New Fragrance Review: Ex Idolo RYDER + Mr. & Mrs. Smith Draw

Angelina Jolie in Domestic Bliss by Steven Klein for W Magazine, 2005

Angelina Jolie by Steven Klein for W Magazine, 2005

One of the questions I read on  fragrance forums is “What perfume will attract women?”  This is nearly always asked by men and followed by “If I wear it will I get laid.” Scent is our most primeval sense and yes, the right perfume that works with your chemistry can help attract a lady, the operative word being lady (and let’s hope that you aren’t looking for tinder in a bottle). Otherwise you aren’t worthy of the new release from the British based House  Ex Idolo… Ryder.

Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie in Mr & Mrs Smith dancing

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in Mr and Mrs Smith dancing the Assasin's Tango (2005 movie still)

Ryder has everything any man (or woman) could ask for in a confident, and absolutely irresistible scent.  It’s sweet, spicy, and  dances a provocative Tango; Tahitian vanilla and ultra-rare Omani frankincense play off each other in a fragrance will make you seem sexy and mysterious.  And trust me, guys, those two words are EXACTLY the impression you want to leave a woman when  you are on the prowl and ready for  seduction.   Ryder is immaculate in its power to beguile and charm.

 

Mathew Zhuk of ex idolo

Matthew Zhuk of Ex Idolo

Readers of ÇaFleureBon will no doubt already know about this house and how much we love their first fragrance, a candied mandarin and oud cult fragrance 33.  (We chose it as our Best Limited Edition perfume of 2013).  Ryder is without question a fantastic follow up to 33.   Ex Idolo founder and perfumer, Mathew Zhuk finds his inspiration for this new scent in the venerable men’s clubs of London, places like St. James and Mayfair, with their mahogany interiors, tobacco haze and top-shelf liquor.  (Ryder actually takes its name from Ryder St. in London, where the St. James club made its residence.)

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie by Steven Klein for W Magazine, 2005

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie W magazine 2005

The scent begins with a darkly sweet and boozy opening, like the first warm dram of aged whiskey.  There’s also a leafy wrap of pipe tobacco surrounding the whiskey hit, and the two combined are absolutely head-turning.  This is instant sophistication and refinement right from the top, and quite nearly holographic in its representation.  All one needs is a wooden match and a cut-crystal highball glass to complete the tableau the opening of Ryder presents.

angelina jolie and braddpitt bar scene mr and mrs smith

Brad Pitt and Angeina Jolie fell in love and lust on the set of Mr and Mrs Smith…

A few brief minutes in, and the booziness wafts away to be replaced by an intriguing and very forthright frankincense note rising up from the heart.  It’s as if, now that the pipes have been lit and the drams drank, the members of the club hunker down to ponder some arcane archaeological artifact one of them smuggled back from the Middle East.  The frankincense is acrid, dry and powerful – it wastes no time in making its presence known. At this point, Ryder is as austere and throat-tickling as the opening is booming and caramel-sweet.   Both aspects are entirely complimentary and compelling – this is privilege and power represented in the trappings of that power:  fine liquor, imported tobacco and far-flung travel and adventure.

Mr and Mrs Smith Mondo Bongo and Dance Scene 2005

Matthew Zhuk uses an intoxicating light jasmine that emerges admist all this men’s club swagger of the frankincense underneath, that Angela Jolie in  Mr.and Mrs. Smith undualting  hips emerge. Sexy as heck and just as dangerous.  The drydown is a warm murmur to come hither, whispering  of dark woods, amber and resins, as you shut the door and hang out the Do Not Disturb sign.

Notes: Sweet pipe tobacco, Aromatic Esters, Resinous Amber, Dark woods, Jasmine, Omani  Frankincense

Disclosure I received my sample from Ex Idolo

Pam Barr, Sr. Contributor

Editor's Note:  theme and art direction by Michelyn Camen.  Ex Idolo is available at twistedlily.com and indigoperfumery.com in the US.

ryder

Thanks to Ex Idolo, we have a draw for three USA, EU and Canadian registered readers of three deluxe samples. To be eligible, please comment on what you enjoyed about Pam’s review, if you have ever seen the movie Mr and Mrs Smith, where you live,  and if you ever wear a fragrance to attract a potential lover. Draw closes August 26, 2015

We announce the winners on our site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize wil be just spilled perfume

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26 comments

  • fazalcheema says:

    this looks even better than 33 which became popular for using real oud even though many rose lovers also fell in love with it due to dominant rose note. I feel this is also more vintage in feel, not a surprise since the inspiration is classical men culture in older London…thanks so much for the wonderful opportunity to try this. I am in the US

  • Steve A says:

    I never seen this movie being mentioned. This Ryder with the tobacco and frankincense combination sounds worty to be tried. I have never worn a fragrance to attract anyone. I do enjoy Pam’s straight forward direct approach to reviewing. USA

  • StaceyW says:

    I loved her using the movie as a backdrop to tell this fragrance story as I am a huge movie buff. I didn’t see Mr. & Mrs. Smith however I am a fan of both actors and intend to remedy that. I always wear perfume to attract my man’s attention and although he doesn’t always like the same ones I do I enjoy the challenge. I’m in the U.S. and thank you for the draw :).

  • Maya says:

    Great review. Pam had me at “tango” and Mr and Mrs Smith. Love love love the tango and the movie! I never use perfume to attract potential lovers. I use perfume for myself. USA.

  • lionceau says:

    Fantastic review as always. I am in love with this movie! Brad and Angelina are perfect!
    “Did you do something new?”
    “I added peas.”
    “Ah. Peas.”
    I live in the USA and I never worn a fragrance to attract potential lovers. Thank you for the draw!

  • ringthing says:

    What a sexy review! The exclusive London men’s club atmosphere perfectly described by the “leafy wrap of pipe tobacco surrounding the whiskey hit” and the phrase describing the heart of the fragrance as fine liquor, imported tobacco, far flung travel and adventure – who wouldn’t be seduced by such a man? Wonderful evocative writing! Using Mr and Mrs Smith as a backdrop is sexy fun as well. I remember seeing it in the theater and Brad and Angelina’s hot chemistry exploding off the screen. Certainly I’ve worn perfume to attract a lover, I may be married to him but that doesn’t lessen the desire for seduction. I’m in the US, thanks for the great review and opportunity.

  • Nancysg says:

    I liked the comparison of the fragrance to the tango. Even though I don’t dance, it made sense. I haven’t seen the movie even though I live in the US. I wear perfume for me, not to attract lovers. Although, I do appreciate compliments.

  • Michelle U says:

    As I am very visual I enjoyed the pictures who complete perfectly the review but mostly I enjoyed how the fragrance was described ” Dances a provocative Tango”.

    I have seen Mr and Mrs Smith multiple times. No wonder that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie became a couple after this movie was shot because it is filled with sexual tension.

    I usually wear fragrance because I enjoy them but I would wear a fragrance to attract a potential lover.

    I am a registered reader from the EU.

    Thank you for this opportunity! Wish you all the best!

  • julesinrose says:

    I have never seen Mr and Mrs Smith. I ought to! I enjoyed the imagery evoked in the words of the review (and the visuals, too). I’ve never worn fragrance with the idea of attracting anyone. I believe that others are attracted by our natural scent and that that’s deeply embedded in our subconscious. But hey, it doesn’t hurt to smell mah-velous! I live in the US. Cheers!

  • Timea says:

    Interesting review, I like it. I have seen that movie, it was very exciting. I live in Europe. Thank you for the draw.

  • Judy says:

    Well, Pam had me at “ultra-rare frankincense.” Almost any frankincense is favorite note for me. I haven’t seen Mr. and Mrs. Smith yet, but now I want to!

    Probably like most people obsessed with perfume, I’ve hoped that a fragrance would beguile a person or two … but sometimes it backfires. I once bought an expensive fragrance in Spain, only to have a Spanish man tell me later that it smelled exactly like a popular baby cologne there. (Yup, cologne for babies. Spain’s my kind of place 😉 )

  • girasole says:

    I love the image of a group of gents gathering, whisky in hand, to discuss a precious artifact – this perfume sounds intriguing from the notes alone (I love tobacco scents), but the review makes it even more so. Well done! I live in the US, and while I don’t wear perfume to attract others, it’s always interesting to hear comments (particularly compliments!) on a fragrance. By coincidence, my husband and I just watched Mr. and Mrs. Smith (for the 5th or 6th time!) again last week.

  • Patty P. says:

    I read the above by Pam and I want to smell the Ryder now. I’m very curious now if I will get anything like Pam did. I don’t know if I saw that movie or not, if I did it wasn’t memorable. I do wear perfume wanting the occasional compliment. 🙂 U.S.A.

  • Laurels says:

    I liked Pam Barr’s juxtaposition of the swanky London men’s club and Angelina Jolie–very intriguing, although I have not seen Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I’m in the US, and I have occasionally tried to wear a perfume to attract someone, but usually regretted it. (Just smelling great [tm Maurice Roucel] is a better strategy than trying too hard, at least in my experience.

  • Joyce says:

    A very evocative review!The review makes me feel the world would be my oyster, while I was wearing this! I have not seen Mr and Mrs Smith but I think I will now. I love Angelina, everything about her especially her charity work. I have worn a fragrance to attract a potential lover. The rest shall remain a mystery.This sounds like a winner. Thank you Pam for the review. I am a registered US reader.

  • benjariell says:

    what you enjoyed about Pam’s review, if you have ever seen the movie Mr and Mrs Smith, where you live, and if you ever wear a fragrance to attract a potential lover.

    I enjoyed the straight journalistic prowess, piggety-period. Never have seen the movie. In the heartland, USA, where I live, I have never worn a fragrance to attract a potential lover. I have, however, worn a fragrance to see if I get any reactions. Testing stage, you know.

  • merrysovery says:

    This perfume sounds so lovely! I saw Mr. and Mrs. Smith when it first came out and enjoyed it. I live in USA, and, yes, I wear certain perfumes that I know will get my husband’s attention 😉

  • Iphigenia says:

    Lovely review with sensual images and descriptions like “dances a provocative tango” and the description of a London club with men holding whiskey glasses and smoking tobacco filled with masculine images.
    I adore Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie matches perfectly with him, and I have seen at least five times Mr. &Mrs. Smith, wow amazing chemistry !!!! I do wear perfume in order to attract a potential lover although I wear perfume first for my own pleasure since I am a perfume addict.
    I am a registered reader living in EU.

  • hofken says:

    I enjoyed about Pam’s review of this fragrance that “is immaculate in its power to beguile and charm”. I have watched Mr and Mrs Smith several times and really enjoyed it, especially the Mondo Bonjo and Dance scene. I live in the US and always wear fragrance but have never found one that I think would attract a potential lover. Maybe Ryder is it!

  • Cynthia says:

    I love woods, amber and resin so I’d love to try this on my husband! Or myself. I have never seen the movie; not my favorite genre. I used to carefully pick my perfume back long, long ago when I was dating. This was the era of big perfumes like Georgio and Opium. My favorite was RL Tuxedo. It always garnered attention and comments. USA.

  • Greg Sh says:

    Great review! This fragrance sounds extra seductive and I’d love to have it in my collection. I’ve actually never seen Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I’ve always wanted to see it though! I have always worn fragrance that I enjoy. If it helps attract a beautiful lady, well then that’s a bonus! I’m in Canada and thank you so much for the draw.

  • Holly F. says:

    I loved how Pam described the way Ryder morphs from sweet to austere. I did see Mr and Mrs smith, years ago. I don’t necessarily wear fragrance for anyone but it doesn’t hurt to smell attractive! I’m in the US, thanks!

  • Vick G says:

    I just love the sound of this one. Sounds sweet and cozy and an absolute gem. I’ve never seen the movie but I’ve heard nice things about it. I like wearing fragrances for myself as well. Canada

  • Greg Mayne says:

    Another fantastic review. I love that movie! I’ve watched it numerous times and adore Brad and Angelina and their entire family. I think we all wear fragrances to feel attractive to others. Maybe not to find a lover, but to still feel attractive.

    The fragrance itself sounds amazing! Very alluring indeed. I’m a Canadian reader and want to thank you for the draw.

  • SandiL says:

    Sexy and mysterious with the power to beguile and charm… instant sophistication and refinement how perfect! Excellent review and oh after reading this I do want it… along with the seduction of the tango. I have seen Mr & Mrs Smith and loved the movie so much I even pack my pistol just as Mrs Smith does… Yes, I can be easily influenced. I am in the US and a registered reader of this award winning blog.