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Gather around, gentleman! Today, I will review a gem known as Lapidus Pour Homme by Ted Lapidus, a classic powerhouse released in 1987. This is one of my favourite fragrances from the 1980s, and fortunately for us, the formula has not been tampered with too much over the years, unlike many others.
It’s not considered a crowd-pleaser, but it still has much to offer, especially if you are open to something a little different from your average modern fragrance. If that sounds like you, keep reading.
Who was Ted Lapidus?
He was a French fashion designer who actually worked for Christian Dior before starting his own brand in 1951 at age 22. He initially collaborated with L’Oreal in the 1970s to offer fragrances under the Ted Lapidus Brand.
The Jacques Bogart Group has since acquired the brand, which is good, as they are known for making pretty decent fragrances themselves. For example, check out the One Man Show line.
Where to buy?
Much like other fragrances from this house, it can be elusive. It tends to appear and disappear often, depending on stock availability. The limited supply may be an attempt at some form of scarcity marketing, or it may just sell out quickly. Who knows?
The price will fluctuate slightly, but it is generally considered to be a cheapie. I bought it at Beauty Base for £25, my second purchase of this fragrance after my first bottle had sadly run out.
When it comes to getting the best deal, your best bet is almost always the discounters — especially when they’re running coupon codes. And the one that’s never let me down is FragranceX.
They ship worldwide, they only deal in authentic stock, and they’ve got a solid 30-day return policy, which keeps things risk-free.
Prices do move around (sometimes daily, especially during holiday sales), so it’s always worth checking the current deal. 👇
Presentation
The presentation is about as 80s as it gets. It has sporty locker room vibes, high socks, head sweatbands and short shorts (if that makes any sense at all). It has a beautiful boring grey marble effect design, and you could imagine this sitting on top of a cabinet in Tom Selleck’s bathroom. It’s different, and I love it.
The scent
According to Fragrantica, the notes are listed below.
Top Notes – Pineapple, Lavender, Artemisia, Juniper Berries, Lemon, Basil, Bergamot
Middle Notes – Honey, Incense, Pine Tree, Rose, Brazilian, Rosewood, Jasmine, Caraway, Orris Root, Lily-of-the-Valley, Petitgrain
Base Notes – Tobacco, Patchouli, Oakmoss, Musk, Amber, Sandalwood, Tonka Bean, Cedar
As you can see from the notes, it is a complex fragrance typical of this era. Many similar fragrances have since simplified the ingredients to make them more relevant, but this one has remained faithful to the original (thankfully).
It has one of the best openings I’ve ever smelled. A prominent sweet dark berry scent mixed with ‘dirty’ animalistic notes. It’s kind of weird but interesting and smells incredible.
The dry down is more subtle and retains much of the fruity sweetness, but again very deep and complex. I notice something new about this every time I wear it.
So this probably was very fancy stuff in its day, the Creed Aventus of the 80s, if you will. To capture the essence, imagine (if you can) sitting in an 80s first-class airport lounge with deep purple velvet seats and grey carpets. It is cheap, but it comes across differently.
Is it manly?
Views on whether this smells good or not will undoubtedly be polarising, and the answer will most likely be no if you prefer safer modern fragrances. To me, this is a truly masculine scent for the bold and playful gentleman in his 30s or 40s plus. Having said that, If you’re a younger guy that doesn’t necessarily follow the crowd, there’s no reason why you couldn’t pull this off, either. I always say there’s no such thing as an outdated fragrance; it’s all a matter of your personal preference at the end of the day.
Performance
Performance is excellent, and it is beast mode compared with today’s modern standards. It’s potent and will pump out for around 10 hours. You might choke people out with more than 2-3 sprays, so go easy.
Want to try this fragrance on your skin?
If you’d prefer to sample it first, these are my two favourite
and most reliable places to get authentic decants:
When and where to wear it?
It can work in both warm and cold weather. It’s fresh enough not to get too cloying in the heat and warm enough to radiate nicely in the cold.
Where could it be worn? Well, that’s a tricky one. I have worn it in the office without any issues, but in all honesty, it’s suited for more occasional use. It’s one of those fragrances we all own but don’t wear often, but when we do, we are reminded of how wonderful it is.
As I said, it’s not a crowd-pleaser, so don’t expect flooding compliments; wear it for yourself, and you’ll be fine. When you do get compliments for fragrances like this, it’s rare, but they mean so much more to us as fragrance lovers.
Final thoughts
So there you have it, a true masculine powerhouse that will put the hairs back on your chest. It’s cheap enough for a blind buy, so why not give it a go? I recommend it.
READY TO GRAB THIS FRAGRANCE?
If you’re ready to add this to your collection, here are two reliable places to check:
- FragranceX – usually the best prices, discount codes, and a wide selection. They also ship worldwide.
- Amazon – great if you prefer Prime delivery speed, just make sure to buy from a trusted seller.
👉 Pick the option that works best for you.
No matter where you’re reading from, smell good, spend smart.
WANT TO FAST-TRACK ALL OF THIS STUFF?
I put together The Ultimate Fragrance Cheat Sheet—a no-fluff guide that covers everything from notes and families to shopping smart and applying like a pro.
It’s built for guys who want to smell sharp without overthinking it.