Cravache 2007

Before I start talking about what this isn't (which everyone seems to want to do), this current iteration of Cravache deserves to be talked about in terms of what it actually is: a highly unusual woody chypre, with a big distinctive citrus opening, and one of the best drydowns I've experienced. If you are looking for an out-of-the-ordinary, affordable, masculine signature fragrance, this would be a great choice. The original lines of Robert Piguet fragrances crafted starting in the 1940s were so beloved for their innovation and complexity that the House survived even the collapse of its fashion line, and continued to bring forth marvelously intricate creations like this one even well after the death of Piguet himself in 1953. Eventually, though, the house did fold, and when perfumers wanted to revive his famous scents they were faced with the problem that Germaine Cellier and the other house noses had crafted their fragrances from different compounds so involved that it was practically impossible to reconstruct them note for note. Many of the fragrances released under the old names from Piguet are thus not what they once were. Luca Turin has deplored the fact that Cravache (which means "Whip" in French) originally had, appropriately, a strong leather note which is now missing, and which made this chypre even more extraordinary (reportedly). The absence of this may certainly disappoint those familiar with what the fragrance once was; but since I've never smelled the original myself I can only judge what I have, and I can say this is a lovely chypre as it is now. This new iteration is frequently compared to Chanel Pour Monsieur, which I also love; but the two to me are nothing alike other than that they're both chypres with lemon openings. But the unforgettable lemon blast that opens Pour Monsieur comes from bright Sicilian lemons that really wakes you up; the lemon here is much less immediately pleasing but more unusual, mixed with mandarin and (especially) petit grain that produces a more medicinal and aromatic green-orange scent. The nutmeg (which is also more pronounced here than in the Chanel) mixes with this to produce a really marked accord that is ultimately as memorable in its own way, if not as accessible. And the drydown is where this fragrance particularly shines. It lasts longer than Pour Monsieur's and is equally beautiful, with the lavender, sage, vetiver, and patchouli here all blending with the lingering green orange, even though I can olfactorily separate each one of the notes. I don't have anything else like this in my collection, and I am sure I will be using it enough that I am glad I bought a full bottle (which I found for a great price on ebay). UPDATE: 5/12/21: This has become one of my very favorites. I crave the smell of it all the time. It is calming and lovely, and is not aggressive; it is unusual in its austerity--it's an absolutely great fragrance for introverts. I wish this were better known!

A classic men's cologne. So this review is purely to provide some contrasts with the other classics. I would say it is most similar to Dior's Eau Sauvage, however the opening citrus is sweeter and less sharp due to the presence of the mandarin, the note structure is also tidier in the manner of the more straightforward Pour Monsieur. However there is none of the creamy citrus from Pour Monsieur nor is it a pure spicy after dry down. However, like Pour Monsieur the sweetness carries into the dry down (I believe the lavender note is the sweeter than that found in most other colognes, contra Pour Monsieur where the sweetness is an aspect of the spice.) The sage, patchouli and vetiver in the dry down give it an earth green (very slightly) skanky quality that is on the strong end of the range found in colognes of this type, reminiscent of YSl Pour Homme but not as extreme. Finally it has the best oak moss of any non-vintage colognes in its category, not sure how Piguet managed to stretch the IRFA allowances but the only thing I have that compares is my vintage Eau Sauvage. Overall, I enjoy a number of scents in this category and do not find them homogenous. I like Pour Monsieur for its simplicity, I like Pour Homme for its agressive quality, Eau Sauvage for its more complex scent- particularly the orris and floral elements. However Cravache stands as at least the equal of these others, and is probably the best at conveying an air of relaxed assertiveness. It reminds folks at the office that I'm the boss, but a nice boss.

I don't know if you'll get the vibe you're on an equestrian outing in the Italian countryside or not, but the description of the scent itself provided by Piguet's website is pretty spot on. Like the other two fragrances I have from Piguet (Bandit and Bois Bleu) the quality and blending are superb. It's a pleasure to wear. --------------------------------------------------------- "Originally created by Robert Piguet Parfums in 1963, Cravache is an exhilarating classic citrus scent reinterpreted with modern elegance. Inspired by an equestrian outing — Cravache means riding crop in French. Perfectly balanced yet vivacious, this fragrance is an ode to traditional European cologne compositions. Lemon and mandarin set a fresh prelude for sweet lavender accented with a spicy bite of nutmeg. The comforting warmth of patchouli anchors the bracing citrus notes while the green and earthy richness of vetiver provides a beautifully grounding contrast to the initial sparkling accord. Cravache is reminiscent of an Italian countryside on a warm summer day where a gentle breeze carries the delicate perfume of lemon blossoms and sun-dried grasses — fresh, vibrant and warm." - Piguet Fragrances Note: You can find this for under $50 on ebay/Amazon if you do a little looking and are patient.

Wow! perfect juice this one. Exactly in the style of a classic french cologne from years gone by, Cravache delivers for me. The only issue I have with this sort of fragrance is the price niche houses charge. For example I love Dior Cologne Royale but I couldn't justify the high price. That doesn't apply to this one fortunately as it's a EDT and as such reasonably affordable for sheer quality. Opens with juicy lemon and madarin orange then becomes herby but not overly mossy like Chanel pour monsieur to which it is similar. The clary sage, nutmeg and of course lavender are more prominent without over powering, Cravache is very well put together and blended. Vetiver and herbs in the drydown on my skin but not very good longevity I have to say, I was a bit stingey with the application so next time I'll use more. There's a definite hint of minty menthol in this fragrance just after applied as @LookOut mentioned...and I was surprised not to see it in the notes on my sample card or on here. All in all a great fragrance it's calming and cerebral and a good day to day scent.

I don't know of too many Robert Piguet fragrance which don't give you a quality fragrance whether you like the aroma or not. Cravache is a sophisticated warm citrus/tangerine vib floating around with a herbal blend. After spraying this juice on my skin, the aroma of lemon feels like I came from southern Italy. Lavender and oakmoss give it that light herbal blend which is subtle yet evident in the overall blend. There's a definite woodsy note, again I feel that it's put together perfectly, so that the lemon juice shines through everything. Longevity and Silage is excellent lasting well past 6hrs... wears well during the summer months. Finally, I'm totally floored why such a high quality fragrance isn't as prominent in the North American market? I totally agree with those who put this juice in the same class as Dior's Sauvage and Chanel pour Monsieur. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR THE SUMMER. EXCELLENT FRAGRANCE 9/10