Robert Piguet Fragrances • Bandit • Fragrances

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*TOP REVIEWER* JaneWayne on 4/24/2013 3:24:00 PM more reviews by JaneWayne

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

So I was taken aback by how bad this smelled on me, I immediately had to post on the fragrance board. And now I have to here.

Bandit, oh Bandit. I had such high hopes for you. The images of models wearing bandit masks and carrying revolvers down the runway, your name alone-the rebel with a cause it evokes. Your legacy.

I sniffed your sample card and an array of exotic spices wafted into my nose and made me swoon. Little did I know that it was from the cigar box I kept you in. No, when I put you on, I smelled like someone who burned some leaves and trash in their yard and then went to run errands. I dashed by the Macy's counter and quickly ran by the deserted Estee Lauder counter and spritzed on Private Collection, not knowing that tester had been sitting there for five years exposed to light. I headed home, on the MARTA bus (If you have been on MARTA in the ATL you know what I am talking about). For those of you not familiar with Eau De MARTA, I went home and ran to throw some bandaids into my trash fire and wallowed in it.

It's been fun, Bandit, but I think I like your sister Fracas better. Dueces.

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TheVillain on 2/27/2013 10:28:00 PM more reviews by TheVillain

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

This was a gift I opened while driving in my car. First impression is green, very green grass, freshly cut. Not a big fan of green scents, but that's okay, I'll wash it off when I get home. But, nooooo. Half hour later I smell "car trouble." What's wrong with my car? Stronger, stronger, I think the engine is over heated or out of oil. My car is new, so I'm scared, terrified. My heart is racing. I'm on the interstate. What do I do??? I stop at a service station and I get out of my car... and smell fresh air. It's not my car. It's me. Oh...k
I get home and my husband asks if I burned something....or are they paving the street?
This is not sexy at all on me. I'll stick to my Trouble by Boucheron and my HG Spellbound by Estee Lauder.

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*TOP REVIEWER* YoHarajuku on 11/16/2012 2:32:00 PM more reviews by YoHarajuku

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

Smells like such a typical mens cologne, very dissapointing when coming from a niche house like Piguet. Headache inducing leather, not for me.

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nakyma on 11/14/2012 7:41:00 PM more reviews by nakyma

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I totally agree with cheekychee. I wear this because it is an amazing scent, although my first experience with it was not so pleasant. I oversprayed and it felt like it landed under my right eyelid and just throbbed forever or so it felt like. I thought it was way too strong and just couldn't wait for it all to just end. And then, a couple days later, when I knew I wasn't going to let it get the best of me. I threw caution to the wind and gave it a second try. I did a one shot spray from a distance under the shirt and then I was able to fully experience the greens, roses, leather and earthiness, all of its stages in its full glory. I now love this so much, I bought a back up bottle. So glad I gave this another chance. The art of applying is well worth learning.

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Cheekychee on 10/21/2012 11:13:00 PM more reviews by Cheekychee

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Funny how many comments there are about this strident, authoritative, spectacle of a woman who wears Bandit. I am pretty shy, basically girly, and very much a happy follower. I wear Bandit because tis a beautiful perfume. Oh what a piece of art! Greens, Roses, uncompromising earthiness - so complex and so satisfying. No one has ever noticed me wearing it - so its just one I wear for myself when I want a vivid inspiring perfume that makes me feel alive and pretty! Anyone out there just like me?.....
other favorite leather: Cuir de Ruisse- Heely Fleur en Pleine Cuir-
Jolie Madame - Cabochard - Azuree very close to Bandit in perfection

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Lilosette on 10/21/2012 12:06:00 AM more reviews by Lilosette

Age: 25-29   Skin: Other, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

Bandit is a woman who loves to take control of the opposite sex with one scent Leather! not fooled around with
leather not synthtic uncut muskiness that makes it's appeal for ages.
So what makes Bandit special? of course
we have the main ingredient leather what makes it diffent then other leather scents is the supporting florals that makes it a bit of an Feminine touch with the powdery feel of violets dries to a underpining of Spicy texture of Carnation and jasmine with it's secretive aura is a mysterious
personality that rarely exsist in today's perfumery and veltet feel of
rose.

I also admire is that green notes that consists of artemesia not listed are a bit of grass and the freshness of Aldehydes adds to the sharp and clean scent that is unique to Bandit.

The Drydown is a dark rasianish drydown of myyrah adds to the esoteric feel the warm amber with it's sweet raisenish scent blends to make it a bit sweetish
with patches of musk makes it a bit masculine The Amimalistic properties
of Civet makes it primal and untamed.

And with the mossy finish of oakmoss
and the elusive undertone of Patchouli ends with an earthy finish.

What does Bandit conjours up to me
is an Pale and Slender woman with Black
hair with Black Leather Gloves and Leopard langerie with a Leopard amimal
printed backround Ala 1950's Pinup
or in a role of the female Dominatrix boss in the corprate workforce around the meeting on a long table full of men controling every rule they do.

This is not a Girlie Girl scent not for a woman who does not want make waves or shy quiet passive personality this is
an scent that demands repect and your
Attention.

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Mathou on 6/14/2012 8:42:00 AM more reviews by Mathou

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Black    

I tried this when I bought Fracas, and this is not my cup of tea. It's a nice scent though but I don't feel at home in it. It smells very green and reminds me much of my dear mother. She loves smells like this whereas I'm a more floral girl... But anyway the drydown is much better and it stays strong for a long time.

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*TOP REVIEWER* amlang on 8/24/2011 10:17:00 AM more reviews by amlang

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

Uncompromising leather. This is a very active leather—for waxing skis, rubbing down horse tackle, and changing the oil on a high-performance car. It's feminine enough (after a while), but soft and pleasing are not the aims here.

Holds its own spot on the spectrum of leathers. Close enough to the tough walking end of the spectrum that a fragrance newbie will either be put off by it, or completely revolutionized.

Medium to big sillage. Tenacious.

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*TOP REVIEWER* tessture on 4/16/2011 4:29:00 PM more reviews by tessture

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Galbanum green, very strong, and a slightly smoky feeling, like cigarettes. Mellows to smoky leather and galbanum, so definitely a 1940s feeling. Not for me, though. Ultimately a leathery green chypre of the old style. I prefered the Azuree hadas says smells like the original Bandit...may have to compare the two now.

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dundada on 2/2/2011 9:24:00 PM more reviews by dundada

Age: Unknown   Skin: Acne-prone, Dark, Warm   Hair: Black, Relaxed, Coarse   Eyes: Black    

I love Bandit and I still haven't bought it yet. Don't ask why. I'm always buying something else is really why.

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*TOP REVIEWER* hadas on 12/27/2010 1:28:00 AM more reviews by hadas

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

This review is for vintage Bandit eau de toilette. I get bitter fruit & green notes melding with sharp florals, and undergirded by the rubbery "leather" ingredient Isobutyl quinoline. Its sharpness and acrid pungency gives an impression of roughness, danger, formidability, & feminine strength...but I was looking forward to a more realistic leather scent. If you are terribly curious what original Bandit smells like, do go to your local Macy's and ask the Estee Lauder gals to hand you the tester for the scent Azuree; it smells quite similar to original Bandit EDT.

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chrystelica on 8/27/2010 10:52:00 AM more reviews by chrystelica

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

This is for the parfum. Smells like a chypre, cheap men's aftershave. Kept waiting for the animalic.... any TRACE of animalic..... NONE.

As much as I like my dad, this smells like a clean, traditional men's aftershave he would wear. I don't want to smell like that for any length of time.

A scrubber.

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*TOP REVIEWER* hollyc01 on 8/12/2010 9:07:00 AM more reviews by hollyc01

Age: 30-35   Skin: Very Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I think of all the perfumes I have tried, owned, loved, Bandit must be at or very near the top. This is a stunning, uncompromising beauty that opens sharply with strong florals and strong green vegetal notes and then slowly morphs into a sexy, animalic blanket of pure cashmere that makes my eyes roll back in my head (my husband's too). It also has a leather underpinning that keeps it fascinating. This is not for girls and it is decidedly not for those who wish not to be noticed. It is unabashedly female and sexy and definitely says come closer if you dare. For those who have been disappointed by Bandit in the past, the new EdP has a serial number on the side of the box and the statement that it is the reformulation that most closely resembles the original, and this version lasts foreverrrrr, getting better and better on clothes, bedding, men you may rub up against!! To the best of my knowledge the EdT has been discontinued due to poor lasting power. If buying from online discount houses, you may receive the substandard version that can't compare with the more recent release. Naz at www.theperfumeshoppe.com in Vancouver has the most recent version and I can attest that it is timeless, breathtaking and absolutely fabulous. Do try.

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Pattsieloves on 4/14/2010 7:47:00 PM more reviews by Pattsieloves

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I'd heard so much about this perfume that I had to try it. Initially I was shocked by it's opening. It smells like a garage with a vase of lillies some where in the mixture. I had to try it again and realised it was created just after WW11. It would suit any women who loves cars and machinery. Do yourself a favour and try this one.

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*TOP REVIEWER* AbsoluteScentualist on 4/8/2010 10:23:00 PM more reviews by AbsoluteScentualist

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Hazel    

Every fragrance has a personality. Some more memorable than others, no doubt, but for me, even if the opinion is a neutral one, I almost always have something to say when I try something new.

When I dabbed a wee bit of Bandit EDP on my arm, my eyebrows rose up and all I could think was,"Someone's been a very naughty girl indeed." Bandit is classified as belonging to the chypre-leather-animalic category and that is about the gist of it. But there is so much strength and brazenness in Bandit that those three words quickly get kicked aside by a leather spike heel and Bandit takes center stage as her own creation.

The first impression on skin is the green and slightly soapy wonderfulness that composes many chypres. This is the grand old fashioned sort of chypre that makes me think cocktail gowns and elbow-length gloves. But before your nose can settle back and enjoy the refinement, here comes the leather and what has been described as the scent of cigarettes or, more appropriately in my case, a hint of ash tray. It isn't off-putting and stale, but rather as if you're curled up on a newly acquired leather sofa visiting a friend who smokes but also has great taste in perfumes. All three blend together to become a take-no-prisoners scent that captured my heart by force and whispered dirty nothings in my ear.

I have not tried the version created for men, but this could very easily be worn by a man without a doubt. In fact, my sweetie inhaled the bit I'd applied to my neck and growled before saying he liked it so much he might be inclined to share the bottle that's doubtlessly in my future.

While Bandit isn't the first fragrance to evoke sex (see my review for Boudoir, along with general opinions about that one), it doesn't evoke frilly hot pink lingerie and leopard print bedding as Boudoir can from time to time. It evokes kinky fun in leather and heels. This isn't the party girl who returns around three a.m. with slightly smudged makeup, didn't have to pay for her drinks and ducked out with just a kiss and a giggle. Bandit staggers/wanders in the next afternoon covered in hickies and can't tell you what happened after she bought the third round of scotch, but that it may have involved handcuffs, various pieces of furniture and bruises in odd and interesting places with a lover almost as creative and bad as she is... Oh, and who happened to smoke, too. Bandit has no shame and won't take 'no' for an answer, and I love her all the more for it.

Notes: Neroli, orange, ylang-ylang, galbanum, Jasmine, rose, tubersoe, leather, Patchouli, mousse de chene, vetiver, musk

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missveronica9 on 4/5/2010 7:00:00 PM more reviews by missveronica9

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I have to concur with the reviewer who pointed out that there are (at least) two versions of Bandit out there. My friend has the current re-formulation (EDP, 'bandit' in lowercase) which she really likes (except for its limited tenacity), whereas I bought an older formulation (EDT, 'BANDIT' in uppercase) which my 'bandit'-loving friend didn't even want as a gift ("smells like fly spray").

This review is for the EDT. To me, this is a chypre taken to the extreme: an overdose of bitter galbanum set above a broad base of oakmoss with not a lot in between. I couldn't detect any kinds of flowers, or even leather. Smelling the inside of the cap was relatively pleasant, but on skin the bitterness intensified and developed into a nauseatingly dank, stagnant smell - which I have also encountered in the reformulated Aliage (Estee Lauder).

I was collecting Piguets to have a set, but this one I found so unwearable that I decided to give it away to any friend who didn't find it disgusting. Fortunately I found one who said it brought back pleasant memories of digging for truffles and visiting catacombs in a faroff land - ie. it smelled like dirt and fungi in the nicest possible way. Her husband kinda liked it, too. So I left the bottle with them. Bye-bye Bandit, you didn't steal my heart.

EDIT: Bandit boomeranged back to me (friend decided she didn't want to smell of catacombs after all), so it will sit in my "perfume classics library" ready to shock and/or amuse friends.

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ntgrrl13 on 2/18/2010 5:38:00 PM more reviews by ntgrrl13

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

Since I was not so keen on Fracas (sort of a boring floral on me) I ordered a sample of Bandit for the Perfumed Court. Wow! Being a fan already of leathery scents such as Cuir de Russie, I decided to take the sample plunge. It starts out a bit in your face, but then within minutes it's like falling asleep with a leatherbound book on your chest, and a vase of roses beside you. Very smooth and, may I say, sneaky? Every once is a while I get a slight whiff of sweet jasmine and rose mixed with a slightly stronger leathery scent. Like pressed flowers in an old library book. I get LOADS of compliments when I wear this. I can also wear Baiser du Dragon to great effect too, so I'm sure that it's a body chemistry thing. An absolutely classy and classic scent. If you want to smell like nobody else in the office, wear this!

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justine720 on 11/14/2009 5:31:00 AM more reviews by justine720

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Though not a huge fan of bitters, this one grows on you.

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estoyer on 7/3/2009 8:40:00 AM more reviews by estoyer

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Weird -- for me, wearing this under clothing makes all the difference. On exposed skin, I get too much of the sharp green scent to smell much else. A spray to the chest ends up much mellower than to the wrists or neck, and that's when the rich and leathery character I love really comes out.


I wonder how much of Bandit's reputation for being challenging to wear is only because... well, it has a reputation for being challenging to wear. I am not a "bad girl," much less a bad caricature of one -- but I am a woman who likes to be taken seriously in work and play, and mincing florals feel as out of place on me as a lacy sundress at a board meeting. Bandit makes me feel feminine the way a really well-tailored vest or suit jacket does; menswear-inspired but torn apart and rebuilt from the ground up with women in mind.


Come on, ladies, it's not 1944 anymore. We don't have to be ashamed of knowing what we want and being prepared to go out and get it. Bandit is not timid or coy in the least, but that doesn't make girls "naughty." Granted, when you want something sweet and flirtatious, you will have to look elsewhere. When you want something assertive and confident, Bandit is there for you.

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Kit20 on 6/24/2009 5:45:00 PM more reviews by Kit20

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

With the drastic reformulation of Cabochard this is quite simply the best leather chypre out there. I had been wearing Aramis when I needed my leather fix as Jolie Madame can be just a bit violety when you do not want a floral. I finally decided to buy the EDP of Bandit and was not sorry. This is bitter, green and leather. It is a sophisticated scent and at the risk of being agist I would say not a beginners or a young person's scent. If you want an introduction to leather fragrances, far better to try jolie madame which is a lot more floral. Handle this one with care, but if you have the maturity, confidence and elan to wear it, it is fabulous.

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