Frederic Malle is one of few houses that I was very eagerly looking forward to sample so I ordered couple of their samples for me and for my girlfriend.
After wearing each of this once I'd like to share my first impressions with you.
Dans Tes Bras - this was first that I tried. Very different than everything that I tried. I agree with people commenting about kinda like mushrooms smell on top. Drydown goes to soft soapy musk. As I said in my previous comment about it, I like it, but not for its price tag. I will keep my sample and try it later.
Carnal Flower - hmm famous Carnal Flower. I expected lot from you. First spritz on my skin and I am surrounded by very realistic flower smell which has to be tuberose. Its very transparent and I can smell coconut balancing well this strong smell of tuberose. First couple of minutes (or maybe hours) this is heavenly smell and I am in olfactory heaven. Unfortunately coconuty/transparent sophisticated smell is slowly transformed into almost soapy sweet jasmine like scent which became boring and linear. If Carnal Flower smelled like its first half hour for a longer time it would be best floral scent that I smelled but drydown is just ok for my taste. Sample went to my girlfriend and unfortunately on her dry skin its not even that sillage bomb as it is on my skin.
En Passant - couple of weeks before I smelled scented candle with lilac fragrance. I really like smell of lilac so I begin hunt for realistic rendition of it. And where would you expect realistic flower smell more than in FM house? For lilac lovers En Passant delivers. Its just very optimistic, cheering spring floral scent that I'd love to smell on my girlfriend, so this sample went to her.
Lys Mediterranee - similiar in style to En Passant, there is also big lilac note, but also some orange flowers and maybe jasmine. Slightly less invigorating than En Passant but in the same vein of spring, realistic flowers. Sample went to my GF.
Noir Epices - I really had no idea what to expect from Noir Epices. Its indeed spicy, sweet but has some notes that reminds me scents from many years ago... Habit Rouge came on my mind first? I really like its smell but I think that this would fit more to some aristocratic lady than to myself. Sample went to my GF.
Portrait of a Lady - loved by many here on basenotes I had high expectations... and this scent delivers... this is more feminine, less butch version of Black Aoud. To me it smells of higher quality ingredients than BA, and aoud here is not as strong, neither as medical. There is strong raspberry note on top supporting rose + aoud + patchouli combo. Everything is perfectly balanced and almost yummy. It just gets better over time and very late drydown reminds me a bit L Artisans Voleur de Roses. I love the smell but also think that this suits slightly more to women than to men, but anyone that can pull aoud + rose combo can also pull Portraif of a Lady. I'd say that this is highest quality scent of whole FM line that I had chance to sample. Sample went to my GF.
Vetiver Extraordinaire - this was on my must try list for a long time so I was eagerly awaiting it. Top notes delivers what I expected. Rooty, mossy vetiver. Pure class. This makes me feel masculine and sophisticated. If only Encre Noire used this kind and quality of vetiver... For a first couple of hours I was almost ready to pay its price tag but unfortunately, on a late drydown, scent became sweet, and this ruined that raw vetiver quality to me
. I will revisit it later but so far I prefer masculinity and linear vetiver quality of Encre Noire.
I still have to sample 2 more.
L'Eau d'Hiver, favourite scent of my basenotes twin Teemas
and French Lover.
I already worn my sample of Musc Ravageur many times and it is indeed high quality scent. I just wish that basenotes were not as simple. Also I think that top notes of Musc Ravageur has similiar feel and quality to Noir Epices, which is slightly more feminine.
I hope that you liked my quick impressions. Overall I think that FM uses very high quality ingredients, and all of them have touch of sophistication and high wearability, unlike other niches that I tried (I am looking at you Montale).
After wearing each of this once I'd like to share my first impressions with you.
Dans Tes Bras - this was first that I tried. Very different than everything that I tried. I agree with people commenting about kinda like mushrooms smell on top. Drydown goes to soft soapy musk. As I said in my previous comment about it, I like it, but not for its price tag. I will keep my sample and try it later.
Carnal Flower - hmm famous Carnal Flower. I expected lot from you. First spritz on my skin and I am surrounded by very realistic flower smell which has to be tuberose. Its very transparent and I can smell coconut balancing well this strong smell of tuberose. First couple of minutes (or maybe hours) this is heavenly smell and I am in olfactory heaven. Unfortunately coconuty/transparent sophisticated smell is slowly transformed into almost soapy sweet jasmine like scent which became boring and linear. If Carnal Flower smelled like its first half hour for a longer time it would be best floral scent that I smelled but drydown is just ok for my taste. Sample went to my girlfriend and unfortunately on her dry skin its not even that sillage bomb as it is on my skin.
En Passant - couple of weeks before I smelled scented candle with lilac fragrance. I really like smell of lilac so I begin hunt for realistic rendition of it. And where would you expect realistic flower smell more than in FM house? For lilac lovers En Passant delivers. Its just very optimistic, cheering spring floral scent that I'd love to smell on my girlfriend, so this sample went to her.
Lys Mediterranee - similiar in style to En Passant, there is also big lilac note, but also some orange flowers and maybe jasmine. Slightly less invigorating than En Passant but in the same vein of spring, realistic flowers. Sample went to my GF.
Noir Epices - I really had no idea what to expect from Noir Epices. Its indeed spicy, sweet but has some notes that reminds me scents from many years ago... Habit Rouge came on my mind first? I really like its smell but I think that this would fit more to some aristocratic lady than to myself. Sample went to my GF.
Portrait of a Lady - loved by many here on basenotes I had high expectations... and this scent delivers... this is more feminine, less butch version of Black Aoud. To me it smells of higher quality ingredients than BA, and aoud here is not as strong, neither as medical. There is strong raspberry note on top supporting rose + aoud + patchouli combo. Everything is perfectly balanced and almost yummy. It just gets better over time and very late drydown reminds me a bit L Artisans Voleur de Roses. I love the smell but also think that this suits slightly more to women than to men, but anyone that can pull aoud + rose combo can also pull Portraif of a Lady. I'd say that this is highest quality scent of whole FM line that I had chance to sample. Sample went to my GF.
Vetiver Extraordinaire - this was on my must try list for a long time so I was eagerly awaiting it. Top notes delivers what I expected. Rooty, mossy vetiver. Pure class. This makes me feel masculine and sophisticated. If only Encre Noire used this kind and quality of vetiver... For a first couple of hours I was almost ready to pay its price tag but unfortunately, on a late drydown, scent became sweet, and this ruined that raw vetiver quality to me
. I will revisit it later but so far I prefer masculinity and linear vetiver quality of Encre Noire.I still have to sample 2 more.
L'Eau d'Hiver, favourite scent of my basenotes twin Teemas
and French Lover.I already worn my sample of Musc Ravageur many times and it is indeed high quality scent. I just wish that basenotes were not as simple. Also I think that top notes of Musc Ravageur has similiar feel and quality to Noir Epices, which is slightly more feminine.
I hope that you liked my quick impressions. Overall I think that FM uses very high quality ingredients, and all of them have touch of sophistication and high wearability, unlike other niches that I tried (I am looking at you Montale).
