Open

I have big love for Roger and Gallet Open; it has all the elements that make me swoon. The somewhat aldehydic opening redolent with aromatics, including notable sage and thyme, that merge with a tobacco note that is completely devoid of gratuitous sweetness, reminiscent of Burley leaves. There is a texture to it that is nearly agrestic, sort of a countryside flair that I also pick up from the likes of other winners such as Aramis Devin and Hermes Rocabar. It's sensible yet complex; it certainly isn't modern, but who's counting anyway? This is a fragrance for the ages, my friends. Its elegance and form belies its shockingly low price tag: price to quality ratio is astonishing. When discovering stunning fragrances such as these, it really puts it all into perspective. It brings light to the pretensions, the pomp and circumstance of frag culture. We put value on the commodity, the illusion of opulence and aspiration that is tied to a hefty price tag, and we often lose sight of our own judgments and discretion. It's much like wine culture and other fineries, the bait and switch for those who don't discern without clear reference points will mistake a bottle of Two Buck Chuck for Château d'Yquem. Are we really reading with our own senses, or are we relying on others to qualify and quantify? Discernment means breaking down those illusions and really drinking in with the senses and making a personal assessment. It's why there are fragrance enthusiasts who refuse to confine to tight, neat tribes of 'niche,' 'designer,' and the like; they refuse to use price and prestige as a gauge; they know the spice of life no matter what the provenance of price tag. This is wisdom, and Open, aptly-named, is testament to that.

Open by Roger & Gallet is a fragrance that I find myself gravitating toward despite my own good sense. After all, when the opening hits my nostrils nothing about it really stands out except quite pronounced tobacco note. After about a half hour, the tobacco note calms down and blends with the citrus and lavender notes to create something that is far greater than the sum of its parts. I catch whiffs of myself throughout the day and it gives me joy, and this is what perfumery is all about to me. This fragrance touches something basic and dare I say primal, at least for me, because I have much more expensive fragrances, and I have fragrances that I might even say I like better; nevertheless, I find myself grabbing this one at least one or two days a week despite myself. To boot, this one is definitely what some might be tempted to call a "powerhouse" fragrance. Two or three sprays, one of my neck, one on my chest, and one on my shirt, and this tank engine lasts me all day. Let me just say a word or two about the flankers, the gold, white, and black formulas. Of them, the gold is quite elegant and long-lasting. It is essentially Open without the tobacco note. The white is an oddity; it is quite floral. Lastly, the black is weak as a kitten. Loads you down with oakmoss, which is nice, but on me the stuff is gone in less than an hour, so I almost never wear it out but sometimes use it before I go to bed. So, my rankings are 1. Open 2 .Gold 3. White, and 4. Black.

Open by R&G is one of few colognes which is still available at a fraction of the price. My reason for buying this juice is based on the fact that it isn't whimsical. Rather, a full body cologne with several layers giving it a well balanced blend of herbal/smokey vib at first spray. As it settles it sheds that smokey vib and takes on a more softened tobacco/lavender mix with a slight sweet/herbal base note coming from sage, thyme and patchouli. For some reason, my nose meter isn't able to pick up any citrus/bargamot notes. Longevity and Sillage is moderate which is better than some of the new colognes out on the market today. Some might think that this juice is out dated or its not in line with what people expect today. If you think about what's out on the market today, most mainstream colognes you're paying for is more about name and hype rather than what's in the bottle. Don't get me wrong, you can still buy a new released cologne that's worth it...unfortunately there's very few of them compared to what was being produced back in the late 70s..through the 80s into the early 90s. Most might consider this cologne for someone whose in their late 40s and up. In my opinion colognes or purfumes should be what you enjoy rather than tagging it to age group. This juice is definite keeper..perfect during the fall-winter months excellent for evening wear. 8/10

EvilheroJoseph's experience with this one is not uncommon. At first wearing, this is powerful, machismo, over the top. I put in my "to sell" area after my first try. But I always try things at least twice before pulling the trigger, especially since this was discontinued. Second time was like "this is amazing, unique, makes me feel mature and virile." It lasts a very long time. Now I can't get enough of it. Fortunately, as of December 2024, IT IS AVAILABLE AGAIN FOR AROUND $25. Dry, the tobacco is the real unsweetened leaf (stay away, Tobacco Vanille fans), and the spices are to volume 11. If you are the right kind of guy, this will grow on you. An incredible fragrance at an incredible price. R&G was a revered brand from, I believe, the 1800's France, but has now been bought and sold by Loreal and SAS. And since these conglomerates only care about profits, and this one is under most people's radar, it will probably be discontinued again soon, or at least reformulated beyond recognition. Can't imagine a woman, or a guy under 25, wanting to wear this, and it is on the opposite end of the scale from freshies, blues, gourmands and cinnamon/ambers. Despite my hundreds of bottles, this may actually be the first backup bottle I have ever bought. It's that good.

Open was another one of my blind purchases and it brought me extreme satisfaction. Open has the type of fragrance made for active and dominant men. I go further: it was designed for men with an open mind to the world and its passions. Its fragrance is extremely refined, manly and powerful, remaining on the skin for more than six hours, with great intensity. Its freshness, resulting from the Amalfi lemon and sage, combined with the drier notes of vetiver and tobacco, at the base, make it a champion of praise. When I wear this perfume, I have the feeling of being the most confident and elegant man in the world. And best of all, it didn't cost much and is a little known perfume (at least by Brazilians), which makes it even more exclusive, in a certain way.