J'ai Osé

I am in a lucky position to answer the question whether this is the same fragrance as the original Guy Laroche J'ai Osé. My father gave me the original in a Napoleon-hat bottle for my 16th birthday. Unfortunately, it wore me then rather than the other way around. The new version is, of course, reformulated. It is the same scent though, as a piece of music written for a philharmonic orchestra but performed on a guitar by a virtuoso like Paco de Lucia. Even then, its complexity and harmony surpasses by millions of light-years most of the modern mainstream and niche offerings alike. And now, 30 years since, I wear it instead of the other way around. Better late than never.

I'm in love with it! AMAZING. Very smoky, mysterious, night time, serious fragrance. Projection is moderate to heavy (I tried this in late summer, but during cold months it will be heavy for sure). Longevity on my skin was off the charts! I sprayed before bed, could smell it in the morning and all day - became a skin scent, but very noticeable - and now, I'm heading to a shower to go to bed again, and I can still smell it close to the skin. This is crazy! Definitely getting a back up for this.

I'm a sucker for 70 fragrances as that's when i first discovered my love for perfumery. I find myself going back and snapping up these classics on the grey market now, and many are ones i sniffed over and over at counters but didn't always buy. I can say this does smell very like the original Guy Laroche version; as soon as i opened this i recognized the characteristic signature of the old one. It's hard to recognize different notes but it's a chypre with aspects of orientals. Sultry, mature, a little sweet but also mossy. There is a tiny bandaid note but that's part of the original vibe and I just love this. It's probably a reformulation but they have done a good job, IMO.

I find J'ai Osé very unique. While it is truly different it's not weird, it surprisingly easy to like. Not annoying in any way. It's like the scent of a medieval witch, and she is brewing something in her cottage deep in the woods. Earthy, woody, smokey, mysterious, natural and mossy. With time it gets more warm and resinous, but still remain that unique character and lasts a very long time on my skin. correspondencepersonal: Yes! Tar! I couldn't pinpoint it, but that is exactly what I smell too. I used to own a tar soap and this is indeed the connection my brain couldn't make. I love that addition to the scent though.

It's very unic but do i like it? Not so much. Indeed it's fire, tar and cigarettes what you smell. Nothing sweet or feminin. I consider it a male perfume and then the males like the Marlboro man would smell. Living the outdoor life. All day on your horse looking after the cattle. Smoking cigarettes and sitting by the fire after work. I love male perfumes to wear myself but this one i will pass. I quit smoking many years ago because i hated the smell of cigarettes around me and on my hands and clothes. So a no for me.