Ma Liberté (1987)
by Jean Patou

MA LIBERTE, the freedom of wild nature. There's nothing like this, has never been, will never be!! "MA LIBERTE" is the free (and most of all UNTAMED) nordic nature. Bottled Wilderness.Mysterious with capital "M" spring-herbals. Cloves and wildroses burst like spring in the topnotes. The heart of a mystical lavander woodsy cinnamon cedar & sandalwoods. This scent is taken out of the most northern Nordic WHITE MOSS WILDERNESS!!!! A sauna in the deepest woods of Finland. The one & only true scent of real freedom! Heated herbs, and burning fresh spring Björk(Birch)-wood with it's spring-buds thrown on the saunas hot stones. The scent of this exact STEAM !!!! This is freedom. Clearest sweetwater fjordes of Norway, the pulsating magical hot springs of Iceland. And the crisp spring-air & Waters, combined earth, the ground-soil of the cleanest nature of Sweden. A saga - more than a fragrance. Ancient and close-to-heart. This is one of my signature scents. Like an older, wise ancestor to Guerlain's "Jicky" edp. "MA LIBERTE'S" bolder & deeper. MYSTIC !!With added dark vetiver and white moss. THE leader through the whole scent, lavender from bright innocent jasmin-rosebuds-lavender top - down to "Ma liberte's" woodsy earthy lavender-base.

10th May, 2011.

It is a true shame that Patou has discontinued several of its finest fragrances over the past decade or so. Ma Liberte is a lavender centric floral/oriental with aromatic fougere elements. Ma Liberte is much in line with the style and quality of the much vaunted masculine lavender fougere Patou pour homme Prive. Ma Liberte opens with a citric-lavender blast followed by a seamless floral heart with light spices and a slightly powdery base that prolongs the floral and lavender components. Both the EdT and EdP versions are very light and conservative. The same dry smoky vetiver-patchouli accord present in Prive. I am convinced Ma Liberte is the chassis on which Prive was built. Ma Liberte represents a simpler time in perfumery.

Notes: Lemon, Heliotrope
Lavender, Jasmine, Rose, Clove
Patchouli, Nutmeg, Sandalwood, Cinnamon, Musk, Vanilla, Tonka, Vetiver, Cedar

25th March, 2011.

I bought and fell in love with this perfume when it was first launched Wish I could purchase it now. Have tried others but nothing compares. Too long ago to remember the individual fragrances. Whatever they were, were peerfect for me

5th January, 2010.

Patou Ma Liberte

I grew up in South Florida and used to regularly ride my bike down to South Beach as a young child in the 70's. During that time the Art Deco buildings were crumbling and you could see the remaining glory in what was, as it was all falling apart. Why am I starting a perfume review with a reminiscence on Art Deco? Jean Patou as a House reminds me of that decaying neglected Art Deco South Beach of my youth. Patou has made so many amazing scents beyond Joy you just want someone to pick up this House and turn it into the perfume version of South Beach today and make it relevant again. The last good new release from Patou was 1987's Ma Liberte designed by Jean Kerleo. Ma Liberte is an example of what I think is an excellent unisex scent. At the top there is a livley heliotrope which is cut by citrus. This leads to a heart that starts with lavender and is joined by jasmine and light spices. There are hints of clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon all throughout this stage. The base is a pitch perfect balance of earthy patchouli, creamy sandalwood and clean cedar. Ma Liberte shows that Patou given over to the right hands could be as relevant and as adored as any House out there. South Beach turned around on the twin influences of fashion photographers shooting haute couture against the decaying deco and Miami Vice. I don't know what it will take to save Patou but Ma Liberte makes me wish very hard for it to happen.

23rd May, 2009.

Really??? I'm the first to review this incredible perfume from Patou?
In a word, seduction. I was first introduced to the house of Patou with the very gorgeous and different 1000. I was hooked.
Monsieur Patou, where had he been all my life? I moved on to Joy (heaven), Sira Des Indes (sweet gourmandy escape).
I searched for his collection and got Adieu Sagesse (spicy warm) and Divine Folie (dark rose floral).
Ma Liberte is the latest but not the last. This is so warm and smooth! This is such a contradiction but a man can easily wear this.
the notes that I get the most out of this are the lavender, musk and cedar. the drydown is a powdery wood. oh, of course the clove is there too. but a touch, like a soft baby breath.
maybe this is crazy but this reminds me of a bare bones/non synthetic obsession after shave scent.
i have the edt and the lasting power is amazing. this really turns into a skin scent, so be careful who you wear this around.
if i could give this 10 thumbs up, i would

28th April, 2009.