Lacoste Elegance

The Verdict

Lacoste Elegance arrived in 2007 as an Oriental Fougere for men, blending what seemed like an unlikely combination of chocolate, mint, spices, and citrus. While it never achieved mainstream popularity and has since been discontinued, the fragrance has earned a small but devoted following among those who appreciate its genuinely distinctive character. In a sea of interchangeable fresh-blue designer masculines, Lacoste Elegance dared to be different.

Community reception has been mostly positive among those who discovered it, with reviewers praising its originality and craftsmanship while acknowledging its niche appeal. Basenotes reviewers in particular call it a wonderfully crafted and highly underrated scent, with appreciation that grows the more it is worn.

What It Smells Like

The opening is a bracing rush of fresh coolness. Peppermint, along with spicy notes of caraway and mandarin orange, creates a surprisingly icy, almost cold first impression. There is something immediately unusual here, a signal that this will not follow the conventional designer playbook.

As the top notes settle, the composition reveals its true nature. Nutmeg, cardamom, and black pepper provide warming spice, while raspberry adds a tart sweetness that bridges the gap between fresh and warm. One reviewer described the midlife as eventually turning into a combination of raspberry, chocolate mocha, and mint with some citrus in the background and a little spice.

The base is where Lacoste Elegance makes its most distinctive impression. Dark chocolate emerges as a rich, bitter-sweet presence, described by admirers as a very nice cedar-chocolate accord that complements the herb-spice beautifully. Sandalwood, amber, and musk provide warmth and depth. Critics find the chocolate note dusty and synthetic, like a box of chocolates forgotten in a wooden cabinet for a year, while fans insist the total absence of floral notes and the deft use of fruit, woods, spices, and chocolate make this a very compelling scent.

When to Wear It

Lacoste Elegance is definitively a cold-weather fragrance. Autumn and winter are its natural seasons, where the warming spice-chocolate combination makes perfect sense against crisp air. Casual evening outings, dinner dates, holiday gatherings, and cozy weekends all provide appropriate backdrops.

Wearing this in warm weather would overwhelm both the wearer and those nearby, as the heavy spice and chocolate notes have no business competing with summer heat.

Longevity & Projection

Performance is a genuine strength, particularly for longevity. Reviewers report the fragrance remaining detectable for seven to eight hours, going close to the skin after three to four hours but never fully disappearing. Sillage is moderate, strongest in the first couple of hours before becoming an intimate, close-to-skin experience. Those wanting more powerful projection recommend additional sprays, though the moderate sillage may actually be an advantage for a composition this distinctive, preventing it from overwhelming in close quarters.

The Community Says

Basenotes reviewers have championed Lacoste Elegance as an underrated gem. One called it a wonderfully crafted and highly underrated scent whose appreciation grows with each wearing. Another praised the cedar-chocolate accord as beautiful and distinctive. Fragrantica reviewers are more divided, with some loving the unique spice-chocolate profile and others finding it metallic or odd. The general consensus is that this is a love-it-or-hate-it composition, but those who love it tend to become vocal advocates. Several reviewers note it as the only Lacoste fragrance they have ever liked, which itself speaks to its departure from the brand's usual sporty-fresh aesthetic.

Who Should Buy This

Lacoste Elegance is for the man who has tried the standard designers and wants something genuinely different without committing to niche prices. Gourmand enthusiasts and those who enjoy warm, spicy compositions for cold weather will find much to appreciate. Its uniqueness makes it an excellent rotation piece that fills a gap few other designer fragrances can.

Those who prefer their fragrances safe, clean, and universally crowd-pleasing should pass. This is a fragrance with personality, and personality always risks alienating some.

The Bottom Line

Lacoste Elegance is one of the more underappreciated designer fragrances of the late 2000s. Its chocolate-spice-mint composition is genuinely original, well-constructed, and memorable, qualities rarely found at its price point. The moderate sillage and polarizing character prevent universal recommendation, but for those whose tastes align with its unusual profile, Lacoste Elegance delivers a cold-weather experience that more expensive brands struggle to match. If you spot a bottle at a reasonable price, the risk is well worth taking.