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Bandit by Robert Piguet

For: women Designer: Robert Piguet Olfactive Group: Chypre Floral

Bandit is the most daring in the whole line of perfumes like Caron Tabac Blond and Chanel Cuir de Russie, perfumes for an emancipated woman on the turn of the last century; for a woman who dares to smoke in the public. Bandit was made for the avantgarde Robert Piguet's collection, inspired by romantic sea voyages and pirates. Bandit is a classic "chypre" with dark animal notes and aggressive leather accord. In 1999, after 25 years, production of Bandit started again. Eau de toilette has the greatest sharpness. In the perfume version, leather and smoke notes are followed by clear notes of white flowers and vetiver. The nose behind this fragrance is Germaine Cellier.

Fragrance Notes

top notes
AldehydesOrangeArtemisiaGardeniaGalbanumNeroliYlang-YlangBergamot
middle notes
CarnationViolet RootJasmineRose
base notes
LeatherAmberPatchouliMuskCoconutCivetOakmossVetiverMyrrh

Bandit Fragrance Reviews:

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sherapop
sherapop
Robert Piguet BANDIT opens as a heavy leather fragrance. It's really almost stifling, even sparingly applied. After a few minutes, the dark and strong leather-myrrh amalgamate begins to subside and the composition becomes somewhat more feminine, though in something of a stealth-bomber way. "Bandit" seems to me to be a very apt name indeed, for this is the scent of a woman who steals the hearts of men, a bona fide femme fatale.

I initially did not understand how BANDIT could be considered a chypre as opposed to a leather fragrance. I mean, if this isn't leather, what in the world is???? The key here is that the drydown does eventually, after breaking through a nexus of leather whips, exhibit a chypre quality.

BANDIT is a very appealing creation, which I might add to my collection, as I like it even more than CABOCHARD or CUIR de LANCOME. My only concern is that I don't actually wear leather perfumes that often, as they strike me as inappropriate for most (certainly diurnal!) contexts.
08/14/10 15:40:16
janudy
janudy
Someone at nstperfumes once wrote that "Bandit is drinking and smoking and leather jackets, and running around at all hours getting into all sorts of mischief." I could not agree more--this is a dry, brown leather jacket covered in dark green moss that's been thrown in the dirt. I don't wear this when I want to feel pretty or sweet. I wear this when I need to feel like a bad-ass even though my knees are shaking and all I want to do is hide.
08/01/10 08:38:55
gr3g
gr3g
I had luck to buy new version which has on box written in french that this is original formula (from 1944), so I write about the best version :P
anyway this is indeed the strongest female fragrance ever, many male use it and I also, on the begining it is the sharpest, middle and base notes are much more polite and floral than first sniff. Scent is dark, rough, confident, little bit elegant and oh yeah damn sexy.
07/19/10 11:40:52
Kterhark
Kterhark
When I first tried Bandit one thing came to mind: All-night Diners.

I wasn’t sure where my mind was going with this; did I think it smelled cheap? (it does have a watered down base). Do I associate it with the smoking section? (yes, a little)
But then it clicked. In college I waitressed at a 24-hour diner, along with a sixty year old woman who came in every evening to work the night shift. I think she wore Bandit.

She was quick witted, loved her cigarette breaks and knew how to take late night customers in stride. My shift overlapped hers for a few hours, which I always looked forward to.
One night a family came in and told me it was their son’s birthday. This meant they wanted the free, 3-bite birthday cake we handed out. After their meal I went to the freezer to get the cake, and realized we were out.

Panicked, I told my co-worker my problem. Without batting an eye my Bandit wearing partner in crime placed a 12 oz paper cup upside down on a plate, covered it with whipped cream, decorated it with cherries and topped it off with a burning candle (which she lit with her own cigarette lighter.) “There’s your cake,” she said.

To me Bandit is the smell of competence.
07/06/10 16:27:50
efm
Update.
I suppose it was only a matter of time. Bandit has been reformulated /tamed.

Fragrance X, a USA site has a few items of the original formulation as well as a separate listing for the new version.

I have used this site from Australia with no problem using paypal.

Will be interested to read a review of new Bandit (label has yellow print ).
04/23/10 03:18:09
efm
Bandit is difficult, as uncompromising as all hell. However I believe you don't have to be a hell-raiser to wear it successfully - just not give a damn what anyone else thinks.

I love it but I don't expect compliments when I wear it, when they come, you look at that person in a new light.

As ageless as black leather - from little Goths to cool nanas.

However heed the warning - use the RP web site as a knock-off could be noxious.
04/13/10 00:33:04
adele l
I love piguet as a rule-but not this. Smells exactly of leather in a new vehicle. I get no floral notes on my skin..it is unique but not really wearable
04/12/10 20:44:44
 
NatWeb
While not especially my type if fragrance, Bandit is fantastic. The quality just reasonates with every sniff. To me, it smells like a man's bathroom: leather, wood, soap and mint. Wears extremely close to the skin and is discreet, notoverpiwering. For those who like out of the ordinary fragrances, this is one for you.
03/24/10 00:03:28
hollycat
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.
02/18/10 19:09:06
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?
01/29/10 17:33:29
c3c
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.
01/28/10 20:43:09
Happyme2009
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!
12/08/09 14:33:47
missk
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.
12/02/09 06:46:28
kastehelmi
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?"
10/15/09 09:53:27
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.
10/09/09 02:44:45
TigerLady
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.
09/20/09 05:27:40
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.
09/15/09 23:00:39
BronxBeauty
BronxBeauty
Boy, this stuff sure does smell dangerous!

The olfactory equivalent of having (a much younger) Mick Jagger stick his tongue down your throat.
09/13/09 16:57:12
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.
08/23/09 08:53:58
maggiesmeow
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.
07/29/09 20:38:53
TheBritishEccentric
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!!
07/25/09 10:14:13
Trvevil
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.
07/06/09 10:23:33
Trinity
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!
03/13/09 08:32:16
Robert White
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.
12/15/08 10:56:13
rebella
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...
11/28/08 22:53:58
NebraskaLovesScent
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.
10/31/08 15:52:08
PR
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:)
10/19/08 11:53:48
Review below viewing threshold.
 
megaoi
Wow... newgabe's description is... interesting and... original. Sounds like a good scent; hope to try it soon.
10/06/08 19:43:39
Aiona
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.
09/27/08 21:47:01
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!
09/06/08 04:45:13
Review below viewing threshold.
 
newgabe
A bottle of this will be arriving soon so I will post a review when I have tried this one. I am looking forward to something strong and strange a I am a lover of dark notes like Cabochard and Bulgari Black. But I don't like Chanel Cuir de Russe. SO it will be interesting to see what this 'leather' is like...
08/14/08 05:24:31

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