Among my perfumes that are the equivalents of t-shirt and jeans, Roger & Gallet fragrances share a top spot with L’Occitane Green Tea and Parfums de NicolaïL’Eau à la Folie. The classical cologne, Bois d’Orange and Fleur d’Osmanthus are among my Roger & Gallet favorites. They are easy to wear and are perfect for those days when you want something refreshing and not overly demanding.
In addition, the low price (18€ or $25 for 1 oz bottle) makes them accessible. A low price doesn’t have to mean a poor quality perfume (and I would argue that the worst quality perfumes on the market today are among the most expensive). The Roger & Gallet collection is created by excellent perfumers. For instance, Fleur de Figuer was designed by Francis Kurkdjian, Bois d’Orange by Dominique Ropion, and Gingembre by Jacques Cavallier.
Fleur d’Osmanthus is the work of Nathalie Lorson, who worked on fragrances like Perles de Lalique, Le Labo Poivre 23, Dolce & Gabbana Sicily, and Lady Gaga Fame. Fleur d’Osmanthus is her zesty take on a sweet orange blossom theme that stays fresh and bright from top to bottom.
While there is a delicate whisper of soft osmanthus, the perfume is a swirl of spring flowers dominated by orange blossom. It’s clean, wholesome and there is not a hint of anything dark or earthy about it. Although I usually love my flowers with a generous slick of dirt, the simplicity of Fleur d’Osmanthus is appealing. It starts out as a mouthwatering orange with a squeeze of lemon before diving straight into the white petals. The sharpness of lemon keeps the perfume from becoming overly sweet, even in the drydown where the toasted almonds and musk dominate.
If you like citrusy florals like Jo Malone Osmanthus Blossom, See by Chloé, Estée Lauder Pure White Linen or Chanel Chance Eau Fraîche, Fleur d’Osmanthus will be a gauzy, fresh alternative. It’s also a good option if you like your florals crisp and tart. It’s not a perfume masterpiece, but for an affordable, good quality floral, it’s hard to beat. I’ll take it over many department store florals and most of the overpriced niche offerings.
Besides a cologne (Roger & Gallet calls it Eau Fraîche), Fleur d’Osmanthus is available in various scented body products such as soap, cream, bath gel, and lotion. I have only smelled the lotion and cream at the store, but the scented soap is excellent. The pale green packaging has a retro glamour feel, and a set of three soaps–each daintily wrapped in pleated paper–makes for a great gift.
Roger & Gallet Fleur d’Osmanthus Eau Fraîche lists notes of orange bark, mandarin, grapefruit, osmanthus, neroli (orange blossom), tonka bean, benzoin, and sandalwood. 1 oz, $25 (18 euros), 3.4oz $47 (42 euros). Available at Amazon.com, New London Pharmacy, Nordstrom’s. In Europe, any pharmacy and Sephora-like perfumery carries them. Also, they’re often available heavily discounted at Marshall’s and TJ Maxx.
Photography (top image) by Bois de Jasmin, pear blossoms.
Sample: my own acquisition
54 Comments
Alyssa: I have been tempted to blind buy these several times so am grateful for this review. Would love to hear your take on the others. May 20, 2013 at 8:45am
Victoria: I can’t believe I didn’t review them before. They’re terrific, especially for the price. I also love that they have tiny bottles, and I often carry The Vert or Fleur d’Osmanthus in my purse. May 20, 2013 at 9:16am
Jillie: This sounds just lovely. I wish R&G would bring back Bouquet Imperial, which was a lovely eau de cologne with a hint of blackcurrant (or it could have been blackberry!) and white musk (the nice sort). It was great to wear in the summer, and there was even an eau de toilette strength which had great longevity. May 20, 2013 at 9:16am
nikki: Bouquet Imperial is lovely, I wore it a whole summer long in South Africa. It is still available on e-bay at times. May 20, 2013 at 9:39am
Jillie: Thank you Nikki. I will keep an eye out for it there. May 20, 2013 at 10:05am
Victoria: Jillie, Nikki, I will ask my mom to check at Marshall’s too. She bought some discontinued R&G perfumes there on occasions. I don’t recall when Bouquet Imperial was removed from the collection, but it wasn’t too long ago, it should still be easy to find. May 20, 2013 at 10:20am
Victoria: I also had a little bottle years ago, and I loved it. It’s so effervescent and has a great finish. Not another forgettable, sporty cologne. May 20, 2013 at 10:13am
Tania: I found some of these on sale in TKMaxx, of all places, before Christmas. I bought Bois d’Orange for my mother, and she loves it. May 20, 2013 at 9:19am
Victoria: My mom just found a bottle of Fleur d’Osmanthus for $6.99 at Marshall’s, so worth checking there too. How much do I miss Marshall’s and TJMaxx in Europe! 🙂 May 20, 2013 at 10:15am
maja: Unfortunately, you don’t see many great offers anywhere in Europe. I am always surprised when visiting my brother in Canada by how many amazing things you can find at lower prices. Wish I could do my shopping over there 🙂 May 20, 2013 at 10:41am
Victoria: The kind of sales that you see in the US (80% off, etc) are nowhere to be seen in Europe. Of course, maybe it’s just that I haven’t found them yet. I send requests to my mom or else wait till I visit myself. May 20, 2013 at 3:05pm
Tania: Well, mostly the perfumes I see discounted in TKMaxx (UK version of TJMaxx) are of the Britney Spears/Paris Hilton/Katy Perry persuasion. But sometimes, you do find the good stuff. 🙂 May 21, 2013 at 5:32am
Victoria: 🙂 Hope springs eternal, so if I pass by one of these stores, I still peak inside. May 21, 2013 at 12:23pm
kuri: Sounds fantastic! I will try the soap out first! May 20, 2013 at 9:57am
Victoria: The soap is very good quality too. It’s finely milled, so it lasts well.
I also love their Rose and Sandalwood soaps, which I use to scent my linens. May 20, 2013 at 10:18am
Mihaela Kristal: I was browsing the other days an online site and spotted this. I love the Roger Gallet concept, I love their prices but I could never test them since they are available only online in Romania and I usually stay away from blindbuys. The Osmanthus seems so promising! If only longevity and sillage were decent… May 20, 2013 at 10:14am
Victoria: That’s too bad, Mihaela, but I’m with you, a blind buy is not a good option in most cases, unless you find a bargain price. I once bought a set of these Eau Fraiche on Ebay for such a low price that it was hard to resist. May 20, 2013 at 10:33am
Figuier: Thanks for reviewing such a good-value perfume! I bought Bois d’Orange in oil format last summer and really enjoy it as a summer feel-good scent. Will definitely try Osmanthus if it’s available at my local department store (they tend to stock a fairly limited selection from R&G). I’m looking for a light jasmine/tea scent for days when Nuda feels a bit full-on… May 20, 2013 at 10:30am
Victoria: Bois d’Orange oil is great, and I love that the oil is moisturizing and richly scented. It also layers well with other citrusy and orange blossom scents. My favorite combo is to mix it with Jo Malone Orange Blossom. May 20, 2013 at 10:37am
maja: I love Bois d’Orange, it’s excellent quality. I have a soap and a wonderful cologne that costs 18 euros, how can you say no? 🙂 I have recently purchased also the new Fleur de Figuier soap. The smell is divine but I have to admit it doesn’t last that long. At least when compared to some L’Occitane soaps. Especially my beloved Rose 4 Reines. May 20, 2013 at 10:36am
Victoria: Totally irresistible at that price! 🙂 I also succumbed to Fleur de Figuier recently, and it’s so good. Perfect for those who like delicious, gourmand perfumes but without the tooth aching sweetness.
I haven’t purchased L’Occitane soaps in ages, but I remember that years ago they used to be my soap gold standards. Do you still find that they last really well? (I hate when soap melts into a puddle after a few days of being used). May 20, 2013 at 10:40am
Figuier: Interesting to hear that you enjoyed the Fleur de Figuier. I’m always on the lookout for figs that are fruity but not overly sweet. What is the drydown like? May 20, 2013 at 10:45am
Victoria: It’s a sweet fig, but since it’s so citrusy off the top, it doesn’t feel cloying. But the drydown is definitely strong on woods and caramel. I recommend you try it first, even though I like it very much. The soap is yummy. May 20, 2013 at 3:08pm
Figuier: Hmmm, sounds nice but definitely something to test before buying then – thanks for the mini-review 🙂 May 20, 2013 at 5:13pm
Victoria: My pleasure! I will write more about it at some point. It might be better for cool days anyway. May 20, 2013 at 7:49pm
maja: They do melt a bit, especially l’ Amande. But the smell lingers on for ages so it compensates somehow 🙂 May 20, 2013 at 10:47am
Victoria: I used to love Honey and wanted a perfume based on it for a while. May 20, 2013 at 3:08pm
annemariec: I bought a duo of L’Occitane soaps (honey, I think) just a few weeks ago but was disappointed. The scent was odd, and I found the soap very drying. Even before finishing my shower I could feel the skin on my hands getting dry and scratchy. Afterwards I had to smother them in lotion. I’m tempted to drop the soaps in the bin, but they cost a bit, darn it.
Fortunately my daughter bought me some Crabtree & Evelyn soap – Vetiver and Juniperberry – for Mother’s Day. It is SOOO good! May 20, 2013 at 5:00pm
Victoria: Oh no! They used to be super nourishing and left my dry skin silky. But I admit that the last time I bought their soaps was years ago.
For moisturizing soap, I love olive oil based bars. I even love their rough, rustic scent. May 20, 2013 at 7:47pm
sara: Love r&g scents! Jean Marie farine is a summer fave. May 20, 2013 at 11:19am
Victoria: It’s such a great cologne, and if one loves classical, bracing scents, it’s ideal. May 20, 2013 at 3:09pm
Lila: I enjoy just about everything in this line. My favorite is the Bois D’Orange Perfumed Dry Oil. I can’t seem to find the oil in any stores so I have to order it online. May 20, 2013 at 11:43am
Victoria: Even here not all pharmacies carry the oil. It’s a good scented product for travel–perfume and moisturizer in one package. May 20, 2013 at 3:11pm
Tomate Farcie: Just yesterday I was enjoying R&G Cedrat Citron! May 20, 2013 at 11:45am
Victoria: I bought a tiny bottle as part of a set, and I like it very much. A lovely summer perfume. May 20, 2013 at 3:12pm
rosarita: I’ve not tried any of these, only the R&G soaps and even those were a long time ago. I will keep my eyes open at TJMaxx & Marshall’s, but unfortunately, the stores nearest me are usually duds. May 20, 2013 at 11:53am
Victoria: Their collection is huge these days, by the way. I was surprised when I first looked at all of their current fragrances. They used to have a handful of colognes and now there is close to a dozen different scents! May 20, 2013 at 3:18pm
ralu: In Boston, Walgreens opened a Super Walgreens in Downtown Crossing where you can find the entire Roger & Galllet collection. May 20, 2013 at 12:29pm
Victoria: Sounds great! I would swap a couple of local pharmacies for a Super Walgreens. 🙂 Let me know what you end up trying there. May 20, 2013 at 3:19pm
ralu: I tried all Roger & Gallet fragrances but will have to try them again. They also have the entire Demeter collection which I find unique and unusual. I like to smell them but I don’t think I would ever wear any of them. They also have Klorane shampoos and other European brands. May 21, 2013 at 9:26am
Victoria: If you have long hair, Klorane dry Oatmeal shampoo is fantastic when you travel. It really works well. And Demeter Gin & Tonic is a fantastic fizzy lime cologne. My husband loved Whiskey Tobacco, and it was the first perfume I got for him. May 21, 2013 at 12:25pm
Austenfan: I have never tried any of the R&G soaps or colognes but I love their body creams. I own several and use them to layer with my fragrances. I haven’t tried the Osmanthus yet but next time I see it I will give it a go! May 20, 2013 at 3:57pm
Victoria: I’ve sampled the cream at the store and I liked it. The texture is light, but it feels moisturizing. I can imagine how well it might layer with perfumes, especially anything citrusy and floral. May 20, 2013 at 7:41pm
Nick: I have worn r&g Eau Thé Vert for years, it is the perfect unisex fresh green scent. It layers beautifully with woods. Also Bois d’Orange is beautifully done. May 20, 2013 at 4:44pm
Victoria: It can rival many more expensive green tea perfumes. I’m happy to see that it has other fans. May 20, 2013 at 7:43pm
Andy: Lines like this really appeal to my typically thrifty tastes. When I can find something that offers decent quality at a good price, I’m hooked. I would love to find these at my local Marshalls, but despite my weekly searches, I usually don’t find anything interesting. A few weeks ago, in search of a pleasant, simple cologne type fragrance for hot weather, I finally broke down and bought myself a bottle of Elizabeth Arden Green Tea, which my Marshalls always seems to have, in amounts that could only be described as copious. Maybe out of the familiarity of seeing it on those bargain shelves, I had assumed it was somehow inferior, but was pleasantly surprised. And now, when I’m tired and feel disheveled after coming home on a hot afternoon, that refreshing accord of rhubarb, mint, and citrus seems like the best perfume in the world. Anyway, I would love to hear what other fragrances in the Roger & Gallet line you like. Just in case I get lucky at Marshalls and see them one day. May 20, 2013 at 6:03pm
Victoria: Isn’t EA Green Tea nice? I know that it might seem familiar (too much so even!), but it’s well-made. A splash of chilled Green Tea on a hot day is a panacea.
I’ll definitely write more about R and G. I was surprised that I didn’t cover anything by them yet. It’s a terrific “cheap and chic” line. May 20, 2013 at 7:54pm
annemariec: I’m like Andy – I never see R&G in retail shops near me. So I’d decided to try the brand by picking up some of the soaps at online sellers, and move into the perfumes if I like the soaps. So far I have only tried Bois d’Orange, but the osmanthus is next on my list.
I’m afraid I didn’t care for Bois d’Orange – it seems very woody and extremely harsh to me, at least in the soap version. But I could be wrong – maybe my soap strategy is flawed. Still, as a soap it is terrific – strongly scented (I like that), not drying, hard and long lasting. R&G is famous for its soaps, I know. May 20, 2013 at 6:24pm
Victoria: Since these days my bargain hunting ground is only Ebay, I completely sympathize with you. My mom keeps teasing me with the stories of her great discoveries. 🙂
Bois d’Orange isn’t that woody in perfume. It starts out on a crisp orange blossom and then warms up and becomes muskier. There is lots of cedarwood, so maybe that reads too sharp to you. I need to try their soaps again, but I recall their scent wasn’t exactly like the perfume. May 20, 2013 at 8:00pm
annemariec: No, they generally aren’t I guess. Still, I will not give up! Thanks for the mini review. May 21, 2013 at 3:57am
Geneviève: Have you tried the rose perfume? I love the soap, but I never smelled the perfume !
You are right, this brand makes so good perfumes for a small price! It’s incredible when you think of it! With another name on the tag, those perfumes could cost 5 times more easily!
It’s a great review, by the way! As always 🙂 May 21, 2013 at 2:11pm
Victoria: Geneviève, I have and I liked it. It’s a simple rose, but very pretty and easy to wear. I’m thinking of getting a tiny bottle, especially since I have a 5 euro off coupon. This makes it even more tempting. 🙂 May 23, 2013 at 5:51pm
patricia: I use Bois d’orange by R&G almost daily, last year I purchased at The Hudson Bay, Eau Sublime D’or. It has a similar delicate scent with a soft gold shimmer, both the cream and fragrance are lovely. They are limited editions, so, you have to watch for them. I just tried the new Gingembre Rouge, a refreshing ginger paired with mandarin and pomegranate. April 3, 2014 at 10:08pm
Victoria: I tried Gingembre Rouge recently too, and I liked it. It’s a fizzy cocktail, but with an edge. April 4, 2014 at 6:22am