Thomas De Monaco Grand Beau, Photo by Michael Devine
“There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky; there is one spectacle grander than the sky, that is the interior of the soul.” ― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
After the 2020 limited release of the coveted cult-favorite Raw Gold and its acclaimed 2022 follow-up Eau Coeur (at the top of Michelyn’s and my favorite releases of 2022), could Thomas De Monaco strike gold again with his newest release, Grand Beau? Well, that’d be a big, sunny, soul-stirring yes. It’s also quite a departure, conceptually, from the previous releases while adhering to the brand’s standard of impeccable ingredients, exquisitely blended. Beyond Raw Gold’s pulsing dancefloor, beyond Eau Couer’s heart-melting sensuality, there’s Thomas De Monaco Grand Beau—an exhale on a Mediterranean beach. Let’s follow the footprints in the sand and explore this transportive new creation.
Thomas De Monaco (l) and Maurus Bachmann (r), photos courtesy Thomas De Monaco
Thomas De Monaco Grand Beau, an extrait de parfum marvelously composed by Maurus Bachmann (also the nose behind Eau Coeur), is described by the brand as “a day by the sea, a few steps beyond the nearest dunes, eyes closed, in the shade beneath the pine trees. In the distance, the roar of the breaking waves. Caressing the skin, a salty breeze with a hint of dry driftwood and the tang of damp seaweed.” I’ve learned that in French, Grand Beau has dual interpretations: “Il fait grand beau” describes the perfect weekend while “Le grand Beau” suggests the beautiful person we aspire to be. As a perfume, Grand Beau encapsulates both meanings.
The Big Blue Mediterranean at Antibes, Claude Monet, 1888, Public Domain
My first wearing was curious and compelling. In the midst of a white-skied New Jersey winter, with barren trees and busy ski slopes in the distance, I was suddenly, incongruously, wonderfully transported. The opening notes of pine absolue, juniper berry, and angelica root—through a ambrosial breeze of distant seaweed—carried me to a paradisiac beach, warm and inviting. The pine absolue provides a bracing, outdoorsy element, while the juniper berry infuses a gin-soaked crystallinity that’s both stimulating and calming. As the composition progresses, the opening blast of fresh sea air subsides and the heart reveals tuberose absolue, olibanum and vetiver. To my nose, the tuberose reads as almost coconutty, suggesting an opulent tanning lotion. The olibanum adds a resinous depth while the vetiver calls to mind seagrass amid the dunes. As each accord is thoughtful and restrained, the tuberose never veers toward the tropical, nor does the seaweed become too oceanic. Grand Beau presents a tableau captured by a painter rather than a photographer.
I’m discovering Grand Beau at a time where I’ve made efforts to minimize the distractions of today’s digital life. There’s a lot of noise in the world and it can be a challenge returning to a place of calm. Our souls need nourishment and reflection. Meditative and perhaps introspective, Grand Beau is the olfactive equivalent of unplugging. It’s also a worthy addition to Mr. De Monaco’s impeccable collection.
Top: Pine Absolue, Juniper Berry, Angelica Root; Heart: Tuberose Absolue, Olibanum, Vetiver; Base: Ambrette, Seaweed Absolue, Ambrocenide
Disclosure: This review is based on a bottle of Grand Beau graciously gifted from Mr. De Monaco; opinions are my own.
Michael Devine, Senior Contributor
Thomas de Monaco Grand Beau, photo courtesy of the brand
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