L'Occitan
L'Occitane (2005)

My signature scent for nearly 20 years until I got into fragrances and increased my collection.
Natural, distinct notes, and classic profile. Longevity could be a bit better but just a beauty.

Having only tried this & Eaux de Beaux from this house, this is definitely my favorite. And I love Eau de Beaux. I only have about 1/2 an ounce, so I cherish every wearing, but I could bath in this stuff daily!

The cinnamon is not prominent at all, so for those who are cinnamon averse, you may not be able to sense it. (At least on my skin chemistry)

The pepper is prominent, but in no way do I, or other around me, get 'the sneezies'. It is very polite indeed.

A creamy, spicy, & woody lavender type fragrance, that may be slightly linear, but in no way gets tiresome(for me, or those around me).

I don't get any sweetness, even though tonka is listed in the base. Thank goodness, and the absence of vanilla is quite welcome. Any sweetness from adding vanilla would've ruined this for me.

My nose tells me pine, even though I don't smell it. I guess you could say it has a piney aura to it?

My wife said, "It smells like you're trying to attract someone". I took it as a compliment, whether passive aggressive or not...

9/10 - Would rank higher if the transitions were more clearly separated from Top-->Mid-->Base

Requested and received for Christmas, on the basis that this is a versatile year-round scent that can readily fill in the gap when I can't make a decision on what to wear.

After a few goes, the bottle has opened up and now smells how I recall it from many testings in L'occitane outlets - that is, lavender-heavy, supported by spices for a warm feel and somewhat classical edge. Not too much going on, but there doesn't need to be. When I first started visiting their shops, L'occitane had this, Cade, Baux, and Vetyver as their regular men's line, and it struck me at that time that everyone should own at least one of these, for a different experience to the regular designers but much better value. This range has now halved, which is a shame, but L'occitan the scent remains a high quality lavender and useful mainstay. Recommended.

This one's for me! Lavander barbershop, good performance, just so old school but still "nichey", readily available and affordable, with little ambrox, norlimbanol or IsoE in sight! Haleluia!
But wait.... Lots of black pepper and I mean a massive plonk, after awhile it's all I smell and sadly it won't do. Damn.. close but no cigar, oh well.

I can't believe there's no herb in this. It smells like a liquor, like absinthe or chartreuse. Beautiful.

This is the one that started me on my search for a peppery-focused scent. I came across L'Occitan at the L'Occitane store in the Detroit DTW airport. Gave it a spray and thought, "Hmm. That's nice." Later realized after research that it is the pepper that I'm drawn to. The pepper in this one comes through very nicely and is mixed with other notes to present a very pleasant scent. Only drawbacks are just okay longevity and sillage. If you can get it on the cheap and carry around a refresher, go for it.