When the brand that invented the world’s first Eau do Cologne launches a new fragrance, it’s always going to be worth a sniff. JOE takes a look at Roger & Gallet’s new line.
By Robert Carry
No self respecting 19th Century French military genius could consider marching his ranks of men into the battle against the gathered armies of the continental nations without smelling good. This was where Roger & Gallet came in.
Jean Marie Farina inherited a sought-after apothecary formula and in 1806, he turned out the world’s first Eau de Cologne. Someone splashed some of it in Napoleon I’s direction and he was hooked – Farina and his brand Roger & Gallet became the warlord’s official supplier.
Over the following centuries the firm has produced a string of much loved products, one of the most popular being L’Homme – an instantly likeable Eau de Toilette launched in 1979 that managed to remain popular in a way that few other fragrances could manage.
Last week the brand held an Irish re-launch of the old favourite along with the debut launch of a new line of products they say is inspired by the concept of traditional barbering. JOE managed to make it along to check it out.
L’Homme
The claim: A woody and masculine fragrance, with an authentic chypre character.
The verdict: L’Homme has remained popular for 30 years for good reason. It has a classic, old world vibe and is immediately recognisable as a typically robust aftershave of decades past.
However, it has a lemon/spearmint touch that gives it a lighter, fresher and less overpowering scent than the Old Spices or Bruts of this world. One for the older gent, or a younger man stepping out in his best suit.
The price: €39 (RRP)
The stats: 100ml spray
L’Homme Sport
The claim: A clean and fresh fragrance, revealing a contemporary facet of L’Homme
The verdict: Every time Porsche prepares to upgrade the 911, lovers of the car grit their teeth and fear the worst – because when any company decides to re-invent the classic on its books, there is always the danger that they will try too hard and lose what brought the glory days first time around.
Happily, Porsche manages to successfully draw in new punters while preventing their existing customers from driving off the end of their local pier by holding onto immediately identifiable chunks of the original. So to with L’Homme Sport.
As it says on the tin, this is a cleaner and more accessible fragrance than L’Homme. However, it still keeps one foot in the fragrance it stems from while coming across as a more modern scent in its own right. One for any day, or night, of the week.
The price: €39 (RRP)
The stats: 100ml spray
The Range
Roger & Gallet has included shower gel, aftershave balm and shaving foam as part of its new range, all of which prove perfectly capable of standing up to their given tasks. What is interesting, though, is the fact that the firm espouses the concept of layering.
The idea here is that if you use grooming products which match the cologne you plan to spray on, then they give you a kind of olfactory undercoat. This means the smell of your spray on will last longer.
Conversely, it also means that if you mix and match your shower gel, shaving foam and cologne, then your spray might end up smelling better in the bottle than it does on you. Something to think about.
L’Homme 200 ml hair and body shower gel – €11.50 (RRP)
L’Homme 150 ml shaving foam – The price: €13 (RRP)
L’Homme 75 ml aftershave balm – €15 (RRP)
Products available in selected pharmacies nationwide from April onwards.
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