Robert Piguet
Robert Piguet
346 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
A sharp, green burst of hyacinth and mandarin cuts through immediately, bergamot providing brightness rather than citrus pop. Within seconds, the florals begin their assault—tuberose rises first, creamy and almost narcotic, whilst the iris introduces a chalky, powdery undertone that feels distinctly retro.
The composition settles into its true character as peach and orange blossom add a velvety, almost skin-like warmth to the tuberose-iris backbone. Carnation and coriander emerge now, introducing unexpected pepper and clove-like spice that transforms what could have been a simple white floral into something far more complex and slightly unsettling—this is where Fracas reveals its teeth.
The base materials—sandalwood, orris root, and moss—anchor what remains into a powdery, slightly woody haze rather than a traditional musk-heavy finish. The florals don't so much fade as compress, leaving an impressionistic memory of tuberose and violet on skin, all structure collapsing into soft, vaguely sweet powder within four to five hours.
Fracas is a tuberose monolith dressed in borrowed finery—a white floral so densely constructed it borders on sculpture. Germaine Cellier's 1948 masterwork doesn't whisper; it announces itself through a kaleidoscope of competing florals that somehow resolve into something greater than their sum. The hyacinth and bergamot opening provides merely a courteous nod before tuberose, iris, and jasmine converge into an almost creamy floral accord, their individual identities blurring into a singular, powdery statement. Peach and orange blossom add a distinctly human warmth—not sweetness exactly, but rather a fleshy, skin-like quality that prevents the composition from becoming purely botanical.
What makes Fracas so arresting is its refusal to soften. The coriander, violet, and carnation create unexpected spice undertones that cut through the florality like a blade through silk, introducing a faintly peppery quality that feels almost uncomfortable in its precision. This is a scent for those who view fragrance as a creative act rather than a decorative one—for individuals with the confidence to wear something that doesn't seek approval. It's a fragrance worn by people stepping into important rooms, making important decisions. It demands attention from others whilst suggesting its wearer couldn't be bothered with their reaction.
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4.0/5 (186)