Lacoste
Lacoste
753 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
A bright, almost peppery citrus-herb combination detonates immediately—the grapefruit cuts sharp against rosemary's slightly medicinal bite, while cardamom adds a subtle spice that makes you sit up. Cedar leaf contributes an austere green-woody edge that prevents this from smelling like a breakfast scene.
The florals finally emerge from behind the herbs, their tuberose sweetness and ylang ylang creaminess softening into something almost skin-like and soapy, held in check by frankincense's dry, slightly bitter resin. The herbal opening fades considerably, replaced by a delicate, powdery sweetness that feels rather fleeting.
Cedarwood and vetiver form a thin woody-earthy base that's more suggestion than substance, with the suede accord adding a faint velvety texture. The fragrance becomes increasingly difficult to detect, fading into an almost imperceptible skin scent that's barely there after the third hour.
L.12.12 Blanc arrives as a peculiar hybrid—neither quite fresh cologne nor proper fragrance, but something caught pleasantly in between. Olivier Pescheux has constructed a scent that feels almost contradictory: herbaceous rosemary and cardamom spike the grapefruit opening with an unexpectedly savoury snap, while cedar leaf adds a slightly astringent green quality that prevents this from becoming a straightforward citrus splash. The real intrigue emerges in the heart, where frankincense's resinous amber warmth begins a subtle tug-of-war with tuberose and ylang ylang. These florals don't bloom in the traditional sense; instead, they hover just beneath the surface, their creamy indolic character tempered by the incense, creating something almost powdery and slightly soapy rather than lush. The base layer promises more substance than it delivers—cedarwood, vetiver, and georgywood suggest a woody anchor, yet they remain whispers rather than declarations.
This is a fragrance for the minimalist aesthetic, for those who wear crisp linen shirts and think in neutrals. It suits morning applications and professional environments where presence matters more than projection. L.12.12 Blanc wears like a second skin that finally smells like something—approachable, competent, quietly refined. It's the olfactory equivalent of a perfectly fitted oxford shirt: functional, dependable, and somehow more interesting than it initially appears. Not loud enough to announce itself, yet memorable enough to leave an impression on those close enough to notice.
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3.8/5 (88)