Bandit by Robert Piguet

hollycat

Sometimes I like to wear perfumes, close my eyes, and allow images to come in. I like to do this with fragrances that are unique and different. But with Bandit I could barely stand this ritual I do. This scent is not loud or aggressive to me, like many of the reviewers noted. On my skin it smells like a very cheap mens after shave. Its soapy and pungent and painful. The only image it evokes is an accidental spillage of gasoline.

rithacha

So far, Piguet is THREE FOR THREE in my book. And each perfume is so DISTINCTIVE and magnificent in its own category that I'd love to try the rest of the house. Compared to Fracas and Baghari, Bandit definitely the most difficult to pull off. If Fracas is an hourglass-shaped Marilyn Monroe with the fringed doe eyes, and Baghari is a malicious fairy, Bandit would be a gaunt rebel with safety-pins decorating her leather jacket and the lost face of a waif.

Before you meet her, you HEAR her. Loud. Banshee. Scream. It reminds me of the prolonged rumble of a motorbike, instantly filling the room with exhaust and black noise. It's an edgy snap of spices and citruses, louder and darker than most other chypres I've tried. Then you see a short-haired woman, dressed head to foot in black leather (in my imagination, she has piercings and tattoos all over). She immediately pushes all the wrong buttons, from her outlandish red lips, the rips on her pants, to her coughing bike, but she doesn't give a **.

After this point, maybe you're brave enough to sit next to her and have a few drinks. She's actually quite a talker. Ran away from home, she dumped her boyfriend when he got boring, loves chai tea, what about you? Layers of florals, edgy carnation and patchouli. Before you know it, you've talked into morning and the bar is empty. Well, she gets up and stretches in her supple leather clothes, it's time to go. You realize you didn't even ask her name. But from her sharp head to her leather shoes, you should already know, right?

c3c

Sorry Bandit fans...I can't stand this. It's extremely masculine, but I wouldn't even want to smell it on man. For me it's simply terrible. True I tend to be a fan of more feminine fragrances, I adore Fracas, I made it 30min. with Bandit. I don't think it's a matter of being able to wear it or not wear it image wise, it's a matter of liking what you're wearing.

Happyme2009

Wow, this is awe inspiring! I bought it unsniffed, the EDP; it arrived with the authenticity seal on. I was expecting it to be more brutal, after the reviews I read, but no. It's strong, spicy, incensy, leathery, floral, hot, all in the same time. Very sexy in my opinion,in a non romantic,kinky kind of way; powerful, a definite head turner, not for people under 25. After a while, musk, soft leather, definitely chypre, exotic flowers come; definitely no sweetness, vanilla or fruits; none of that. Yet very feminine, I don't see how this could pass for unisex; maybe the edt...but not the edp. Mysterious at its best, elegant, adventurous. Almost like a mixture of all Chanels perfume, to which smoke and leather was added; reminds me of Coco Chanel mostly, with a hint of Shalimar and a dash of No.5, plus some greens and leather. Very close to perfection, I am delighted with it!

missk

I never expected to fall in love with this fragrance, but here I am finding a new love for leather-based scents.

Bandit is definitely not a shy fragrance. This wants to be loud and I'm happy to let it do its thing. Mostly sharp green notes, surprisingly lots of soft flowers and rich, hard leather notes, this is truly an olfactory pleasure in one sniff.

In truth this fragrance isn't as strong as you might think, it's not girly that's for sure but it's still very feminine. This is for a woman of confidence and strength, not necessarily a raunchy woman just a woman that knows what she wants and lives the way she wishes.

Like alcohol, Bandit is strong and fierce like a glass of straight vodka, not those watered down, lolly-flavoured vodka beverages.

Overall I still cannot believe that I love this dry, smokey, leathery and almost bitter fragrance. Bandit truly is a masterpiece.

kastehelmi

I had to try this scent again-
The last time I grappled with this one, I decided the pungency of this herbacious leather is best for a bit of gender-bending-or just demonstrating the old wisdom of Coco Chanel: "A woman shouldn't smell like flowers--A woman should smell like a woman."
And I put the sample back in the drawer, to spray on one of my fragrances which smell like flowers.
Why did I start thinking about Bandit, with its green-bourbon-animal-leather harshness so many times after deciding I could never wear it?
Because I changed my mind! Or it was at the back of my mind....That this scent is not pretty, not easy, not delicate....Nor juicy nor creamy....But I could wear it! I could imagine this on a few fierce (and a few quietly intense) women I know. I could imagine this on a few men I know too-fierce men in their own ways.

It may not be my weapon of choice, but it doesn't resemble anything else I've ever smelled. It's a puzzling opposite of Fracas.If people say this smells "old-lady-ish" I would have to ask them "Where are those ladies who wear this that you speak of?"

guest_guido

stellen sie sich eine dunkle nasse strasse morgens früh vor noch, in der luft liegt rauch u.benzin. eine strassendirne lehnt an einer hauswand.
so müssen sie sich bandit vorstellen, ein verruchter rauchiger fast männlicher duft Civet u. Bibergeil sind Bestandteile.
ein aussergewöhnlicher duft für noch aussergewöhnlichere frauen.

TigerLady

This is a rare scent, and to find it in authentic formulation is rarer, on-line. Do NOT take a chance on purchasing the obvious bootlegs you will receive if you order it at a ridiculously low price. I got stung like that. Bandit is not an easy fragrance to knock off, and the awful junk they'll send you for less than $50 will knock YOU off, it smells so bad. Use the Piguet direct-marketing Web site or the department stores. It costs the full retail price ($75 minimally), but it will be real, and if you love warm, sensual, stimulating aromas that will last, Bandit will be one of your most coveted EDPs, too. There are so many different kinds of notes blended with the basic chypre mix--amber, musk, moss, wood--it's difficult to pinpoint them all, but they all go very well, and this can also be layered beneath a green floral with an amber, woodsy, or musky base for a very intriguing result.

rainbowfrog

hmmm difficult to describe this perfume. i was given this perfume by a friend of mine, 1st time i sniffed, it smelt so unique..felt like i ve never known such a complicated smell. everytime i smell it, it gives me different phases. sometime feel its " madame" , i mean, elegant, sophisticated, noble..to match a elaborate dress, sometime feel so masculine, yes smell for Pirates, bandits actualy, such perilous smell. afterall, this perfume will always give you a new perception, impression. when i was wearing it , the friend who gave me this perfume said " i found bandit, firstly this perfume then an woman,you are bandit " deep leather,smoky smell, i can never got bored with this. makes me feel special. real masterpiece.

BronxBeauty

Boy, this stuff sure does smell dangerous!

The olfactory equivalent of having (a much younger) Mick Jagger stick his tongue down your throat.

guest_

I personally love this scent. I hear many folks complain that it is vile, with a plastic or burnt rubber smell, etc.... I own eight of these, and some DO smell a bit different. There were a few reformulations of this scent, with Adrienne Arpel making an EDT for a while. The Robert Piguet website does NOT offer an EDT for sale at all.

On me, this is almost powdery, and I get many compliments. The drydown can be a bit sour on my skin, but it is not unpleasant. I have three bottles that DO have a sort of burnt rubber or resin smell when they first get sprayed though, so I am wondering if that smell just has something to do with the age of the bottles, as they all were purchased from the Piguet website, and all had the authenticity sticker on the wrapping stating it was the original formula. This smell IS a bit off-putting, but I actually do like it, and it eventually fades away and the drydown smells the same as the other bottles I have. I have had some of my bottles stored for seven years, and they still smell the same as the new one I have bought.

maggiesmeow

I wish ppl were a little more openminded--this is a horse and hound woman scent, a lady who steers her own sports car with leather driving gloves. Classy, panache, early Bond Girl and Mrs Peel. None of this silly bondage notion. One early ad was a lovely drawing of a black leather gloves holding a plucky bunch of wildflowers.

TheBritishEccentric

The amazingly unique BANDIT certainly takes no prisoners! Hard as nails, with no underlying softness whatsoever. Almost vinyl notes bordering on leather. A dominatrix of the perfume world it wealds it's whip with aggresive sensuality! Bandit is for the brave only, but once experienced you will be back again and again for a good whipping!! Sexy as hell!!

Trvevil

Bandit is very old fashioned perfume from the very (spicy) beginning til the very end. I could line in Bandit with such perfumes like L'Arte di Gucci and Soir de Lune Sisley (which I only sniffed out of the bottle). I didn't find it very agressive at all... maybe that's the way I am? Anyway, at the beginning it's quite spicy and something green is there as well, then, when settles down, it still has the green notes, leather and warmth.

Trinity

Bandit is truly a beautiful but brutal fragrance!
Since I could not find it in my country, I had to order it from the US.

Bandit is strong, green and simply out of this world! If Bandit were a human, she would just look like the gorgeous Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft.
Fearless, powerful, smart, dangerously beautiful and ready to beat up any (bad) guy! ;-)

On me it starts off very green and sharp...(reminds me of petrol, but in a good way). Soon it calms….becomes more flowery and leathery and close to the skin. The fragrance stays with you all day….now and then I get a swift of something beautiful close to me….and then I have to remind myself that is I that smells so divine!

For me, Bandit is a masterpiece….it was worth spending a fortune on this fragrance! Although, I do not wear it often in public….I rather keep it to myself….like a hidden treasure no one is allowed to know of…..my preciousssssssssss!

Robert White

This is quite strong; starts out with a bitter orange note that segues into several minutes of the driest flowers in the universe, then a strong, almost acrid leather that smells to me like wet, dirty hair. I like it, it is definitely related to Aramis (the first perfume I ever wore, back at age 17), which is related to Cabochard (same perfumer), which relates to this. This is a tricky one to wear, and is not for everybody. It's not a happy, sunny, type of thing - it's dark, existential, and brooding, as far away from Lolita Lempicka (another favorite of mine) as you could possibly get. Still, a classic. Five stars.

rebella

I tried Bandit for the first time yesterday, thanks to lovely F_A. This review is only a little pre-review, since I most certainly try it a coupple of time to figure it out.

It is very strong at first, like knock out on bottle. But even if it is strong the notes are pleasant, but strange. Green, flowery, leathery and complex. Like having a unknown visitor from a time long gone. Actually iy makes me think of these girls in the victorian London burlesque-scene dressing out and performe as men. Absolutly intriguing.

It settle down after about an hour. Leaving something sweet, a heavy dose of leather and something green, aromatic reminding both me and my husband of cannabis. Lasted all evening, and I enjoyed it, but in a weird way. Definitly a fragrances that has to be carefully discovered and then appriciated, or maybe.. not? No, I guess I will like it, but this is of that kind you only shall wear when you feel strong at heart.

A classic, a must try if only for historical reasons. Or whatever...

NebraskaLovesScent

I've been testing this one for a week or so. Bandit (I tried the Eau de Parfum) is certainly unique. Fragrances just don't smell this way anymore, and there's obviously a reason why this one is still around. I would describe the scent as a flowery perfume sprayed on a leather jacket, with a bit of talcum powder on top. It's well-crafted and complex, evolving through different scent layers over time. Good persistance, too---the scent lasted all day long on my skin. I can't say exactly who this perfume would be right for. Definitely one to try before you buy, as not everyone will find Bandit to be a pleasant scent.

PR

I didn't like it.. I am affraid 'Bandit' joins the row of perfumes I can't understand or appreciate it stands for me in the same shelf with YSL 'Y', Rive Gauche, some Chanels like N5 or N22, and others. Pity, the title was such a magnet to me, though less money to spend:)

Aiona

There are apparently MANY different formulations of Bandit -- the eau de toilette (EdT) and the eau de parfum (EdP) being among them. I don't know which one I tried as it was a sample from a fellow perfume fanatic. I think it was the EdT, but I'm not sure. Anyway, from others' reviews, I expected this one to stink. But it didn't really. At least, not as bad as the opening of Dzing! The opening is very bergamot and galbanum. But that fades within an hour or so, and becomes LEATHER. LEATHER and something sweet. Like flowers or candied apples! And it stayed that way all. day. long. From about 8:00 AM to now (midnight). Long lasting and leathery. It's marketed for "women" but surely men can wear this one too! I am told that the EdP is less leathery and more subtle and flowery. So be aware, if you don't like one formulation, you might like another.

newgabe

Wearing Bandit is an event in itself. There is simply no escaping it. Even one spritz starts aggressively strong, pungent and seriously leathery- but does not turn my stomach like Cuir de Russie. It stays true for many many hours then wears down as if it is part of the skin itself. It's incredibly sexy- like a half wild whore who has ridden from her last job on a powerful horse! Couldn't be more different to the shallow world of fruity pop celebrity perfumes!