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

French Lover is a woody-incense fragrance that I swear has been done before. However, I do agree it's a high-quality creation that's worth considering.

nthny nailed it! Green ..Resinous ..Dark. Yes ,it could be a relative of Yatagan..

a really laid back relative..someone who has secrets to hide but can't...There's

a dirty ,I mean Earth dirty side to this fragrance..truly erotic.

I've only tried a decant but,this one is a definite..Gimme.

Wow! this is the first lame FM scent, no attitude, no sillage, 7% concentration. I don't get it. It doesn't smell niche to me. don't waste your money.

Update- Spoke to Frederic Malle last week about this scent, and the disappointment with the sillage, and dry down........I LOVE IT WHEN I"M RIGHT!!! he did say that he adjusted the concentration to it's original strengh 9%. to make it stronger, he also adjusted the formula.....right from the horse's mouth! P-natra however, that sweet basenote that comes in at the end, does not fit the opening or heart of the composition, and while it lasts, it stays too close to the skin thus, Skinscent. I still think that it's a failed fragrance. if you want to spend 200. on a skinscent with lame projection..this one for you.
THUMBS WAY DOWN!! however, tried Escentric02 last week as well. Now this engine purrs stays dry to the end, and has a stronger TONIC effect for almost half the price.

I've given French Lover a lot of thought, I've tried to understand why this final product was chosen by Frederic Malle to be included in his collection. With the Malle line, as well as with Comme des Garcons, Parfum d'Empire, and others, I like to read what about the design concept and understand the intent. In the case of French Lover, learning that the collaborators wanted to create the odor of a man, something clicked. There's that man odor that sometimes smells cumin like, there's that clean, salty odor, and then there's that green, just rolled in the grass outdoors odor, and French Lover exemplifies the latter to me.

It opens, and IMMEDIATELY I'm reminded of a seaweed salad complete with the sesame seed oil on top. There's something resinous and woody buried in the background, but I must say, this is ALL about plants and herbs and the word vegetal is SO fitting here! All of that with a woody GROWL, an incense grumble. Suddenly you smell it, the vetiver... that sour but addictive scent. This is GREEEEEN but a dark green, resinous green, harsh, and maybe a little dank (patchouli and moss). I think this is so oddly received because we expect something that smells manly, maybe something along the lines of Tom Ford for Men (and/or Extreme), but we get this big dry but moist dark green vegetal creature. Now, if this is hard to digest, just imagine how this might smell to someone who doesn't know you're wearing a fragrance... you pass by and waft this ultra natural earthy vegetal scent combined with your own odor. THAT is sexy. Hence: French Lover :)