Description
Guerlain is presenting new fragrances, ARSENE LUPIN Dandy Eau de Parfum and ARSENE LUPIN Voyou Eau de Parfum, inspired by an imaginary character from crime novel by French author Maurice Leblanc. The fragrances have been available since autumn 2010.
Arsene Lupin is presented in a series of short stories, Je Sais Tout, previously named Arsene Lopin. After protests of a local politician, the name was changed to Lupin. Jean-Paul Guerlain dedicates two new fragrances, Dandy and Voyou, to this charming imaginary character.
The second fragrance for men inspired by Lupin is Arsene Lupin Voyou EDP, created as an aromatic-chypre. Its composition is distinguished by power of aromatic sage, coriander, absynth and spicy notes of pepper berries. Warm, woody notes of sandalwood combine their flavors with patchouli, rose and benzoin in a base. Jean-Paul Guerlain is the creator of this edition.
vff257Unlogrere – :
Was hoping for a bad boy – a spiky, distinctive, individualist scent to stand out from the crowd and run away to have daring adventures with. Instead, got a debonair, sophisticated, discreet civil servant. Given Arsene Lupin’s almost mythic status as a criminal mastermind – and the name “voyou” literally means “thug, muscle man, minor criminal, wiseguy”- this was slightly disappointingly law-abiding on my female skin. Certainly unisex – for the bold who enjoy nuanced wood & spice that goes beyond the aftershave cliches – but I was astonished at how quickly my chemistry seemed to wrestle it into a deadlock and then sit on it until it suffocated within a couple of hours. Wormwood and coriander really detectable at first (it’s a very dry, peppery, airy kind of wood aura in the beginning) but fades to something far more generic later. Perfectly good smells – classy and warm overall, with some interest drawn from its herbal side – but somehow just not that exciting on me. It might have a concealed switchblade temper or hidden aromatic depths that I just didn’t get on first wearing, but my reaction was: “huh, tough guy, is that really all ya got?”. Projection weedy, duration weaker still.
I might still have a revelation about this on further wearing (as I did with its stable-mate Neroli Outrenoir, which turned into something a million times more complex and robust than my first impression of it) but won’t rush to buy before extensive further testing.
So: Very pleasant, but perhaps a little pointless. Weird for something named after an archetypal character (the gentleman thief) to apparently have so little character of its own. That said – Arsene Lupin was a master of disguise, so maybe this has a whole other, darker, more dangerous persona which is unleashed in the right circumstances.
tashaa – :
Notes updated in accordance with Guerlain website on 5/31/2018. Voted notes may not be accurate.
igor Sribnyy – :
My second review right up after the unsuccessful L’homme Ideal Sport and boy do I love this juice! It really is incredibly outstanding compared to the other scents I had or smelled so far.
I’m not that great at identifying the individual notes as haven’t smelled a lot individually but as others have mentioned it is that luxurious creamy sandalwood posh sexy resinous accord with a touch of rose. I definitely smell quality ingredients in there, don’t understand when others say its synthy?
It lasts and lasts and lasts, I applied yesterday at three p.m., lasted really well during my 8 hour shift, the first 6 hours was really noticeable, I could still smell it and had applied it only onto my wrist (like 4 sprays) as I’m testing it and don’t want the others to perceive it as much yet.
Had Dior Homme Intense on my neck and to be honest I could smell Voyou on me more coming from the wrist, and could not stop sniffing it every now and then.
I woke up at 11am now, it’s been 20 odd hours since the application and I could still detect this on my wrist for sure, so it definitely lasts longer then the Dior Intense which I thought was a beast.
Will keep this newly found gem for cooler months, fall, winter, or cooler evenings in the summer/spring perhaps as my special occasion signature as it is pricey and I’m not that rich yet having the Uni debt and all that. Was lucky enough I got a great deal from Ebay for this for 130 Euro a brand new bottle /I believe in the first box, now it comes in a different one/, would not have bought it otherwise. Awesome stuff that it is so unknown that no one will really wear or know it and it is there for you, your special secret gem 😀
fosil – :
Fortunately, Cochlea’s review below corrects the erroneous parfume pyramid stated above by the website managers.
There is nothing common or generic at all in this complex frag which is IMHO a 3-act masterpiece (BTW Aqua di Parma with the superb but expensive Note di Colonia needs 3 frags to play a similar game with Verdi and Puccini, my preference going to Puccini).
Lupin Voyou opens with angelica-like absinthic citrus with growing notes of coriander, which makes the transition of slowly fading citrus (>2h) into a soft spicy scent figuring also cardamon and clove tree, attenuated by a growing but strange sort of sandalwood which plays a vanilla-like game, sometimes occupying the whole scene, modulating a discrete sage and a majestic (Bulgarian) rose. This rose will lead, after 8 hours or so, the third and last act. Here again, the sandalwood amplifies the rose and patchouli, but only after the cistus labdanum got to its full expression.
It is quite a long journey, at least 12 hours, to climb from the sunny coast with its lemon trees to the gentle woods, and then back down the rocks full of labdanum to finally arrive in the rose gardens ! So many frags and sequences, I’ve almost been lost on my way, like some other reviewers here.
But that’s the game of Lupin, who just like his English cousin Robin Hood, enjoys putting the world upside down. Makes me think at an Australian world map. Thanks JP Guerlain !
titus_plus – :
The first 30 minutes of Voyou might fool you into thinking it’s just one of those really generic fragrances on mall counters. Indeed, it has a “been there done that” fresh and sweet vibe during this stage. But Voyou evolves into something completely different, dominated by sage, pepper and sandalwood, with a touch of sweetness (from the benzoin) to give it a playful character.
The melange of herbs, pepper and woods captures the magic of a master perfumer as the composition conjures up unmistakably Guerlain. It’s definitely not a strong scent, it actually whispers. But the times when I catch occasional whiffs of it really are breathtaking, which makes me wonder if the herbs and spices are from exotic lands.
Voyou, the thief with many disguises, takes me on a journey I wish would never end.
ikim4 – :
I feel compelled to set the record straight that sandalwood does not smell like mentholated vaporub. Ever. Even Australian Sandalwood (Santalum Spicatum) with its aromatic edge and eucalypt-like effects doesn’t smell like vaporub. (And I know that Guerlain only use Santalum Album in their compositions anyway. You can’t source enough spicatum to make perfumes in bulk if you’re a large-scale commercial enterprise like Guerlain.)
I can only assume that the person below is confusing the sage and wormwood notes with the aroma of sandalwood.
Роман063 – :
Starts off a bit sharp, very clean and almost leaning toward abrasive. Its settles quickly and becomes herbal, flowery, and slightly woody but the antiseptic clean almost menthol vibe never goes away. Sandalwood can be tricky as it can give off a menthol vapor rub effect. The dry down is a bit creamy and it goes in a more softer direction. This is ok, but I think Muglar and Zenga do this kind of clean scent better. Not a big fan, but it might smell better on someone else.
rikki – :
A really nice elegant sandalwood fragrance with a classical feel! Never-mind the marketing to men, Arsene is unisex, women can wear it too.
The opening is a really nice bitter, herbal citrus-absinthe blend after a time on my skin I get a nice patchouli-sandalwood accord. Absinthe is subtle and lingers on my skin. The sandalwood is so creamy, I smell the rose, it is clear on my skin only briefly. Sandalwood is supported by a slightly sweet powdery benzoin-vanilla accord, along with pepper-cardamom spices. Longevity on my skin is only a few hours and sillage is arm length before becoming a skin scent.
Notes from the Guerlain website is
Top notes: bergamot, artemisia, coriander, lemon.
Heart notes: cardamom, Bulgarian rose, sage, clove tree.
Base notes: benzoin, patchouli, cistus labdanum, sandalwood.
Илья 2606 – :
I like this stuff, it’s a great blend of classic woods and sweet, almost gourmand, powdery smells. It just smells generally awesome.
Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s worth the price Guerlain wants for it, so I’m not likely to go for a full bottle when my travel spray runs out.
прошка – :
This is such a masterpiece. It is the perfect example of how Guerlain gets it right. It isn’t even my favorite Guerlain scent, but it is my reference “Guerlinade”. My first few wearings seemed unremarkable; nice, but nothing special. Then it hit me – the pure class and confidence that this stuff exudes. Love it. I wish it performed a little better considering the price, but I still get performance for most of the workday and certainly for an evening out. Very versatile, definitely year-round.
I think this is a simplified, more linear, yet more refined version of Heritage, another great “Guerlinade” reference scent. There’s still enough progression to keep things interesting, just not the jolting journey you get from Heritage.
beregov1949 – :
It’s one of the best from Guerlain. Its fresh, woody and creamy. So creamy…
adubrevobre – :
What a beauty for Men`s world!
I could not use the sample by my-Self but gifted it foward, and oh Boy it did smell georgeous at my Friend`s skin. Kinda easy to wear but still very sophisticated and elegant. If You would love to treat Your-Self with the good new Year`s scent I would definitely suggest Arsene Lupin Voyou! Once person have sniffed it on skin, its impossible to forget.
***<3<3<3***
Myncsnict – :
Smells like God came, Just like in a huge tornado of Sandalwood smelling powder. I’d fucking drink this stuff if I could.
gqd692elipseskism – :
This smells rather generic to me, unfortunately.
Abigail_fromAF – :
To missk.
Voyou is not pulled out due to copyrights. It’s the name “Dandy” for the other Arsène Lupin who was removed due to copyrights.
JM
Liaildlaw – :
Its a great scent to all you sandlewood lovers out there. Its very much refined and not your typical contemporary boring fragrance. The notes may seem that way, but give it a try. This was like love at first sight.
AdandabeSkent – :
Astounding perfume. I have to disagree with people saying that this is a common or synthetic smelling fragrance. The opening is incredible. It smells like a mix of sanded wood with a touch of creamy vanilla/pepper. It projects really well and last 12+ hours. It’s very realistic in my opinion when it comes to the woods and spices. The vanilla background adds some sort of smooth sexiness to it. I get tons of complements when wearing this fragrance. I believe it deserves a lot more love!
darthfigo – :
Goes on powdery and has a pleasant sandalwood/peppery smell. After some hours it turns to balmy powder – no pepper. It’s nice but it’s unremarkable and not worth the $200+ premium that Guerlain is asking for it.
————
Second wearing: Whoa! What happened here? I got a sample from a good source – the Guerlain Boutique in Las Vegas – but this seems like a much less impressive fragrance. Not only do I not get the Guerlainade, but it doesn’t even smell like a Guerlain – it smells cheap and mass market. This other stuff is heavily citrus. No pepper to speak of, very little sandalwood, almost no longevity.
Hmmmm… Now it’s not even nice.
cif689bedyWelty – :
Eeeewk! A total scrubber! Harsh and strongly synthetic woody-patch-sandalwood combo with dreadful spicy notes thrown-in! MEH With a notes list like that, how can they do it wrong?
No No No!
Rating: 4/10
soymnamaphy – :
A torrid and eccentric mix of sandalwood with pepper, manages to be creamy and dry at the same time, something quite different in my nose, but at the same time balanced and refined.
Absinthe comes in dosages calculated for us not hallucinating 🙂 A background with a light touch patchouli in drydown.
But as always, Guerlain me hallucinate alone
seipDymnUpsep – :
Guerlain’s Arsene Lupin Voyou is apparently being pulled from the boutiques and stores due to a copyright infringement, however at this present time I don’t know full details. All I know so far is that it is heavily reduced and listed as discontinued stock in Australia.
I hate to see this fragrance go. It’s one of the loveliest sandalwood and pepper scents on the market, and although marketed as a masculine, women can most certainly wear it too.
The sandalwood accord in Arsene Lupin Voyou is both creamy and dry. It goes on smooth and fresh when you first spray it, however the pepper and sage accords spice it up during the heart, providing an interesting richness and complexity.
It’s a really warm and comforting scent on my skin, perfect for Autumn days. I also adore the packaging, with the wood encasing a rectangular glass bottle. Everything about this fragrance is impressive.
The Guerlain sales representative was quick to point out to me that Arsene Lupin Voyou was purchased by more females than men. She was all for gender-bending this fragrance, and admitted that she too wore it, and had put the very last bottle on hold for herself.
It’s a fragrance for all lovers of sandalwood. It is also a fragrance created by none other than the famous Jean-Paul Guerlain, the man himself. Both the longevity and sillage are superb. I highly recommend.
fil215 – :
LeDandy86, a wonderful review, thank you! Voyou is one of the favourite Guerlains to me. It is woody, creamy and masculine at the same time. It really smells like newly felled trees: when I shave the wood with a plane, I feel the same smell. A masterpiece, and I don’t understand why there is no love for it in the Internet.
wolfnc555 – :
Elsewhere on the web, fragrance enthusiasts have described this scent as conventional and unremarkable—needless to say, I disagree. It’s familiar in some ways, sure: it’s pleasant woodiness and that creamy suggestion of the Guerlinade, but the inclusion of the rose and the dry (almost throat tingling) patchouli makes for something a little more unpredictable. Whatever the case, it smells like newly felled trees, and attracts more complements that almost any other fragrance in my 100+ collection. And once you realize that it may well be JG’s last fragrance, it becomes a must-have for the aficionado. I wear it with love; perhaps you will too?