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qmega – :
As a filipino myself, I also don’t find the name offensive at all. It’s quite comedic. I haven’t smelled the fragrance yet but I think if filipinos smelled this fragrance, some of them might be happy & surprised because it smell like our traditional home cooking that our mothers & or grandmothers cooks. Although it’s better that they changed the name because for sure it will instantly gather controversy due to it’s provocative name and for sure there will be people that will get offended. And also btw, Etat Libre d’Orange is available here in the Philippines so if the name remained unchanged; perhaps there will be some filipinos that will get offended by it, especially for those who experienced discriminations. So that may affect the sales of the brand.
Cyboadyzoog – :
i am a filipino. this is NOT racist.
if this were an outright stinky liquid, bottled and sold in a “joke shop”, it would make me wince with disapproval. but it is not. it is the opposite. therefore, this perfume actually honors and celebrates houseboys who happen to be filipinos.
if you are a filipino, but not a houseboy, you shouldn’t feel offended. but if you are a houseboy, and you tell me you are offended, i will let you smell the fragrance. then i will ask you, “are you still offended?”. i am almost sure the reply will be this: “akin na lang ‘to kuya.” which roughly translates: “gift it to me big brother”. but just in case you, the houseboy, are still offended by its name, i will respect your sentiment; afterall, you’re the houseboy.
that said, i’m now on the hunt for this perfume. ralf schwieger also composed one of my favorites, from frederick malle, called “lipstick rose”.
JEAMMER – :
Strange that most of unhappy people who say it is racist, they are the only ones who tried it!
rft986intitytek – :
I think the name is another “gay” joke from Etat Libre. I don’t think the services they would expect to be provided are cleaning house etc!
gleb – :
The opening is very good for me, fresh, citrusy and green, but then the sweetish coco come out, but not loudly; then, on my skin, i detect a note (i don’t know which and why) similar to “Calandre” de Paco Rabanne, with a vintage idea of a old woman’s fragr…..nothing of bad, but it’s not for me.
SEOZavR – :
Not a really a big deal to me as a Filipino, but I just think they could used a better name.
Imagine if somebody ask what perfume are you wearing? Would you feel confident answering
“I am wearing a Philippine Houseboy”. People would think you just said a racist joke.
igor3000gt – :
I wanted to like it but its just too foody. The idea was there it just smells like you’ve been cooking all day. Not sensuous, not attractive and I doubt anyone will say you smell nice
vsevol – :
NOTE :
This fragrance was a project.
They decided to launch it under another name.
I’m almost sure it is the one that’s now called ‘Fils de Dieu du riz et des agrumes’.
erurlertyc – :
Where can I test this fragrance in the Philippines?
At first I was shocked, having come across this while reading up on perfumes with coconut note. I mean, wtf? Getting racist now, aren’t we? ***RAGE***
Then, I look up the perfume house, Etat Libre d’Orange. Ah, French. If the French were able to make the FRENCH MAID glamorous, then maybe they could do the same for the Philippine Houseboy. I start to snicker.
Then I see on ELDO’s list of scents names like “Delicious Closet Queen” and “FAT ELECTRICIAN.” I think maybe these perfumes are de Swardt’s homages to people who, to him, have made quite an olfactory impression. Thank heavens he met the Philippine Houseboy and not the Philippine Septic Sludge Siphoner or the Philippine Garbage Monger. ***giggles***
Now decidedly of lighter mood, I agree with scorpiosheep here that it is a marketing ploy. Besides, there are approximately 110 million Filipinos such as myself all over the world to date.
Where can I test this perfume in the Philippines?
A VERY good marketing ploy.
Anonovalo – :
I’m a Filipino, I’d never have thought of this as racist. It’s similar to the American slang of ‘homeboy’ so what’s the difference? ….That’s if one where to break down the words….
In addition, the labeling reminds me of the tacky old ‘Boy London’ brand. Calling someone ‘Boy’ in the US is historically racist, so are the Poms racist for calling Londoners ‘Boy’?
Became a fan of Etat Libre d’ Orange over the years but have never bought any in their range…. My only grieve is I can’t get a hold of this as easily outside of their website.
UPDATE: Went to buy a sample on their website and found the following description
“He brings the sun. Fils de dieu comes from the Philippines to spread a message of warmth and enlightenment. Here, find an innocent wisdom that points to dreams and liberation. This is the golden eye that reflects beauty and conflict, rapture and pain. Fils de dieu is an emotional fragrance, a scent that requires a sympathetic connection between the server and the served, the giver and the taker, and the willingness to exchange roles.”
Like I originally posted, it’s not racist.
EstuaspTush – :
I agree with Gypsy. My wife is Filipina, I’m related by marriage to a whole host of Filipinos, I work with lots of them, and if I mentioned this as a fragrance, every one of them would chuckle a bit at just the name. My wife found it charmingly funny.
Lighten up.
Even if they called it “Philippine Lady Boy”, I’m pretty certain that all of them would get an even bigger laugh from it, and I say that being related to two nephews…err….nieces that are lady-boys (or Badings, as referred). They’d probably buy it themselves for the naming effect. ELDO pushes buttons with their naming, descriptions and fragrances themselves, so I’d think it odd that they pull political correctness out of a hat suddenly.
And having eaten Pinoy cuisine, I’d definitely be interested in whether the notes bring that out since they aren’t known for exceptionally spicy foods.
Serafim2006 – :
omg I have to have this for the name alone im filipino and I think the name is hilarious also the notes sound nice. I like that etat libre d’orange fragrances challenge and make people think. Perfume wasn’t made to be spoon fed or easy.
genrih8 – :
Here’s a review, I hope you find it helpful.
Philippine Houseboy is the most challenging fragrance I’ve tried so far. The fragrance starts with a blast of lime, coriander and ginger. The heart is dominated by coconut. A big coconut that is accompanied with the coriander and lime. I dislike this fragrance and had to compare it with Secretions Magnifiques just to see which one I like less (Secretions won my little private ugly-race, but fortunately, it also brought out the rose note in Philippine Houseboy)!
I’ve never been to Asia or eaten Philippine food, but seeing a picture of rice and lime really helped me to bear this fragrance. The “rice note” is very well presented and I really have to take my hat off for R. Schwieger for that. And if you sniff very closely, you can detect jasmine in the heart notes. It’s minuscule but it’s there.
Philippine Houseboy is a laudable example of how perfumes can widen one’s own boundaries outside the actual world of perfumes. The fragrance finishes off with a soft, almost vanilla-like tonka and musk. It probably encapsulates the essence of Philippine cuisine very well. 🙂
assassyn – :
This is a surprisingly inviting and well executed offering from EDLO. Built primarily around the mojito and coconut notes, Houseboy introduces the spices of cardamom, cinnamon and coriander to dispel any suggestion that this is just another ‘copacabana’ tropical indulgence. The mojito is the dominant note on me and gives a boozy accord that when combined with spices, is suggestive of a long cold cocktail on a hot and humid afternoon. I guess this forms the inspiration for the controversial name.
Houseboy sits fairly close to the skin as you would expect with this type of fragrance with good longevity (5hrs plus). It could be comfortably worn by men and women of all ages during the summer months, especially when the humidity is high. With summer almost upon my northern fragrantican friends, I can highly recommend sampling this.
sharuri – :
If for several aspects, Eldo’s choices when it comes to marketing, may result silly, immotivately provocative and even a tad puerile, on the other hand I find their playfulness to be somehow refreshing and uplifting in a sector that is taking itself too seriously. In front of pompous brands clamining mythical historical heritages, high-sounding names and immotivaded promises of exclusivity, I prefer Eldo’s almost situationists approach hands down.
That being said, this time I’m not convinced. Philippine Houseboy (aka Fils De Dieu, Dur Riz et Des Agrumes) is an average quality spicy oriental with no particular twists. It opens with a slightly dissonant accord of citruses and vanilla to turn quickly into a creamy yet moderately sweet spicy-vanillic base with an overal coconut vibe. Bad? Not really but way too far from Eldo’s countless outstanding deliveries…
Rating: 6/10
n_com – :
I am Filipina and I find the name hilarious!
kozemarina – :
Well, to me It’s just a fragrance, don’t care about the name, and It smells heavenly good, so…I love It, It’s perfect for warm and sunny spring afternoon, I’m definitely going to buy It!
RiZeR – :
yeah right, it’s not the phillipine part, it’s the houseboy: it’s like they’re all domestic puppet/servant. And I pretty agree with ‘una badante ucraina’!
look guys, I’m not the biggest fan of politically correct, quite the opposite in fact, but here… it sounds offensive. But that’s just my humble opinion! Except for this, I LOVE ELDO perfumes, so I’m really looking forward to sniff this!!!! And bijou romantique too!
bgx613speagoessenda – :
From what I gather: THIS was released under the name “Fils de Dieu du riz et des argumes” (child of god, rice and citruses). And, if you look closely you can see that on the label of the bottle in the picture above.
I will be contacting ELdO and finding out if this is the same fragrance or if they did release two (or one with two different labels)!
I also do not see what all the hubbub is about. Just because this is (or might be) called “Phillipine Houseboy” how on EARTH is that racist?! No deprecating remarks were made about Filipinos…IN FACT, if anything this celebrates their beauty, sweetness and hard working ethic! It is not like they called it “Underaged Filipino Sex Slave” or anything…or (God forbid) LAZY Phillipine Houseboy!
LIGHTEN UP PEOPLE!! And…
I personally do not care what a scent is bottled like or named, as long as it smells good (or at least original)!! I am currently awaiting a sample of this but from what I’ve heard, it is a spicy citrus scent accented with fresh greens and slightly tropical.
I might add here, that EVERY ELdO scent I own or have smelled (and that is all of them, but Bendelerious, Josephine Baker, this and Bijou Romantique) have been fantastic!! Yes, that includes Secretions too! 😉
Floopussy – :
yes ,this name is a bit razist. in Italy it’s used to name serves ,philippines means there houseworker,hmmm,not good for a name of perfume…
what next strange name will be “Una badante ucraina?-(that means in italian language -the nurse of old people )
tren – :
Yeah you are pretty right. I’m not from Philippines but I don’t like it either. And what’s the meaning? Should a houseboy ‘smell’ like this?? I don’t get it! I only know philippines and sri-lankan people who clean the stairs in my apartment block and they really deserve the greatest respect, they’re kind and hard working guys!!
PhincPleani – :
It’s obvious the creators and marketers of the scent thought it would stir controversy. I, personally, find the name of this scent very racist and discriminatory. Wtf is wrong with people? Yeah the scent might be great/nice/interesting but the name? The name alone would make me want to avoid buying it altogether.