Au Coeur du Désert by Tauer Perfumes

Totally overrated

I picked it up recently in a great eBay deal; it was openbox. I had a 2ml decant and they smell identical. This perfume isn’t for the masses; it’s for those who love olfactory experiences. It’s not easy to like, it requires good taste and a good nose. It couldn’t be missing from my collection. The hype is real, but it won’t suit everyone; I understand why some people don’t like this scent. What surprised me most is that the notes and fragrance vary over time on the skin, evolving in a very peculiar way. Conclusion: Don’t buy blindly. It’s a jewel, but not everyone has the level required for this jewel.

Some lovely resins, with a good balance between a very subtle sweetness and the freshness of coriander seeds. A bit dirty, a bit rough, with a very natural creamy-vanilla base. Ultimately, it’s a confluence of shy notes that creates a painter’s palette brown. That said, you can tell everything is high quality, but that doesn’t redeem the fragrance. If it were louder, it would be more fun; if it had a more evident protagonist, it would be more enjoyable. However, it barely distinguishes itself from a ‘sweater armbar’ after a week of wearing something different every day.

This perfume is simply enchanting. Its delicate yet persistent scent makes me feel elegant and confident all day long. It has undoubtedly become my favourite for special occasions.

Tragically another victim of perfumery, it has been reformulated and it is noticeable. An amber-resinous perfume from start to finish, with very sharp spice and resin notes at the beginning that settle after 15 minutes, leaving a non-sweet amber and a resinous woody base. Here, the patchouli is not chocolate and the cumin is not unpleasant, unlike other perfumes that can smell of sweat; here, that does not happen. An exquisite aroma, and when it first launched it was very different from everything else at the time; currently the scent remains of good quality but its performance has plummeted. Yani does not last or project like previous batches. It is worth noting that I found an equivalent from a Spanish brand (Di…..) and I hate to say it, but it is 90% similar, and what really annoys me is that its longevity and projection are superior to the current Tauer batches… very sad. Personally, I believe that currently El Aire del Desierto is the better option for quality/price ~Longevity 6h… stretching ~Projection… the first hour is good. Then it fades to skin level ~Sillage… noticeable for the first 3 hours of life ~Quality/price… for me it is a no (current batches).

Starts off weird, almost ‘WTF’, but once it dries down it becomes a beast: spices that give way to a rich amber. Someone said it smells like a ‘tarot reading room’ and they’re right; it’s esoteric, like a hippie fair with crafts and incense. I liked it, though I wouldn’t buy it for the price as it’s too experimental for everyday wear. Maybe I’ll never use it. 7/10

The hype doesn’t fool me. For me, this isn’t a perfume; it’s the scent of things: a closed wardrobe with a rough leather waistcoat from a market stall, nothing as elegant as Tuscan Leather. Cardamom and little else. For anyone to claim they can wear this elegantly is inconceivable. Some people value the unusual, but I value smelling good. Elegance, subtlety, and zero class. Plus, it’s been reformulated. I don’t recommend buying it blindly.

Try before you buy! Don’t buy it blindly. Forget that it might be the best in history. It can be elegant, but it’s challenging; my girlfriend is terrified of it and it smelled like an old church to me at first. With context, imagine a spice market in Morocco or Asia, and yes, it makes sense. If you want to project the image of Indiana Jones emerging from a market, this is your fragrance. It also works for formal occasions. I haven’t used it much, so I give it a 6/10.

From the start, you have those amber resins with a heavy but controlled projection. Woody notes throughout its entire duration, which is enormous (previous batches lasted even longer). It has soft incense tones and a slight sweetness. It’s a unique aromatic combination. In the end, the wood and cedar come through clearly. Honestly, I wouldn’t wear it in winter or autumn, but for those days it’s perfect all day and night. It goes with anything moderately put together. In summary: another one for the collection. Sophisticated, spicy, and ambered, ideal for special events.

One of my favourites, certainly in the top three. Dense, elegant, and with great longevity. I haven’t found anything similar (except Desert Air), very sophisticated, spicy, and resinous. Excellent projection and trail, and if you look hard, you can get it at a good price. It’s not very versatile; better suited to cool climates or evening wear. It must not be missing from my collection.

It’s a perfume. Smells of woods and resins as the description states. Very natural. Although people might see it as more of a men’s fragrance, a woman with character wears it perfectly 🌑

It smells like wax used for shaving legs and the musk my mother and aunts used 25 years ago. Horrendous. It’s curious; the first time I smelled it, I didn’t like it at all, the second time I did, and this third time was horrible.

This is a cloying syrup of concentrated meat with menthol. These are the base notes at maximum. Predominating are: amber, patchouli, vetiver, sandalwood, leather, woods, oud, ambergris, civet, frankincense, myrrh, musks, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and assorted balms. Let everyone find their own fragrance well; it’s guaranteed because here is EVERYTHING at maximum concentration and re-macerated. This is what comes after perfumes… a balm preserved in alcohol to be called ‘perfume’. The first time I tried it, I thought: where am I going with so much? You must have it; it’s liquid gold. It is the base of perfume that, when diluted, creates its magic. It has presence and is noticeable. A little gem that turns into unusual art.

This is a beast of a perfume. A sheer beast that, as hours pass, tempers that voluptuous explosion of the beginning and leaves -for days on clothes and hours on skin- a complex group of notes and sensations. It’s a perfume that literally envelops you. This never happened to me with another (perhaps something similar with Pardon by Nasomatto). It’s a different experience, immersing yourself in woods, incenses, citrus, and flowers, all at once and separately. It’s not for everyone, but at least once in a lifetime you must try it. I love it, but for very special occasions.

A delicious perfume in many ways: incense, amber, leather, wood, spices… all in a set of quality and balance that you enjoy. It’s one of those perfumes you decide to have with you all the time and yes, it’s capable. I’ve used it both in heat and cold for pleasure; in cold it stands out more although the heat intensifies it (be careful!). Certainly, one learns to enjoy it more; it matures with you and, to my good fortune, my wife loves how it sits on me, so much so that it became my wedding fragrance. I don’t know if it’s due to prior preparation or learned taste; it’s one of my first perfumes; I only know it’s worth living the experience. Another by Andy Tauer? Probably yes.