Jungle Homme: Kenzo's untamable Zebra If we were moved to encounter for the first time the powerful Jungle for women in 1996, we will be delighted to discover in 1998 a Jungle for Homme signed by Olivier Cresp, at least as strong as its tender other half!
The house of Kenzo delights in offering the fiercely offbeat and blended universe of its founder Kenzo Takada through original and creative fragrances. Ça sent beau opened the ball of Kenzo fragrances, which over the years became ever more original, as exemplified by the opulent Jungle pour Femme in 1996. But the great lady would also be joined by a man just as powerful, thanks to the talents of Olivier Cresp and his spicy and addictive Jungle pour Homme.
Jungle pour Homme, or perfumer Olivier Cresp's powerful zebra for Kenzo
Contrary to what one might think, Kenzo fragrances are not solely bottles exhaling the Asian origins of its founder through soft and floral scents. With the thunderous Jungle pour Femme, Kenzo clearly demonstrated this by offering a fruity, spicy and opulent Elephant, much closer to the African continent than to Asian lands. Dominique Ropion and Kenzo struck hard and upended the house's tender and zen image.
Contrary to what one might also think, Olivier Cresp is not solely the creator of Angel and of magnificent gourmand fragrances for women. With L’Eau de Kenzo and its clean scents, but above all with Jungle pour Homme, he reminds us that before being the creator of the first gourmand fragrance in history, he is a perfumer who delights in transfiguring woody notes, of which vetiver is his signature raw material.
Perhaps I also find it easier to work on feminine fragrances than masculine ones. That said, among masculine fragrances, I created some beautiful compositions such as Kenzo's Jungle pour Homme, which is based on spices: cinnamon, cardamom, cumin; it is a very powerful fragrance, richly woody, because I loved Féminité du Bois, there is a nod to that fragrance. Olivier Cresp, for Au Féminin, on Jungle pour Homme.
Thus Jungle pour Homme, known as Le Zèbre, sets out to break the codes and upend preconceived notions, offering men a powerful, wild and delightfully africanized fragrance.
Wood, spices and citrus for a burning and delightfully exotic Kenzo Zèbre
Jungle pour Homme thus propels its creator Olivier Cresp, as well as the Kenzo brand, into territory where they were not expected. Yet with Jungle, released a year earlier, Kenzo had already surprised with its boldness. But with its alter ego Jungle pour Homme, the house persists and confirms its stance by making spicy and woody warmth the stars of its masculine fragrance, which was still a rarity at the time, let us recall.
Thus Jungle pour Homme announces, right from its opening, a striking departure in a limetta-ambrette-nutmeg accord, blending all the greatest fragrant powers with astonishing force. Then, at the heart, mysterious and exotic woods turn velvety. Finally, the contrasts of Jungle pour Homme are once again highlighted by a sharp and lively pine note paired with the gourmand character and roundness of benzoin and white musks.