Absolue de Mousse is the latest release from Rogue, and it’s yet another banger. To me this scent combines an intensely sharp, aromatic fougere character with a darker, warmer fresh spicy feel. There’s a lot going on which makes it hard to pick out what you’re actually smelling. Most obvious to my nose, is the fresh spicy facet - artemisia and sage bring out this almost sour bitterness which is thankfully tempered and softened by creamy mosses. The then spicy side of this development is brought on by a hefty dose of nutmeg which typically should be warming but definitely feels as though it’s been freshened up by everything else. In the base, myrrh, frankincense and labdanum make for a thick chewiness which gives it that punch. Overall, I think it’s fantastic. It’s got all the character of Rogue Perfumery and simply oozes contemporary creativity. It’s not the usual sort of scent profile I’d wear, but despite that I want a bottle - it’s a truly unique and wonderful release.
Let me start by saying my nose is so unsophisticated you should stop reading now. That said I am wearing Absolue De Mousse for the first time right now. The initial spray had me regretting my purchase and really my spraying it on my arm. To me the first thing I smell is the scent of orange blossom perfume sold in old Florida citrus stands and tourist stops. This is not the scent of real orange blossoms in the air (driving through a blooming orange grove at night is one of the most magical smells you can experience), it is the orange blossom and soap maybe with rose smell of these inexpensive perfumes. To me always kind of old lady. Thankfully this was gone in about five minutes and slowly so was the soapiness. Again I don't know what I am talking about but the slightly and I mean slightly floral and very green resinous with a hint of leather this settles into around the thirty minute mark is totally different than anything I have smelled in the last twenty five years. To me it almost has a pine sent to it or at least the same type of dry down that is in the family of the original Polo. Yes, I am old enough to have worn that back in the 80's and I almost exclusively did! It is not a copy of it but again the green, resinous and slight hint of leather speaks out to me in the same way. This stuff is powerful too. I sprayed a little on the inside of an elbow and then on the opposite wrist . . . when I realized how the dry down was going I sprayed once on my chest. I have no idea the sillage or projection but it is all I can smell over an hour maybe two hours later. Glorious! I can't wait to see how long this goes . . . and more importantly I hope my wife will enjoy it (or at least not object to it).