Scoundrel
Revlon Scoundrel is a sharp, mossy floral chypre from 1980. It features a biting opening of aldehydes, mint, and wormwood, leading into a dense floral center of tuberose and hyacinth. With a grounding base of oakmoss and cedar, it remains a distinct, high-personality scent for those who enjoy the power and complexity of vintage drugstore classics.
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Performance Metrics
190 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Longevity is strong, typically lasting six to nine hours. Projection is robust, reaching an arm's length for several hours after application. It thrives in cold, dry climates and performs best during the autumn and winter months, as warmer weather can turn the mossy base slightly cloying.
Notes Pyramid
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Scoundrel is a sharp, dry, and mossy floral chypre. It features strong top notes of aldehydes and bitter artemisia, a soapy, complex heart of tuberose, hyacinth, and mimosa, and a deep, woody base dominated by oakmoss and cedar. The overall texture is bone-dry and slightly powdery, providing a crisp, mature, and undeniably retro feeling on the skin.
Main Accords
10 MAPPEDThe dominant aromatic and floral accords create a powerful, soapy tension. The dryness of the oakmoss and artemisia constantly battles the lush, slightly powdery tuberose. This interaction results in a scent that moves from a sharp, green, and biting state to a deep, earthy, and resinous finish that remains incredibly professional.
Community Data
171 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
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It looks easiest to wear in winter and fall. The vote picture leans most toward night.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Offers a unique, bold, and distinct scent identity
Impressive longevity reaching up to nine hours
Excellent performance in cold, winter weather
Fits well with a professional and mature style
Rare, complex chypre profile that stands out
Strong sillage perfect for bold statement making
Sophisticated and clean soapy dry-down
Great for fans of vintage 80s perfumery
Not sweet, offering a break from current trends
Robust character that remains noticeable all day
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Potentially polarizing and aggressive opening
Not suited for warm, humid summer days
Can feel dated or old-fashioned to some noses
Requires careful, light application for office wear
Vintage bottles may carry a risk of spoilage
Not a crowd-pleaser for those who love sugar
Sharp green notes can be too biting for some
Difficult to wear for casual, relaxed settings
Strong projection can be overwhelming for others
Lacks the airy, modern feel of current releases
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Revlon Scoundrel: A Potent Time Capsule from the 1980s”
Scoundrel hits the skin with an aggressive, unapologetic blast of aldehydes, mint, and artemisia. It is bitter, sharp, and unmistakably green. There is no gentle introduction here. This is a classic 1980s opening that demands your attention immediately, setting a tone of high-octane sophistication that was typical of the era's powerhouse perfumes. It feels like stepping into a cold room full of hairspray and expensive silk.
As the sharp top notes fade, a dense, soapy heart of tuberose, hyacinth, and mimosa emerges. It is not the modern, creamy, and sweet tuberose found in today's designer scents. Instead, it is a dry, floral, and slightly powdery affair that feels grounded and mature. The inclusion of peach adds a tiny, non-sugary roundness that prevents the florals from becoming too thin, while the marigold provides an earthy, herbal edge that keeps the composition interesting.
The dry-down is where Scoundrel reveals its true chypre nature. The base is heavy on oakmoss, cypress, and cedar, creating an earthy, woody, and resinous texture that lingers on the skin for hours. The raspberry mentioned in the notes is subtle, acting more as a shadow that gives the woodiness a bit of lift rather than a clear fruity note. The entire composition feels like a well-composed, bone-dry, and professional scent.
In terms of performance, this is a strong scent. It projects well within an arm's length, making it noticeable without necessarily filling an entire stadium. Longevity is excellent, easily reaching the seven-hour mark on skin, and it lasts much longer on wool or thick fabrics. It thrives in cool or cold weather. The sharp, bitter, and mossy elements simply cut through freezing air better than anything else.
This is not a fragrance for someone who prefers subtle, skin-scent aesthetics. It is a bold, mature, and slightly dramatic choice. It fits well in corporate environments, provided you exercise restraint with the sprayer. If you enjoy the classic construction of vintage chypres and want a piece of perfume history, this is a fantastic, if challenging, inclusion for your collection.
Ultimately, Scoundrel is a polarizing classic. It is not for the faint of heart or those who equate modern perfumes with gourmand sweetness. If you want a sharp, sophisticated, and mossy scent that captures the big-shoulder-pad aesthetic of the early 1980s, it is worth exploring. Just do not expect it to smell like anything currently on the shelf at your local department store.
FAQs
What does Scoundrel actually smell like?+
Scoundrel is a bone-dry, mossy floral chypre. It opens with a bracing blast of aldehydes and bitter wormwood. The heart brings a dense, soapy bouquet of tuberose and hyacinth, while the base dries down to an earthy blend of oakmoss, cedar, and a touch of raspberry, creating a profile that feels classic, clean, and quite assertive.
How does Scoundrel change from opening to dry-down?+
The opening is a sharp, green, soapy assault that feels very vintage. After twenty minutes, the initial bitterness fades to reveal a lush, rounded floral heart led by tuberose. Eventually, it settles into a quiet, woody, and slightly mossy skin scent, losing its initial projection but remaining detectable for many hours.
Is the longevity of this fragrance good?+
Longevity is quite impressive for a drugstore classic. On most skin types, it lasts six to nine hours easily. Because it leans into a mossy and musky base, it lingers on clothing and skin throughout a standard workday, even if you are moving between indoor and outdoor environments.
Does this fragrance project heavily?+
Yes, Scoundrel has strong, vintage-style projection. It will announce your presence within an arm's length for the first few hours. It is not designed to stay close to the skin like modern minimal scents. Use a light hand in enclosed offices to avoid overwhelming your colleagues.
What season is best for wearing Scoundrel?+
Scoundrel performs best in cooler, crisp weather. The winter months allow the bitter, mossy, and green notes to feel sophisticated rather than cloying. In the heat of summer, the potent tuberose and heavy base may feel a bit overwhelming, so it is safer to save this one for autumn and winter outings.
Is Scoundrel suitable for office wear?+
If you apply it conservatively, it works well as a professional, clean, and soapy scent. In the 1980s, it was a staple office fragrance. Just be mindful that its strong sillage requires moderation. One or two sprays are sufficient to provide a crisp, put-together impression without offending anyone nearby.
Does Scoundrel lean feminine or masculine?+
While marketed to women, the dry, mossy chypre structure is remarkably unisex by today's standards. Many men who enjoy classic herbal and woody perfumes from the 1970s and 1980s find the bitter artemisia and oakmoss notes very wearable and rugged enough for any gender.
Who should buy this fragrance?+
This is for enthusiasts of vintage, high-personality perfumes who enjoy a break from modern sweet fruity-florals. It suits individuals who appreciate complex, soapy, and bone-dry compositions. If you want something that feels like a piece of 1980s history, this is an excellent choice for your collection.
Is this a safe blind buy?+
No. Scoundrel is a polarizing, bold chypre with an aggressive aldehydic opening. It is not the sweet, easy-to-wear scent typical of current market trends. If you are not familiar with classic oakmoss and bitter green floral notes, definitely sample or find a small vintage mini first.
Does this perfume work as a signature scent?+
It can be a signature for someone who wants to project confidence and classic, sharp elegance. Because it is so distinct from modern perfumes, it stands out. However, you must be comfortable with a strong, old-school profile that leans into soapiness and moss rather than sugary sweetness.
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Dupes & Alternatives
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Aromatics Elixir is the most accessible alternative for that bone-dry, mossy chypre experience, while Ivoire de Balmain offers a cleaner, more restrained green approach.
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