Outrageous! (2007)
by Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle

The name of this is Outrageous? Why? Possibly because of the price. It smelled like a nice generic citrus (like lemon) cologne, with some other nice spice notes, but I just kept waiting for the Oitrageous to kick in...maybe that comes when you get to the cash register. You can skip this, unless you love the bottle or something.

5th July, 2011.

I like it, however, after trying it some thoughts come to mind:

1. It is a spice bomb, or at least, it opens as such. Immediately after application I am being reminded of Xeryus, Jaguar, Jacomo, R&G Open, One Man Show, which, BTW, they all have been released during the 1970s and the 1980's. Thus, rather than a classic, we might be in front of a fashion victim.

2. It feels like an aromatic fougere, the aromatics are so evident in the top notes that one can hardly think of it as something else. But...

3. The dry-down reminded me Montana Parfum D'Home (Red). If you look into the pyramid, you will realise they both share leather in their base notes.

4. OK, so this is an aromatic leather? Well, it does have oakmoss, but this is overran by the leather. Bold as many aromatics? Yes, indeed. Now, it is worth it if you have enough patience for its mid and base notes, provided you are used to those of what nowadays can be regarded as "classics" scents. Not a fashion victim in this sense, rather partially old school, the adjective being used for, if looking for these, there are better options (Tiffany, Chanel Pour Monsieur Concentree, Dunhill 1834, etc.).

Now, if looking for fragrances at odds with olfactive anorexia, this might be your cup of tea - which is mine, and the reason I gave it a thumbs up.

11th March, 2011.

I love Frederic Malle's concept of creating fragrances, but sadly, I really don't like this one. It starts citrusy and woody, more masculine than fem in my opinion. It's a punch of aldehyde. It's now 40 min and I have a headache. It's warmed on my skin...less citrus, but still masculine woody. It's ok, but not nearly as interesting as the other Malle's. If I walked past someone wearing this scent, especially a man, I would think they smelled nice. Possibly a chemistry thing.

16th October, 2010.

Consider the high-pitched frequency emitted by a television when it's on and how it hovers at the threshold of the audible. Outrageous! is the olfactory equivalent of this sensation. It has a thin, miserly character that clings to the skin and requires prising away with strained inhalation; that effort returns notes of vetiver, spiced apples and cedar, with a delicate fringe of jasmine and a minty sheen to the whole thing. But it quickly sheds these more natural notes and persists as an ozonic, unrepentantly synthetic, colourless aura. What I'm reminded of by Outrageous! are the fumes that are forcibly extracted from a gym – that confusion of shower gels and chlorinated chacuzzis. Bearing in mind White Linen and 100% Love, I think there's a case for describing Grojsman as the high priestess of intentional trashiness. Is Outrageous! intriguing by doing for the nose what electrical static does for the skin? Yes. Does it smell good in the process? No, not especially.

19th September, 2010.

Aldehydic citrus linseed oil blast settling into an orange floor wax wood purr with a stack of warm cotton laundry is Outrageous.
I’m not in love with the Cool Water opening but I do like the minty orange wood base.

Sophia Grojsman, in my mind, is the PEACH/orange/apricot perfumer. She has created a lot of perfumes and these notes play in the majority of her work. Grojsman aims for your whole heart and that usually includes a big dose of aldehydes and a musk/ amber base combo that just doesn't work for me.
I admire Sophia Grojsman but this is only one of a few I could wear from her many classics.

30th April, 2010. (Last Edited: 13rd May, 2011.)

NillaGoon said it all, except that this one also REEKS of mineral turpentine. Now THAT'S odd...

7th April, 2010.