Cabochard Eau de Toilette 2019 by Grès

CLASSIC, ELEGANT, AND AFFORDABLE: Cabochard Eau de Toilette 2019 by Grès. It was a blind buy I was eager to make, drawn in by divided reviews that sparked my curiosity about the aldehydes. Here’s the verdict: ON THE SCENT When you spray it, the first thing you smell is citrus and green notes; it smells vintage and reminds me of other vintage perfumes with a similar olfactory pyramid. Suddenly, the aroma becomes soapy—I read that aldehydes can create this effect, and the point is, it smells delicious, classic, and ELEGANT. As it evolves over hours, it becomes floral and soft, very unisex. After several hours, it turns into a super sexy scent. Interestingly, on clothes, it smells very sexy, masculine, and sensual. I don’t know if it smells like Aramis (I haven’t bought it yet), but what I know is that it’s a super pleasant fragrance ONLY if you like vintage perfumes. ON PERFORMANCE I get 5 to 6 hours of noticeable longevity, after which it lingers on the skin for more hours. Projection is strong for the first hour, then becomes moderate. It’s not a beast, but you need to be careful with sprays because in the heat, it reactivates and starts blasting. OCCASIONS Casual outings dressed elegantly and formal events. CONCLUSION Scent 10/10 Longevity 8/10 Projection 8/10 Versatility: Yes. I’ve worn it day and night, in cold and heat, and it performed very well. Should I recommend it? Yes, only if you like vintage perfumes and elegant, classic dressing.

It’s gorgeous, classy, and has an enormous level of distinction, just like its EDP version which I already reviewed; the differences are minimal. Compared to the EDP, where aldehydes dominate the start, here the fresh, herbal air of a sage with a citrus touch stands out, smelling almost like lemon balm. The rose is more present, creating a beautiful fusion with a plush leather that is less bold than in the EDP, giving a skin scent that is elegantly soapy. The moss, very notable when drying on the EDP, is barely noticeable here, making this EDT a more modern and wearable chypre. However, it’s not a fresh version of the EDP because there are few fresh notes here; it’s less ampouled but not fresher. As curiosities, a jasmine that peeks through in the dry down, and a longevity and sillage almost equal to the EDP. It is elegant, but if you don’t like leather, forget about getting it. Elegance changes with fashion, and Cabochard, in all its versions, follows a more austere concept, though no less bold, and less sweet and extravagant than today’s trends. I see it as ideal for women who wear stylish leather garments and accessories in informal settings or who practice equestrian sports.

Having almost half a bottle of Cabotine, which I bought blind and was charmed by, I now have four more fragrances from Gres. Cabochard was the one that tempted me the most after reading the notes and opinions, and the only thing I regret is taking the EDT instead of the EDP. (Watch out: my bottle isn’t like in the photos; it’s elongated with the ribbon integrated into the glass; I don’t know the exact year, but I suppose it’s recent because I picked it up at Primor). Leather is usually a tricky note, easy to overdo and end up coarse, but the leather in Cabochard is one of the most beautiful I’ve tried, perfectly integrated with that touch of leather embellished by use, like those exquisite travel suitcases from the 20th century. I imagine the wearer as a daring, traveling woman ahead of her time, an archaeologist like Gertrude Bell or a Katharine Hepburn—wonderful women who challenged gender roles with a masculine touch, wearing pants and smoking when no one did. Without a doubt, I’m going to bring the EDP.

Pure class and distinction, just like the EDP I’ve already tried, with barely any differences. Here, the aldehydes give way to a fresh, herbal vibe, like sage with a citrus touch that smells of lemon verbena. The rose stands out more and blends beautifully with a velvety leather, less aggressive than in the previous version, creating an elegantly soapy skin scent. The moss, which was very prominent in the EDP, is barely noticeable here, making this EDT a more modern and wearable chypre. It’s not a fresh take on the EDP, as there are few fresh notes; it’s less bombastic but not fresher. Fun facts: a jasmine that emerges during the dry-down and a longevity and sillage almost identical to the EDP. It’s a gem, but if you don’t like leather, forget it. Cabochard maintains a more austere and less sweet concept than current trends, ideal for women who wear leather in casual settings or practice equestrian sports.

I bought the Cabochard EDT almost by mistake; it’s a reinterpretation of the classic that is still sold. It opens with very striking aldehydes and citrus; when it reaches the florals, there’s a precise and necessary ylang-ylang that appears as the scent becomes powdery and soapy, which I think is its most pleasant side. In the end, only the previous notes remain, but toned down. I can’t guarantee that the oakmoss is a beast because it isn’t; it’s a fragrance designed for those who like the chypre family but seek versatility. It works very well in autumn, spring, or a rainy day. It lasts about 6 or 7 hours after the first half-hour of projection, but it’s always there. Personally, it pairs very well with Aromatics Elixir, Animale, or Tea Rose.

Terrible! I bought it blind for the notes and because they describe it as a chypre (I love chypres); I had great curiosity and high expectations since I own several Gres fragrances that I like, but this one was a bust. It’s too strong for me; I’ve never had a perfume give me a headache or nausea, and this was my first time. If I have to admit something, it lasts a ton: I took two showers and the perfume was still there. The scent lasted exactly 12 hours, including showers, which is magnificent longevity for an EDT, too bad we just don’t get along.

I picked it up blind and have no regrets. It’s elegant and attractive, nothing of being a boring or shy guy. I loved it because the florals in its heart accompanied me for hours, supported by a warm leather that, along with patchouli, sandalwood, and moss, gives a super sophisticated and seductive aroma.

The only thing I get from start to finish is synthetic oakmoss and some leathery leather. The flowers never appear, and although the tobacco note isn’t listed, the overall sensation is like smelling an ashtray full of yesterday’s butts.