Fragrance Review Byredo Parfums Mr. Marvelous: “Ben Gorham’s Fanciful Disguise” + Paul Verlaine Draw

I don't like to read press releases, usually they are rhetoric of seduction or utter  nonsense; before I  read  Byredo Parfums Mr. Marvelous's release, I just could not surpress thoughts of the memorable Billy Crystal skits on Saturday Night Live (circa 1985)  and his hysterical imitation of Fernado Lamas's "you look mahhhvelous" .

 

So I peeked; the eau de parfum is an homage to the avant garde hairdresser Christiaan Houtenbos the edgy  hairstylist who  worked with everyone from Grace Jones to clients like Calvin Klein since the 80's. Now… add that to copy that mentions France’s post-revolutionary dandies Les Marveileuses.Thoroughly confused?

What could I do? I put the release down, wore the fragrance, tested it  on my DH, I  smelled the ghost of a Poete Maudit-Paul Verlaine.  Ben Gorham is no stranger to the Poetes Maudits, he named a fragrance after one " Baudeleire."

 

 

 

From  Verlaine's  Claire de Lune Fêtes galantes (1869)

Your soul is like a landscape fantasy,
Where masks and Bergamasks, in charming wise,
Strum lutes and dance, just a bit sad to be
Hidden beneath their fanciful disguise

 

The opening of Mr. Marvelous is indeed marvelous (and deceptive) with notes of Mandarin Leaves,and  Neroli Flower , bright and witty. There are notes of green lavender and bamboo, but  my skin didn't pull these (it smelled a moment like ambroxan) The base notes are what remained – the fanciful disguise – dark , somber and mysterious- Black Amber, White Cedarwood. To me the base smells a whole lot like vetiver It has vetiver' s smokey-ness and the warm dryness of the  white cedarwood which doesn't have that aramo of a pile of wood chips.

 

What's even more mysterious is in an envelope a lab sample 10ml  decant arrived which I am now offering to a reader (sprayed twice). Please  leave a  comment  about  anything  you found interesting  in my review and you are eligible for the decant. Or tell us who is your Mr. Marveous and what is his most charming quality. Is it  you ? Draw ends July 31, 2011

 

 

IMHO  Ben Gorham…you look MAHHHHvelous

Michelyn Camen– Editor-in- Chief

i dedicate this post to my husband Didier Cholay, Mark behnke and  to the remarkable Wim Janssens

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16 comments

  • Carlos Powell says:

    This sounds like a great fragrance. I like that it is an homage to the hairdresser Christiaan Houtenbos. Love Grace Jones and The Mahvelous SNL sketch. Thanks for the opportunity. PS You were right! Ben Gorham is pretty hot!

  • ololiuqui says:

    I would love to try this one sounds,qite thrilling.Ben Gorham looks marvelous indeed.
    I realy enjoyed Billy Crystal,absolutely mahhhhvelous!!!

  • Francesca says:

    Hotness is Mr Buddy Brice whom I may one day post a photo of but not now as I will have to fight off the competition. He’s just had the most elegant coiffure and is strutting his stuff like one hot dude! My Mr Marvellous’ most endearing quality is his unconditional love and when he looks up into my eyes I melt. His look say’s don’t rush, stay and feel the love. He reminds me to stop and smell the flowers. I’d never stray..

  • Joe says:

    I’m curious about this one. I’m always curious about what Byredo are up to, and I am still plotting to get my hands on some M/Mink. I wish their 30ml flacons were easier to find!

    I was interested in that painting with the moon. Rousseau? I don’t recognize that one, but I love the Romantics.

    I’m also interested in the photo of Ben Gorham. I’m sure I’ve seen photos of him before, but… oh, la la! Mister Marvelous indeed.

  • Candice says:

    I am so curious about this fragrance. The notes sound intriguing to me and I am always curious to find out the inspiration of a scent.

  • Kate S. says:

    Please enter me in the drawing. Otherwise me lingering and staring at this gorgoues Ben Gorham is sorta creepy.

  • RM says:

    Great review! And this sounds like something I would love to try! I already very much enjoy my bottle of Fantastic Man/Sunday Cologne and hope this one would be just as good.
    My Mr. Marvellous would have to be my 4 year old son – he’s always happy, confidant and willing to throw himself into any task with much gusto, (I feel I learn from him more than he learns from me!)

  • Francesca says:

    OH, dear, I think there may be multiple Francescas posting here. I’m happy to modify my name to avoid confusion. Tell me what you would like me to do.

    I have to say my Mr Marvelous is my husband who is interested in thousands of topics and so is always interesting.

    My other Mr Marvelous(es) are the English actors Leslie Howard, Ronald Colman, and Basil Rathbone. Just because.

  • Asali says:

    Oh I find that Mr Gorham very interesting indeed 😉
    And the Rousseau painting, I love it <3, and now I'll google that Billy Crystal SNL imitation…

  • samberg says:

    Because of my last name I had to look up what “Bergamasks” are.

    “Your soul is like a landscape fantasy,
    Where masks and Bergamasks, in charming wise,
    Strum lutes and dance, just a bit sad to be
    Hidden beneath their fanciful disguise”

    I learned today that bergamask is a rustic Italian dance.

  • Holly F. says:

    I found the passage from Verlaine’s Claire de Lune Fêtes galantes (1869) very interesting and very beautiful. Smoky, dry fragrances interest me, as well.

  • Isa says:

    I loved the poem by Verlaine. It’s beautiful! Thanks for sharing it with us!

    There are three Mr. Marvelous in my life: my father, my husband and my brother. The three are hard-working, responsible, charming, nice, intelligent, generous… Three perfect men.

  • Warum says:

    I was really interested in the fact that you don’t read press releases! I thought all perfume writers did — shows what I know.

    The fragrance sounds like it would smell marvelous on my Mr. Marvelous who is my husband.

    Thanks for the draw!

  • kastehelmi says:

    I also loved the poem. Paul Verlaine is one of the best, now I’m off to read some more works by him. I have to admit I had to look up “Bergamasks”–I see now, a “clumsy rustic dance from Bergamo, Italia”, thanks wikipedia!
    My Mr. Marvelous is my boyfriend, we’re going on 2 years together, and he remains calm, cool, and collected no matter what! He is logical and rational. He is one of the kindest, coolest guys. Simply marvelous : )