Duc de Vervins (1991)
by Houbigant

I thought I have to write something about this magnificent scent. Originally It was not on my plans to acquire a fragrance like DV, it was introduced to me by one of the responsible persons of the hyacinth shop (One of the best Swiss perfumeries located in Basel) she sprayed one of those with papers testers and give it to me, I was not a t all impressed and put the paper in the bag together with the other perfumes I bought. Once in the car I decided to put the sample on the dashboard, the next day when I took the car I said what is that wonderful and refined smell? That was the moment that I realized the extents of DV.

It is a fresh and distinctive chipre fragrance, projecting maturity and a classic taste for life, this is the kind of fragrance that you would like to have as a signature fragrance, so when people smell it, your image will materialize. Classy, …very classy although a bit overpowered my wife said at the beginning, but now she understood that as an important part of this beautiful composition. Bravo!!!

PS: My daughter says that smell clean and wonderfull.

This is an excellent green fresh Chyphre. I bought the extreme version, which I think is smoother than the original. I'm not a huge fan of Drakar Noir, and although I can smell some similarities, I actually like this one. It's dry, green and a bit woody with a tasteful hint of some leather in the base. D.V. is a well made sophisticated scent which eschews all the sweet and balsamic notes that I'm often attracted to, so it's a nice addition to my wardrobe.

Drakkar Noir? Perhaps a little, but far more along the lines of Loewe para Hombre and Lacoste -- very crisp, green fragrance with magnificent sillage and great lasting power. Not really a frag for jeans and tennis shoes, perhaps, but a fine choice for suits and ties and even black tie.

I just sampled the new Extreme version -- many thanks to Jock_With_Scents. It's a softer, more complex and slightly more powdery version of the original. It veers even more in the direction of Lacoste pour Homme than does the original, IMHO. It also wears a little closer to the skin and doesn't resemble Drakkar Noir half as much. Am debating a purchase of it, but haven't yet decided at $135.00 a bottle.

For a long time wished to get acquainted with this perfume. When has sprayed on a hand - there was a persuasive association with Nobile Gucci. But it only pleases me - because, Nobile Gucci is discontinued and hard to find and it is difficult to buy, and this is my favourite perfume :))

One is obvious - Duc de Vervins - my absolute favorite.

Simil;ar to most Creed scents- i don't know why exactly i am constantly followed by this association, but it happens everytime i come across Duc de Vervins. Besides Drakkar Noir, it's also another Guy Laroche scenjt to whom i find this similar: the largely overlooked and today almost forgotten Horizon. Alongside with this wastly underrated scent, Duc de Vervins has the same smooth green opening, but not that agressive, repulsive herbal e.g in the style of Eau de Campagne, but the most elusive finely crafted aromatic note with a berly perceptible but still omnipresent backing of discreet chypre and refined, persistent and precious woody notes. So maybe a crossover between Horizon's elaborate "green" style and Drakkar's rich and almost spritualized tobacco, plus quite a few masculine Creeds.
Oddly, not neccessarily a minus point, more of a puzzling and bewildering detail, which i don't want or have to see as a minus point- the bottle and especially the monogram on it remind me rather of of a jet-set new money, even Texas-style millionare than an old-money aristocrat due to a strange mixture of showy megalomania and minimalism of the two letters. This, however did not affect the rating i attributed to this scent.

Hmm . . .I used to love this one when I first got hooked into this addiction, but then----well, perhaps I'm just jaded, but it doesn't hold a candle these days to my favorite 5 star fragrances whether they're woods, fougere, or boardroom powerhouse scents.
*sigh*
Farewell!