The Three Magi
Sometimes a fragrance will remind us of another fragrance; at other times we will swear some other two are exactly the same. But there are also rare “scent triplet” epiphanies that a fraghead can stumble upon, so today I’d like to write about one of these. Especially since, unfortunately, most people will not have the opportunity to compare all three scents I want to discuss.
The fragrances are Clive Christian X For Men (2001), Roja Reckless Pour Homme (2014) and Lamborghini L1 (2014). All three are amazing, in my book, and all three share the same “masculine eros” vibe, classy and seductive. “Mature” and “luxurious” have also been words used to describe them.
As the dates show, it all started back in 2001 (the year now looks like a niche Ice Age) with the now famous Geza Schoen. For all we know, maybe it all happened because of him: neither Roja Dove nor Lamborghini like to reveal the exact noses behind their creations, so who knows? Geza might as well be behind all three.
The similarity between X For Men and Reckles Pour Homme has already been noted, both on Fragrantica and Basenotes, but we can safely add L1 to the mix. L1 does not get mentioned as much because of its exclusivity and limited availability. (Only 999 bottles have been made, supposedly; I was lucky to try L1 in Milan in 2014, and get my hands on some afterwards.) Although the note breakdown differs – especially for L1 – they do indeed belong to the same family. They are triplets, after all.
Strangely enough, all three get mentioned as leather scents, as many men’s fragrances do. However, the way they start is somewhat “zesty”, sharp, citrusy almost, only to dive into the woods and spices later on. Cinnamon, cardamom, orris seem to be very important for their respective characters and depth. X For Men is the richest and has the most prominent “cat pee” note that no one seems to mention or have issues with, but L1 is in my book the most wearable one. It is “cleaner”, a bit less musky, less dirty, less complicated. Almost more...contemporary. Roja’s Reckless Pour Homme lies somewhere in between, in all its glory.
Perhaps NSFW, all three scents are fit for kings; hence the Magi, or Three Kings or Three Wise Men connection. Epiphany. (Not to mention that the two of the Magi carried very fragrant gifts: frankincense and myrrh. How appropriate.) So to all you wise men out there: these are some amazing, albeit expensive, fragrances. If you can, try them all. If you can afford it, buy them.
Lists of notes, from various sources...
Clive Christian X For Men (2001): bergamot, spices, cardamom, ginger, juniper berry, sambac oil, jasmine hedione, pimento oil, orris, amber, vetiver oil, cedarwood, moss, cinnamon, vanilla
Roja Reckless Pour Homme (2014): bay leaf, bergamot, lavender, lemon, artemisia, jasmine, rose, black pepper, cardamom, cedar, cinnamon, labdanum, cloves, cypress, ginger, incense, musk, oakmoss, orris root, sandalwood, styrax, tonka bean, vetiver.
Lamborghini L1 (2014) combined list of notes includes: tobacco, white musk, ginger, lime, leather, pepper, tobacco, vetiver. But there has to be more.
Photos from HERE, HERE and HERE + HERE + HERE.