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Parfums DelRae Panache ~ new fragrance

Posted by Robin on 14 October 2010 48 Comments

Parfums DelRae Panache perfume

Parfums DelRae has launched Panache, a new unisex fragrance inspired by Cyrano de Bergerac1 and named for his last word in the Edmond Rostand play:

In the final heartbreaking act, the very last word spoken by Cyrano is panache. This quality, he says is the one thing that death and judgment cannot take from him. It is the quality that makes him unique and has defined his life. It is what we will remember most and what inspires us to go forward.

Panache is a vetiver-focused fragrance developed by perfumer Yann Vasnier; additional notes include ambrette seed, baie rose, magnolia, bergamot, rum extract, vetiver, jasmine Sambac absolute, geranium, ylang ylang, cardamom, oakwood extract, olibanum, musks (Cosmone, Serenolide, Moxalone), cedar, amber and honey.

Parfums DelRae Panache is available in 50 ml Eau de Parfum, $150. (via parfumsdelrae)

1. The character in the play by Rostand, not the real person by that name.

Update: see a review of Parfums DelRae Panache.

Filed Under: new fragrances
Tagged With: parfums delrae, yann vasnier

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48 Comments

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  1. mals86 says:
    14 October 2010 at 10:32 am

    Funny, I was ALL OVER that Hermes Iris thing, but although I really enjoyed Mythique and Amoureuse, this one is leaving me cold. Huh.

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    • Robin says:
      14 October 2010 at 11:57 am

      I am guardedly optimistic? I do love my vetiver.

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      • mals86 says:
        14 October 2010 at 1:04 pm

        Ah. And I really don’t. Love vetiver, that is. 🙂 Mystery elucidated.

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  2. Bela says:
    14 October 2010 at 10:39 am

    Cyrano de Bergerac is probably my favourite play. I have seen (and heard) it so many times I know it by heart. Cyrano is such a wonderful character and his last speech is truly hearbreaking (his whole life is really). I don’t know how any perfume could capture the essence of that man.

    I have worn men’s colognes, but I find that deliberately unisex fragrances are usually neither fish nor flesh: they fail on all counts.

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    • norjunma1 says:
      14 October 2010 at 11:31 am

      There’s nothing like seeing this play in theaters, but my heart still belongs to Gerard Deparedieu’s rendition of the character. Panache indeed!

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      • Haunani says:
        14 October 2010 at 12:09 pm

        Same here. Great movie!

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      • Bela says:
        14 October 2010 at 1:47 pm

        Ah, Gérard Depardieu was the least good of all the Cyranos I’ve seen: he was OK in the bravura passages, but awful (my opinion, sorry) in the quiet, reflective ones. I hate it when he drops his voice to a stage whisper. I feel like slapping him when he does that: it sounds so fake.

        My favourite was always an actor called Daniel Sorano (totally unknown outside of France and long since dead): he was the most moving. The only good production of the play I’ve ever seen in English was the RSC’s with Derek Jacobi, quite a long time ago; the translation by Anthony Burgess was superb (there are so many awful ones).

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    • Robin says:
      14 October 2010 at 11:58 am

      Whereas I don’t much care about a perfume’s gender either way…

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  3. Tamara says:
    14 October 2010 at 10:57 am

    Me personally? I’m almost afraid to say it but I’m exhausted!
    I’m tired from my own perfume pursuits, I keep wanting to try everything and I always am eager but right now when this popped up in my email?
    I was tired.

    watch me eat my words though….

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    • sarahbeth says:
      14 October 2010 at 11:09 am

      Yes, I would agree, fatigue was my response! Though I do love the DelRaes, I’m just not sure I have it in me to press on! ( I too shall no doubt be eating my words…)

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    • Robin says:
      14 October 2010 at 12:00 pm

      There are days when it almost seems best NOT to announce everything I know about — it really does get exhausting.

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      • Haunani says:
        14 October 2010 at 12:10 pm

        But Robin – it is your lot in life! And we certainly do appreciate it. 🙂

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        • boojum says:
          14 October 2010 at 12:27 pm

          Indeed, we do. In fact, right after I posted my ho-hum responses today, I thought “you know, you really should keep these comments to yourself…you sound like a terrible ingrate”. Sorry Robin!

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        • Robin says:
          14 October 2010 at 12:38 pm

          LOL…no worries guys, I did not take anyone’s comments as directed at me. It really IS exhausting, I understand totally.

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          • sarahbeth says:
            14 October 2010 at 5:40 pm

            Okay, now that it is later in the day and I am more awake, I am vastly more interested in trying this. I am sure they have done a great rendition of Vetiver! My apologies for the ‘oh I’m feeling sorry for myself and can’t seem to press on’ comment. OF COURSE I WILL PRESS ON, I simply can’t help myself!!

  4. Tara says:
    14 October 2010 at 11:04 am

    I have really liked the Delrae’s that I have tried and this one seems very interesting.

    I just got the email from them with the story about how the perfume was named. I thought it was great. I loved the quote from “Cyrano de Bergerac.” The story and quote were (to me) very engaging, endearing and actually made me want to sniff the perfume. Maybe I am easily amused….

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    • Haunani says:
      14 October 2010 at 12:11 pm

      Being easily amused is a great quality. I’m the same. Agree that this fragrance sounds interesting!

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  5. miss kitty v. says:
    14 October 2010 at 11:14 am

    I got all excited when I saw Del Rae, but… I don’t know. I do love vetiver, but this just doesn’t sound exciting to me. Like so many others on here, I’m burnt out on new releases, and I won’t go out of my way to try it.

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  6. dee says:
    14 October 2010 at 11:17 am

    Wow, this is cracking me up. It’s like Delrae had the magic numbered release that burned out all the ‘fumies 😉
    I saw this and actually tried to talk myself into getting excited… then read the comments! Ha.

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    • Tamara says:
      14 October 2010 at 11:38 am

      😉

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  7. boojum says:
    14 October 2010 at 11:56 am

    The name did me in by association… panache…ganache… iris ganache = nauseating… done. I’ve hit a point, too, where all vetivers have started to smell the same to me. Still… cardamom is yummy… I think I’m just crabby today. 🙂

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    • Haunani says:
      14 October 2010 at 12:11 pm

      Shape up there, Boo!

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      • boojum says:
        14 October 2010 at 12:30 pm

        You’re right. I’m trying! I’ll blame it on exhaustion and a houseguest, and do better next time. 🙂

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        • Haunani says:
          14 October 2010 at 5:21 pm

          Houseguests will take it out of you, that’s for sure!

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          • miss kitty v. says:
            14 October 2010 at 5:43 pm

            Yeah, that’s an excuse to be crabby, and then some.

  8. Abyss says:
    14 October 2010 at 12:12 pm

    Lol, tough crowd today.

    I’ve yet to try any DelRae (was all ready to spring for a sample of Mythique only for it to be out of stock!) but my ears perk up involuntarily at the mention of vetiver. So I too am cautiously optimistic.

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  9. violetnoir says:
    14 October 2010 at 12:23 pm

    Wow! Love the name and its reference point.

    I hope they have it at Scent Bar this weekend.

    Hugs!

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  10. RusticDove says:
    14 October 2010 at 12:23 pm

    Oh my – am I the only one here who is looking forward to trying this? I got the email from DelRae about this today and thought it sounded really nice. I’m a fan of their fragrances and this sounds promising to me. No burn out here yet! 😉

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    • ggperfume says:
      14 October 2010 at 12:47 pm

      No, you’re not alone– I like to try everything Delrae offers. Not all the scents are right for me, but none of them has been cheap, sloppy, or dull. Eau Illuminee has been a go-to this summer, especially on long weekends up in the Sierras, and Bois de Paradis will take its turn when winter comes. Those two were fb purchases for me, and I’m also enjoying most of the other scents from my sample kit (except for Mythique– I broke the sample vial, darn it!)

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      • RusticDove says:
        14 October 2010 at 1:04 pm

        Oh what a shame about the Mythique – it’s really lovely – hopefully a FB is in my future. The only scent that I didn’t care for at all was Emotionelle, I think it’s called? I wasn’t thrilled with the new rose scent either come to think of it, but I still think the line is very nicely done and I do look forward to trying Panache.

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    • Tara says:
      14 October 2010 at 1:10 pm

      Bois de Paradis is one of my top 10 or maybe top 5.

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  11. Dilana says:
    14 October 2010 at 12:25 pm

    Alert.
    Do you feel that you are ugly, that you are better at romance on-line than in person?
    Here is the fragrance for you!
    This is the perfume for a person with a low self-esteem who never gets his girl because he is to busy helping his nit wit buddies date her instead.
    (Devotees of French Classical Theater, please do not beat me up. I love both the Depardieu classic and the Steve Martin (update) versions of this play).

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    • dee says:
      14 October 2010 at 12:30 pm

      ha!

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    • miss kitty v. says:
      14 October 2010 at 2:31 pm

      Nice. 🙂

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    • Bela says:
      14 October 2010 at 2:57 pm

      LOL!

      I love the Steve Martin version. 🙂

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      • Haunani says:
        14 October 2010 at 5:23 pm

        I love Steve Martin in anything, but that was one of my faves!

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    • OperaFan says:
      15 October 2010 at 1:08 pm

      Roxanne is among my favorite romantic comedies!

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  12. Karin says:
    14 October 2010 at 1:05 pm

    Haven’t tried any DelRaes or Divines. I am very curious about Yann Vasnier. Need to get my hands on some of his creations…

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    • ggperfume says:
      14 October 2010 at 1:10 pm

      I’ve only tried the original Divine, and it is well-named. You remind me that I need to visit TPC for more little trial-size decants of the rest of the Divine line.

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    • FOandW_oh_my says:
      14 October 2010 at 8:20 pm

      I really like his work. I am looking forward to this one.

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  13. monkeytoe says:
    14 October 2010 at 1:18 pm

    DelRae has a great track record and this one isn’t focused on melon. I say, “Yay!”

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  14. Dolly2 says:
    14 October 2010 at 1:25 pm

    The only thing that seems to grab me about this is the name.

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  15. AnnS says:
    14 October 2010 at 1:57 pm

    Well, this sounds like a test worthy fragrance. I’ll always give a DelRae a chance…. They might do unisex a little better than the rest. But if I’m going FBW – I’d pick Amoureuse!!!

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  16. Cheryl says:
    14 October 2010 at 4:40 pm

    Strange.. Nothing to do with this post but I am feeling blah and blasé .Related to this release , though, I used to get pretty fired up over the literary references in perfumes, but having just read yesterday about Malle’s Portrait of a Lady, I find it is starting to wear thin. Oh, listen to me– or rather, don’t. I think I need some chocolate.

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    • FOandW_oh_my says:
      14 October 2010 at 8:21 pm

      Chocolate. Yup, that can pretty much fix anything!

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  17. guerlaingirl says:
    14 October 2010 at 4:45 pm

    DelRae + Cyrano + vetiver = I’m intrigued. 🙂

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  18. KRL says:
    15 October 2010 at 6:17 pm

    I tried this on today without knowing the notes. I’m not a huge fan of vetiver as I find it’s usually used with a heavy hand. In this case, to my nose, this is a light a gentle scent with with a wisp of vetiver – it reminds me a bit of YSL’s Cinema in tone. Worth a try, but a bit like Mythique in it’s transparent quality. If you’re looking for sillage, might be best to look elsewhere…

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    • OperaFan says:
      15 October 2010 at 6:45 pm

      That sounds pretty consistent with his last 2 Delrae creations. Both Mythique and Coupe de Foudre have that transparent lightness about them (though I find Mythique’s effect to be superior).

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