801
Bon Parfumeur

Sampling Bon Parfumeur 801 Sea Spray Cedar Grapefruit, and it hits the mark reasonably well, being palpably aquatic and fresh, with woody and citric tones. There’s something vaguely dirty and animalic in the sea spray aspect, so it’s not a totally clean, benign aquatic but rather something with a bit of attitude and provocation, all while still being a fairly grounded, fresh experience. It’s pleasant but not especially memorable, and I prefer some of the other freshies in the line that I’ve tried so far. Still, I can see how this would be mass-appealing.

Its concentration is EDP and it has the same standard retail pricing of $107/53/34 for 100/30/15ml, not bad, overall, though, I think it would be more worthwhile for a couple of the others that I’ve tried.

6 out of 10

SUMMER FRAGRANCE

I am not a fan of the opening and the early stages of this perfume, hence 4*. It starts very sharp, pungent - which I guess is from the spices like Nutmeg and Pink pepper and then it melts with sour, very sour Grapefruit. If I look at the notes and see Mandarine and Italian lemon, it makes sense. It has not sweetness at all. This stage lasts approximately 2-3 hours. Now comes the sweetness and the sourness weakens. I guess the sweetness comes from Cedar and you feel that salty aquatic note, like in a Hermes: L'Eau des Merveilles Bleue, or in a Jo Malone: Wood Sage and Sea Salt. And later you feel the Rosemary. I definitely like this stage and it smells as this after 24 hours on a paper strip. Overall I think it is a pleasant summer fragrance like you are at the Mediterranean sea and smell those lovely herbs... You like that fresh and aquatic feeling in the hot summer.