I started in this hobby around 4 years ago in the fall of 2008. I still remember trying Frederic Malle and being underwhelmed by Musc Ravageur (MR) and French Lover (FL). I thought both were unique, but also that MR was gross and FL was boring.
The line didn't stand out to me when I first tried it because, well, it was different, but so what? What was the point?
Four years later though, now I get it. There isn't a single fragrance that doesn't make a statement. Every fragrance has a message or purpose, which I suppose is subjective, but the messages are at least obvious to me now. They're kind of like inside jokes for fragrance-heads (not to mention that each fragrance also smells absolutely amazing to me now).
For example,
French Lover has no citrus, no flowers, no calone, no vanilla, very little musk and nothing fancy. It smells like trees and dirt. It just smells like a man, and that's all it's supposed to smell like! Funny how most fragrances are designed to smell like something otherworldly while French Lover is just the opposite.
Bigarade Concentree is a citrus overload, arguably the most citrus-intense fragrance on the market. It's almost ONLY citrus. And yet, it's dirty.... and yet.... there's no musk in it! A dirty citrus fragrance with no musk (the dirtiness comes from the cumin and cardamom).
Musc Ravageur is a filthy gourmande; 'nuff said. It's like every dirty, dark, fecal, sexual and human note known to man was swirled into one fragrance with a dollop of vanilla, leather and spices. If it weren't for the vanilla, some would gasp in shock and disgust when they smell it. But somehow the balance works perfectly.
Geranium pour Monsieur is an entire male fragrance showcasing the minty and floral aspects of geranium, without the use of rose (whereas geranium is usually just a side-kick to rose notes). I've never smelled anything like it.
The list goes on and on, but hopefully you see what I mean. Each fragrance does something that's barely or never been done before.
Anyway, consider me smitten with this line.
What do you guys think?
The line didn't stand out to me when I first tried it because, well, it was different, but so what? What was the point?
Four years later though, now I get it. There isn't a single fragrance that doesn't make a statement. Every fragrance has a message or purpose, which I suppose is subjective, but the messages are at least obvious to me now. They're kind of like inside jokes for fragrance-heads (not to mention that each fragrance also smells absolutely amazing to me now).
For example,
French Lover has no citrus, no flowers, no calone, no vanilla, very little musk and nothing fancy. It smells like trees and dirt. It just smells like a man, and that's all it's supposed to smell like! Funny how most fragrances are designed to smell like something otherworldly while French Lover is just the opposite.
Bigarade Concentree is a citrus overload, arguably the most citrus-intense fragrance on the market. It's almost ONLY citrus. And yet, it's dirty.... and yet.... there's no musk in it! A dirty citrus fragrance with no musk (the dirtiness comes from the cumin and cardamom).
Musc Ravageur is a filthy gourmande; 'nuff said. It's like every dirty, dark, fecal, sexual and human note known to man was swirled into one fragrance with a dollop of vanilla, leather and spices. If it weren't for the vanilla, some would gasp in shock and disgust when they smell it. But somehow the balance works perfectly.
Geranium pour Monsieur is an entire male fragrance showcasing the minty and floral aspects of geranium, without the use of rose (whereas geranium is usually just a side-kick to rose notes). I've never smelled anything like it.
The list goes on and on, but hopefully you see what I mean. Each fragrance does something that's barely or never been done before.
Anyway, consider me smitten with this line.
What do you guys think?
It's one of my favorites, even though I see it as an intellectual/sensual challenge at times.
