Description
The French fashion house Courreges launches its new fragrance Hyperbole in October 2016. Through certain, traditionally conceived as masculine perfume notes, Courreges strives to present the sensuality of a bold, renowned and charismatic woman. The rebellious past and progressive vision of the brand is also evident in the new fragrant creation. Hyperbole is the name of the sports collection of the brand, which dates back to the 1970s.
The perfumer Jean Jacques of Takasago developed Hyperbole is as a simplistic, oriental-spicy fragrance that reminds us of the character of the fragrances from the 80s and the 90s. The explosion of white pepper spice and a brusque bergamot in the top represents the accord of “affirmed femininity.” An “Instinctive femininity” accord is evoked with intense notes of the heart including patchouli and tobacco. The base is represented by a “charismatic femininity” accord with sensual and oriental tones of vanilla and tonka bean.
The campaign is inspired by the 80s fashion icon and muse of the brand, Grace Jones. The fragrance is available as a 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum. Hyperbole was created by Jean Jacques and Antoine Lie.
NiGGeR – :
Courrèges Hyperbole
When you observe the history of perfumery over the decades it is noticed that there is a kind of alternation between several facets of which represents a feminine scent. In decades of struggle for women’s rights, perfumery has reflected in the past, appropriating notes with a masculine dynamic and wearing them in perfumes where the sensual and the sober live together in the same creation. In a way fashion brand Courrèges proposes this in its 2016 launch, Hypérbole.
The proposal of Hyperbole is to challenge the conventions and propose a feminine fragrance from the most visible notes in the masculine perfumery, like tobacco and white pepper. I would say that by the aroma itself Hyperbole is not challenging as it seems to reflect a trend of unisex perfume perfumes. What is challenging here is to propose this within the commercial female segment, dominated lately by floral perfumes, fruity and sweet.
The perfume on the skin reflects embodies an androgynous aroma and could perfectly be a unisex creation. If on the one hand the aroma of tobacco can refer to some aspects of Tobacco Vanille the aroma of tonka bean, vanilla is worked with an almond nuance and some honey that makes me think of perfumes as Tonka Imperiale and Reminiscence Tonka, however in a way more light, less saturated.
At the heart of the perfume lies her idea of femininity from more masculine and unisex notes. It is easy to get beaten but there is an interesting floral chord of tobacco here, with nuances that refer to the jasmine and orange tree but that seem worked around the note of smoke to convey the floral idea. It stands out more in warmer times, where the perfume aura intensifies in the skin and reveals these interesting little nuances. The basis of creation is simple, an aroma that ends with woody aspects but that surrounds them in musks to give a more discreet and commercial touch the idea.
The name Hyperbole ends up fitting well in the concept, in two very distinct ways. In the first one, it shows the exaggeration that we give the notions of gender in relation to the aromas that we appreciate. In the second, the very concept of the perfume is an exaggeration of the idea, since although sold as feminine and challenging of the conventions Hyperbole is well balanced, quietly unisex and easy to be used.
WarmaPakTom – :
Hyperbole is a rather straightforward vanilla-tobacco scent, very warm and sweet as a whole. But if you pay attention there is a sharper, greener side to it that I find is most noticeable closer to the skin and in hot weather. This perfume is more “traditionally” suited to colder months but if you are not afraid of something a bit heavy I think it is good for spring too !
Biohazard – :
I sampled this and bought a 50ml bottle straight after. It reminds me of the sweet almost tobacco note in Givenchy Hot Couture EDT. I struggle to get hold of that now and this is my new fragrance along those lines. The tonka and vanilla sweeten the tobacco, there’s a note that sharpens it all so it’s not cloying, it is borderline masculine but in a beautiful ‘I’m a strong woman wearing a fragrance that might just be for men’ kind of way. It’s pink pepper in Hot Couture whereas the spice here is white pepper. It smells so beautiful, I can’t explain how much I fell for this perfume on first spray!
It is indeed fresh but seductive and heavy all at once. I would imagine people will stop you and ask what you’re wearing if you have this on. It’s a perfect perfume for the colder months, but I think if you wear it in a warmer climate it will be just as beautiful.
anzelika051 – :
Received a sample with My Little Box, the smell is divine.
Fresh and heavy at the same time.
Love it!
de2370 – :
This fragrance is an Air France exclusive release for October 2016. I was able to sample it thanks to the courteous flight attendant who then tracked down two bottles for me.
This scent is all about pipe tobacco- it opens a little sharp and tannic, like unheated tobacco. Quickly it becomes sweet and camphorus, like the hot red tobacco. The drydown is languid and sweet and brings to mind trails of smoke. The effect is fairly straightforward, without a lot of complicated structure or development. Hyperbole is a lovely and natural choice for an autumn fragrance, for either gender. Very enjoyable and comforting to wear.