Bigarade Concentrée
by Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle

Jean Claude Ellena is obviously master of the orange citrus scents. But this one just smells like overpowering body odor, even worse than Terre d'Hermes Pure Parfum (which is already too much like BO to me). I realize Luca Turin loves this stuff, but I think it's rank.

8th November, 2011.

Definitely similar to Declaration, and I dislike it for the same reason as I dislike that Ellena scent... the cumin/BO note. This one has a bitter orange at the forefront that smells nice, but the cumin undertone ruins it for me. In Declaration, the BO note is more prominent, and as such makes me dislike that one even more than this, but it still is "visible" enough to make this a tough one to tolerate for me, and folks in relatively near proximity. Very linear in nature as most JC Ellena scents are (not a bad thing in my book), but when the scent is rotten from the start, that does not help. I'll swim against the tide and recommend a pass on this one.

27th July, 2011.

This is a wildly unique, fresh, mature summer scent. I wore this today and the whole time I kept thinking two things. The first was that I smelled weird, but this thought was immediately followed with, "BUT DAMN DELICIOUS!" The most obvious and dominant component of this scent is the citrus, but it's the citrus's companions that have made this truly noteworthy. I'm not sure what else is going on here, but I think it's mint, cumin, and cedar. I really cant tell what the deal is, but it really works, and the effect is very unique. And this genre of "summery fresh" REALLY needs this type of brilliant originality, as just about everything out there seems to be interchangeable, which isn't exactly a bad thing, but it is what it is.

"So is there a downside?" you may find yourself wondering. Well, it's that classic issue of longevity. Sometimes, the very thing that makes a fragrance smell so good is also the reason it doesn't last. I wouldn't expect more than four hours out of this on a good day.

13rd July, 2011.

I'm usually not into citrus fragrances but This one is a standout. The opening is absolutely amazing with a "desweetened-candied" orange note that is one of the best around joined in a while by a moderate rose note reinforcing the scent and giving it some complexity and depth. The drydown is quite austere and woody but still very comfortable.

Bigarade Concentrè is one of the few perfumes in which I can stand the Rose note. it's functional, kind of an orange adjuvant and never dominating or overwhelming.

BC has all the JC Ellena hallmarks and for a few aspects it made me think of an expensive and precious prototype of Terre. Marvellous.

31st March, 2011. (Last Edited: 4th April, 2011.)

I think this is a superb fragrance, some speak of its lack of longevity and projection, i actually dont mind that it doesnt project as some would like, as a skin scent this is beautiful, i get little whiffs of it every now and again of that bitter orange.... just gorgeous, this will be my signature summer scent for a long time.

31st March, 2011.

Very realistic bitter orange (or in Asia preserved and salted orange/kum kwats).

It only projects 2 hours on me a;though it will last more than 8 hours (when I shower I can easily smell it). [4 spray]

As such this probably will only be smelt in hot weather, only a summer fragrance....

PV of 12.5% makes this and EDP. If this is the case, it is one of the weakest EDP I have come across.

I like this more than Terre d'Hermes because it is more distinctive in what it does. (Terre is quite weather neural, all season). Some put this head to head with Millesime Imperial for summer but I prefer this because of its uniqueness.

A very good summer casual scent.

30th March, 2011.