Mousse Illuminee

Mousse Illuminee is just so great! It is three dimensional. A whole ecosystem lives inside of this perfume. It is otherworldly and transportive. I imagine hiking in a pine forest. That balsamic piney, sappy, motor oily, sweet fragrant sensation you get from tearing off a piece of pine bark or pealing off the wiry leaves from an evergreen or a spruce is what’s in this fragrance. That is the opening: a rich sappy, spicy opening that just sends the nostrils wild and back onto the mountains into an old cabin. In the transition to the dry down of Mousse Illuminee we begin to experience a mentholated texture provided by the white flowers (usual suspects of menthol being jasmine and tuberose as I've discovered from other fragrances eg. Sultan Pasha's Vetiver Blanc) and laurel leaves. Spicy, fresh, rich and somewhat piercing. In my opinion not a "green" sensation more a "pale blue" like a Hall's Cough Drop. I think of natural eucalyptus oils or even Tiger Balm when it gets to this point but this fragrance then does something totally essential on top of this unique transition. It sweetens the menthol and camphors into something so frigging rich, approachable, attractive and modern. Menthol or camphor smells in fragrances are difficult for me to enjoy but in this fragrance it is addicting. The camphor and powdery qualities in this have so much richness that it practically becomes wearable Altoids or sugared Tiger Balm in the air. Fresh, delicious, cooling and clean. I’ve tested this on skin and it is so powerful with so much lift that I’ve sometimes just sprayed a napkin and left it on a desk to perfume a room. I absolutely adore this scent it is three dimensional, with performance that goes beyond expectations for an attractive and ultra-approachable scent profile. I have no complaints smelling like this for days. I would give this a perfect score but the sweetness makes this just a tad less mature than I would like it to smell. It feels comfortable and playful somewhat mass appealing as well which I appreciate and respect about this formula. A minor concern but if the sweetness was dialed down by 5% or 10% it would make my top favorite like Bon Monsieur. I believe the sweetness is how this scent acquires its modern feel as most scents of the past would usually have animalic, powdery, spicy or savory qualities in place of today’s fresh, soapy and sweet qualities. Believe it or not, something in Mousse Illuminee also reminds me of the dry-down of my first fragrance Myrurgia Yacht Man Red or by association Dunhill Desire Red probably because of the spicy and woodsy, soily qualities of those fragrances that smell like potpourri. 9.5/10

I am most fascinated with psychology - particularly, how the human mind handles anomalies. In this case, an independently-produced perfume, heavily based around natural ingredients seeks to pay homage to the essence of a bygone era. In this case, it is just as divisive as it is impressive. We need to first address the almost never ending misunderstanding here. This is NOT AN OAKMOSS FRAGRANCE. This is a fragrance based around TREEMOSS, artemisia, florals, and musk. Treemoss is distinct from oakmoss insofar as it is less powdery, more resinous, and overall "greener." I can understand how this leads to some disappointment for lovers of other oakmoss fragrances (New York Intense; Mitsouko; Eucris), expecting a more "refined" and "powdery" (French) olfactory experience. I'm sorry to say - you're looking in the wrong place. Critical thinking is important here. Is it reasonable to expect a lion to be anything but a lion? Or a swan anything but a swan? No. So why are so many people disappointed that this doesn't smell like something from Chanel or Guerlain? This is a perfume based heavily around volatile naturals and created by a self-taught independent perfumer, not some designer house with a legacy of hundreds of years. If you can find the humility and patience to think about it - this is an outstanding achievement. Mousse Illuminee is purportedly a tribute to 80's powerhouse fragrances, and that's from the horse's mouth. But the freedom and love of an independent nose, a passionate hobbyist, imbues an incredible quality into this juice. You can certainly smell the love Manuel has for fragrances and that is something you don't often find in major houses, even niche. How would I describe the fragrance? It is almost as if you spilt a bottle of Green Irish Tweed in a forest cave (though MI is not at all derivative). The tenacity and sheer magnitude is admirable, but the creativity is impressive. The Frankincense note is simultaneously purifying and dirty (like earth.) The florals are smaller, but lend a great complexity and natural effervescence to the composition. The lush green of pine, treemoss, and laurel harmonize perfectly. This is a natural masterpiece - this thing is alive on you. If you love green fragrances and are willing to step outside of the traditional boundaries of fragrance into something organic and alive, this is for you. Even if you are intimidated by the criticisms here, this is something you need to smell at least once. I know, it will be in my collection for life.

If you get a little bored and tired of the mainstream fragrances I urge you to consider this product. I enjoy most genres of fragrance from general designer offerings right through to arty/niche creations. This is something different to both of the aforementioned. It's a throwback! It's an interpretation of times gone by but manages to feel a little edgy in the blah blah modern age we live in. If you enjoy classic barbershop/fougere scents this should hit the spot. If you enjoy something that feels special, this'll do the trick. Because of the quality of ingredients and masterful blending this offers something that'll powerfully standout amongst the ocean of gourmand, sweet and myriad of available fragrances on the high street/mall. It's clean, masculine and authoritative. This is for the man who is put together and knows what he likes. A guy who values and considers the opinions of others but will fulfill his objectives anyway and you'll thank him for it! 😆 Performance is good. Very noticeable for anyone within speaking distance for several hours.....and trust me, people will notice the individuality when you opt for this. It'll continue to waft about noticeably for another several after too, just a little more intimate by then. It's sillage will drift behind you gradually weakening over a full day but never disappearing until you shower. It's a stunning fragrance for men above the ages of 35 and of a mature mindset. Of course, who am I to say a Woman couldn't wear it! It's distinctive and something that any strong character could carry should they so desire. It'll work any season but I feel it's so distinctive and fresh that it works best for the daytime. I usually want something a little more serene of an evening to help me wind down, not energising me. But it'll definitely carry itself fine for a night out comfortably. I won't break down the scent as the info is here in abundance already. But I will say that the overall scent is reasonably linear which is a good thing for this potion. It's unique which in conjunction with real quality ingredients make this scent pungent and very noticeable. 4-5 sprays is probably enough for any sane person! What I can tell you for sure, this will be a regular for me from now on.👌 Listen, if you want something that will leave an impression, feel special, that offers something unique then this is a bullseye 🎯.

If you can imagine an 80s powerhouse feminine white floral perfume yet done for men with an equally loud helping of oakmoss, then you are on your way to understanding what Mousse Illuminee is like to wear. There is no such thing as conservatively wearing this perfume. It is big, bold, and tenacious but yet despite the obvious retro-lean, the heroic creative brief, and its gargantuan nature, it doesn’t collapse under its own gravitas. Cool herbal and woody bay leaves and artemisia open Moussse but immediately give way to carnations and jasmine that are taken to the max. It is plenty musky - there is another reason for this that we’ll get to in a second - dry and indolic, peppery, a touch citrusy and green, and very obviously white floral. There is a natural and very sound link to the green facet of the jasmine and the outsized oakmoss accord that burgeons around the florals. Mousse is seriously mossy. The damp, green, earthy, and woody moss is pitch-perfect and volume-equal to the florals, as if you are smelling a massive bouquet of moss, carnations, and jasmine, and it’s one of the best moss materials I’ve smelled in many years. Underneath this planetary sized heart is a bed of white soap musks of notable quality. They are certainly pushing the musky qualities of the heart forward with their own character while smelling slick, clean and floral soapy. Turning the musks from bright white to a more calming and elegant beige color are gentle tendrils of frankincense that provide breadth while naturally linking to the green and woody facets of the other accords. This is probably the first time a floral-leaning fougere has ever smelled operatic to my nose. Most fougeres are calm, soothing, clean, and restrained affairs for the dapper gentleman not wanting to announce himself too much, but Mousse is no choir boy, it’s Carreras or Pavarotti making sure the orchestra behind him is giving it their all lest he drown them out. Wear this one sparingly, it won’t take much - not unless you want Pavarotti right next to your head making your eardrums bleed. This is a stunner, literally and figuratively. If you are looking for a classic masculine fougere that leans floral, and it’s just “more” in every way, I don’t think there is anything out there that will scratch that itch like Mousse Illuminee.

I had been putting off getting this scent because of all the comparisons to Polo, that being my (long past) father in law’s signature scent. As long as I’ve known my wife, that is the one fragrance that she asked me to never wear. About a month ago I decided that I would finally try MI and went ahead and got the 30ml bottle with the expectation that I would rarely get to wear it. To my delight, while this does share similar characteristics with Polo, it doesn’t smell like Polo. My wife even commented on it, very elegantly, stating that I smelled like a “crunchy hippy”. Needless to say, it’s not her favorite scent, but it didn’t even faintly remind her of Polo. I’ve given this about 6 full day wearings now and I see why it’s so loved by those who’ve tried it or who own it. It opens up with a huge dose of that tree/oak moss that sticks around heavy for the first 2-3 hours of the fragrance. That’s also when it projects the most. After that it begins to settle into to the mix and the cedar and musk start to come through a lot more. It smells the closest to Polo on the dry down, but still different enough to have it’s own personality. All in all, I love this fragrance and I’m happy to have it in my collection. It’s definitely not a mass appealing scent by todays standards, however, in the right occasions this can shine. I can see this working in pretty much every season, although I wouldn’t wear it in the high summer heat. To me this gives off a classy/sophisticated aura and could easily be a signature scent for someone who presents themselves very put together. I get about 6 hours of solid projection, after that it creates a nice personal bubble. Becomes a skin scent around the 8-9 hour mark on me, but will still catch wafts of it when I heat up. So, to anyone that’s putting off trying this because of the comparisons to Polo, don’t. This definitely has its similarities, but it has its own personality. The same way that people compare “blue” fragrances, this is in the same wheelhouse has Polo. If you’ve read this far, get a sample and try it yourself. You just might find the next fragrance you love.

I just sampled the new Grand Cru version..... wow. To the hot hunk who I lowballed on m****** I’m so sorry I know ur a fragrantica user I’ve seen ur icon before on here just know I played myself bc if I knew it was this good I’d have bought it for what you asked for. I gasped after spraying it. I wore the original today knowing my sample would come in later so I could properly compare and the original is really nice. I understand why it is beloved though maybe a bit overhyped. It’s good at what it does and I’d get it if I were a finance bro. It’s like for someone who grew up in a family of witches but chose to work on wallstreet and blends in with everyone else there but has this cultural background that surprises people who get to know him deeper. Clean cool bitter silvery chartreuse green showcase of artemisia in a palace of oakmoss. Subtle nuances from the other notes make it interesting but it did feel like something was missing to really make it something I’d grab over a Bohea Boheme or chypre mousse. I wouldn’t say it’s incomplete I have scents that are simpler (mal aime) but those reflect an attitude closer to my own. The grand cru version is kinda the inverse of that personality. This is the same person but he grew up in a wealthy business owning family who expected him to follow the same road but something inside lead him off course and into the dark and deep sea of self discovery. It smells very similar to Prin’s Haxan. Which was an ode to the dark arts of witchcraft. On my skin the resins and Champaca and wormwood are on equal footing with the oakmoss. It’s darker heavier androgynous slightly humid and tropical and almost sexy without trying to be u just can’t help but be aroused. It feels 3D in comparison. I see deep emerald green amulets and brown and maroon silks and taupe suede boots with accents of that same silvery green chartreuse hue of the original decorating the aura around me. I’m surprised it’s not priced higher

Looking back on this scent, what I really admire about this is that it's so true to it's name and what it's attempting to achieve. It gives you what you expect, and that's honestly just a complete overdose of oak moss. It's oak moss and there are florals, I don't get the menthol that people are referring to so much and I don't think it smells that much like Polo Green. This is way more authentic smelling, and also daring, than Polo Green is. To me, this is like if you take Irish Spring body wash, but flesh out all of the individual aspects of that so that you can discern them individually and they're not just one kind of synthetic jumble of notes. I do get the Irish Spring comparisons, this does have a little bit of that but it'd be like Irish Spring made a fragrance, this would be the super premium niche version of it. It's not for the faint of heart, it's not for kids, this is grown men perfumery and it takes balls to wear something like this. This is the kind of scent that you could wear in a lot of situations though surprisingly so long as the weather is permitting and you go EASY on the trigger. This is one of those ones where you will overload and mess up your olfactory senses if you use too much. A couple of sprays and people will smell you across the hall, but they won't be offended. If you go much more than that you're gonna get complaints. This is true beast mode, superb longevity, superb projection, and it just smells like fall and winter in Minnesota to me, with all of the evergreens and snow on the ground, it's negative degrees outside, but we're used to it. This is a masterpiece.

The opening is quite harsh, bitter and medicinal/alcoholic but I love the way it sits on my skin after about ten minutes. I would definitely want to apply this in advance rather than when I'm in company or I'd expect the people around me to recoil at the opening. It remains overall very dark and bitter to my nose although there is a faint sweetness to it the longer it sits. I get lots of classic men's shaving cream type notes, but also a distinct anis/licorice that isn't mentioned in the description. Maybe that's the artemisia. I have some growing in my garden but it smells nothing like this to my nose. Because of the darkness, greenness and that licorice aspect, this almost reads to me like a male version of my beloved Lolita Lempicka (the actual Lolita au Masculin was weak and disappointing to me). Don't get me wrong though, it is very much male despite that comparison. Nonetheless I feel I can pull it off as a gender-nonconforming woman. I wonder how it would smell layered with the original LL... It does not smell like a literal forest, I don't get much in the way of conifers or resin ala Solstice Scents Night Watcher for example, but abstractly it does convey a forest atmosphere. I need to sit with it a bit longer but I am really liking it this so far. I would enjoy smelling it on a lover. Unfortunately I don't think my boyfriend would be able to stand the opening.

Perfectly balanced perfume, heavier earthier green elements of oakmoss played against the camphor of laurel/cypress and sweetened with jasmine. I almost didn't buy this fragrance because I couldn't detect floral sweetness on my first wear, leading me to think it was too green and heavy. Luckily, I gave it another go and it is one of my most loved scents. It honestly is ridiculous how good this smells! The oakmoss here doesn't evoke leather, strong earthiness or vintage character as it does in older formulas where it used to be a constant fixture. This feels like a modern interpretation, a toned down version of oakmoss, flexible enough for any occasion. It also does not feel like a woody perfume to me, I only get the piney camphorous edge from cypress and cannot smell any cedar. The bright sunny camphor of the opening is lost after first 30 minutes and scent becomes earthy, vegetal yet sweet, counterbalanced by jasmine. The projected scent is sweeter than when smelled from close, slightly green and absolutely alluring. The earthy oakmoss gradually takes over over the course of a few hours, pulling you towards a damp, dark forest floor. However, there are enough traces of medicinal green vegetation like artemisia and laurel scattered about to keep the composition lighter and interesting. Stellar performance for an EDC, I get 8 hours of longevity with moderate projection.

WOW!!! An absolutely mesmerizing elixir fit for the Gods. This is how all fragrances should be composed. Screw restrictions on what ingredients can and can’t be used. Rogue in general is a great example of this. Real oakmoss. Soooo good. I first smelled Mousse Illuminee when I had met up with a friend to pick up another fragrance. I saw that he had sold MI the day before and had heard so much about it so I asked if he still had it. He did and the buyer hadn’t picked it up yet so he spared me one spray. OH my Goodness. I could not stop smelling my wrist for the rest of the day. I couldn’t get enough. And that one little spray lasted all day. I couldn’t stop thinking about it after that day and knew I had to eventually buy it. I now have 4 bottles and it is easily in my top 5 frags. What a stunner. I will add that I had a lady friend over one night and I was going through my collection with her. She had already sprayed on a few of my super feminine leaning perfumes that I presented to her and when she took a whiff of Mousse Illumine she automatically sprayed herself several times before I could stop her. She couldn’t stop smelling herself throughout the night, with those super long ecstasy like sniffs. Long story short; this stuff is incredible. Super potent as well. Easily worth it’s value. Well done Manuel.

Manuel Cross is a maverick for creating this entire line. Contrary to the initial lore surrounding the brand, it is indeed IFRA compliant. This goes to show that nothing is stopping the big houses (which have all the resources and captive materials) from reviving the classics while remaining within regulation. [The fact that the classics continue to be gutted leads one to infer that it has more to do with marketing (pumping out “modernized” versions for “today’s tastes”) and/or cutting costs, than it does with compliance. But that’s a conversation for another day...] Mousse Illuminée is a wonder. It is an outstanding tree moss bomb that never seizes to amaze. It begins with a bracing blast of artemisia (wormwood) that immediately gives way to the underlying tree moss, supported by a delicious white musk and cypress accord. Bay leaf and olibanum (frankincense) give it an added aromatic, smoky semi-sweetness that lingers for many, many hours. I love the long drydown. I don’t use this one very often because it is potent and tenacious, full of character and with a very clear message, and so best enjoyed sparingly when the mood is right. As a lover of all things green, it’s a gem that I thoroughly enjoy.

An absolutely glowing reminder of what was possible before IFRA. M. Cross' fragrances are rich, beautiful creations with great ingredients. Here, we get minty, camphorous notes and a great smelling artemisia. This fragrance is reminiscent of vintage Polo (green), but by no means a copy. There is a great depth in this fragrance and a richness that only comes with real oak moss used in measurable quantities. The result is a long lasting, strongly projecting scent that keeps calling my nose back for another sniff. I would tend to use this fragrance in the shoulder seasons as I find it too much for hot summer and lacking a certain warmth for winter use. Also, note that all of the Rogue scents I have owned have improved in the bottle over time with maceration (i.e., exposure to air after some initial sprays). This is old school, masculine leaning perfumery, but it is most certainly not old fashioned smelling. If you have not tried Rogue, you need to do so, if only to learn (or become reacquainted with) how the real versions of classic perfume elements actually smell. Thank heavens there are houses like Rogue keeping these notes alive for us all to enjoy. Highly recommended.

This is near perfect fragrance. The longer I have been wearing and studying great fragrances, the more inclined I am to appreciate classic masculine scent profiles. While I think this smells very little like everything that it is compared to above, it still has that DNA. The moss (and I believe the predominant moss is and always has been tree moss vs oak moss) is simply remarkable. It forms the core of what is ultimately a very linear wearing experience. Perhaps that is the only knock against this fragrance is that it evolves very little. It starts sharp and green and continues as such for an incredible amount of time. In this way it reminds me, even though it smells very different, of Beach Hut Man. That fragrance is also intensely green, powerful and linear. I also own a sample of Bon Monseur, and it has that same prominent mossy note, but it is only a part of that scent. It is essentially the entirety of MI, but that suits me perfectly. I love this, and it will be my office scent beginning in early March, when the lemon-colored new leaves of the spring remind us all that life can begin anew with every passing year.

I have a 2023 batch. Whoever says this stuff is watered down or weak needs to have their nerve endings checked. A HALF spray of this stuff from the 30ml bottle on my arm clears the room and lingers for over a day. This is beast mode. I have no idea who in their right mind could call this weak, at least what I got. It does not smell exactly like Polo Green but to me it absolutely has that vibe and does have some of the best notes I liked in Polo Green -- and I have a Cosmair bottle from 1986. There is a very strong sharpness on the opening (maybe the artemisia?) that lasts a good while - not displeasing but very pungent. Overall Mousse Illuminee is very natural smelling, lives up the 80's powerhouse style, lasts a LONG time, has EXTREME projection (like Sauvage Elixir level projection) and has a wonderful dry down. Worth trying. I got the sampler set from Rogue and this was far and away my favorite of the bunch. There are other good ones but this one was easily best to me. I only got the 30ml bottle but like I said, I don't need more than half a spray because this stuff is nuclear.

Mousse Illuminee by Rogue Perfumery has become my secret weapon for the workday—a fragrance that feels both invigorating and refined. The moment I spray it on, I’m enveloped in a wave of green: fresh, mossy, alive. It’s like stepping into a sun-dappled forest just as the morning mist lifts, a scent that sharpens my senses and makes me feel collected, polished, ready. But what I love most is how it balances that vivid greenness with a subtle softness. There’s a quiet elegance beneath the brightness, a smoothness that pairs beautifully with the textures I love—cashmere sweaters, silk scarves, the kind of pieces that make you feel cocooned yet confident. Mousse Illuminee wears close to the skin, a gentle aura that whispers sophistication rather than shouts. It’s not loud, but it lingers. It’s clean without being sterile, natural without being rustic. Every time I wear it, I feel like I’m carrying a little piece of nature into the office—a green oasis tucked beneath tailored lines. For me, it’s the perfect balance of stimulation and serenity, a scent that elevates the everyday.

Just weighing in as an older woman with a long history of wearing and loving deep, strong green fragrances as well as appreciating them on the men in my life. I'm surprised to see that this is scored decidedly toward the male end of the gender spectrum. I thought it would have been ranked dead-centre unisex. I really think that if you're a woman who loves bold green/forest-like notes you should not overlook this one. I bought it for Ric, but I find myself stealing it copious spritzes of it for myself. If you can handle big guns like vintage Vent Vert by Balmain and very vintage Chanel No 19 parfum, you shouldn't have any problem feeling beautiful wearing Mousse Illuminee. Manny's done a gorgeous job with impeccably high-quality ingredients. This is extrait-strength stuff so quite a bargain for the price. The drydown is as complex as the opening and goes on and on and on. The fragrantica notes are incorrect, by the way; this composition highlights natural tree moss, a much different beast than oakmoss: brighter, sharper, with more of a bitter green edge.

Dear LORD what a nuclear blast of treemoss and green cypress the opening is. Almost piney, with an herbal tinge and noticeable menthol accord. (From... where? The bay leaves, I suppose, perhaps boosted by facets of other notes.) A powerful tuberose is revealed after a few minutes followed by a light, airy jasmine as the scent transforms into something more woody and green with a hint of fresh spice. Very bright and uplifting, like walking through a sunny forest. If Chypre-Siam smells like a wet deciduous forest and Fougere L'aube smells like a dry coniferous forest, MI smells like walking through a coniferous forest covered by the gentle mist of morning dew. Alternatively, in shorter words, I'd say this smells like a very strong pine-scented aftershave. I can understand why some think it too medicinal, with that mysterious menthol accord and all, but my nose doesn't read it as "medicinal" so much as it just comes across incredibly fresh and uplifting. I love it. Nuclear projection for 2-3hr, longevity 6-8hr. It's insanely strong, do be mindful.

I ordered the Complete Sample Set from Rogue Perfumery by Manuel Cross. When I first opened it I was overwhelmed with how Loud each of the scents seemed to be on a blotting paper. I was afraid after that first experience that they just weren’t for me. However, I had had a positive experience with the seller so I was hoping to find at least one of them that I could purchase a full bottle of. I decided to try this one on my wrists after my shower so that I could see how it wore while watching tv at home, and Wow. After those initial loud notes this became a genuinely unique, warm, mossy, clean scent. I am amazed and truly impressed. I never would have thought after smelling this on paper that I could see myself wearing this as a regular scent, but I love it! Give this one a try! If you haven’t checked out this perfumery- you should! I’m always hesitant to try sites that are a little off the beaten path because I’ve been burned by scam sites before but I am so happy I gave this line a shot!

My second fragrance review goes to none other than this masterpiece. (Spoiler: Being a muggle in perfumery, I am not in any sense deeply educated in all these theories, notes, perfume structures etc., so my review is totally based on subjective perception) Upon first spray, there is a slightly sharp herbaceous greenness to it. But give it some minutes, and it mulls down to this fantastical scent - still very green and mossy, but with the magic of the florals and the musk, it transports you deep into a forest, tranquil and almost enchanting. Again, the florals and musk gives it a smooth sweetness, but it is balanced out by the herbals and oakmoss. I personally find it captivating and soothing. Some classify it as a chypre, some others call it a fougere - imho, it is one of its class. Bombastic projection (and it's an EdT?!!!!), longevity also 8+ hours. A transportive, therapeutic and almost magical green fragrance, the best there is to it (at least to my still very new nose). Gorgeous.

I really love this perfume, bright fizzy, grape soda over a more classic fougere. To me this is not bitter in the slightest, it is sweet, herby, and almost fruity. It’s very forward with its oakmoss, so if that is not your thing probably avoid this, though I’m not sure why you’d be interested in the first place given the name. It’s bright and green enough it almost reminds me of The Soft Lawn from Imaginary Authors, but where that fragrance has a synthetic twang of tennis balls, this to my nose, stays more natural. This is a sweet, wet, bright, and fizzy perfume. I think it’s perfect for a daily wear and really any occasion. It’s sophisticated yet approachable. One of my favorites of recent memory, and certainly my favorite from this house so far. However, I wish my wife liked it as much as I do. To her nose she says it’s a bit soapy, and a bit too sweet. This is definitely worth sampling to be sure it’s your style, as it seems it can be somewhat controversial.

i sampled this a longgggg time ago with a few other from the brand and they all had that grape soda thing going on. this one was the least offensive of the lot but still very reminiscent of my nieces breath after she drinks her koolaide and runs around in the sun and comes to hug me. i hate the smell bc its not really something i want to embody but its sentimental bc i dont get to see her as often anymore now that ive moved. that being said i tried the sample again and the grape funk goes away way quicker now. it lasted hours the first time now only 20ish minutes and whats left is gorgeous. medicinal bitter but soft and serene. i think of quiet chilly mornings in the woods as summer begins to wane... but in a utopian future idk why but there’s something about its coolness and consistency that yes harkens to the past as well as the future. Like an actually successful utopia where everything is organic and natural. It smells of a healed earth

I am shocked that people think this smells like any formulation of polo green. I am equally shocked that no one has suggested Targhee Forrest smells like Polo green when actually it does far more than this fragrance and if you take a look at the notes in Polo Green, and compare them to Mousse Illumine and Targhee forest you will see exactly why. Targhee Forest is nearly identical in note break down with a couple exceptions (Sagebrush and a lack of a tobacco note) Now Mousse Illuminee is built around an entirely different accord than Polo consisting of Treemoss (not oak moss) Green Cypress, Artemisia, Laurel Leaves and Olibanum (Frankincense) that gives a green incense like undertone. I love this Mousse Iluminee because it is old school ingredients but smells modern and like no other fragrance I have ever encountered and its dialed up to 11 in a nuclear way when you are talking about silage and longevity. Masterpiece fragrance 10/10

If I was going to bottle men's seasoned stale sweat and sell it as perfume, it would definitely be this - - and this is a compliment! I quite like this, even though it doesn't fit my style (I'm too damn dandified), I'm definitely getting a bottle to sprtiz for bed time as it is sexy. From the opening burst of oakmoss and artemisia (dried artemisia smells like the cannabis and absinthe note talked about in other reviews) to the crunchy olibanum and mentholated tuberose, til finally we are at an ultimate soapy drydown. This does bring back memories of being a child, smelling friend's dad's soaps and colognes in their bathrooms, never quite identifying with the scents but being attracted none the less. I would definitely hang on to the neck of a daddy (or dandy) wearing this beaut. Don't be afraid of the golden day throwbacks of Polos - - plenty of us have unresolved daddy issues regardless of your age ;)

Mousse Illuminee is like walking through a gleaming silver forest, with an array of shrubs and herbs carpeting the soft ground you walk on, and endless mosses and lichens hugging the trees around you. It’s gorgeous; intensely green and masculine, unapologetically aromatic and natural. A leafy, herbaceous sharpness cuts through the air like a knife due to the overdose of cypress, artemisia and laurel leaves. The soft woodiness of oakmoss and cedar permeates through gradually, but struggles to reach the surface as they become flattened by frankincense. This strange note of frankincense adds an element of dryness to the scent which is surprisingly complimentary. It’s a lovely scent and it smells amazingly natural, however it’s certainly made for a particular type of person - someone who truly wants to smell like a green forest. It may smell delightful, but I wonder if I would actually wear it.

I see a re-occurring theme of this “grape soda” smell from different users. I can see what they are referring to although I wouldn’t describe it explicitly as grape but rather an initial fruity nuance. However I feel this fruity smell is only detectable in the opening, and only for about 30 minutes. After that, the deep ”greeness” of this fragrance really starts to shine. I will also say, the opening smells nothing like polo green, but the more MI dries down, the closer it gets to polo. Saying all this, I am not the biggest fan of the opening, but I am LOVING the dry down. I am a big fan of polo green (older formulations), so it only makes sense. The performance is awesome as well. As I am writing this, I have been wearing MI for 5 hours and it is still going strong. I have no doubt it will get me through the workday and then some. This is a winner if you like rich and green classics!

A green sharp herbaceous and woody evergreen note right off the bat that is slightly medical. Lavender is present. Calming down to a more slightly earthy incense scent. A mature deep forest on a breezy day vibe where you smell the pine needles and leaves and treemoss and the cool damp earth on dry down with just a hint of woodiness, This is just awesome stuff in my opinion, provided this is something you are looking for. I lean into the more vintage and old school scents, this probably won't "wow" the masses as it isn't exactly mass appealing like your typical fruity/patchouli/vanilla bombs out there. I would imagine most people born past the year 2000 may not enjoy or appreciate this one. But if you are like me and can appreciate a well formulated, somewhat unique fragrance crafted with care, while enjoying the notes that come along with this scent, this could be for you.

I've read a lot of incredibly vivid and apt descriptions of Mousse Illuminee, and I'm not a writer, and can't improve on those. So I'm just here casting my vote for this gorgeous, joyful, bright, deep, velvety, immensely pleasing fragrance being perfectly unisex. I don't get "masculine" from this at all. Maybe partly because I came of age in the 90s and guys weren't wearing Polo Green? (I think my dad used Old Spice and my grandpa used really old school stuff, barbershop vibe. Now that's masculine to me.) You should try this. It's so beautiful. And just as an aside, I've heard a couple folks mention vintage Poison in comparison to this. It hadn't occured to me but when I heard that I was like, of course!! I get kind of an incense-grape thing from my treasured mini of the Esprit, and I get that with M.I. too. They are totally different scents but share a certain something.

Stunning oakmoss aromatic green masculine fragrance. Smelling many of Rogue perfumes is like stepping back in time when perfumery was an art form and not the drab commercial enterprise it has become. A musky lichen covered forest of the purest most vibrant green. This perfume smells like a living world of the upmost purity and splendor. I love the use of laurels here. Laurels and bay leaf used to be used so often in male fragrances. When did that stop? That fresh spicy aroma is the very breath of life and how it mingles and compliments the softly sensual musk and the hint of white florals is magical. This is a spritly, spirited and lively green fragrance that lean male but it is breathtakingly sensual and alive I would wear it. Big love 💕. Stunning vintage like fragrance. Perfect masculine counterpart to his chypre Siam.

When I first bought this from Rogue it had a delightfully dominating grape soda note that contrasted beautifully with the smoky moss and bitter herbal artemesia. It was an interesting nuance that made this a unique, standout fragrance. A year later that note has disappeared from my bottle. Maybe this has happened to others, which may explain why some people report it and some don’t. Some chemical reaction that occurs with top notes over time, I suppose. It’s a shame, but that’s perfumery for you. It can be volatile and the absence of that special note now makes this feel a little less unique. Regardless, grape soda or no, Mousse Illuminee remains one of my favorites. In the same family as Polo Green, but distinct on its own. Masculine, classic, with an intriguing bitter green bite and deep dark mossiness.

I LOVE this fragrance. Like a forest floor, walking through a forest. The name is a perfect description of the experience. The scent really lingers and evolves over time. Opens with strong notes of camphor and artemisia and some white flowers. Then within a few more minutes you're nose to dirt, smelling earth and moss with some flowers in the background. Resolves in the dry down to hours of mossy musky wood, but the gentle soft smells of decomposing and living wood in the forest, not the sharp smell of cut wood or a wood shop. Absolutely LOVE this but unfortunately reminds my partner of some men in her past that she really did not care for. It's definitely a more traditionally masculine scent but I will wear it myself - I don't care. Just will only get to do it when I'm traveling for work :/

For those wondering about compliance, this is from the website. Do you follow IFRA guidelines? Mostly. EU regulations are far more strict and overreaching than IFRA recommendations. Since EU regulations do not apply to us here in the U.S., we do not aim to conform to them. That said, we also don’t haphazardly construct fragrances without regard for safety. We keep IFRA recommendations in mind during the creative process and refrain from using any known carcinogens or known endocrine disruptors. Do you make different versions for your EU retailers? No. Our EU retailers sell the exact same products we offer in the U.S. We do not create separate formulations to comply with EU regulations. They choose to stock our fragrances at their own risk.

Wooooow! Ammmaaazing! Great for once to see most reviews here are relevant! So, because of that all I’m going to add is that it’s a deep green in your face moss sweetened by the subtle flowers and brightened and made airy by the artemisia. Green and old school like ADP Colonia Club and good ol’ Brut 33 (reminds me of the shaving foam I used to use). ABSOLUTE KILLER PROJECTION AND LONGEVITY for an EDT. Old school oakmoss Fougere and completely and utterly a F&$k You to the IFRA. I am VERY CONFIDENT this will probably be the scent of the year and on everyone’s shopping list for the next few years... If this is your style just grab a bottle - I guarantee you will be happy - if your curious about this type of scent this is the place to start.

I'm picky about green fragrances because I smelled them so often growing up I grew tired of them and never completely got over it. But this is my favorite because it's so natural, intense, and unapologetically masculine. It's loaded with tree moss and I can't get enough of it. I love oakmoss too and will occasionally spike my fragrances with oakmoss absolute to give them some natural green horsepower. I'm so glad this is not IFRA compliant because it's unrestrained. I really enjoyed vintage Van Cleef Tsar but it's super expensive, and Floris Elite was sort of my go to "safe" green scent, but this is the undisputed champion in my book. ------------------------------------------------------ Scent 100/100 Performance 80/100

I got the Grand Cru version a few days ago, but there's no fragrantica entry for it yet. This is an all natural fragrance & the ingredients list is an educational experience for me in itself--no synthetics period. Anyway, I love the artemisia, cypress, & oakmoss. The floral & incense notes are there, but this is primarily an herbal & oakmoss based fragrance. Basically, it smells like you just left the perfect barbershop, which is super cool. It's up there with just about anything in terms of quality, so personal taste is the factor here. I'd say it's very tasteful & masculine with a retro spirit, which should work well for me, b/c while I like florals alot, I like the bitter herbs too, & this one is it right here.

This is the highest quality oakmoss I have ever smelled, good lord. As for the overall smell, imagine taking the old school Polo Green, making it a little more modern, and then giving it a very very soapy, almost foamy finish. The example of Irish Spring soap is pretty accurate here, especially in the dry down. This is a fragrance for the true fragrance lover, the quality of the ingredients is apparent...but occasion to wear has me a bit confounded...too sharp and soapy for evening wear or to a date, and the strong oakmoss might not be suitable for the office. I picture a slightly rainy day at home just chillin would be the best time for this. I absolutely love it, but it won't be for everyone.

This is one of the rare cases where a reformulation made me love a fragrance when I used to find it too challenging to wear. Once upon a time this was way too beast mode and the parts of the scent that were my favorite (that grape note mixed with oakmoss) were overwhelmed by too much bitterness. Now this fragrance is the opposite. That bitterness takes a backseat and the lovely oakmoss / grape like sweetness take to the front. The beastmode quality has been toned down to a reasonable sillage (still quite strong but not overly so). It's magnificent. Truly, I believe this is a masterpiece amongst masterpieces. If you haven't tried this yet, then you MUST get a sample. It's unbelievable.

As someone who has been DEEP into my perfume journey for nearly 25 years, I so appreciate Rouge's classical approach to compositions. The use of ingredients that have largely been purged from mainstream brands (most of them being the best natural components) breathes new life into familiar olfactory constructs. Such is the case with Mousse Illuminee. What a stellar coniferous, mossy masterpiece. On a man it would augment his "manly" vibe in the best way, but definitely something I would wear too, when I want to feel like I'm breathing in the cool air of an alpine forest--which is most days. Overall, an absolutely excellent fragrance and one I'm so happy to own.

Natural Oak moss is the star here (no IFRA compliance), together with a touch of musk, surrounded by beautiful slightly sweet white flowers. It has a vintage vibe that added to the natural feeling, makes this perfume a perfect signature scent. Even being an EDT this performs like an extract, like the ones we've heard from the past (80's powerhouses???) The ones compering this to Polo Green are not smelling the same juice that I have in front of me. Originality: medium-high (vintage vibe, but this natural oak moss cannot be found almost anywhere nowadays) Scent: 9.5/10 Performance: High (a real powerhouse) Would I buy it: YES (already in my collection)

I have always been a big fan of the original Ralph Lauren Polo, and while I know there is no gender in fragrance, that doesn’t mean that certain scents can’t feel too far out of our own personal comfort zones to wear ourselves. Polo is one of those for me, as it just feels too startlingly masculine. Why am I rambling about Polo? Because Manuel Cross has created a unisex version of it in Mousse Illuminée, slightly sweeter and more floral & gentle, but still giving you all the green gloriousness of vintage Polo. It’s like a version of those vintage 70s and 80s masculines, made wearable for everyone. Another terrific fragrance from Rogue Perfumery.

Love at first sniff, this house never disappoints! My latest acquisition from the brand and I must say, this is my favourite of all the ones I've tried so far. Mousse Illuminee is a tribute to the classic men's fragrances from back in time with a modern twist. Guess that's the perfumer's forte! Taking something from the older days and redoing it with that extra push. This is a beautiful mossy, green perfume with a fizzy opening of something like grapefruit ( though not listed here ). It doesn't change or evolve a lot I'll but I absolutely love what I get from the opening and this perfume does its job wonderfully like others from the catalogue!

The combination of oakmoss and artemisia comes off almost fruity at first like some kind of pineapple and fake grape. Drys to something more mossy herbal and reminiscent of tobacco and tea leaves and the suggestion of leather. Definitely fashioned in the classic masculine mossy style, but doesn’t smell dated. Turns out I like Rogue’s style and real oakmoss because this and Chypre Siam are addictive to my nose. I can see how the synthetics approximate real oakmoss, but there is something richer and warm about the real thing. In a market full of sweet generic scents designed to appeal to as many people as possible this style is refreshing.

I won't even admit how many back-up bottles I grabbed of this stuff, just out of concern this amazing juice would ever get reformulated or watered-down. It's spectacular, especially if you're seeking a decadent green oakmoss bomb. Rogue also released matching shave soap and aftershave balm. They're just as exceptional. BTW, I do prefer the original over the more recent Absolue de Mousse flanker. I find that the latter just has too much of a bitter herbal blast initially--probably from the Clary Sage and Thyme--although it does settle down into something just as beautiful. No need to pay a premium for it though. Stick with the original.

PWOAHHH MOTHBALLS!!! I hate this fragrance, how can you enjoy this? It stinks! No wait, it’s drying down, florals are starting to come through, mothballs are settling into rugged masculine mosses... okay fine, you got me, I am in love! This one was amazing to blind buy, hate, revisit and then absolutely worship this scent, officially my favourite. It’s memorable and unique but also wearable if you plan it properly. If you have an old formulation bottle like mine you need to let it dry down for at least 20 mins before surrounding yourself around other people. I also don’t get the similarities with Polo Green either

I can find the similarity with Polo green, Quorum and the powerhouse of that time the vintage ones. It seems a picture of the same kind of beauty but in different decade . The quality here is high , truly natural , is a frag for nostalgic and for those who love green piney roots and leafs , some humid herbs and balsamic almost menthol freshness . Very evocative very manly for people who like countryside. Trying the comple line I can see the gape between this brand and other (commercial or poor niche ).Here I get high quality very natural souave effects loud and calm execution .

One of the great reasons I love frags is there ability to transport you through time and seasons. Many times I am scanning memory banks trying to remember where I smelt something similar and what that was. This fragrance will do that to you more than others. It is both contemporary and classic. It is exceptional quality, surpassed only by it's Value and indeed - the smell itself. The accolades of a sophisticated, dare I say better version of Polo Green makes sense. But, that would be limiting this frag as Manny Cross does respect the old, and then bring the new. Enjoy. 10/10

This is what I've been searching for! It takes me straight back to the mid-90s, riding in my dad's roommate Andy's car. His gold chains resting atop chest hair bursting from an open shirt, collar way too wide by today’s standards. His Alpine menthol cigarette smoke blending with petrol fumes and whatever cologne he was wearing (maybe Paco Rabanne Pour Homme, maybe Polo Green). Unfortunately Andy is a trump loving conspiracy theorist now. But this is what he smelt like when he rocked! Initial thoughts: STRONG. Cigarettes. Petrol. Man. Fresh. Minty. Compliments. Cash.

This is a nice light, green shaving cream fragrance. It sits pretty close to the skin and doesn't project much. It puts me in a scent bubble though for a couple hours. The blend is fantastic! I perfer louder fougeres, but I will still enjoy wearing this decant every once and awhile. I like the smell of Bon Monsieur more, but its performance is terrible. I still need to try Fougere L'aube and I will probably get the special release of this this spring. I hope that it performs better! Looks like they jacked the price up $30 for a bottle too for the New Year. 8/10

I don't believe you would get cancer my good man. The chemicals would have to be considered toxic and have a permissible exposure limit as well as a short-term exposure limit with OSHA. All ingredients in perfumery are generally considered safe. It was only until IFRA became involved that you've seen many re-formulations with fragrances. Not because of toxicity levels, but because of skin notations. Such as redness or rashes around site. Nothing that would kill you but like getting a heat rash from the sun's heat. Might be unpleasant, but it won't kill you.

Beautiful! Most will go into the note here but I want to simply emphasize how much of a heavy hitter this is. I would describe wearing it as like falling out of a tree in the middle of the woods and hitting your nose on every mossy, mentholated branch on the way down. More of an experience than just a scent itself. For that I will call it a masterpiece worth owning and worthy of any collection. If I’m being brutally honest I think this smells better than all of the scents it’s compared to but if you like those scents or want to like them sample this. SYL

Manuel is a genius and I want to try all his creations! Mousse Illuminee is very strong, mentholated, and mossy. I get the antiseptic barbershop vibe. Mousse Illuminee is an elixir for your skin after a good shave. It is a statement of rebelliousness. This is manly and classic like 70s rock and biker jackets. There is nothing sweet or pretty here. Definitely buy the sampler if you like vintage colognes. Disclosure: Manuel sent me a few samples as a gift and his customer service is amazing. I was not compensated or asked to write favorable reviews.