Douleur by Bogue

First time with this fragrance, and after reading such divided opinions, I was terrified. But luckily, the experience was more positive than expected, though weird… it’s incredibly so. It’s one of the strangest scents I’ve tried lately. At first, what I notice most is cotton candy, melon, and mint, quite synthetic, with a smoky base. The result? Nothing pretty, but curiously, it doesn’t disgust me. It smells like an ashtray where, at a party over a year ago, they left mint and strawberry gum. Sounds horrible, right? But there’s a reason it isn’t. This phase lasts an hour and a half. Then, in the heart, a metallic rose appears on the skin. It’s a greenish rose (maybe with algae?) and much less sweet than the Rochas Tocade 2013, where the metallic touch was more subtle. The trail is noticeable without being overwhelming if you dose it well, and it lasts over 12 hours. I see it for personal use and spring. It’s not wearable in public, not formal, not work-appropriate. It’s not cheerful, elegant, or welcoming… It’s a scent for a day at home, an interesting olfactory journey. If I want a rose with a metallic touch, I’ll stick with Tocade: less original, but more enjoyable and presentable. Scent 6/10, Longevity 10/10, Sillage 8/10, Value 4/10, Versatility 1/10, Packaging 7/10. Would I buy again? No.

One of the weirdest perfumes I’ve tried. At first, cotton candy dominates, but as it dries down, it fades to the background, leaving a very distant sweet touch. Does it smell like algae? Exactly, it brings me to the beach. Like melon? Also. Like resins? Of course. Like rose? Yes. I sense all the notes, but the final blend is so weird that I don’t know what it smells like. Do I like it? I don’t know, it doesn’t fit my usual tastes. But it’s not unpleasant; in fact, I loved smelling it all day. The performance is spectacular: I put it on at 7 AM and at 9 PM it still smells clear. At work today, a couple of Tom Ford White Suede Sorayas disappeared quickly, but this one keeps going, keeps going, keeps going, and projects. Would I buy it? In the short term, no, I have other things on my mind, but in the long term… I’m adding it to my wishlist. Scent 7, Longevity 10, Sillage 9, Value 6, Versatility 5, Originality 10, Overall 8.