Guerlain Arsène Lupin Dandy, Arsène Lupin Voyou (2010) {New Fragrances} {Celebrity Perfume} {Men's Colognes}
This Fall, Guerlain takes inspiration from famous and iconic mystery novel character Arsène Lupin which was created by writer Maurice Leblanc in 1905 to compose two new masculine fragrances meant to reflect the two contrasted Janus sides of the "gentleman cambrioleur" (gentleman burglar.) The new colognes are called Arsène Lupin Dandy and Arsène Lupin Voyou (Lout) and are part of the Les Parisiens collection which already comprises three masculine scents: Derby, L'Ame d'un Héros, Chamade pour Homme...
The duo of perfumes was created by perfumer Jean-Paul Guerlain who no doubt identifies with Arsène Lupin, a great seducer of women, but also a man of the shadows, like perfumers for the most part are or prefer to be.
I personally loved reading the adventures of Arsène Lupin as a kid/teen.
Dandy is described as an "oriental leather" fragrance. Its olfactory inspiration is the vision of a bouquet of violets left on the leather cushions of a De Dion-Bouton, a Belle-Epoque brand of car. The pairing is said to be ultra-chic yet unexpected combining a dark, powerful and slightly smoky leather accord with a "powdery velvet flower."
The composition is refreshed by bergamot and bigarade, spiced up by pink peppercorn and cardamom, enveloped in sandalwood and patchouli and made balmy with cistus and olibanum. The resulting effect is that of a smooth, warm and golden leather skin.
Voyou is said to be a vivacious woody aromatic. It is inspired by the motif of an Arsène Lupin escape from law and order while still finding the time to seduce a beautiful, fresh woman. Notes include bigarade, aromatic herbs, mugwort, coriander, a dash of pepper, sandalwood, patchouli, benzoin, rose, white musks.
Guerlain view Dandy as more of a fragrance for the connoisseurs while Voyou is seen as aimed more towards "young gentlemen." The flacons are set within a wooden frame which is darker for Dandy and lighter for Voyou.
The eaux de parfums will launch from September 27th, 2010 in the Guerlain boutiques in France. In the US, expect to see the fragrances on counter from October 1st, 2010.
Price: 165€ for 100 ml
Via press release
They sound really nice. I can see the boys at Basenotes going wild for these! It's always big news when a company puts some thought and quality into a designated men's fragrance.
Lol at "the boys at Basenotes", but it's true those gentlemen have managed to turn it into something of a gentleman's club. I wonder why there are blue and pink sites like that -- it must be a majority vs. minority dynamic. It reminds me that I should do more masculine fragrance reviews, although fundamentally anything can be worn by anyone.
I can't tell you how much I've been looking forward to trying these, and now I discover that they'll be available only in Paris. What a shame.
I wouldn't be so sure. This is the French press release, but usually these more exclusive Guerlains are carried by the Guerlain counters in the US in some select department stores. In fact, I seem to recall that a US launch was confirmed to me a while ago. I can ask and add a note.
OK, here's the info from Guerlain USA: the Arsene Lupin scents will be available on counter from October 1st, 2010.
Thanks for looking that up, Marlie-Helene; it certainly sounds promising. I wonder what the situation will be in the UK, which is where I'm based.
Don't mention it. You're helping me do my job better :) I can't imagine that UK residents would be deprived of this launch! But I don't know about a release date. It should be about the same time, I'd guess.
They need to do a Sherlock Holmes fragrance too, now that I'm reminded of one of the Arsène Lupin stories "Arsène Lupin contre Sherlock Holmes"
Oooh, yes, you're absolutely right! Perhaps I should try to make a Sherlock scent. It would, of course, have to be based around pipe tobacco.
Hmm... you've got me thinking now...
Ha, I didn't know you were a perfumer -- you'll have to keep us posted.
Oh yes, I most definitely am... albeit of the 'amateur' variety at the moment... but then Sherlock Holmes frequently referred to himself as an amateur detective...
You can read all about my struggles with essential oils and aromachemicals on my blog. And yes, if I ever do get a chance to work on Eau De Pipe, I will most certainly let you know.
Ah, yes, indeed, there is "amateur" in the best sense of the term, where it means more freedom, creativity and fresh intuitions. On the other hand, for me, if an activity pays your bills then it is a fundamental criterium for defining an activity as being professional.
Beware of "Eau de Pipe" as a name as it could be seen as having a sexual connotation in French slang.