Wandering around on a recent rainy Sunday, a friend and I stepped into Una, a tiny shop on the working class side of town. The clothing was tremendously chic, all Italian fabrics and clever design. In a different life, when my womanly figure turns gamine and my penchant for nipped waists and rhinestones fades, I’ll have one of each on the rack. The jewelry was fabulous, too, and I’m saving up for a bronze Monica Castiglioni ring. But what really pleased me, was that in this shop — this little shop that could fit inside my living room —was a row of Etat Libre d’Orange perfumes.
Forget the rain, I was ecstatic. They didn’t have my two favorites, Jasmin et Cigarette (“We could never sell that here, people wouldn’t get it,” the owner told me later) and Like This, but Vraie Blonde sat in front, and several fragrances I wanted to get to know better lined up behind it. One of them was Fat Electrician Eau de Parfum. I took home a sample.
Perfumer Antoine Maisondieu developed Fat Electrician, and Etat Libre d’Orange released it in 2009. The accordian-folded insert with the sample calls it a “semi-modern” vetiver and mentions notes of vetiver, vanilla bean, myrrh, and opoponax. The brochure describes the fragrance as both “white, metallic, and silver like the ancestral green of olive trees” and “sweet, demure, addictive like a chestnut cream.”
Of course, the brochure spins one of Etat Libre’s stories in Prix Eau Faux winning style. This story involves an innocent but alluring young American man who breaks hearts and steps out with women “of a certain age” (in Palm "Peach” as the English translation charmingly misstates). Alas, his beauty and sexual prowess fade, and he ends in New Jersey as a — you guessed it — fat electrician. Fat Electrician is meant to be beautiful but “flawlessly unrefined.”
(I once worked at a construction site for a few months. One of the foremen gave me the lowdown. He said the real intellectuals on any construction job are the electricians. Plumbers come in second. Framers and sheetrock hangers are partiers, he said. And you always have trouble with the hardwood floor and tile people because they’re flaky. I feel fairly certain none of the electricians at my site knew anything of ancestral olive trees or chestnut cream.)
Fat Electrician is robust. It kicks in from the start with sharp, rooty vetiver backed with enough opoponax and medicinal myrrh to make it smell as resinous as incense. Vetiver incense. It isn’t the elegant mega-vetiver of Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier Route du Vetiver, but is more raw, although equally intense. No noticeable citrus gives it familiarity. After a few minutes, a child-like peek of vanilla comes through.
From then on, Fat Electrician doesn’t change much. The hint of vanilla softens and sweetens the composition slightly, but it remains an uncompromising vetiver. It quiets a little over time and lasts a good eight hours on my skin. I’ve only dabbed it, but I imagine sprayed it has hearty sillage.
I’m happy with my bottle of wet-woody-lush Lalique Encre Noire (wow, you can really smell Encre Noire's blackberry right next to Fat Electrician), but hardcore vetiver lovers might want to sample Fat Electrician. And you electricians out there, corpulent or otherwise, it does sound like a must try. Let me know what you think. And keep those pants hitched up tight.
Fat Electrician Eau de Parfum is available in a 50 ml bottle. For information on where to buy it, see Etat Libre d’Orange under Perfume Houses.
Oooh, Angela! I’m going to have to search this shop out, now! I’m bummed they don’t have Like This, as it’s been on my “to sniff” list for ages, but I’ll be very happy to finally try several others!
As for Fat Electrician, I expect it won’t be for me. The only vetiver I own is Guerlain, and it’s been relegated to room spray primarily. Thanks for the review!
The shop has Smell Bent fragrances, too, which are kind of fun to smell. (I liked Chastity Begins at Home.) Have fun!
Chastity is a GREAT leather! Brent is my new perfume hero.
It is good, isn’t it?
Marjorie, I’ve been meaning to call you! (And you, too, Angie, for that matter.) If you’ve got time this month, we should go!! And I can bring you some Like This to try, too.
I’ve been thinking about you and wondering how you are. Let’s catch up soon.
Actually, from what I’ve heard, the “Fat Electrician” bit is actually not that faux: there really *was* a beautiful boy, who starred in the cult gay movie Pink Narcissus, and went on to become a fat electrician in New Jersey… I think it was a story the director whose muse the boy was who told the story to ELO’s Etienne de Swardt, if memory serves.
I’ll need to re-explore it, hardcore vetiver fan that I am… In fact, will be going tomorrow.
Great! I love it that it’s a real story. It figures you’d know that–you always seem to have the inside scoop.
Great post, Angela. I got some great chuckles out of it. I’m not big on vetiver but it sounds like a cool fragrance, backstory and all. Thanks!
“Backstory” can mean many things for Fat Electrician!
Oh, yes — just got it (I’m a little slow on the uptake today, I guess).
Some puns really are best accidentally overlooked, really.
This review is a classic – pure, vintage Angela! FE sounds pretty good actually (if I could only get the visual out of my mind), but I’ve about decided that I’m not going to beat my vetiver e.o. for great vetiver smell. The oil is as nuanced as the finest perfume, and I’m usually disappointed in actual vetiver perfumes!
I’ve heard people say that about nice sandalwood, too.
I have to tell you, I have no interest in this fragrance [or the entire line – I’ve tried a few and they’re just not for me] – but I very much enjoy reading anything you write about! You’re a wonderful writer.
Thank you! You put a bounce in my step today.
Does anyone else think FE smells a good deal like Sycomore?
I’ve definitely heard that, but I haven’t smelled them side by side.
I haven’t tried them side by side either – but when I tried FE, that’s what struck me right away…
You’ve made me so curious now! I must try them together.
I own them both and I can assure you they are one and the same!
Hey, thanks for the tip! I’m not sure how it works out for cost per ml, but Fat Electrician could end up being a good deal for someone who wants only 50 ml and who loves Sycomore.
Darn it! I’m disappointed to hear that! I haven’t tried FE yet, and had high hopes. Love me some vetiver.
I love vetivers, but the metallic somehow comes up just chemical and flat on my skin, and the vetiver ends up bullying everything else. But it’s very striking, and I love the logo. I feel I’m not sophisticated and urbane enough for Etat’s fragrances: they seem like chunky, striking modernism that I can appreciate, but they just don’t suit me for actual wearing. But every time you review something, I always go back and revisit, and catch something new.
I went to the Perfume House in Portland this weekend and it blew my mind! That place is a national treasure! Next time I’m blocking out half a day to just while away in there. I came away with l’Arte di Gucci, and that siren talked me into the Jubilation 25 cream as soon as it comes in. Really, everything we pine away for on these blogs, and she has them squirreled away in this funky little house on Hawthorne…
Isn’t the Perfume House a nice surprise? It’s so unassuming on the outside, but the inside is full of all sorts of good finds. You must live close! The more perfume lovers here the better.
I think Etat Libre takes the opposite of sophistication, really. Maybe they’re best approached with the openess of a perfume-loving toddler.
I’m in Seattle! If you’re ever in the neighborhood, gimme a jingle; i’ll def be back in portland to visit the perfume house…
That’s probably the right approach to take w/ELdO, I just always feel like i’m missing something.
It’s been so long since I’ve been to Seattle. I’m definitely due for a visit up there.
Ooh ooh ooh! I’m in Seattle right now! Anywhere you’d recommend to fragrance shop! (Not that I don’t have stuff in Portland, obviously, but it’s fun to try new places. And annoy my brother by going places he has no interest in.)
Hey, I think the Barney’s up there has the Frederic Malles. And don’t forget to check out the Parfumerie Nasreen!
Hi Kitty!!!! Lucky duck you get to be in Seattle this time of year! (Go to the “parrot museum” near the Pike Place Market. It’s totally cool.) Yes on Parfumerie Nasreen in the Alexis hotel. I’ve ordered from them over the phone. Someone over there hooked me up with some pre-reformulation Nahema edp a few years ago and saved me a world of heartache. They are very good.
Sheesh – I don’t think I could ever get beyond the name and the label – which just shows I’m a lot shallower than I ever knew!
Not that I would have made it to the perfume with that Monica de Castiglioni jewelry in the house. The one really good thing about my perfume habit is that it has distracted me from my former jewelry habit, which is a good thing financially, at least. Not to mention, I’m not sure I’ve ever run across any fun jewelry blogs!
Good point! I don’t have a lot of jewelry, but I do love a pretty ring or a nice necklace. Even an expensive bottle of perfume is usually less than a nice piece of jewelry.
Noz, the name has stopped me so far, too. But I’ve heard enough now to want to try this one! Thanks, Angela!
And in my next life, Noz, I think I want to be a jeweler. I will craft beautiful things of precious stones and gold, and there will be jewelry bloggers galore!
That sounds good to me! I’d love to read a good jewelry blog.
Haunani – I do a little beading from time to time, but the sculptural sense that it would take to do the metal work and set stones is way beyond me. Here’s to the next life, new talents and Now Wear This!
I like Fat Electrician but have not gone out of my way for more than my sample. There are so many excellent vetivers around that only really stupendous ones are in line to be added to my collection (the new Mona diOrio is great, and Opus OIls Bootleg fits the “stupendous” qualifier).
I’m going to have to come to Portland.
Please do come! Make sure you look me up.
I think this comment ended up under the wrong comment. Was there a comment somewhere where you hinted at coming to Portland? Or is it too late and I’m hallucinating?
No, you’re good. The company I work for is based in Seattle and they will be dragging me up there for some training at some point. They are also in Portland so I will want to make a side trip – maybe leave from PDX. I’ll definitely look you up, with hopefully some warning.
PORTLAND PERFUMISTA PARTY!!!
It’s a must!
I don’t understand their attitude toward Jasmin et Cigarette, it seems to be the one ELdO scent that most people like. Now Secretions Magnifique — that’s one that some people have a hard time “getting.”
I completely agree!
Hi Rick: I think that a lot of Portland City just went “sans fumeur” and that the idea of smelling like cigarettes might be a bit distasteful in the City of Roses. But I agree – J&C seems like it would be hipster catnip.
It would be VERY risky to have SM in one’s store – if anyone actually sprayed it on you’d have to evacuate!
Yes–that or clean up the upchuck. Ick.
I’m afraid I really don’t like FE
very eagerly sampled it and find it quite unpleasant. It has a very “oily” feel at it, a sort of unpleasant balmy note. Plus, heaps of oppoponax and very little vetiver to speak of… Altogether, I think it does not live up to its own fame, as unfortunately many of the ELDO fragrances. Plus, would you really put a bottle like that on your perfume shelves? Would you? 
Too bad Fat Electrician doesn’t work for you. It almost sounds like you’re daring me to put the bottle on my perfume shelf! Lucky for me, all my perfume is in a closed cabinet out of the light. No one would get to see the Electrician’s buttocks.
Would never dare to dare you
Still, what a picture, really, totally understand those who cannot get past it! All in all, I’m really underwhelmed with ELDO, I think they are good at getting people excited, but at the end of the day, very little to write home about. The parallel with Sycomore is a vast overstatement, though 
however Angeladear, thanks for the brilliant review, such a pleasure to read you!
Sycomore is a hard perfume to beat. I wouldn’t mind a bottle of it someday.
I think, every time I opened that door to spritz on my sophisticated French scents, I would have to smile at that pic. I dunno about an inner child but I’m pretty sure I have an inner toddler!
The bottle itself doesn’t have the Electrician on it–fortunately or unfortunately. It is pretty funny, though. Three cheers for the inner toddler!
This review is wonderful. I’ve not smelled FE yet, but it sounds like I should. I love opoponax too…. My fav “creamy” smokey vetiver is Etro Shaal Nur. It’s good that there’s another shop in PDX carrying niche lines, esp. in that part of town.
Shaal Nur is wonderful. I need a bottle of that one, too!
You know there are good electricians and the dead ones ;-).
I haven’t tried that one yet but I’ve tried Like This and liked it. It’s
very neutral and wearable especially for the office. I think I’ve also tried Putain des Palaces but can’t quite remember what my opinion was on that. It seems nothing special.
I’d never heard that quote about electricians! I should have confessed, too, that I have a brother who’s a (skinny) electrician.
Putain is one I haven’t tried yet.
I had a boyfriend who was also skinny electrician. Still alive I think.
But man can never now someday he could also become one of the fat electricians;-))).
So true. A skinny electrician can always end up a fat one.