Our take
What does Au Masculin smell like?
In 2000 Lolita Lempicka gave its feminine scent a male counterpart and handed it to Annick Ménardo. The result looked nothing like the fresh woody scents of the time. Everything starts with licorice. Star anise and basil sharpen it while violet adds a faint powder. Think of a licorice wheel unrolling, then an anise pastille melting on your tongue. The heart slides toward rum and tonka bean, with orgeat adding a milky almond note. The base is darker than you'd expect. Cedar, cistus and vetiver keep the praline and vanilla from turning into dessert. Some people even pick up a warm tar note late in the day. Next to Thierry Mugler's A*Men, another masculine gourmand, Au Masculin feels lighter and more herbal. The house renamed it Lempicka Homme in 2018, with a reworked formula that adds ivy.
When to wear it
A cold-weather evening scent that needs a light hand, so two sprays will do. On a wool sweater the licorice lasts until the next day.
It belongs to the Oriental / Amber, Woody family. Au Masculin is one of 5 creations by Lolita Lempicka in our encyclopedia.
