Perfume Review: Andy Tauer Lonestar Memories

Lonestar Memories, the third perfume by the amazingly talented Swiss perfumer Andy Tauer, was inspired by “memories of a wide land, open pastures, earthy leather, warm smoke”. The scent is an invitation to voyage, perhaps to the Texas of Andy’s memories, perhaps to some other place of your dreams …It is guaranteed to give you the most acute feeling of wanderlust, a longing for far, far away lands and a hunger for adventure. This is the scent of conquistador’s glove, of the first settler’s saddle, of a well-worn but still elegant leather steamer trunk of a seasoned traveler. I love leather scents and am quite fussy when it comes to that note. My taste runs more towards Cuir de Russie type of leather rather than Peau d’Espagne; I adore the robust smokiness of birch tar typical of the former. It seems, however, that the right kind of smokiness is not that easy to find. Some leather scent are not smoky enough (or shall I say, too wimpy) for my taste, some, although wonderfully unique (think Kolnisch Juchten), are too smoky/meaty/bizarre to be easily wearable. In Lonestar Memories, Andy Tauer manages to achieve the perfect smoky effect. The birch tar note is full-bodied and rich, but, spiced up by geranium and sage and softened by jasmine, its smokiness is kept in check…there is a hint of something barbarian and wild here, but there is also elegance and sophistication. Apart from the beautifully executed smoky aspect, another very attractive part of the scent is the warm, luxurious and earthy base accord of myrrh, tonka, vetiver and sandalwood. The accord has unexpected spicy-incensy sweetness that, paired with the smoky leather, is incredibly attractive. Lonestar Memories makes me want to escape the mundane confines of my everyday world, it makes me want to travel I do not know where in search of I do not know what…it also makes me want to quote Baudelaire, so brace yourself: Tell me, does your heart sometimes fly away, Agatha, Far from the black ocean of the filthy city, Toward another ocean where splendor glitters, Blue, clear, profound, as is virginity? Tell me, does your heart sometimes fly away, Agatha? The sea, the boundless sea, consoles us for our toil! What demon endowed the sea, that raucous singer, Whose accompanist is the roaring wind, With the sublime function of cradle-rocker? The sea, the boundless sea, consoles us for our toil! Take me away, carriage! Carry me off, frigate! Far, far away! Here the mud is made with our tears! — Is it true that sometimes the sad heart of Agatha Says: Far from crimes, from remorse, from sorrow, Take me away, carriage, carry me off, frigate? How far away you are, O perfumed Paradise, Where under clear blue sky there's only love and joy, Where all that one loves is worthy of love, Where the heart is drowned in sheer enjoyment! How far away you are, O perfumed Paradise! (...) (Grieving and Wandering, Charles Baudelaire) Lonestar Memories is available at tauerperfumes.com, $65.00 for 50ml of Eau de Toilette. *The first image is from tauerperfumes.com. The second image is from morflot.org