Reviews of French Lover / Bois d'Orage (2007)
by Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle

The words that come to mind with Bois d'Orage are: harsh and off-putting. On the political side: it's radically anti-establishment. This is a fragrance for Camus or Satre. "If you don't like what I am wearing, well what is that to me, eh? You do not understand." It is the polar opposite of Blenheim Bouquet, which can also be off putting (at first), and has been described, correctly, I think, as aristocratic. "My fragrance? Well, I am not entirely sure, madam, whether I am actually wearing a fragrance. Perhaps you are mistaken?" While I truly prefer unabashedly masculine fragrances, and despise some so-called "men's fragrances" that are too floral or too sweet, this is at the other extreme. It could use a dash of something nice in it. All in all, not a fragrance I could warm up. I guess I am not a radical enough to understand.