Fragrance Reviews

Ted Lapidus pour Lui

07/28/10 13:13:00

By: Marlen Harrison

This is another in a series of bargain fragrance reviews, scents that may be found online or at discount stores for US $25 or less. TL Pour Lui by Ted Lapidus is boldly going where everyone else has already gone, but with a decidedly floral gourmand flair.

Notes:

Lavender, bergamot, mint leaves, and orange flower; a heart of muguet, cedarwood, and vanilla, with a base of patchouli, sandalwood, amber, and musks.

So I recently went through new perfume withdrawal and as a result placed a massive order at an online fragrance discounter. $250 and 16 bottles later, TL pour Lui is the standout of the bunch. A classic fougere (think of all those scents with "fern" in the title) with a gourmand character, TL is sweetened by an almost grape-like orange flower and then anchored by a powdery vanilla musk. The result is unusual—lots of "I've been there before" moments, but never quite in this way.

So what does it smell like? How about Rochas Man, the one in the frosted glass cone-shaped bottle (minus the coffee and chocolate notes), Balenciaga Cristobal pour Homme (the same warm, boozey basenotes), or the purple-bottled Versace Man blended with Armani Black Code? TL opens with all of the major players sitting at the table vying for attention—I can smell the bergamot and orange flower, I can detect the minty edges, the purple lavender buds, and sweet vanillic amber all at the start. From there, the scent relaxes and something unusual happens. The interplay of the notes create an accord that reminds me of, get this, Canoe! Yes, that Canoe . . . the 1936 classic by Dana (here are the notes: Lavender, Clary Sage, Lemon, Geranium Bourbon, Carnation, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Vanilla, Tonka, Heliotrope, Oakmoss)! As you can see, there are some similarities.

Now, before you start thinking, "Why the hell would I want to smell like something my
grandfather wore?" let me add that though there is an aura, an echo, an allusion to Canoe, TL is definitely not Canoe. For one thing, the entire composition is decidedly more floral thanks to the muguet and orange blossom, and sweeter thanks to the ambery musk. But if Canoe's fougere composition ever piqued your curiosity, TL is sure to win your favor. And at less than $20 shipped, it's hard to go wrong with this little-known, rarely-seen-on-American-beauty-counters gem. Moreover, if you loved Black Code, Rochas Man, etc, this will likely be a winner.

Author: Marlen Harrison (perfumecritic)
Fragrantica Writer

Creator and Editor of PerfumeCritic.com (2006-2010), Marlen Harrison was also author of Basenotes.com's ADDICTED column and was a regular contributor to NowSmellThis blog, BeautyAddictMag, and The Washington Blade. Having lived in the the USA, UK, and Japan, Marlen currently resides in Finland where he is an instructor at the University of Jyväskylä.
Learn more about Marlen at MarlenHarrison.com

fingerlicker

I'm seeing most of Ted Lapidus frags for $20 or less in on-line stores. Shame that there's no chance to test them.

TL Black Soul seems to be most interesting for me at the moment...

Aug
02
2010

Morissett

Darnit I love this move. Looking forward to reading more of this topic! Thanks!

Jul
29
2010

perfumecritic

thx for the feedback! I should emphasize that this one is STRONG, sweet, and probably best for cooler weather...

Jul
29
2010

naheed

Another great review that brings a fragrance to life. I have added this one too for my father.

Jul
29
2010

gypsy parfumista

I have often seen TL and other fragrances by this house on discount websites but the reviews were sketchy at best and though they praised this one (and some of the others)I was afraid to make a blind buy...

Armani Code and Versace Man sounds like a quite dark and intiguing blend. The "eau de canoe" note you spoke of though may be what makes this so different. My mother used to wear Canoe on ocassion (I believe it reminded her of my departed father, her first true love) and to tell the truth I did not like it much, although the deodorant was quite bracing and fresh! My tastes of late have changed though and my fougere family has been growing so the next time I see this one for a good price I will give it a go...

Thanks again Marlen for steering me toward something I may have passed over had I not read your well-written and very descriptive review. A clean and classic style scent is always in style. The notes in this sound fresh, manly, dry floral, with sexy and musky woody-sweet drydown. I've really never disliked anything you've reccomended and I just love this series of great fragrances for little $$$...

Jul
28
2010