L'air du Désert Marocain by Tauer Perfumes: Perfume Review / Fragrance Review

[threaduntangler]

So it's basically Orientalism in a bottle?

...I ordered a sample of this out of pure curiosity. I've spent quite a bit of time all throughout Morocco and am really curious to see how it compares.

[KatiePuckrikSmells]

@threaduntangler If you haven't already, explore Serge Lutens line - many of his perfumes are inspired by Morocco, where he lives, including Fleurs d'Oranger.

[grimmonster100]

i can't find this scent anywhere. Where can i find it? :)

[KatiePuckrikSmells]

@grimmonster100 There's a link under my video to my blog post for "where to buy" info. Suppliers include LuckyScent.

[peekaboots01]

WOW! This sounds interesting. I'd like to have it just to spray it in the air and meditate on traveling to Morroco on a magic flying carpet.

[KatiePuckrikSmells]

@peekaboots01 This is definitely a fragrance that takes you places when you wear it.

[Cardsmaster]

Hi, Katie Puckrik.

For a guy, which one should I get - Ambre Sultan or L'air du blah blah by tauer?

I wanna be a spice bomb!

[KatiePuckrikSmells]

@Cardsmaster For your spice bomb needs, it's gotta be Ambre Sultan. L'Air du blah blah is on the sweeter side and not as prickly-spicy. And speaking of spice bombs, also give Donna Karan Black Cashmere a whirl. I'm wearing it right now and it's a clove-saffron-pepper spicy-dry-woody incense that will provide spice satisfaction.

[CestmoiNicole]

I've just tried it on my wrist. Isn't it a twin-brother of Lutens' Fumerie Turque?

[KatiePuckrikSmells]

@CestmoiNicole Maybe not twin, but certainly some family resemblance in the smoky coughety cough-ness of it, the sweetness. FT goes more in a tobacco direction, Desert Marocain in the cedar wood. But now you've got me curious to do a side by side sniff.

[pigasus27]

Very interesting explanation. I completely agree that you're transported to a marketplace in Morocco. Dust, spice, sweet warm air, smoke, and fruit. It's more of an artwork and showcases the virtuosity of the perfumer rather than a fragrance to smell "nice". It captures a moment in a bottle, much as a photograph or a painting captures a moment; it's simply a different medium for creative expression. Thank you for the review, Katie.

[deadjailorrocknroll]

dont you want to know what the prize is ?

[deadjailorrocknroll]

yeah ?... well, ill just have to nominate you for this years "miss kepiblanc" competition !

[KatiePuckrikSmells]

Kepi blanc? Oh, I get it - "white cap"! Yes, nominate away...

[deadjailorrocknroll]

reminds me of my days there with the legion... good times ! thanks mr tauer...

[KatiePuckrikSmells]

Yes, you did cut quite a swathe in your jaunty white hat.

[Mirabelle69]

By the way, :) good french accent !

Just emphasize more the "o" and the nasal prononciation of "ain" in marocain, and you'll be able to pretend you're born french :)

[Mirabelle69]

Oh, come on ! That is NOT a review.

It's an eulogia, and not a good one.

At least you could balance good and bad points of this perfume.

"You could bring it on to just the ingredients..." however, that's exactly what you do, you repeat the ingredient list (the commercial one in addition!), and then serve us the stereotype of the souk to describe an exotic fragrance.

Of course you're pretty smart and enthousiastic, but the image had nothing, unless to the shallowness of the all review.

[KatiePuckrikSmells]

What you call the "stereotype of the souk" is actually the intention of Andy Tauer in creating this scent. He strove for an olfactory portrait of a Moroccan casbah. (Admittedly a well-edited one, minus the exhaust fumes and the odd whiff of sewage.) Having traveled through Morocco many times myself, it was authentic for me to refer to this.

Perhaps my hologram metaphor was frail, but I felt this scent was perhaps more successful as an photo-realist smell-picture than as a personal fragrance.

[OujoKuroiBara]

I have no idea what you mean...

[KatiePuckrikSmells]

I'm saying that L'air du Desert Marocain seems more like a "smell" than a "perfume". It's what the air in an idealized Moroccan market would smell like, rather than something you'd wear as a personal fragrance.

[OujoKuroiBara]

Oh! Sorry, I must be stupid! XP

[KatiePuckrikSmells]

Oh - don't say that! I wasn't as a clear as I could have been.

[coffeeboob]

Reminds me a lot of many of L'Artisans fragrances like Timbuktu or DZing! Transporting me to a place or time

[KatiePuckrikSmells]

Those are apt comparisons - both those fragrances are so specific and evocative.

[XforeverlongingX]

Wow Mirabelle, miserable much?

[KatiePuckrikSmells]

Ha-ha! In Mirabelle's defense, though, he did lighten up in subsequent communications. He just loves perfume to the point of prickliness.

[letty3476]

I think I want to buy this perfume. Where can I get in theUSA?

[KatiePuckrikSmells]

I've seen it online at the sites for Luckyscent and Aedes, and it's at their stores (LA & NYC), too.

[ALPHADELTACAPPA]

I think this one would be worth a try! I WAS really there. I had the good fortune of visiting Morroco may years ago. Your description of the dusty trip through the Casbah is right on! (Were you there, too? ) ;-) The sights, the smells, at once exotic and yet strangely familiar and warm. It beckons you in like a favorite dream only to linger on your skin like a half-forgotten smile...

[KatiePuckrikSmells]

Beautiful imagery, AlphaDC!

[KENKENNIFF]

I like the bottle, very old school.

[criminalmindxxxx]

I do agree that it doesn't progress that much, but there is some progression with this fragrance. Very nice, dry spices to start, followed by a gorgeous amber drydown. I'll need to refer to my sample of this one.

[KatiePuckrikSmells]

I do love this frag, but it strikes me more of an "smell experience" than a perfume. But there's nothing wrong with taking a trip with a sniff - the legit kind!

[danielfblackert]

Agreed, great scent, but a little unwearable at times. I appreciate it -alot- but just do not see myself wearing it all that often. I am good with my 10ML decant.