Balenciaga Pour Homme, from Balenciaga was released in 1990. The perfumer behind this creation is Gerard Anthony. It has the top notes of Bay Leaf, Bergamot, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Coriander, Galbanum, Pepper, and Thyme, middle notes of Cedarwood, Cypress, Patchouli, and Sandalwood, and base notes of Honey, Labdanum, Musk, Oakmoss, and Vanilla.
This is a fragrance that I wasn't familiar with the first time around and what a crime that was because it's an absolute triumph. Really this stuff is superb, masculine even a little butch but not a powerhouse in the obnoxious sense. The opening is chunky, rounded and heavily spiced affair of coriander and pepper with an immediately mossy, herbal, woody feel. I get a big musk note too, potent but dying back quite quickly. The chunkiness I mentioned soon becomes apparent the creamy, spice of sandalwood and the main player patchouli which doesn't hit you straight in the face but builds steadily in the background. It's starts as an almost gourmand, cocoa type thing, steadily becoming more earthy but never overstepping the mark. I'm not overstating this but Balenciaga pour Homme might be one of the best patchouli fragrances for men that I've ever tried. To say that it's just a Patchouli fragrance is to do it a bit of a disservice, because it's a great blend of notes and even non patchouli fans would like it I'm sure. Such a shame this stuff is no longer in production because it's excellent.