Au Coeur Du Desert

Au Coeur Du Desert, inspired by Tauer Perfumes Au Coeur du Désert (2016)

Au Coeur du Désert opens with coriander and cumin, a dry, almost dusty spice, lifted a little by petitgrain and citrus. Cistus follows: it is the resin of the rockrose shrub, and it smells balsamic and faintly leathery. Jasmine sits inside the resin rather than on top of it, so the heart never turns obviously floral. Tauer sums up the base as woody amber with aged patchouli and ambergris, and it stays dense and dry with only modest sweetness.

About the original

Andy Tauer, who makes his perfumes by hand in Switzerland, released Au Coeur du Désert as an extrait, with 2016 usually given as the launch year. It revisits the world of his No 02 L'Air du Désert Marocain from 2005, taking the desert theme into a denser, darker register. The two are separate products, as is L'Air du Désert Marocain NOIR elixir. Au Coeur du Désert is still listed in the Tauer range.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Tauer Perfumes stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Cumin is the make-or-break note. Some find it sensual, others read it as sweaty, and it is clear in the first phase. Past that point it rewards a taste for dry resins and patchouli with little sugar.

Related scents

• Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan
• The Merchant of Venice Arabesque

Notes of the original fragrance, as published by the brand.

Top notes: Coriander, Cumin, Petitgrain, Citrus

Heart notes: Cistus, Jasmine

Base notes: Patchouli, Cedarwood, Vetiver, Ambergris

Coriander and cumin set a dry, spiced tone from the start, with petitgrain and a citrus note adding a touch of brightness.

Cistus and jasmine form the heart, resinous and slightly leathery with a floral thread running through.

Patchouli, cedarwood and vetiver make up the base alongside ambergris, which lends a salty, mineral glow to the woods.

How is it different from L'Air du Désert Marocain?

Au Coeur du Désert is Tauer's extrait reinterpretation of that 2005 scent, with aged patchouli, cistus and ambergris giving it a denser, darker character. This page is based on Au Coeur du Désert.

Does it smell of cumin?

Yes. Cumin is listed in the opening alongside coriander and gives a dry, spicy edge before the resins and woods come through.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. In the EU you can also choose FedEx Express for €14.99. To the UK, Switzerland, Norway, the US and Canada, delivery is €5.99. To all other countries, it is €9.99. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Tauer Perfumes and Au Coeur du Désert are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Tauer Perfumes in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.