there is no citrus here. I get warm spices from the beginning, complementing the aromatic earthiness with a medicinal quality (in the very best way). It is dense here, with the aromatic mint and lavender giving it a lift. It is a compelling opening, paving the way nicely to a satisfying scent. As it develops, FB becomes mossy and grassy, with a prominent hay-like tobacco note coming to the fore. Initially more plant-like than smoky, it adds to the herbal earthiness that permeates this scent. I get a nutty undertone, like non-sweet almond, perhaps thanks to the coumarin, but it smells more realistic than coumarin. It becomes slightly smoky as it develops. As it dries down, it remains earthy and mossy, but vanilla gives a sweet undertone. It is surprisingly prominent, adding a smooth, amber-esque quality that cohesively complements the earthiness. Soft spices remain, keeping things slightly medicinal as the tobacco-coumarin base develops. The lavender of the opening along with with the vanilla in the base punctuates FB with a Guerlinade-esque accord. Sillage is strong and longevity is long-lasting. A masculine, transeasonal scent, FB is satisfyingly dense, dark and earthy with a nice medicinal hint of spice throughout. It is a clever composition, made with high-quality ingredients. A riff on a classic, this is not a crowdpleaser by modern standards, but would be excellent on the right man. 4.5/5.

So Sensual. It starts bold, sweet, spicy with a cooling sensation from the mint. I like how the ginger smells blended with the peppery mint. The tea note is mild, adds a delicate lightness to the fragrance. The ginger top note lingers on my skin longer and fades into the background as the scent slowly changes into the tobacco. Its not my imagination, I get a distinct curry note, although curry is not listed in the pyramid. From the start to the drydown I keep catching whiffs of the ginger, it makes sense to have the curry and ginger notes, they compliment each other beautifully. The tobacco is stronger, deeper, sweet, rich with cinnamon nuances. I smell what I think is honey. The hay, cinnamon, bitter herbal accord reminds me of a bone-dry desert. I recognize the earthy appeal at the base through the use of the musty patchouli, and tonka bean. The tobacco is still here but a little bit softer and underneath the patchouli is the ginger. The drydown is tonka bean with a very subtle vanillic/tonka bean, tobacco scent. Longevity is very good, and wears a bit closely to the skin after only a few hours. Fougere Bengale is eccentric, sensuous, complex and unusual. It feels like Fougere Bengale has aspects from 3 groups- fougere, gourmand, oriental to me, it is fascinating. I don't understand why this is marketed for men but I and women can wear it easily too! I am becoming a fan of Marc-Antoine Cortichiatto: Aziyade, Musc Tonkin, Cuir Ottoman are among my some of my favorites!

When the fragrance can be called a good one? Actually I don't know, but in my opinion to be classify as well done the fragrance has to belong to the unusual group and everyone can interpret it in a different way and feel impressed even don't like it at all. F. Bengale is like that. It has many different souls that can be visible individually only on the skin of certain people. This is probably the reason of so many different reviews here. On me F. Bengale starts with huge dose of wet and rotten hay, so different. Than for hours spices from Chinese bazaar or spice shop dominate followed by dry woods that reminds freshly shaved pencil. This effect best describes the heart of F. Bengale. Two years ago I spent a week in Taipei and I visited many spice-pharmacy stores where tons of herbs, spices, dry insects, and other creatures were tightly packed from the ground to the top of rooms. F. Bengale smells exactly like these stores - 100% identity. And I love it. F. Bengale is also very powerful and extremely long lasting fragrance that takes you to the Far East for hours.

Parfum D'Empire Fougere Bengale is out of the ordinary and richly rewarding, presenting a rather savory Oriental sweet take on a Fougere (fern-like) scent. I caught a brief minty note and then the top and middle are a lovely blend of immortelle, sweet tobacco, ginger, and black tea. I also thought I smelled a salty note near the top that was intriguing. The general impression is rich, slightly sweet, savory, complex, mildly spicy, seductive. The base is patchouli and vanilla, well balanced by something more austere, presumably oakmoss. Strength and longevity are excellent and yes definitely unisex. It is strange that Fougere Bengale does not list immortelle among the notes since it is a major part of the top and middle. It is not nearly as dominant as in Annick Goutal Sables though, so if you like immortelle but not straight up, give this a try. From my experience, Parfum D'Empire deserves status as a second Serge Lutens; their scent craftwork is similarly impeccable and creative. Bravo Marc-Antoine Corticchiato!

Oh dude, I love this! So much warm, green hay and aromatic tobacco, with sort of an immortelle sweetness—gives me a vibe like that of Afternoon of a Faun. But there’s also some food in there, maple syrup and curry, and something almost rose-like. So perhaps Afternoon of a Faun meets Solstice Scents Cardamom Rose Sugar. Despite its name I’d say it’s only half fougere, other half being gourmand. I know that sounds like a mess, and indeed I see many people say in their reviews that they can’t make sense of it and/or don’t like it, but for me it’s been an immediate “I love this!” and I daresay I might even want more of it. 12 hours later, on my shirt, it smells rather like puppy fur, sweetly so. Guess that counts as "animalic," in the cutest way. :D Highly impressed with Parfum d’Empire so far (I bought a full bottle of Cuir Ottoman last year). I’ll have to sample more of their scents.

Dangerous and addictive! Same people cannot stand it! Strangle them. Sillage enormous and lasts forever! It needs very gently spraying not to use too much to feel all ingredients used in it. This is hot, spicy Indian forest with intoxicant tobacco, rum, star anise, some cardamon (I can smell it!), vanilla mixed with ginger and tonka beans makes strong river of fragrance which comes refreshing, but tobacco and pepper added, together with lavender (which I cannot smell here) with Assam tea and Patchouli makes this fragrance very deep, long lasting and covering all areas around. It is like anything else you ever tried before. This is Fire and Spices, power and Fragrance, you love or hate it, cannot stand indifferent. This is a masterpiece you will remember for your lifetime.

The review before mine sums this stuff up great, I really enjoy the lavender note here. If it wasn't there it would just be another sweet pipe tobacco scent like all the other ones. The lavender really just seperates this one from the others. There also seems to be a lot going on here. Many of the pipe sweet tobacco scents seem like they just have tobacco and vanilla or honey or something and that's it. This on the other hand seems to have sweet spices, dry spices, lavender, dry tobacco sweet tobacco, honey mixed with vanilla, patchouli and myrrh, and a little gourmandish vibe going on. A lot going on and I really enjoy this stuff. This house has some real winners and this is the third bottle I own now. 9/10 overall

Fougere Bengale opens very strong and heavy, dark peppery and almost a bit boozy. Then, the freshness of the ginger appears together with the mint, still very strong. The drydown is gorgeous. Dark, herbal, peppery with a tiny hint of tobacco. I don't get much oakmoss or lavender, the spices win on my skin. Performance is good: sillage is moderate to heavy and longevity is moderate to long. I totally fell for this scent trying it out in the store, only to find out that Fragrantica lists it as masculine! What a surprise. I can definitely wear this as a woman, it smells really good on me, not barbershoppish at all. Fougere Bengale reminds me of salty and spicy laurel liquorice on a sweet vanilla base. Yum!

Absolutely gorgeous herbal concoction opening with a honeyed immortelle and lavender, a hint of mint, sun-warmed hay, a spritz of ginger, some pepper and a whiff of tea. Immortelle is dominant throughout the perfume, with an aromatic tobacco and tonka bean surging up in the heart and into dry down. I love it; it's currently my most-admired fragrance. Why is it billed as a masculine fragrance? It's a perfume anyone can wear; immersion in a sun-filled, aromatic field of herbs and hay where everything is in balance and abundant life pulses. Buying a big bottle immediately. Distillation: honeyed immortelle a sun-warmed meadow of herbs pulsing with wild life

With all due respect guys, your not keeping this one for yourselves. Theres enough sweetness for us girls to enjoy it. Ive tested AG Sables and it is herbal but it is not as sweet and airy as FB. FB is much easier to wear. Its all about tobacco, lots of hay and tonka on me at first. I get a touch of ginger and lavender. I think I expected Serge Lutens Fourreau Noir to be similar to this although without all the hay lol. Im thankful that the black pepper is low key on me. The hay note remains quite potent all through the fragrances timeline. It develops quite a herbal feel. This is definitely a unisex delight so dont be frightened to try it.

This fragrance is very special. It tickles the senses in my mind and transports me somehow onto another leve of being. Also, it evokes memories of long gone sunday family lunches of chicken curry and the entire atmosphere which was sooooo nice. Despite the foody character its still a wearable scent if you can and want to make your own statement about it. The moss, the honeyed tobacco and vanilla are perfectly pairing up with the curry note which for me dominates in this scent. Masterpiece for amazing sillage and incredible lasting power! Bravo!

Three options : you love it, you hate it, you're attracted by this strange combo. I choose the first one; I've got it and I love it, even if I prefer Sables, by Annick Goutal. Not old school at all, but a different and daring way to wear a "fougère avatar", as if european barbershop windows (due to lavander and mint) were opening on a dry and warm african savannah (due to hay and tabacco)... Close your eyes, smell the air... You're gone, far away. Very good projection and longevity. Bravo Marc Antoine! 9 / 10

TAMARIND this a smells like fudie TAMARIND and dirty patchouli in dry down. By smelling this EPIC fragrance you can rely feel like being inside of Forest of Bengal and its high humidity ,acidy rooting leaves, sour and sweet overripe exotic fruits, mixed with smell of sweat, leather, smell of tiger dangerously close to your caravan. Don't expect this fragrance to be light and airy its full bodied ,manly, long lasting, dangerous, and Very personal.

Barbershop and aquatic wrote a couple reviewers? Puzzling!! This is a mystery all the way. A ton of patch,hay,ginger and tobacco. I was surprised that hours into the scent I got a slight green tea note. The vanilla is at a minimum but it gives it a slightly sweet vibe. Overall it's a smoky,dry scent with exceptional longevity and sillage. I have never smelled anything remotely close to this PDE should get more praise!!

To enjoy this fragrance more, you really have to wait an half our(or wear it during sport or fitness..); you will experience a great surprise of a mouthwatering tonka bean, vanilla, tobacco and mint mix!! This "surprise" is the total opposite of the hard and very masculine opening of this perfume (the "barbershop")! Wow; I had already put Fougere Bengale in my "swaplist" because i was forgotten this great mix of notes.

my first thought on this one was how much i disliked it the opening was just horrible to me. Too much tobacco reminding me of old man I have now tried it again and guess what , its one of my favorite D'Empire I love ambre russe and azyade but this one is such a surprise on my second try and I couldn't tell you why. i just love it now

A very interesting offering that blends in notes of tea, tobacco, English Lavender and tonka beans to conjure up a vision of Jim Corbett's hunting expeditions during the British Raj. The end product is a salty oriental fougere that is definitely only for the adventurous types. A brave and risky winner in my humble opinion.

OMG, this is an excellent, classic fougère, on a par with Jicky and Mouchoir de Monsieur!!! So seductive; warm, spicey (indeed fenugreek....and liqorice!), savory, herbacious and glorious! Old school quality, albeit with a modern transparancy and elegance. To be applied with a light hand, even in the colder season...

Slightly sweaty white gentleman on safari in south Asia (as he already did Africa). Spices from last night's dinner clearly coming trough. Fabulous clean/dirty tension is just a bit naughty but surprisingly elegant and highly addictive. It's a classic fougère with a delightful twist and outstanding quality.

I don't like fougères on men — I really don’t. But this is something completely different from those sharp, soapy lavenders that make you choke. I love its herbal, almost medicinal earthiness; it reminds me of wet autumn leaves and freshly cracked walnut shells. Very comforting.

I am more & more in love with this fragrance which by now has become a signature scent for me. I have reviewed it on my Scent Land Channel also. The superbly blended green,spicy warmth is truly genuine and addictive. Its smells like impressions of a beautiful daydream.....

It has more projection than the reformulated Sables. Is is also more complex, a little bit sweeter, I think it is the tobacco note. I think this is more bottle worthy than Sables because of the projection. Sables is not half as good as it was before reformulation.

My first answer: Scentmad sorry but no this is definitely masculine fragrance but after re thinking i can imagine women wearing this, - i mean women with strong dominant personality

I know women who wear it. And who love it, due to the twist in the middle notes, with a "pain d'épice" note (sorry, I don't know how to say it in english...). Have a try!

Good news; this is available again as part of the Parfum d`Empire La Collection Classique, for which I applaud the maison! I will always love this magnificent fragrance!

Masterpiece but very polarizing fragrance. Not for everybody, not for crowd : forget it if you are in mainstream and clone fragrances. I love it.

One my my absolute favourite fragrances ever! Absolutely perfect for my taste. Reminds me of good times, of home.

This stuff is the best perfume I have ever owned. If you can find it, definitely get it.

Nobody feels Porto Tawny in FB!? This was my first impression.

Fougere Bengale is misnamed, and the note pyramid inaccurate. This veers significantly more towards amber/Oriental than it does anything resembling green, fern or fougere like. In Fougere Bengale you will find an immortelle and cured tobacco perfume - neither of which are green, fern or fougere like. I tend to get peevish when houses blatantly misname their perfumes in an attempt to be clever, or write a note pyramid pretending somethings are there and others are not that are clearly there. I wish to say to these brands that I fully accept the possibility that I might be an idiot, but don't treat me like one, please. Where Fougere Bengale squeezes my peeve trigger is with immortelle, an accord that I love - so, bear with me on the criticisms. The opening is not as the pyramid states. Immediately upon application I get an immortelle note with every gap filled to the brim by deep, dark vanillics. The hot and somewhat sunburnt qualities of the immortelle, the sweetness of the vanilla, and loamy light brown earthiness of tobacco and patchouli smells like... caramel. A very boozy caramel at that; a sweetened liquor aged in burnt cask barrels, like a bourbon - which is naturally caramelly and earthy. It's thick, sticky, and earthy resinous. It's bizarre. Only after the boozy caramel has cooled off do you pick up strings of very oily lavender, bright woods (meant to be black tea), and dried green herbs. These strings are adornments, fougere accent threads in the broader amber fabric. These threads fade into the broader picture very quickly, and you can subtract the peppercorns, geranium, and oakmoss from the note pyramid - you won't ever find them. You do find dried, sweet, brown grassy hay; an anisic note that runs through the entirety of the perfume thanks to generous overlaps between the immortelle and tobacco; where the earthy, wet, dank patchouli and the tonka bean begin and end with each other whilst being glued together by vanilla is completely opaque to me - they seem to act as one sweet, dark, earthy muddy mélange while the warm, dried, red-brown spicy earthiness of the immortelle dominates Fougere Bengale from beginning to end. That's about the best that I can do to describe Fougere Bengale, dear readers. I'm sorry, I wish I could do better, but I'm lost and confused by this perfume. It has this feeling to me that I sprayed a typical fougere perfume on, then went into the hot humidity of a South Asian tobacco farm where they are curing tons of tobacco in an enclosed space - and at one moment I'm smelling my fougere, another minute the ubiquitous spice of the region, in another the overwhelming aromas of curing tobacco, also while running short of breath in the humidity and heat while soaking through my clothes with salty sweat. It's not an attractive image, yes I know and I agree. But that's why this perfume is great. For a very long time now the fougere's fresh, clean, invigorating, green woody personality hasn't changed much, but Fougere Bengale aims to make a fougere filthy, nasty, and off-putting. This fougere is not one you'd find in a barbershop; it wants to do the opposite of cleaning you up and making you presentable. The overdose of immortelle is kind of an odd choice for this direction, and the perfume does get steered towards amber/Oriental so much so that it cannot really be called a fougere, but it is very striking and alluring in a sort of "I'm looking, but I don't want anyone to know I'm looking" way. It should've been called Fougere Mechant.

Fougere Bengale by Parfum d'Empire is a fascinating take on the classic fougere, full of interesting contrasts. It opens with a bold dark green accord that is at once bitter and syrupy sweet. This may sound like a contradiction, but it's a paradox that fans of fragrances like Serge Lutens' Le Participe Passé (2018) will likely appreciate. As it dries down, a traditional fougere base emerges, providing the stage for a rich dance of immortelle, tobacco, and tonka. This blend shares a core similarity with Annick Goutal's Sables (1985) , yet their characters are quite distinct. While both feature immortelle prominently, the key difference lies in the choice of their supporting co-star. Sables uses a subtle coffee accord to provide a gourmand finishing touch, whereas Fougere Bengale highlights a dry tobacco-patchouli combo specifically to lend a sharp, rugged edge. This makes Sables a more simplistic, understated, and zero-sugary, while Fougere Bengale feels decidedly coarser, more rugged, and, I would argue, less balanced. ---------- For anyone familiar with traditional Chinese remedies , the scent of Fougere Bengale is a fascinating hybrid. It's like a blend of two common oral preparations: Huoxiang Zhengqi Shui (藿香正气水) , used for heatstroke and stomach issues, and Jizhi Tangjiang syrup (急支糖浆) , taken to relieve coughs. It shares that same distinct profile of medicinal sweetness, "mossy" bitterness, and herbal depth. ---------- Despite its unique and interesting profile, I ultimately decided to part with it after two years of wrestling with the decision, choosing instead to keep Sables in my collection. Rating: 7/10

I have been fond of Parfum d'Empire for a few now, and today I took a chance and sprayed Fougère Bengale. Initially, there is a pretty strong and beautiful lavender note, accompanied with a barely noticeable mint. The opening is pleasant and very well crafted as always with Corticchiato's fragrances. However, Fougère Bengale changes quite rapidly and transitions to more herbal notes, and less floral notes. These notes are very beautiful as well, since Corticchiato is a plants specialist, it does show in his perfumes, within both what he offers (rare scents) and the quality of the scents themselves. Here, we can notice a realistic hay, mixed with a strong patchouli and pepper which give a nice pungent kick to the fragrance. This is what draws me the most with this one. Finally, it dries down with herbal notes, but you can also smell the base, which is relatively gourmand compared with the opening and middle phases of this perfume. The tonka bean and vanilla are distant but there, and mix very well with the rest. In the end, the fragrance even reminds me of cocoa, and warm spices. Parfum d'Empire stays constant with the quality of their craft: Fougère Bengale is an interesting, unusual fougère, that is definitely wearable and pleasant, even if not entirely my type. I'll try it a few more times and see if this grows on me.

“A colonial daydream steeped in tobacco, tea, and forgotten poetry.” Fougère Bengale doesn’t try to charm you—it stares straight through you with a quiet confidence, then wraps you in a world that no longer exists. From the first spray, I’m in an old study filled with leather chairs, half-finished cigars, and worn-out books stained with time. The opening is green and bitter, almost absinthe-like, laced with something herbal and haunting. Then comes the tangle of sweet and dry tobacco leaves, dusty black tea, and a lavender that feels more like dry parchment than fresh soap. There’s a scratchy texture to it, like aged fabric against skin—intimate and slightly wild. This is not a barbershop fougère; this is what the barber wore after closing up shop and going off to smoke in solitude. As it settles, a dark warmth rises—resins, subtle animalic tones, maybe even a whiff of musk hidden in the shadows. It lingers like the memory of a voice you once knew by heart. To me, Fougère Bengale smells like rebellion dressed in a tailored suit. It’s intellectual, mysterious, and undeniably masculine—but with soul. It belongs in smoky jazz bars, dim libraries, and on people who carry a bit of history in their gaze. Not for everyone—but unforgettable for those who feel it.

This fragrance is truly transporting. The hay, the blonde tobacco and the tea notes take you away to a sun-scorched, dry, grassy plain, reminiscent of the bright, African Serengeti. The humid, sweaty afternoon heat is spelled only by ducking inside the lodge for an iced tea. The officers overseeing the railroad construction in Tsavo, circa 1900, might've smelled like this. A traditional Fougere in the morning; it becomes morphed and marinated by the afternoon heat, the exertion of the day's chores and the dust and pipe tobacco that's ubiquitously in the air. I imagine Val Kilmer's character in "The Ghost and the Darkness" being the concept for this one. For what they were trying to capture, I think this one is a success. Well done.

Fougère Bengale throws a traditional barbershop blend (lavender, hay, musk, tobacco, tonka) to a woody oriental backdrop with a strong immortelle note as pivot. The latter carries all the exuberance of its nature with sweet, curry spiced, burnt sugar effects on the stage. The tobacco note is truly sublime (soft, sweet, nuanced) full of booze and caramel undertones close to Dutch pipe tobaccos and the hay has an animalic barnyard tone. Wonderful execution as always by Marc-Antoine Corticchiato. Fougère Bengale has an overall crispness throughout, projects elegantly and smells very charming. Hence it can act as a great alternative for people that seek a modern Sables or find Eau Noire's theme too “French”.

Sables indiens In the kind of Sables (Annick Goutal) a refreshed version that goes directly to the point but is still not for every noses. I find this fragrance very similar to Sables because there is the same work on the immortelle note, it is less evolving but I may be mistaken as the immortelle note is the rendering by mixture of hay -patchouli- tobacco, less burned like a maple syrup but more like pipe tobacco, it has greater clarity, easier to wear and a lot more spices (but not like a curry neither). Huge lasting power and excellent projection. Another great success of this wonderful perfumeur that is Marc-Antoine Corticchiato which I can not even blame for one poor creation.

There's no immortelle listed in the note pyramid above, but that's certainly the dominant note that comes through this for me. Thanks to the hay, this is much drier than other fragrances I know that are rich with immortelle, which smells to me always like garam masala (the curry spices). I think I prefer the juicier combinations with immortelle that Eau de Monsieur and 1748 -Marquis de Sade both provide, but this is still very much its own thing and is very clever in its evocation of South Asian scents over a fougère structure. This would be hard to wear to work because it is quite pungent, but I find it enjoyable all the same.

This is one very interesting fragrance. It may even be groundbreaking. I don't like it however. It's overtly savoury, with a hint of sour, and is "masculine" in the extreme. The immortelle is strong, and this perfume highlights the "curry" aspects of this note, rather than the sweet maple aspects that immortelle can also display. The lavender is well blended, but the tobacco rather overwhelming. I sprayed this on a tester card 2 1/2 weeks ago, and I can still smell it, that's how strong it is!

I started taking notes for a review of my sample of Fougere Bengale but quickly realized that my unfamiliarity with the genre would make it difficult to evaluate this fougere. I will say that this is a fougere for fougere haters like myself. The lavender is creamy and supple, the hay possesses a shyness not often seen in that note on my skin, allowing the tobacco and spices to unfold their warmth.

Seriously, at first it really smells like Po Chai Pills! And there’s even a hint of mint. It’s kind of intense. In the mid-notes, vanilla and patcholi start to come through (I keep thinking there’s some rose too—probably that familiar patcholi-rose combo you often find together). When you take a deep sniff and then pull away, a lovely woody scent lingers in your nose.

Smells like curry, spices, dry hay, and immortelle. Not really what I think of as a fougere, although that concept is being played with nowadays. Spicy and dry are the two main descriptors for this. Makes me think of India, summer heat, and a spice market. Unique, I would advise trying before buying because this definitely isn't for everyone.

ahhh, curry leaves, deffinetelly. I am not fan of curry:) but i love this perfume. Love the way spices are arranged in this. And I agree with those saying this unisex perfume.

I sensed cumin from the start, but then I noticed an interesting contrast between the sample on my test strip and the sample on the skin. On the test strip, the spicy notes coagulated into a curry fugg, like a total immersion in an Indian restaurant. On the skin, however, there seemed to be much more differentiation between the distinct notes: cumin, yes, but also ginger and what I take to be lemongrass. And now vanilla! Mmmmm! That said, I would quibble with the "Fougere" label. This isn't the familiar trinity of Lavender, Oakmoss and Coumarin from the ferny Northern hemisphere. It adds sun-baked spices and sun-dried grasses to the mix. More Kolkata than Karelia . Do I like it? Yee ... sss. Would I wear it? Probably not. Note to self: don't rely on the tester alone. It's time to revisit the other Corticchiato fragrances I have reviewed and wear test them on the body (as nature intended!)

The hay really does give this one an immortelle feel, but it also reminds me more than anything of St. Clair Scents First Cut, which is supposed to capture the smell of a mown field with the hay drying in the sun. I wouldn't have thought of this as a fougere.

Oooooh! Feel the burn! Almost viciously spicy on me (lifelong lover of "excessive", warm spice bombs) ... I just couldn't deal with the intensity, almost acridity of what I honestly perceive as fresh curry leaves and fenugreek - and lo and behold, it's my Personal Enemy Number One, the lurking menace that is immortelle. As a genuine lover of Indian food, and of spicy fragrance, this one for me just gives the impression I've wallowed in a vat of dhal with too much asafoetida, or just emerged from a stew of methi leaves. Love to consume those foods, but just don't want to smell of them. Can definitely see the resemblance to Goutal Sables (a rare, all-time hate for me) - but as it's Parfum d'Empire - a house I'm a massive fan of - it's a million times better than the Goutal, both stronger and more obnoxious yet also more nuanced and skilful and vivid. There is a lot of perfume going on in there, in the thicket of bullying aromatics, and wearers who like a really complex, combative mix in their fragrances will find plenty of interest to pick apart. The pepper and tobacco oddly work to freshen it somehow, giving more delicate detail (!) which tells you just how dirty and acrid the main event is for me. Glad I smelled it, sure it will have passionate admirers, rather relieved it didn't turn out to be a love.

Fougere Bengale starts with a hefty serving of curry spices and amber; it’s rough and funky and doesn’t care who knows it. (It smells a lot like the maple-syrup-meets-fenugreek scent of immortelle, though that’s not listed in the notes.) Honestly, it’s too foody and stinky for comfort. This is not a polite smell. It stays amber-and-curry the whole way through. Sweaty cumin, savory fenugreek. It’s potent yet translucent, like a stained glass window. Structurally, it’s pretty similar to Ambre Russe (another Corticchiato composition for Parfums d’Empire) except built around immortelle and curry spices rather than amber and stewed fruit. Deep-toned, moderately sweet, translucent and radiant, extremely persistent, and rather aggressive and masculine in spirit. Are you unconventional to the point of being kind of an asshole? Then Fougere Bengale may be for you.

Swamp. Seaweed with honey It smell like Knowing turned bad, or a classic perfume cooked by sun. Reminds me Fieno by S.M.N. and a bit Romeo Gigli for man wood cup. The monster of the lake. An horror movie. You sniff it and it seems the be into the shed of an abandoned swimming pool. Nobody can wear this mess and be proud of his choice. Daltroff can not sleep well. In some way this is also interesting as smell. But not to go out with it on. It smell like a balsamic mou candy, a sweet flawoured swamp with steams and mosquitos. It smell like a cowboy without boy. Only the drydown is similar to Sables by Goutail which is much more better.

Without shadow of a doubt this is the most repulsive "fragrance" that my olfactory sensory neurons have ever had the misfortune to encounter!!... It really does smell like the lingering smell of stale curry and overflowing cigarette ashtrays. Why anyone would want to smell of this is beyond me! I think the peculiar note of hay may have been the straw the broke the camel's back... if you'll parton the pun!!.. Interestingly my best friend thought it reminded him of a health food store. He was welcome to this yucky yucky purchase!