WHAT I SMELL: Tigre du Bengale opens with a sweetened juniper which very quickly moves into a lightly incensed and peaceful labdanum. I was expecting a leap from a tiger at first application. Instead, the perfume moves in like a cat ready to lie down for a nap; all comfy and cozy. The perfume is relatively close to the skin and a bit powdery, but as it starts to develop it becomes a bit more exotic with a slightly urinous note that sharpens the original softness, but not too much. There’s a light leather note that wraps itself around the perfume, just as this strange dirty feet smell comes into play. Thankfully, it’s not overpowering, but it does add a bit of funk to the mix. Soon enough that bit of funk exits the mix and the perfume becomes more woody, with just a lightly sweetened edge of patchouli. And it once again moves from a bit of sharp to the more serene and smoky. And as soon as I say that, a salty note enters along with a light cream. Wait….now we’re back to a serene and smoky dry leather. It seems that there a lot of twists and turns with Tigre du Bengale, and there are, but these twists and turns morph and change like the walk of a jungle cat, slow and steady with in an incredible prowl.
From the Malbrum website:
Synthetic notes:
Toscanol, Safranal, Nimberol, Ambrofix and Suederal
Head: Juniper, cardamom,
Heart: Myrrha, labdanum
Fond: Castoreum, burley tobacco, patchouli
Gloria Swanson 1920s
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Tigre du Bengale is less tiger, but more vamp.
THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE TIGRE DU BENGALE: sultry, mysterious, come-hither
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT TIGRE DU BENGALE: Colognoisseur, What Men Should Smell Like, CaFleureBon
BOTTOM LINE: Tigre du Bengale is one of those perfumes that each time I bring my wrist to my nose it smells different. Sometimes, it smells more like incense, other times it’s more leather. At other times it’s a bit sweetened. In any case, the drydown is a winner and I can see this being a perfect fall and winter fragrance. And maybe come the cool months, the tiger stripes will once again change and morph into something else that I have yet to experience.
- Bone Rating: 3.5 out of possible 5 bones
- Scent: Aromatic Spicy
- Nose: Delphine Thierry
- Classification: Unisex
- Expense: $170 for 30 ml parfum extrait
Sample courtesy of Twisted Lily Fragrance Boutique and Apothecary
The Scented Hound 