Name: Roadster
Brand: Cartier
Size: 50ml
Price: $80.00
What I liked:
- interesting blend of mint, citrusy and woody notes
- smells gorgeous
- longlasting
- pretty and sleek packaging
What I didn’t like:
- bottle is heavy
- the price
Roadster by Cartier is a fragrance for men centered around mint. Yes, mint. This really scared me at first. When done right, mint fragrances have a refreshing and cooling, herbal scent but when done wrong (which sadly seems to be the case most of the time), they can smell like toothpaste or, worse, like a dentist’s office. So, before purchasing the full bottle, which is actually pretty heavy and very expensive, I asked for a sample at my local beauty shop.
Well, I’m happy to report that Cartier got it right and Roadster smells wonderful. The fragrance opens with a sparkling citrus note of bergamot mixed with vetiver. The top notes are quite strong but they don’t last long. Pretty soon, the heart notes take over and you smell a refreshing, dark and earthy mix of icy mint and herbal labdanum. The mint note is present in the drydown too but is now intertwined with warm vanilla and dry cashmere wood. I like how the mint mixes with the citrus and woody notes. The blend is interesting and well-executed, and while the scent is pretty heavy from the beginning, it is also warm and sensual.
If you’re looking for a fragrance for a man in your life, and you know he loves mint, Roadster by Cartier would be a great choice. And even though the fragrance, because of how heavy it is, is more masculine than unisex, women who love men’s scents may just get away with wearing it too. I love how it blends with my body chemistry but I know it is a fragrance that most ladies won’t want to wear (especially those into sweet floral scents). Another thing I like is the lasting power. You just have to spray it on in the morning and it will linger on for the entire day.
The packaging is pretty cool too and the white chrome cap is designed to represent the crown of a watch (it was inspired by the Cartier Roadster watch). The bottle is made of glass and, as mentioned above, can be pretty heavy so be careful when you handle it. The only thing I dislike about Roadster is the price: $80 for 50 ml is a lot, but then this is Cartier. The fragrance smells gorgeous, though, and it’s rare to find a mint blend so well done, so in my opinion, it is worth the money. But you may still want to ask for a sample before purchasing the full size to find out how good (or not) it’ll smell on you.
Available at: Walgreens, Sephora and Amazon
Summary
Roadster by Cartier is an interesting male fragrance that mixes fresh mint with citrusy and woody notes. The result is a slightly sparkly, quite earthly, heavy and warm scent that lasts for the entire day. The bottle is cute and has a cap that resembles the crown of a watch, but it is also pretty heavy. The fragrance is expensive too.
