Lacoste
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The rhubarb strikes first—that tart, almost green-tinged tartness that surprises you, accompanied by a bright mandarin citrus that feels squeezed rather than synthetic. Within minutes, the quince deepens the sweetness, creating a complex fruity opening that feels almost candied, like a high-end preserve rather than a fragrance you'd expect from a polo-shirt brand.
The citrus recedes gracefully as pepper and ginger bloom, warming the composition considerably. The almond surfaces as a soft, almost powdery note, whilst the jasmine adds a surprisingly bitter-floral dimension that prevents this from becoming simply spiced fruit—there's now a botanical, almost herbal character emerging that gives the fragrance unexpected depth and wearability.
The woody notes finally assert themselves as akigalawood dominates, creating a dry, almost austere cedar-like dryness. Vanilla and musk provide a whisper-soft sweetness that prevents the dry down from becoming entirely austere, though this is decidedly not a cosy, creamy finish—it's restrained, slightly cool, and fades with quiet dignity rather than lingering dramatically.
L'Homme arrives as a distinctly modern take on masculine freshness—tart rather than clean, with an almost culinary sensibility that sets it apart from its flanker-heavy designer competition. The rhubarb opening is immediately arresting; it's that sharp, slightly green-red tartness that cuts through the mandarin and orange with almost vegetative insistence, creating something far more textured than a simple citrus spray. There's a quince sweetness lurking beneath, a subtle fruitiness that prevents the composition from becoming austere.
What makes this fragrance genuinely compelling is how Michel Girard uses the heart notes as a pivot. Rather than letting the citrus fade into oblivion, the black pepper and ginger provide a counterpoint—not aggressive spice, but a warm, almost baking-spice quality that shifts the entire mood from "morning shower" into something with genuine personality. The almond appears almost as a soft-focus element, adding an almost biscuit-like roundness, whilst jasmine emerges not as a floral sweetener but as a peppery, slightly bitter floral that compounds the spice rather than relieving it.
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4.0/5 (181)