American fashion house Coach drew upon the timeless spirit of friendship and adventure when crafting its latest men’s fragrance. Dubbed Open Road, the scent takes direct inspiration from road tripping along America’s beautiful West Coast, which is a drive we’ve taken ourselves and yet find hard to adequately describe, due to the epic nature of the landscape that unfolds around you. Running adjacent to the mighty Pacific Ocean, the drive traverses a variety of jaw-dropping terrains, from the beaches of San Diego and the majestic mountains of Big Sur to the staggering redwood forests… and that’s just California. Any attempt to recapture this journey through fragrance was always going to galvanise the senses.
In tandem with the release, Coach re-teamed with director and photographer Fabien Baron to create a “cinematic snapshot of friendship.” Following a trio of mates to the very places evoked by the fragrance, Baron’s work shows how the sweeping views of the West Coast create a sense of inescapable optimism. You can practically feel the sea breeze as the friends huddle near the gorgeous Pacific Ocean before hitting the open road (hence the fragrance’s name). At the root of all this is the idea that the real value of any journey isn’t found in reaching one’s destination, but through the shared experiences we encounter along the way.
Image: Coach Open Road Fragrance
The Fragrance
Taking friendship and adventure as its foundation, Coach’s new eau de toilette is meticulously crafted, delivering refreshing top notes of juicy red apple and sparkling lemon Primofiore to cultivate the olfactory aura of crisp ocean winds. Reinforcing accents of spicy Sichuan pepper are followed by a lively blend of lavender and clary sage, which transport the senses to the open expanse of the West Coast. The fragrance dries down in bold contemporary fashion with the one-two punch of patchouli and vetiver, whilst a soft underbelly of cedarwood will help you to warmly recall cherished memories spent with friends in the great outdoors. From the first hint to the last, Open Road will have you feeling ready to gather your closest mates and embark on a journey none of you will ever forget.
Image: Coach Open Road Fragrance
The Inspiration
When travelling along America’s West Coast, it’s difficult not to find inspiration at every turn. As mentioned above, we’ve taken this trip for ourselves and the scope is astounding. With the vast ocean on one side and endless stretches of forests and mountains on the other, there’s no better place to connect with close friends through shared experiences.
It was with this in mind that Perfumer Jean-Christophe Hérault crafted Open Road. In the same way that the coastline unfolds before you, presenting one scenic backdrop after another, Coach’s eau de toilette unravels in aromatic layers, telling a story of its very own. And Baron’s work – a palpable mix of energy and nostalgia – captures this dynamic whilst evoking a welcome sense of optimism and endless possibility.
Coach Open Road | Image: Coach
So whether you feel the call of America’s West Coast or choose to embark on an ocean drive that’s a little closer to home, don’t be surprised if Coach’s Open Road fragrance motivates you to gather your friends for a once-in-a-lifetime road trip of your very own. It’s available both in-store and online through retailers such as Myer and David Jones.
