The Scent of Freedom

There’s something inherently cool about the West Coast of America! Maybe it’s because of all those cool West Coast road trip movies Hollywood has made over the years. Movies like; Easy Rider, Vanishing Point, Sideways or even Thelma & Louise – which was set elsewhere but filmed in California. They all portray that environment of an eternal coast overlooking an endless sea on one side and a massive empty desert on the other. So, you’re riding an asphalt tightrope between the two worlds, able to be free and independent of their rules but always in danger of falling back into one or the other.

Plus, there is the weather. That perpetual sunshine that mocks our abysmal joke of a summer and allows the characters from any West Coast movie to actually drive a convertible without fear of having it filled with rainwater or even ice!

Coach Open Road

That coolness has now been bottled! Coach Open Road is a brand new fragrance for men that has been inspired by the friendship, adventure and even optimism you experience on any road trip along the American West Coast. And, to help launch it, Coach have worked with renowned director and photographer Fabien Baron, to create a campaign that tells the story of some friends in search of adventure as they take a road trip along America’s picturesque West Coast. But, like all the movies mentioned above, the campaign reminds us that the real beauty of the journey isn’t the destination, but in all the experiences along the way.

The Fragrance

As Coach Open Road has been inspired by the twin themes of friendship and adventure, and all those feelings of spontaneity, optimism and endless possibility both evoke. Perfumer Jean-Christophe Hérault wanted to capture all the excitement of driving down the West Coast in search of adventure in one go and achieved it by creating a dynamic scent that unfolds scenically over time.

He achieved it with the Coach Open Road eau de toilette opening with crisp, refreshing top notes of juicy red apple and sparkling lemon Primofiore, reminiscent of the winds of adventure. These notes are accentuated by an energizing dose of spicy Sichuan pepper, followed by a vibrant blend of lavender and clary sage, which help to transport us to places far from our humdrum daily grind. Finally, the fragrance dries down to a contemporary duo of patchouli, vetiver and the woody softness of cedarwood, a tribute to the landscapes we cross to reach our next destination. 

The Packaging

The Open Road bottle is crafted of transparent glass, while the fragrance itself has a grey-blue shade reminiscent of the coastal horizon. It is finished with a gunmetal cap inspired by the house’s iconic turnlock hardware, with an engraved “C” on the bottom, a detail that nods to Coach’s Signature. 

Featuring Coach’s iconic Horse and Carriage logo printed in gunmetal effect, the elegant box is finished with a subtle leather texture—a reference to the house’s heritage in leathercraft. If you can’t get over to experience the inherent cool of the American West Coast for yourself, get it bottled from Farmers, Life Pharmacy and department stores nationwide.