Lonesome Rider, the latest from Tauer Perfumes, reportedly "builds on" Orris, a limited edition Tauer fragrance from way back in 2006. That's great news for those of you who have mourned the loss of Orris, but sadly, I am not among your number. I did not love Orris, and it's too long ago now for me to tell you just why. I just didn't love it. The description for Lonesome Rider, though, also references Lonestar Memories, a fiercely evocative fragrance that Kevin aptly said "conjures the open range, charred kindling, raw leather, and the aromas of crushed resinous brush underfoot." I'll repeat part of Andy Tauer's explanation of what he wanted to do with Lonesome Rider:
...orris followed my Lonestar Memories scent that captures elements of untrimmed leather, campfire and the scent of wild pastures. A smoky leather note is what I wanted to see in Lonesome Rider, too. To me, this feels like going back to the source. I want the Lonesome Rider to stand out of the crowd. Thus, there’s an element of rough texture that I love so much. The smoke note is civilized, the leather warm and feels like a worn leather jacket.
So, how does that all work out? Very nicely, for me, at least. Lonesome Rider opens on peppery-spicy citrus (orange and grapefruit?), crisp and dry, over a mild leather backdrop, with just enough clove that for a few seconds, as vague floral notes join in, you half expect a carnation to come along. Instead the leather gets deeper and more buttery, and the woody notes more obvious, and iris takes on just enough weight to smooth everything over. There are hints of smoke, but they're mild, and there are likewise mild animalic notes (castoreum, says Andy Tauer) and at times, a brief hint of charred rubber.
Lonesome Rider is mostly dry, but it's not as dry or outdoorsy as Lonestar Memories, and while it does have the rough texture and smoke Tauer said he wanted, everything is comparatively civilized here, not just the smoke note — it smells like sandalwood more than charred kindling. Of the two, Lonesome Rider is probably easier to wear. Lonestar Memories reminds me of being outdoors in the semi-arid north of New Mexico, in late summer or early fall when the evenings are cooling off and the smell of distant woodsmoke cuts the chill. Lonesome Rider, despite the name, takes me indoors — picture, maybe, the rustic interior of an old wood cabin, with well-worn leather furniture and an ancient iron woodstove. Like Lonestar Memories, Lonesome Rider is a scent memory as much as anything, and it doesn't easily fit into any of my usual fragrance categories.
Verdict: Fantastic. If it were sold in small sizes, it would be on my buy list already. I will have to hope that it will eventually be a selection for the Explorer sets. A trio of Lonesome Rider, Lonestar Memories and Incense extrême (or Incense Flash) would be the perfect set-up for a long winter spent dreaming about summer evenings in New Mexico. Via a Swiss perfumer — it's a weird but wonderful world.
Tauer Perfumes Lonesome Rider is $135 for 50 ml, with a special pre-sale price (through 2/15/2016, so if you're interested, hurry!) of $75. It is being sold on a dedicated website, where you can also set your own price for samples ($4 US for shipping).
Note: top image is Cowboy Boots [cropped] by Geoff Livingston at flickr; some rights reserved.
You’ve made me very, very happy with this review. I blind bought a bottle, and hope I get what you are getting when it finally arrives. Just got back from New Mexico/Arizona on Sunday, and I loved the smell of Santa Fe, with all those wood fires going, so I hope this reminds me of that.
Oh, I hope you love it! If you don’t, I think it will be easy to swap. Did you like Lonestar Memories?
I love Lonestar Memories, but sometimes find it wears a bit thick.
It is not something I’d wear every day.
Hmmm. Sounds promising as long as the Tauerade isn’t too strong.
Now if Andy can bring back Dark Passage, I’d be pre-ordering in a heartbeat. 🙂 Love that one!
I am immune to Tauerade so you will have to tell me 🙂
Just got my sample of this yesterday and can’t wait to try it (after my 5-star Chamade is done for the day)! Sounds like a winner. I love Lonestar Memories but could definitely see a place in my heart for something related-but-smoother.
Enjoy the Chamade while it lasts!
thanks for the lovely review, Robin!
Thank you for reading!
You nailed it, Robin (as you typically do ;))
The peppery-spicy-citrus into a buttery leather is how I experience it. I received a sample yesterday and have been enjoying it since. It’s not too strong at all (Absolute Scentualist) but it’s staying power is rather good. I can still smell the remnants of about 4 (light) sprays from this morning although its been a skin scent from the start. I’ve not detected the charred rubber but I’m just fine without it!
The rubber did not appear on every wearing, for me, but I did get a few bits of it here and there, randomly. I like a bit of rubber / plastic doll head, so not a problem!
Oh, but do you love it?
Not sure if it’s love yet, too soon to say, but I like it very much and it’s a good addition to what I already have. I can see wearing this year round, too, which is another plus.
Thanks!
4 sprays! Wow, you are brave! I sprayed once, and one of the base materials on me stuck around for 48 hours! It was a good one, but it had crazy staying power on me.
I adore (though I don’t have) Lonestar Memories. Strangely I remember thinking it was slightly on the sweet side, in the sense of that sweet barbecue-like note. Also, very balsamic. I remember thinking that, but no longer remember the smell very clearly. Robin, of the two, which do you prefer? Or is that an impossible question?
I think I prefer Lonestar Memories — it so strongly reminds me of a time and place — but I’d probably wear Lonesome Rider more often.
I found Lonestar Memories unbearably, acridly smoky. I’ll give this a cautious try. I love Andy Tauer, but the brand is very very hit or miss for me.
I still have a sample of Orris. To me, it smells very nearly like SL Iris Silver Mist with a drop or two of Tauer’s L’Air du Desert Marocain. (I actually did try to approximate it that way.) If it hadn’t already been discontinued, I might have bought some, but it’s not one of the missed opportunities that drives me crazy (please don’t mention Gobin Daude in my presence). I have ISM and L’AdDM, so I’m happy.
Oh, you mentioned Gobin Daude… I have a few drops of Biche Dans l’Absinthe somewhere, will have to locate it.
I have a fair amount of that one and a little Sous le Buis, but never even sampled any of the others. I remember Robin particularly liked Seve Exquise. The tantalizing brilliance of the two (rather weird) ones that I have smelled makes me kick myself regularly for not having tested the others when they were still available.
It was partly because they were so expensive (at the time) and partly because I did not like the labels, or perhaps the combination thereof. I suppose that experience should have served as a stern lesson not to judge the book by the cover, but it only turned me into someone who obsessively spends hundreds of dollars on samples rather than a better person. 😉
I love Seve Exquise and Sous Le Buis and bought both when they went under. As a whole, that brand was massively more interesting than SO SO many niche brands that have come after, and endured. Darned shame.
Gobin Daude, ack. Yes.
This one is less smoky for sure.
I love it, will probably buy a full bottle. I’ve worn it the last two days and I’m starting to see it as a modern version of Knize Ten. The leather/floral/spice mix with some smoky woods, the way it softens throughout the day. It’s less warm than Ten, but more transparent.
Interesting!
Between the review, the glowing things I’ve been hearing, and the generosity of the name your own price sample, I gave in and ordered one. Pricey, but I like the idea.
I hope Andy Tauer will post how the “name your own price’ thing went. It seems to go so well in so many other fields (music, for example).
He said on his blog that it has gone well, except for one ridiculous request that he denied.
Good to know, thanks so much!
Thank you for a great review, Robin! Really looking forward to trying this one. I admire Andy Tauer both as a perfumer and as a person, and it always makes me happy to see that his creations are getting positive reviews (even if I end up not liking the perfume in question). I also have to say it’s especially nice to read this review at the end of the week that brought some unpleasant news about some of the “big guns”. I guess it helps to see where the great perfumery is to be found these days.
He has built up a lot of goodwill over the years, and there aren’t that many niche brands that have managed that.
I love most of Andy Tauer’s fragrances, and I think he is so personable and cares about his customers. No matter that he has gotten a large following now among the perfumistas…he still remains the same easy to reach kind of guy.
I pre-ordered a bottle and can’t wait for it to arrive. Thank you so much for the review, I am betting this will be a winner for me as I love the notes and your description of how they wear.
Hope you will love it!
My samples arrived yesterday and I love it!! Great review, Robin and spot on with the softness of the leather. On me, I get a nice ride out of the floral notes, which I love against the leather and Tauerade. Just continues my love affair with Andy’s scents.
Oh good, so glad you love it!
Late again, but I just have to say it sounds lovely. I love leathery smoke and smoky leather!
Worth a try then!
Trying out my sample today, and I really, really like it. Like Nozknoz, I was kind of wincing in anticipation of an acrid smoke note (Incense Flash, you cut me with knives…), but Lonesome Rider is buttery smooth and the smoke is aromatic rather than harsh, and the drydown is GORGEOUS, with a whiff of that roses-dipped-in-rose-syrup effect that I love so much in some of his other perfumes. Definitely would spring for a small bottle as part of an explorer set, and am awfully tempted even by a full-size one…
The price is so good (until tomorrow!) that a full bottle is tempting.
Love your take on this, Robin! Thanks!!
Good 🙂
Just got my sample, and I am loving it. Especially when I went outdoors for lunch and the effect outside was wonderful. While I find Lonestar Memories a little too smoky and resinous (sticky, almost), Lonesome Rider is what you would smell like after a tumble in the hay and a shower with an iris soap. It’s clean, comfortable, classy, but not fussy. A handsome cowboy in fresh jeans and a leather jacket. Very nice, and bottle-worthy.