Coach Open Road Fragrance Review by Carl Thompson

Today I want to share some thoughts on a new fragrance for men inspired by friendship, adventure and the optimism of a road trip and the American West coast; Coach Open Road. 

I know the questions that will be burning on every one of my readers lips. Will it evoke the spirit of Jack Kerouac? Will it project the nihilistic fantasy that so gripped the beatnik era of the sixties? The answer is of course, don't be daft. And why would you. Chances are if you had to bottle anything that came from that era it would smell like a hippy's armpit fresh from a Glastonbury mosh-pit. 

I digress. Already, I digress. 

Coach Open Road was created in collaboration with director and photographer Fabian Baron. What Fabian has delivered is a fine, albeit slightly perfunctory slice of Americana.  A cinematic snapshot of friendship, the campaign reminds us that the real beauty of the journey isn't the destination, but the experiences along the way. Or as Lennon would say, life is what happens to you whilst shopping for fragrances online. Or something. 

The bottle is crafted of transparent glass, while the fragrance itself has a grey-blue shade reminiscent of the coastal horizon. Unless that coastal horizon is Blackpool, then it's really not reminiscent at all. It is finished with a gunmetal cap inspired by the house's iconic turnlock hardware and an engraved "C" on the bottom, a detail that nods to Coach's signature.

The Fragrance 

The aromatic eau de toilette opens with a bright citrus slap to the face. There is a heap of red apple and a touch of spice laying in its wake. It's a very late autumn scent, the greens are in full flow and when the middle notes arrive it's like taking a walk through Hammersmith (the nice part) along the river overlooking the barges. There is a lot of vibrancy that kicks in with the lavender, and it somehow strangles the lemon notes that I was hoping would kick on further. 

The woods on the base give it a soft landing on the dry down, but it does come a bit too linear at this point for my liking. I was hoping the patchouli would give it an extra gear, but it really just anchors the scent, nothing more. 

Summary

This is the transportive road trip adventure I was hoping for, it does make you yearn for an adventure. It’s your interpretation on how great and how exotic that transportation is. I would wear this for family meals, client meetings, coastal walks and festivals.

Top Notes: Sichuan pepper, Red Apple, Lemon oil 

Heart Notes: Lavender accord, Lavandin, Clary Sage, Enfleurage Absolu,

Base Notes: Vetiver, Patchouli, Cedarwood