Hello World Travelers Through Fragrance,
Today we are looking at a fragrance named for a city very dear to my heart. I have been lucky enough to be taken by my last partner, an Indian hotelier, to the fabled Pink City of India as a luxe tourist at the Rambagh Palace and as a local staying in run for Indians hotels where a months stay would be about equal to an night at Rambagh. In gratitude I recently sent him a bottle of today’s fragrance and he is loving it. My BFF Kath and I were also blessed to spend some time in the Rajasthani capital city just after Richard Gere had been and bought an enormous amount of stuff from my favourite ex-Raj antique store, the workers were absolutely fit to burst.
Rambagh Palace Photo Stolen TajHotels
Jaipur Homme for Boucheron 1998
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Lime, bergamot, cardamom, lemon
Heart: Carnation, cinnamon, jasmine, rose
Base: Tonka bean, patchouli, benzoin and cedar.
Boucheron’s site says: Jaïpur Homme takes inspiration from the marvelous gardens of the Maharajas and bears all of the precious codes of Maison Boucheron: the golden gadroons, the sapphire cabochon… An Oriental Spicy fragrance, with a fresh start and spicy notes softened by an intense woody signature, it was created for a modern man with a pioneer spirit.
You may already know that I am a Boucheron fan. You may also have guessed I am and Indiaphile. Imagine bringing the two together, it is one of the greatest frag ideas for me. The opening spritz is a great sensual gust of citrus and spice, very human smelling and as a prelude the patchouli says HI up front before fading back again behind the scenes. If this is Jaipur it is a Jaipur of the upper middle classes, very clean marble, the staff cooking in a far away kitchen, A/C cooled homes and beautifully carved wood on the furniture, The flowers are muted and tastefully never give themselves up to my nose but rather stay huddled together hiding behind the cinnamon and the citrus remnants. The cinnamon stays front and centre throughout the heart and then the powdery woods and patchouli flood through quietly until they are all that’s left, with the merest hint of vanilla, and then gone.
I get about 2 hours of full on fragrance and another 3 or so of powdery, woodsy base. After the initial rush I think Jaipur would be a perfect masculine work scent, great after the gym, dinner, cinema etc only truly frag-phobic workplaces would disapprove of this lovely scent.
Photo Stolen DealMates
FragranceNet starts at 50ml EdT $35
MyPerfumeSamples starts at 1ml/$2 up to 5ml/$7
Have you traveled to Rajasthan or any part of India? What were your experiences? Have you tried Jaipur Homme?
As we begin 2013 I would like to wish you and all those in your orbit and safe and prosperous 2013 filled with loads of the good stuff that you love. Thanks for your support, friendship, comments, love and fragrant advice. I feel part of a great big fragrant family that spans our beautiful globe.
Loads of love back at you,
Portia xx
Photo Stolen panoramio
Jaipur Doco
Australian Perfume Junkies 
Lovely pictures, and the scents sound interesting. In an economy that sets a lot of lovely perfumes out of many people’s reach, it’s nice to hear about small, affordable luxuries that can bring an exotic touch to an average evening.
LikeLike
Hey wooddogs3,
I love a bargain, and a great scent and both are represented here for me.
Portia x
LikeLike
Oh, how I love Jaipur!
LikeLike
That was a good shopping day, wasn’t it. Then lugging that damn hand carved 100 year old frame around. Hilarious!!
Portia x
LikeLike
I haven’t tried Jaipur, I haven’t been to India; but I love Annick Menardo! I love Stella Cadente which you can pick up for a song as well as Yves Rocher Fleurs des Orangers which is geat on its own or great for layering
LikeLike
Hey Tamtefarcie,
I went and had a look for Stella Cadente but Miss Me seems to be sold out everywhere, I saw Miss Me Discrete though. How is that?
Portia xx
LikeLike
I don’t know Discrete (pun intended). Miss Me is on US eBay probably on Amazon as well. It’s very powdery/ rose/balsam. I learned about it on Grain de Musc. Not something I’d normally go for but it was so reasonable and I like it in the drydown.
LikeLike
Thanks. XXOX
LikeLike
I’ve never been to India and have always wanted to go. You luxury stay looks and sounds like the height of pampering. But I would do as you did and stay somewhere else as well.
Great review, Portia! I love Annick Mernardo’s work and will remember to give this a sniff when I come across it again.
LikeLike
Annick Menardo has been a very busy perfumer hasn’t he. What catalogue! Lolita Lempicka, Dior, Bulgari, Le Labo, Guerl;ain, Lancome
OMG!! You must go to India before it becomes totally Westernised. It’s still quite affordable.
I have quite a few of his frag babies in my library.
Portia xx
LikeLike
This is one of my favorites. However, when I wear it I find it nice. When my hubby wears it, it smells very exotic. I love it’s spiciness… I think I need to go put some on now 🙂
LikeLike
Ha Ha HA You are hilarious. I agree it smells more incredible on someone else. Distance modifies it.
LikeLike
I’ve never been to India – maybe one day. And I haven’t tried Jaipur. I will if I come across it.
All the best to you in 2013, Portia!
LikeLike
If you want to then it will happen, the fragrance is solid and quite unisex.
Right back at you Undina, with interest!!
Portia xxxox
LikeLike
The notes sound so lovely and I like the idea of the flowers huddles behind the cinammon. Is there a jaipur femme. Interesting to think of india interpreted without sandalwood; and the jasmines, roses are truly background? What about the carnation? Does it stand apart? I ‘m in love with Neela vermeire’s interpretation of my home. very curious about this one.
LikeLike
Yes there is a Boucheron Jaipur Pour femme and Jaipur Bracelet. They are not real interpretations of Jaipur of memory but the bottles give a good reminder.
You should try them all and come back to tell me what you think. Are you a Jaipuri native?
Portia xx
LikeLike