Gendarme, ‘the favorite fragrance in the world.’

With a name that historically refers to a French medieval cavalryman and would later refer to any French policeman, it’s not at all surprising that people would describe the men’s fragrance Gendarme as having an “arresting scent.”

“It’s crisp, clean, and fresh, like a guy who just stepped out of the shower,” declares Jonathan Risco, president of Gendarme fragrances, who was recently in town to promote the scent already favored by popular celebrities as varied as Tom Cruise, Robert Downey, Jr., Dustin Hoffman, Rod Stewart, Bill Clinton,  Kevin Garnett, LL Cool J, and even Martin Nievera. 

Gendarme’s unique scent has also garnered the admiration of many women including Debra Messing, Sharon Stone, Janet Jackson, Dolly Parton, and Brooke Shields. “Whenever I wear it during flights, women would often say to me that I smell like their ex-boyfriend,” Risco boasts. “One particular story I’ll never forget was a letter I received three years ago from a woman whose husband uses Gendarme. She said she would just put the fragrance next to her then 30-day-old baby boy and that’s all it takes to calm him down and put him to sleep.”

So what is it exactly about Gendarme that made it “the favorite fragrance in the world” as Risco so boldly declared?

According to the former commodities buyer of General Electric, the story goes back to 1983 when Gendarme creator Topper Schroeder, an American with German blood, was just a consumer searching for a fragrance he could wear with pride—and without irritating skin or asthmatic reactions.

“After searching department store and men’s counters everywhere without success, Topper decided to develop that dream cologne for his own use,” Risco narrates. Eventually developing what would later be known as Gendarme, Schroeder began to wear the scent everywhere as he evolved from an accidental walking billboard to the respected fragrance marketer that he is known today in the industry.

While superlatives like “exquisite,” “doesn’t smell like anything else,” “mystique aura,” “smells great regardless of the weather,” and, in Risco’s own words, “sex and hope” make Gendarme an intriguing proposition for both men and women, they do not really fully characterize what this scent is all about. Risco’s more detailed and extensive description of the fragrance is what gives us a clearer idea.

“Gendarme Cologne for Men has signature scents that are made of top notes, namely, lime, orange blossom, lemon, basil, and verbena, blended with mid notes as well as lavender, lemon balm, ginger flower, and finally finished off with base notes of lilac, jasmine, tonka, and bergamot,” he elaborates. “Its full 12 percent oil blend is compellingly long lasting but won’t overpower the room.”

Aside from the cologne, Gendarme’s fragrances for men include variations such as Grabazzi by Gendarme, Gendarme Eau de parfum, Gendarme Recharger, and Gendarme Sky. In many of these variations, Risco himself was personally involved in their creation and development.

Risco’s aggressive marketing of Gendarme has allowed the fragrance to grow from a California classic to an influential trendsetter. He says that in Barneys New York alone, Gendarme has been the number one selling fragrance there for the last 18 years, a record of sorts.

And, in response to growing demand for by-products, Gendarme has also developed skincare products such as the rejuvenating hair and body shampoo, the light-scented Gendarme Contour Deodorant is also as natural as can be with its very light scent that still carry’s the brand’s signature scent and the Gendarme Moisturizing Balm with Aloe, Chamomile and Vitamin E.

“Over the years Gendarme has changed the way people think about fragrance,” Risco exclaims. “It’s the fragrance you want to wear if you want to be kissed. You know the worst thing that’s ever been said about the fragrance? It’s that it smells clean.”

Gendarme is available in Rustan’s Makati, Grandmall, Shangri-la Plaza, Gateway Plaza Mall, Robinson’s Place Essenses, Alabang Town Center and Ayala Center Cebu. For more information, visit www.gendarme.com.