Le Canotier

So far this is my favourite fragrance from the Rogue Perfumery sample set. This is a gorgeous, uplifting vetiver. Disclaimer: I'm a woman who wears Guerlain Vetiver, and I also love other vetiver-heavy fragrances such as Byredo Bal d'Afrique, Chanel Sycomore and such. As a mega-fan of vetiver I may not be the most objective reviewer; however, if you belong to my tribe, you will certainly enjoy this little beauty! Here in Le Canotier (a.k.a. The Straw Hat), vetiver is aptly paired with citruses (bergamot and bitter orange), as well as some oakmoss, fresh flowers and ambergris. The opening is predominantly citric-mossy, while the drydown is more floral. My skin and vetiver get along famously: as soon as it touches my skin, Le Canotier literally explodes and continues to project magnificently for another six hours or so, until it finally calms down. Too bad that this fragrance, which truly is the best of the bunch, has been marked for discontinuation... Hopefully Mr Cross will change his mind.

nledger - I emailed Manuel Cross earlier this week because I swooned over Le Canotier and hoped he'd take pity on me and somehow procure me a bottle. Surprise! He responded with the reassuring words that he would still mix up a small batch for those who are smitten by this beauty. Of course I'm placing my full bottle order tonight! (Perhaps if enough of us clamor for it, Mr. Cross will re-consider his decision ...)

I do not own Roja Elysium, but I do own Parfums Vintage Evolution De L'Homme Soir and this has a very similar feel in the drydown. A beautiful, smooth vetiver with remnants of the citrus and florals from the opening and mid. Had to get a full bottle along with Mousse Illuminee and Derviche.

This has almost taken the backbone of Bleu de Chanel, but not added back in the good bits so it's left a little empty and wanting. It has the sparkle but none of the pizzazz. The opening of this is something special though - I'm guessing from those adorable nitromusks? But then it shifts gears and becomes a bit more mediocre (as a others have mentioned). It has airs of a 90s freshie or Millesme Imperial (is that the vetiver with some other aromachemical - a calone or something similar?) Overall, I suspect it's an average perfume made with NON-IFRA compliant ingredients that elevate it, and especially the opening, beyond average. It's more interesting than a bog-standard, shower-gel type of men's scent, and wearing it I did feel slightly clever but only from an 'aren't I different and unique' point of view.

Citrus-y smooth vetiver and sweet, sticky white florals which are (particularly in the opening) reinforced by nitromusks. Classic freshy, but doesn't bring much to the table to set it apart from the many other solid options that are available - I can see why it was discontinued. 6.5/10 initially, but gets a bit better into the drydown.