1697 by Frapin is a complex, boozy gourmand that feels like stepping into a private cellar or a dimly lit mahogany-paneled library. It opens with an immediate hit of spiced rum and davana, creating a...
Enthusiasts generally classify this as a fragrance for cold weather, noting that the heavy spices and boozy accords perform best during fall and winter evenings.
While the house of Frapin is sometimes critiqued for creating beautiful scents with fleeting performance, 1697 is considered one of their more robust offerings, typically outlasting the fresher citrus-leaning scents in their lineup.
The scent is frequently cited as a key example of the "boozy gourmand" genre, with many comparing its sophisticated use of rum and dried fruit to high-end cognac or aged spirits.
It is widely regarded as a unisex fragrance, though some find the heavy clove and wood notes lean slightly masculine, while others find the vanilla and tonka bean dry down leans feminine.
