Bandit Suprême

I have just received Bandit Supreme in a mix-up from my supplier, having actually ordered Bandit. There's witchy magic at work; one spray and I am entranced, nose to perfumed arm, lost in its peculiarly dry, bitter green, plush-leather atmosphere. Anyone who has seen Fargo Season 4 will recognise the film-makers use of a dark, elegant, somewhat sinister green tone throughout. Bandit Supreme is quintessential Fargo-green in its deep, dark heart. It's beguiling and potent. Leather is there, giving a plush lustre to its Chypre heart. There's a beam of golden amber shooting through this dark forest-effect after 30 minutes, giving a lustrous quality. It's gorgeous. Mysterious. Intriguing, even. It's not a lost-in-the-woods faerie-land kind of Chypre; its a stride-through-the-darkness creature, eyes glowing in the dark. I admire its uncompromising pared-down boldness. It reminds me of Cabochard, without the softening floral notes. I'd like to compare this with Bandit and will add notes when I do (* I have now added a comparison, below). Until then, I'm wholly satisfied with Bandit Supreme. Haiku of the day a scented mix-up fargo-green and beguiling bandits steal my heart *added 16/1/21 Comparison between Bandit and Bandit Supreme (on skin and tester): Bandit opens with bright aldehyde and Galbanum, with a distict floral note which is missing in Bandit Supreme. Bandit is dry-woods; Bandit Supreme is mossy-woods throughout. Both are superbly long-lasting. I could smell both on my skin 12+ hours after spraying. On cloth I can smell them in the surrounding air days later. The florals in Bandit create a perfume I'd classify as Unisex/Feminine, whereas Bandit Supreme is more Masculine/Unisex. I prefer Bandit. My husband prefers Bandit Supreme. Both magnificent!

I know this brand because of Fracas but, since I was already in the store, I started to smell the other fragrances and fell instantly in love with this one. It's not for everyone, it smells a bit vintage but in the classiest and best way possible. The galbanum opening and the bitter green moss with patchouli is pure poetry. I tried the vintage version as well but I think the aldehydes in that one feel too dated. I prefer this one. On me it smells great and it's now one of my signature scents.

@Apteroux, I got mine from Libertine Perfumerie, in Australia. They were apologetic about the mix-up and really patient with me while I wrestled with the dilemma of choice. If you're in Oz, they've definitely got it in stock. I opted for Bandit and returned Bandit Supreme, but both are wonderful.

I encountered Bandit Suprême by chance — a small decant tossed in with another purchase. Given its sharp, green, and earthy character, I decided to wear it on a long winter walk through the forest. The pairing felt instinctive. The opening is intensely green and bitter, dominated by smoky galbanum with neroli. In the background, a dry, worn-out leather note lingers. The overall impression of earthy mossiness is strikingly natural — like a blend of pure essential oils. The chalky roughness of the composition felt perfectly suited for such an outing, seamlessly blending with the moss-covered surroundings on a rainy, snow-dusted winter day. There's nothing cushioned here — no attempt to round out the edges. As the hours pass, the scent shifts, but not dramatically. It smooths out slightly, yet the galbanum never fully retreats. This is a 100% masculine fragrance, with no concessions to unisex softness. The projection starts off incredibly strong but quickly settles as the scent leans into earthier, more leathery territory. Longevity is well above average. I only have a decant, but in photos, the bottle looks plain with a hint of old-school style. This particular galbanum note is nearly identical to what I've experienced in Ajmal Verde and Al Haramain Miracle. In fact, if you stripped Miracle of its volume and dialed it down to a more wearable, cleaner register, you'd land close to Bandit — both smell like a pure concentrate of leather-infused galbanum extract. Obviously, Bandit ranks higher in quality — but at what cost? Whenever I test pricier perfumes, I can't help but reflect on the disdain some reviewers have for Middle Eastern fragrances. Yes, some are clearly lower in quality — you get what you pay for — but many, especially the best ones, hold their own against high-end creations. For most people (me included), they're the only accessible way to experience these kinds of compositions. The price gap is staggering for a subjective difference in quality. But many on Fragrantica won't accept that — smelling with their wallets, unwilling to acknowledge that, nowadays, all fragrances are predominantly synthetic, with only some managing to create a more natural illusion. And here's where I become a hypocrite and smell with my wallet — I remain skeptical about Bandit Suprême. Ajmal Verde does the same and feels far more complex to me. I mainly evaluate fragrances through the lens of price, and I would never purchase a full bottle of this. That said, for what it is — a small, nearly free sample — this was a fascinating wear. It's not a fragrance I'd reach for regularly, but it nails a certain mood: cold and austere. For the cost of basically nothing, this 5 ml sample provided an intriguing experience. Opening note: 7+ Sillage/Projection: 7+ Drydown: 7+ Longevity: 8+ Blend/Composition: 8+ Versatility: 5+ Uniqueness: 8+ Value for money: 1+ Bottle design/Aesthetics: 7- Overall experience: 7+ Blind-buy rating: 2+

Bandit, after he got married and settled down in the suburbs and started working a 9-5. Similar to the original, but softer, more powdery, tamer. Far more similar to Cabochard, but actually still easier to wear and less challenging. I do like it, but I by far prefer the original. Lasts 12h+.