Foin Fraichement Coupe

Wearing a sample right now. I think it smells like very expensive barber shop cologne, with an old fashioned kind of British Upper Crust masculine scent of cinnamon, musky, fruity, slightly spicy and slightly sweet. It conjures up in my mind something you might find at Penhaligon's, something worn by a man with a handlebar mustache and a striped shirt and wool cap. I could imagine Prince Philip or some elderly gent in the Oxford Club who's been dabbing this since the 1950s.

This is truly gorgeous stuff. It's quite subtle really: a pleasantly sharp citrus head evaporates to reveal a subtly sweet hay-ey skin scent, with hints of tonka, a whisper of clove/carnation and soft floralcy. Transparent and gentle throughout. No fireworks here, as it's not designed to dazzle or overwhelm, nor is it a Green; this is an oldschool cologne in the mood of, say, Guerlain VOL DE NUIT: it's meant to serve as a good, standby friend to you, the wearer. A scent that is... just extremely GOOD smelling. Natural and kind, it's the kind of scent you'll find yourself daily reaching for after a shower... until the flacon is empty. Comforting and soothing.

Pretty, yes, but is this properly labeled? Pasture or grassland, sure -- this opens with a very French mint-and-clover composition that practically draws a picture of the hillside, the puffy clouds, and the breeze. After a bit, though, it finds its hay moment -- musky-warm, like hay bundled together and just beginning the long drying process, and the drydown progresses in a traditionally French fashion thereafter. Overall I’m not sure this one’s for me, but the execution is impeccable.

I don't do fougeres at all, but readily admit to enjoying my sample of F.F.C. I found the simple complexity of this concoction to be refreshing and cool like a mint julep. I definitely get the new-mown-hay that many claim has never been captured realistically in a fragrance. When one feels oppressed and dragged down by the heat and humidity, Oriza offers its very own uplifting respite to relax the mind and cleanse the palate of all the unsavory elements of life.

A wonderful herbal musky perfume, high quality, more complex than one would expect from a musky perfume. Love it!

Further acquaintance has led me to revise my opinion below. Foin Fraichement Coupe has an rather delightful clean soapy smell and a pleasant coumarinic drydown so the new mown hay tag is not unreasonable. It has plenty of character in classic French tradition

it doesn't really smell like new mown hay, but few perfumes do, unless you can find the one formerly produced by Annick Goutal. This version is a bit disappointing and lacking in character.