Legend

Scent Breakdown

Legend opens with a somewhat medicinal lavender, more akin to a herbal cough drop than a field in Provence. The bergamot is fleeting, a mere suggestion of citrus before the cappuccino accord crashes the party. This "cappuccino" leans heavily into instant coffee granules and artificial sweetener, a far cry from freshly brewed espresso. The raspberry emerges next, but it is candied and sharp, not juicy. The jasmine is undetectable. The drydown is a saccharine vanilla bomb, underpinned by a scratchy sandalwood note and a plasticky amber that lacks warmth. It has the same general architecture as Rochas Man, but is missing the original’s creamy smoothness and comforting gourmand depth.

Final Thoughts

Legend is best suited for casual daytime wear in cooler weather, perhaps a weekend trip to the mall. It's too synthetic and lacking refinement to be appropriate for formal occasions or close encounters. This fragrance is geared toward situations where longevity and projection are less important than simply having a pleasant, albeit simple, sweet scent bubble around you.

Performance Reality Check

I got about six hours of wear with Legend. Projection is moderate for the first hour, extending to about an arm's length. After that, it retreats to a skin scent. I tested it at the office and out to dinner.