Portrait of a Lady
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Frederic Malle French Lover
Peppery green spice, vetiver and incense
French Lover is Pierre Bourdon's fragrance of a masculine ideal, signed in 2007 and described by the brand as self-evident, with nothing to prove. Pimiento, angelica and juniper open it, and patchouli, vetiver and frankincense carry the base. It is a spicy, aromatic Eau de Parfum built on dry green notes and incense rather than on sweetness.
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The store’s selection is really good and comprehensive. Placing an order was very easy, and shipping was really fast. The fragrances were well packed and they were all...
The composition
How it unfolds in notes
The curve shows the order in which the notes come forward, not their strength.
- Character
- Moderate
- Concentration
- Explore by note
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On the skin
How it unfolds
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A peppery, green start
The top is pimiento, angelica and juniper: a sweet-hot pepper note, a green herbal bite and the clean, resinous sharpness of juniper. The start is spiced, green and dry, without a trace of sweetness, and it sets up the aromatic core that follows.
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Angelica at the centre
The brand puts angelica at the centre, together with capsicum and galbanum, and speaks of a masculine ideal that has nothing to prove. This is the aromatic core of the scent: peppery, dry and green, kept steady rather than loud.
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Incense and roots
The base is patchouli, vetiver and frankincense. The brand says a background of patchouli and white musk revives the incense, so the smoke comes back later in the wear. Vetiver adds a dry, rooty depth, and the finish is earthy, resinous and calm.
Wearing it
When, who and why
How to wear it
A dry, aromatic scent like this does best on skin that is warm but not hot. One spray on each side of the neck and one on the chest is enough, and the incense comes back as it settles. It is comfortable at the office and keeps its shape in cool, dry weather.
Who it is for
For people who prefer green, peppery, resinous scents to sweet ones, and who value a woody base of vetiver and incense. It suits the office, dinners and the cooler months. The brand calls it a masculine ideal and lists it on its men's page, but the dry, aromatic style will appeal to anyone who likes it.
Why choose Frederic Malle French Lover
Pierre Bourdon signed French Lover in 2007, and the house gives its perfumers complete creative freedom and as much time as they need. The result is a pyramid with a clear plan: a spiced, green start and a base of patchouli, vetiver and frankincense. Nothing in the listed pyramid is sweet, which gives the scent its dry, straight character.
At a glance
- House
- Frederic Malle
- Perfumer
- Pierre Bourdon
- Year
- 2007
- Size
- 50 ml
- Family
- Spicy aromatic
- For
- Men
Questions
Frequently asked
What concentration and size is it?
It comes as an Eau de Parfum in a 50 ml bottle; its patchouli, vetiver and frankincense base gives that concentration a dry, steady body.
Is French Lover spicy?
Yes, in a dry, peppery way. Pimiento and angelica open the scent, and the brand classes it as spicy aromatic. It is not a sweet, warm spice, more a green and resinous one.
Is it only for men?
The brand calls it a masculine ideal and lists it on its men's page only. The dry, aromatic style, though, is a matter of taste rather than gender.
When is it best worn?
In cool and mild weather, by day or in the evening. The green, peppery start and the incense base fit offices, dinners and autumn or spring days; strong summer heat suits it less.
The house
About Frederic Malle
Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle is a Paris house founded in 2000 by Frédéric Malle, who treats perfumers as authors and prints their names on the bottle. The perfumes, from rose and tuberose to lilac and amber musk, are written with complete creative freedom.
- Founded in Paris, France, in 2000 by Frédéric Malle, launched with nine perfumes
- Perfumers are treated as authors; their names are printed on the bottle
- Complete creative freedom and as much time as they need, as the brand states
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From the house of FragranceGems
The niche department of FragranceGems
NicheGems is part of FragranceGems B.V. in Zoetermeer, the Netherlands. Original perfumes from niche houses, handled by the same team that looks after every FragranceGems order.
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