Robert Piguet Parfums, the maker of infamous Fracas, introduces Nouvelle Collection of five new perfumes: Casbah, Bois Noir, Notes, Mademoiselle Piguet and Oud. All five fragrances were created by perfumer Aurelien Guichard.
"From the corners of the souks of Marrakech with Casbah, to the heart of a balsam forest with Bois Noir, each of the five Nouvelle Collection conjures vivid images and visceral reactions in their wearers. Like the moving sounds of a symphonic masterpiece, Notes romances and inspires. The seductive Mademoiselle Piguet is a glamorous jaunt on the most coveted red carpet. Oud, the scent that completes the new family, is a jewel from the sands of the middle East."
Casbah: angelica root, black pepper, nutmeg, incense, orris, tobacco leaves, vetiver and cedarwood.
Bois Noir: guaiac wood, cedarwood, sandalwood, patchouli, balsam and cistus absolute.
Notes: bergamot, clary sage, geranium, orange flower, costus, oak, vetiver, tonka bean.
Mademoiselle Piguet: bergamot, orange flower, tonka bean.
Oud: saffron, fir balsam, styrax, myrrh, guaiac wood, oud, patchouli
The official launch will take place this spring in Milan. Via press release
Oud sounds amazing, but if I never see the word "oud" in another perfume name, it will be too soon!
Posted by: Ari | February 17, 2012 at 12:17
If not oud, then it is going to be something else equally trendy. The other day I was walking past a pub called "Oud Holland." Of course, oud in Dutch means old, but guess what initial association flashed through my mind? :)
Posted by: Victoria | February 17, 2012 at 12:22
I assuming these are not inspired by vintage Piguet perfumes as many of the others in this line have been?
Posted by: Susan | February 17, 2012 at 12:43
It seems that they are completely new, not the reorchestrations of old Piguet perfumes.
Posted by: Victoria | February 17, 2012 at 12:45
Oh dear, if these smell half as good as they read on paper... I might need all five. Casbah and Bois Noir sound especially good to me.
Posted by: Karen G | February 17, 2012 at 17:56
They certainly sound very good. I am especially drawn to Bois Noir.
Posted by: Victoria | February 17, 2012 at 19:47
I've been working my way through some of the recent reissues of Piguet, with mixed results. These sounds intriguing in that they don't sound like anything they've done before!
And I'm with Ari. While I love a lot of oudhs - a LOT - I am sick of looking at the word. I'm just waiting for Oud Orange Dishwashing soap!
xo >-)
Posted by: Musette | February 18, 2012 at 09:33
many of the perfume makers you review, or provide press releases of, don't sound familiar to my pedestrian perfume perusing in dept. stores. Where might I find some of these brands? Thanks!
Posted by: Deborah | February 18, 2012 at 09:43
I usually mention where they can be bought, but of course, even chain department stores carry different merchandise in different cities. Robert Piguet is sold at Saks, Neiman Marcus, for instance. Their website might provide more specific locations based on where you live.
Posted by: Victoria | February 18, 2012 at 09:57
Yes, in that sense, it is something new. I'm laughing over your oud comment. I feel the same way, but then again, I'm always curious to smell a new oud. They tend to be surprisingly diverse.
Posted by: Victoria | February 18, 2012 at 09:59
oh goodness! I haven't been excited about new launches in a while. (I thought Chanel's Jersey was a disgrace.) But Piguet's reorchestrated fragrances have been of unusually high quality: I've got a full bottle of Bandit and Futur. So it will be interesting to see what happens with this new collection...
Posted by: Mark | February 19, 2012 at 02:26
They sound kind of like Iunx fragrances... not what I would have expected at all. interested to see how they are packaged/branded, as I think they sound very modern for such a retro house. looking forward to trying them.
Posted by: allison | February 19, 2012 at 15:03
I wish they'd offer a sample pack of these and their other fragrances! If anyone at Piguet is listening... :-)
Posted by: karin | February 19, 2012 at 16:25
What do you think "balsam" stands for in bois noir?
Posted by: Amer | February 20, 2012 at 02:26
After the on-line beat down I took the last time, I will never again publically express my opinion of Fracas. But, Bois Noir and Casbah sound luscious. Still, I am all too often disappointed by scents that try too hard to fly their "exotic" or "dark" freak flags with provocative names and then the juice doesn't live up to the name. Kind of like buying a paperback book with a lurid cover, and then finding a tepid, PG-13 story within.
I once read that Maya Pliesyetskaya, one of the last of the great Russian ballerinas of the 20th century (she may still be alive and close to 100!)always wore Bandit, even though it was difficult to obtain under the old Soviet system, but she preservered in having it smuggled to her from Paris if the Bolshoi didn't tour. I admire her dedication to smelling fabulous, perestroika or no perestroika. Some things are simply too important for politics.
Posted by: Lynn Morgan | February 20, 2012 at 14:31