LES BAINS GUERBOIS
2018 Roxo Tonic

2020

PERFUMER
Fanny Bal

bergamot
lemon
ginger

gentian
neroli
tea accord

vetiver
ambroxan
musk

‘Roxo is a party. A place. A color. Materials like leather, lacquer, wood, enameled lava. Organic shapes. A place where day meets night in a danceof light and shadow. Encounters of all kinds. Intoxicated by one’s surroundings as by a powerful cocktail. Roxo Tonic. Bergamot, lemon, ginger, gentian and tea. A fragrance under the influence. A moment of joy, desire, free-spirited. Totally free and sparkling.

EFFERVESCENT & ENIVRANT
A sunny lemon, spiked with the fusing note of ginger. In counterpoint, floral notes stand out. The luminous neroli sets the tone for the aniseed facets of gentian. Savor it on a bed of vetiver and musk for even more intoxication.’ – Les Bains Guerbois

My favorites from Les Bains Guerbois are Duchaufour’s masterpieces 1978 Les Bains Douches and the honeyed 1986 Eclectique. However, some (warmer) days require a different style of perfumes and for that, Roxo Tonic comes to the rescue.

To my nose, Roxo Tonic to me has a similar ambroxan-esque vibe as the drydown of their 2023 release, Raku. However, I much prefer Roxo Tonic overall.

Fanny Bal added some notes/accords to the Roxo Tonic ambroxan that all work out really well in my opinion: The opening has the bergamot/ginger combination for a sharper, sparkling citrussy, cocktail. Quickly a softer, slightly floral and more aromatic mid takes over with neroli, gentian and tea credited. Most important however, is the vetiver. In combination with the sweetness you get an almost sugary, soapy vetiver for most of the wear.

It is in fact, very sweet. Candied and sugared, yet somehow Roxo Tonic feels like a warm weather fragrance with its soapy core and citrusses in the mix. The hint of aromatics and the greener hue of vetiver keep this from becoming too cloying. You have to like ambroxan, but if you do, Roxo Tonic is worth your time.