Yves St. Laurent Caban – The Best of Le Vestiaire?

An oft-overlooked gem in a star studded lineup.

Yves St. Lauren’ts Le Vestiare line gets plenty of attention.
In particular, its flagship piece Tuxedo.
However, I argue that the aforementioned isn’t the one deserving of the most attention.

In the shadows, the understudy Caban lurks.
A delectable treat, a balance of savoury and sweet.

Initial Thoughts

Caban is an interesting creation.
I can’t think of anything else quite like it.

It’s described as being a sweet floral, though I think it leans more gourmand than simply sweet.

Caban is presented in the same bottle as the rest of the Le Vestiare line.
As I mentioned in the Tuxedo article, the bottle is lovely.
But enough about that.
It’s the juice that sets this fragrance apart.

The Olfactory Notes

Why I note that this fragrance leans more gourmand to me is how the character of the scent plays on my nose.
Despite no citation of chocolate or coconut in the list of accords, Caban gives me a strong impression of a Bounty bar.
My favourite.

To dissect the scent further, the opening cites a mix of pink pepper, black pepper and elemi resin.
I don’t detect any notably peppery notes, but the overall hit of sharp spice is notable.
The heart contains incense and some further resinous floral notes.
In the base, a notably smooth sandalwood is apparent, alongside sweet tonka bean.
Patchouli is also cited, though I don’t detect it.

I find the scent character overly linear, with the strong gourmand character remaining consistently apparent.
This is a plus for me.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.

When I was doing some research for this article, I found out they also sell a candle with this scent.
Want.

Ratings

Longevity: .6/1

I get around six hours of performance from Caban.

Projection: .8/1

The character of the scent makes for a distinct and constant companion throughout the day.
It’s unique enough that it consistently differentiates itself from the olfactory bombardment that is everyday life without being something that I’d call a projection monster.
This makes for a very versatile wear, as it can be worn casually or classed up.

Blend Quality: 1/1

The blend is excellent by all accounts.

Presentation: 1/1

As I said in the Tuxedo article, the Le Vestiare line’s packaging is on point.

Personal Smell Score: /1

I can’t get enough of Caban‘s character.

Total score: 4.4/5 A

What Would I Wear This With?

Though I mention that this scent can be worn casually, I do find myself gravitating towards wearing it with tailoring.
The smooth character lends itself more naturally to refined fabrics, in my subconscious.
However, there really isn’t anything about the scent that would be discordant if paired with a tee and jeans.