Rochas Femme (new) (1989)
by Rochas

It saddens me to learn that people are selling bad bottles and decants of reformulated Rochas FEMME. My own bottle (acquired at some point during the late twentieth century) contains a delightful fruity chypre with just enough spice to make it truly unique. Although I am quite sensitive to cumin and find many cumin-heavy niche perfumes completely unwearable, the drydown of Rochas FEMME is simply a dream, with the texture and depth characteristic of all good chypres.

I agree with awesomeness (in a comment to one of my blog posts) that Olivier Crisp's FEMME is leaps and bounds better than reformulated MITSOUKO. In the case of MITSOUKO, the reformulation itself is at fault. Not so in the case of FEMME. Those who believe on the basis of an e-bay acquired sample or bottle (or a decanted vial from the same...) that this composition is "vile" have obviously sniffed a very different liquid than what is found inside my beautiful bottle of FEMME.

The inference made by one reviewer to the effect that the "vile" quality of FEMME accounts for the fact that bottles can be had for $8 at e-bay completely misconstrues the order of explanation, it seems to me. In a recent post in the threads here at Basenotes, a member un-self-consciously reported that she was preparing to put up for sale on e-bay a bottle of perfume which she herself believed to have gone bad. In the case of FEMME, I think that the evidence is overwhelming that, if this perfume is not properly cared for, it will spoil, and that is why there are so many bad bottles being fobbed off for $8 to people chump enough to think that they're getting a good deal.

Newsflash: that's what people do. They put their sour perfume (and other junk) up for sale on e-bay and hope that some dumb sucker will buy it. Some of the buyers, not knowing any better, simply assume that the fault lies with the perfumer, not with those who handled the perfume over the years since it was produced. CAVEAT EMPTOR!!!

End of apology and mini-rant.

3rd November, 2011.

Oh, poor Femme Rochas. It's much maligned for being reformulated in 1989, and it's under-appreciated for being wearable in 2011.

This reformulated Femme strikes me as a nice balance between older style fruity chypres and more modern ones. It's also knock-down, drag-out, 10-times better than the reformulated Mitsouko which sells for twice the price at discounters - $30 for 100ml Femme, $50 for 75m Mitsouko.

I appreciate Femme for what it is, and I could careless what it was. It's beautiful, it's wearable, it's comfortable, it's gorgeous.

28th July, 2011.

Am very new to all this and purchased this from a catalog (a blind buy, perhaps unwise as I'm beginning to learn) believing it was the original. Evidently not. In any case, a tad offensive when first applied but better throughout the day. I haven't learned to distinguish one note from another yet so can't comment more extensively. I won't purchase like this again! I suppose we "live and learn" in this new fascination/obsession.

7th June, 2011.

Dark and Indolic Femme reflects the austere and well
tailored elegance of wartime fashion of the early
1940's of boxed shoulders and wasp waists mannish
and yet feminine rochas must have been a milestone
during it's release in 1943 a scent that is'nt frivilous nor girlish it was simple and yet sophistocated a perfume that conjours the rationed
mentality of wartime,

Femme demands but doe'snt
scream like Cinnabar,Spellbound,Opium,Ciara,or Obsession it slowly draws you in like a spider waits for it's pray or a cat that slowly stalks to get
his prize, The opening starts off sweet with the note of Peach then dries of a deep and juicy scent of plum. Cinnamon brings the heat and the fire of Femme with delectable nuances Bright slices of Bergamot
and lemon turns this fragrance to a zesty drydown,
As this scent dries to the heart of Rochas it turns
woodsy and grounded begining with Rosemary and powdery Red cartnation Iris seems to have a subtle
effect usually giving a cool crisp scent but there is no edvidence of that, The note of Jasmine with it's nocturnal Elegance to the senses Greenish and semi-sweet cloves finishes the middle.

The Base note drydown is my favorite a sexy mix of
Leather Civet and a tinge of Tobacco, Picturing
Marlene Dietrich in a skin tight black leather
low cut gown in a moving train in the first class
compartment seducing all the powerful men with
smoke blowing from her glossy red lips from a cigarette from her black Leather Gloves.

Femme is Fire beneth an icy exterior

11th February, 2011.

Femme starts out tart, acidic lemon. Next comes a nondescript floral scent followed by leather. I can see that this has suffered through the new regs. If not for Serge Lutens and the Chanel Exclusifs, I would fear that we will all smell like cheap lemon leather! My favorite leather remains Cuir de Lancome, a beauty that was never popular and probably is now out of production. Sad.

16th October, 2010.

OMG...bear in mind this review is by me, a woman who LOVES Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur.

This perfume Rochas Femme literally made me ill after applying it. Maybe I just had a bad (understated) reaction to it but I have never smelled anything as rancid as this that is labeled "perfume." To me, the smell is just vulgar and vile!

I first applied this scent after showering and settling in for the night. After experiencing the opening notes, I knew I was in trouble. Harsh, sharp, visceral, pungent, worse than wet earth with Lord knows what buried below...did I mention lingering?

After becoming nauseous with a headache last night, I finally managed to sleep. Woke up today and the smells are still present! Needless to say, I've spent the bulk of my day doing load after load of laundry-bedding, clothing, a sweatshirt I wore last night (cannot seem to get the scent out), pajamas, towels in bathroom, etc, etc. The smell is EVERYWHERE! I actually think it is ALSO stuck in my nose and throat.

Awful...cannot imagine anyone wearing this stuff. It is granny perfume to the 10th degree. YUCK! No wonder there is tons of it available on eBay for $8 a bottle.

This stuff is vile :0(

20th April, 2010. (Last Edited: 1st November, 2011.)