The woody notes of course, which structure the whole composition… It’s deep, thrilling and hot to the touch. Mandarin and Pink Berries sketch a fruity, spicy and intriguing line… Both a cheeky nod and a promise, it is spirited, enticing and exhilarating. Edmond has worked with major perfumers to create some of the world’s most popular fragrances for men and women. You also have to blame the hype from that particularly shallow end of the fragrance community gene pool for bringing this type of attention to Moustache in the first place, as certain people with a grift to sell were saying this is a clone to the much more-expensive Tuxedo by Yves Saint Laurent (2015).

Rochas | Fragrance | | SEPHORA UK Rochas | Fragrance | | SEPHORA UK

Tonka and the expected woody-amber riff attributed to something like Amber Xtreme or Ambermax are here, giving a fuzzy nondescript woodiness that drives the vintage gatekeepers and doomsday-prep hoarders something to shake their fist and scream at clouds about; but here I find the material handled deftly and blended well with the rest.I think Moustache Eau de Parfum reads pretty unisex too, since it has that right balance of sweet, aromatic, floral, and richness everyone seems to like. It's so impressive when a fragrance keeps enchanting you more and more as you get to know it through multiple wears. Tuxedo is still more refined and has better quality, but it is barely distinguishable to an average nose. Unlike other vintage enthusiasts though, I didn't circle the wagons and sprinkle a circle of protection made out of oakmoss around myself to ward off the modernism found in this fragrance, as I find that kind of "woe-is me perfume is dead, let's live in the past and bemoan the future while ignoring the present" to be a bit too nihilistic. Nathalie Gracia-Cetto does a good job delivering what is essentially a masculine rose amber and patchouli fragrance, something usually the provenance of the Middle East, in a context that is both more approachable (by virtue of the designer space), and easier to wear.

Rochas Moustache EDP – The Fragrance Decant Boutique® Rochas Moustache EDP – The Fragrance Decant Boutique®

The biggest difference is Moustache’s lack of a prominent patchouli note, which is the main focus in Tuxedo. I haven't worn it to work yet but I presume it fades down before mid-shift but hopefully sticks around enough to still provide pleasant wafts throughout the day. Overall, the mandarin and pink pepper notes do a lot of shouting at first, with the rose sort of sneaking up behind in a bed of benzoin, vanilla, and cedar.

The embodiment of a man who is a free spirit, but refined, the kind you might meet on a Parisian street. Many people in the fragrance community have noted that Moustache EDP has several similarities to YSL Tuxedo. The cologne is presented in a whimsical spray bottle that pays homage to the style and design of the 1940s.

Rochas Moustache EDP for Men (5ml, 10ml, 20ml, 30ml, 125ml Rochas Moustache EDP for Men (5ml, 10ml, 20ml, 30ml, 125ml

To complement thE revival, a second fragrance was created by Natalie Gracia-Netto for all those who depending on the time or their mood, would like to expand their collection of fragrances to express a wide range of feelings and explore a new olfactory palette. With sweet mandarin in place of the reference sharp citruses and amped-up vanilla in the base (and, I suspect, some uncredited cashmeran), it’s a nearly gourmand interpretation of Moustache.A fresh, spicy and aromatic scent, it’s beloved by men of all ages for its classic and casual character. For me, this scent had a bit of a weird start, as my cognitive dissonance on this being in a bottle shared by one of my all-time favorite perfumes really put me on the defensive. I do get the disappointment here, as this is just another woody-amber perfume, albeit one with a rose twist that hearkens back to things like the rose-amber-civet JHL by Aramis (1982), one of my absolute favorites by the way.