Etat Libre d'Orange- Je Suis Un Homme

I'm sitting here covered and drenched in Je Suis Un Homme, one of Etat Libre d'Orange original 2006 perfumes. It's another example of a very good fragrance hurt by the imagery ELdO chose for it back then, the gun-turned-penis. I hated this emblem back then and I dislike it even more now. Let the men of Duck Dynasty have their guns (and their penises) while we talk perfume and masculinity.

Je Suis Un Homme opens as a pretty standard citrus-centered men's cologne. There's nothing unique about it except that even then it's not quite the clean, lean, and fresh citrus that's often associated with modern masculine fragrances. There's enough grit and bitterness in the top notes to capture my attention right away. It's not lean, it's not stark or minimalistic-- the citrus of Je Suis Un Homme is stained with tar and ashes before it morphs into dry roasted spices: mostly cinnamon with a hint of clove, tree bark, firewood gathered in the wild, and a surprisingly suave leather. There' a muskiness there, which some perceive as animalic and I experience as cuddly.

The dry-down of Je Suis Un Homme is warm and far less outdoorsy than the " Me Tarzan" you might expect. This man is highborn, well-spoken, an accomplished rider as well as a graceful and witty conversationalist. Maybe I should have chosen a photo of Prince Oberyn of Dorne, but in light of the most recent episode I think we'll stick with Jaime Lannister and his big sword.

Obviously Etat Libre d'Orange intended Je Suis Un Homme as a masculine statement. I'm not your average perfume-wearing woman, but I have no problem wearing it and considering it as a shared fragrance with some manly tendencies that don't bother me in the slightest. Women who enjoy crisp notes and soft spicy leather are most likely to feel the same.

Notes: bergamot, orange bigarade, citron, myrtle, cinnamon, clove, cognac, patchouli, leather, animalic notes.

Etat Libre d'Orange- Je Suis Un Homme ($80, 50ml EDT) is available from Twisted Lily, Luckyscent, and MiN NY.

Photo of Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister via HBO. I had a great time browsing his pictures in searching for the perfect one. A really great time.