French Lover Bois d'Orage Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle 2007

French Lover / Bois d'Orage by Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle

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French Lover / Bois d'Orage (Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle)

8.2 / 10 476 Ratings

French Lover is a popular perfume by Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle for men and was released in 2007. The scent is green-spicy. It is being marketed by Estēe Lauder Companies.

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Perfumer

Pierre Bourdon

Fragrance Notes

Top Notes	Florentine iris, Pimento, Galbanum
Heart Notes	Angelica, Vetiver, Cedar
Base Notes	Patchouli, Frankincense, Musk

Ratings

Scent

8.2 (476 Ratings)

Longevity

7.7 (357 Ratings)

Sillage

6.6 (347 Ratings)

Bottle

7.8 (322 Ratings)

Submitted by DonVanVliet, last update on 18.11.2020.

Interesting Facts

This fragrance is sold as "Bois d'Orage" in the US and Canada.

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Reviews

11/04/2020

7
Scent 6
Longevity 6
Sillage 9
Bottle

Erikmcdreamy

Translated Show original

Erikmcdreamy

Actually, I don't really like vetiver... actually,

to start with, this perfume scared me off, vetiver is powerful and omnipresent. I have to say, though, that even I, as no great friend of vetiver, have noticed how this one comes across differently than in many other fragrances. I'm not exactly sure why, but for me the nuance in this fragrance seems far greener and more natural than in many others. Even though French Lover doesn't make me a vetiver fan but maybe that's a reason to use it more often?

Well, sprayed on and started. In the course of the day the scent changes, vetiver fades into the background for me, is definitely still there but slowly cedar and allspice come through a bit. This makes everything seem a bit more earthy, which is a very positive development for me. French lover becomes more serious and less fresh. Now a few flowery chords make their way through the dense forest of vetiver, which for me finally justify the French aspect of the name. Personally I would have wished these a little more striking, who doesn't immediately think of the infinite flower fields of Grasse when thinking of France?
If I would have assigned the fragrance to the younger spectrum in the beginning I have to say that it becomes more mature for me on my skin hour by hour, towards the end it is definitely a fragrance for every age group.
If you are a friend of vetiver and elegance, you will definitely get your money's worth here, but for me you will not make it into my collection.
All in all really a perfume of the highest quality and in my eyes the individual notes blend together in a brilliant way to a very harmonious and flowing composition.

The durability is good but not outstanding, Sillage as well.

French Lover will surely bring you many compliments. But in my eyes nothing special and no revolutionary DNA

10/25/2020

WildGardener
122 Reviews

WildGardener

Science of Doubt

He may look like a Belgian accountant but Pierre Bourdon is a perfume genius. With French Lover he's done something that few have tried and fewer have achieved, the Minimalist Perfume. A pale blend of galbanum and assonant naturals : incense, juniper and the natural exaltolide found in Angelica root. They create an indistinct foggy thing which seems to be all surface and no depth. Like a Mark Rothko canvas, there's no image to pick out here but plenty to feed the unconscious.

French Lover doesn't pronounce - like many perfumes do, it suggests. It hints - at things you think you know; the humid sous-bois of the forest floor, decaying leaves, green and sappy stems peeled of their bark...
Or, if you are more inclined to culture than the natural world there is the Homme Chic : silver grey suit, cardamom coffee, potted plants and pale decor. Both are possible; both have their adherents. By giving the same work two different names in different parts of the world Frederic Malle doesn't rule out either interpretation; it is he who names the juice, not the perfumer. And, as there are two sides to this perfume, it has two names : French Lover / Bois d'orage; ambiguity is all.
The scent works because Pierre Bourdon appears to have grasped in it a Zen quality of minimalism, which doesn't lie in a pale featureless thing with no movement, or soul.
Maybe he's got one of those Japanese teapots - with purely functional shape and subtle blends of colour. At their highest, Zen ceramics show that form and content are not separate qualities - as Susan Sontag has argued - it's more a case of Yang form and Yin content melding together in permissive alliance.

Likewise, in French Lover / Stormwood, the very formlessness of the structure focusses the attention on the subtleties of natural content. The effect is, of course, entirely dependent on Frederic Malle furnishing top quality materials. Without them the work would be little more than the plain pencil-shaving thing that often passes for minimalism.

Although it is not weak or wan (in fact the juice is very strong) French Lover isn't inclined to shout. It does not, like many perfumes, clamour for attention. Instead it murmurs, enigmatically, making you lean in to hear what it's saying. It's a brillant conceit which turns current perfume wisdom on it's head.
But of course, French Lover is not perfect, and like a Zen teapot there will always be a flaw; and thus, in ithis way, it's almost a perfect masterpiece.

10/10/2020

10
Scent 10
Longevity 8
Sillage 10
Bottle

Razvanyke
33 Reviews

Razvanyke

Oh, this is how a modern gentleman should smell

I have tried few samples of FM, like The Moon, Musc Ravageur, Parfume of a Lady and this masterpiece .. this is the only one which I liked but I liked very much !

On my skin, it develops such a beautiful mix between Angelica and Vetiver, which I would describe as a spicy addictive smell, I like the silage which reminds me all day what a beautiful scent I am wearing.

Of course, it will not be for everybody .. of course, there are some other sweet citrusy easy to like smells, but for a modern gentleman which does not want to smell like the typical barbershop lavender .. this is the go to.

I believe this should be the number 1 Frederic Malle perfume, it is simply that good. Do not believe the low longevity and silage notes from above, it lasts easily the whole working day on skin+clothes and it is noticeable.

The older design, not 20years anniversary looks nice and understated, so I got that one. Pierre Bourdon also created Creed GIT, which is not a bad perfume at all.

For me French Lover name is matching the character of the scent and even if I am not French, I do feel like a modern gentleman when wearing this.

09/16/2020

9
Scent 7
Longevity 7
Sillage 8
Bottle

Duftsicher

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Duftsicher

REAL LOVE...AT SECOND SIGHT/SMELL

Was it coincidence or fate that brought me together with this unique fragrance?
At that time, without great expectations, I ordered a few bottlings of the fragrances that were interesting for me at that time, without even having an idea that one of them would become my favourite fragrances.
My focus was actually on a different scent and honestly the first sprayer of "French Lover" didn't convince me that much and I thought in the first moment: Pretty green and spicy-fresh... so actually my scent direction and somehow I had this scent in my head and in my nose.
Then came the second attempt and I was already done for.
What a wonderful enrichment, as already said, greenish and spicy, Vetiver+patchouli dance around and enchant me.
Something for the real man, who knows what he wants, self-confidence, good manners is the message here.
The only negative thing is, as so often...the price, but on the other hand I don't want to smell this fragrance on everyone, it should be and remain something special.
I was lucky and got a relatively cheap bottle of the magic elixir.
Flacon: solid
Durability: 4-6 h
Sillage: initially max. arm length

1 Replies

08/10/2020

7.5
Scent 8
Longevity 7
Sillage 8
Bottle

Smellavision
99 Reviews

Smellavision

Classy, understated and refined...

Like other FM perfumes I've tried it's a rather dark experience as it opens with incense and pepper, but slowly gives way to a greener woody side with oakmoss, vetiver, cedar and the ever present angelica.
10 points for originality, but not a wow experience. Herbal and dry, but never sweet. Very versatile, can be used for both work and formal settings, also possible to use all year round. Though it has a green and forestlike quality and even dries down to a cedarlike composition, it somehow seems very urban to me.

To quote another review I once saw "Although it's not my style, I can't deny its quality."

06/07/2020

8
Scent 8
Longevity 7
Sillage 8
Bottle

Meggi

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Meggi

Top Review 55

The clandestine lover

"Say, what are you fiddling with me for?"

"Well, listen, I'm a lover! I'm a French lover, to be exact. I knead a roll here, pinch a nose there, tickle a nip..."

"You are something else Sneak up on them and quietly start with the amorous activities. How long have you been doing this?"

"In general," you mean? Since 2007. Or specifically now with you? Since this morning! And what does 'sneaking around' mean? You finally sprayed me yourself! In full knowledge of my name!"

"Oh, and then you can just make out on the quiet? I think you're confusing the two: politeness, manners, good clothes - you're not supposed to notice that on the spot, you're supposed to have only perceived it as a memory in retrospect. It's different with fumbling. I, at least, like to get them straight away. Why do you go at it like that?"

"Reaching is the key word! Here I can at least really get at it. In America they don't like it that much, I'm only allowed to thunder down incognito
"Well, you know, it took me a while to catch your act. You don't have to hide your qualities You offer... well... certainly no demonstrative sexiness, let alone primitive broad-leggedness. Your appearance has style: the angular-sharp start, green-herbal with bitter iris. You don't want to make it too easy, do you? Maybe secretly be conquered on your part? It's probably not by chance that I have to think of Brussels sprouts, which I also had to conquer in the course of my life - as a child I loathed them because they were bitter."

"Brussels sprouts...?"

"It's just a picture, don't panic! Whoever smells carefully will soon feel its sensual core. There's an idea of sweaty - have you taken a pinch of cumin? After two hours, your skin is almost warm and spicy. And yet at the same time distinguished and tart. Restrained, yet strong smoke completes your morning routine."

"Mmmmmmh...I like that better!"
"From midday onwards you become calmer, the afternoon is calmly woody-green and in the course of the day vetiver becomes more and more distinct, fresh, powerful and clean. You even seem to rasp a little liquorice out of it, probably to make the vetiver a bit rounder, darker and more tobacco like. You can smell all this wonderfully lovely!"

"I'm very touched by the way you looked at me... Do you really find me attractive?"
"I think so! And next time, let me know before they start having sex, okay?"

35 Replies

06/05/2020

9
Scent 7
Longevity 6
Sillage 8
Bottle

Afterdark
1 Review

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Afterdark

French Sahara

This is not typically French for me. It has French features, though. It's the point of intersection between the Occident and the Orient. Algerian coast, warm sand dunes with the typical green-brown bushes and plants and their elegant, herbaceous sandy smell. This is French Lover. The smell of the French-influenced Sahara at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. Both green and brown, both herbaceous and sandy.

It starts out green and rough and becomes softer, browner and creamier over time. Vetiver has the sceptre in the beginning and this is a rough, wet and earthy vetiver. But the fragrance changes quickly, becomes lighter green, drier, bushier and for me you can already see the elegant and sandy heart creeping up.

All in all it is a wonderful, noble and above all elegant composition that reminds me of people like Albert Camus. French people from Algeria, people who have seen and experienced both sides and carry a certain calmness and superiority in and with them.

2 Replies

05/30/2020

7.5
Scent 7
Longevity 7
Sillage 7
Bottle

Insa

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Insa

The shaved, perfumed early riser

Totally forgot that I own a bottling of it :D
But that happens sometimes, when you hoard bottlings so excessively.

Fragrances with vetiver always have something rustic and soothing.
I always have this image in my mind of a man who stands in the bathroom every morning before work, freshly shaved and in a white shirt, putting on his signature perfume.
He's always worn this.
In fact, we don't even know when he started it.
And off we go to work.
He's never been late
That's the kind of perfume French Lover is With wood, patchouli and vetiver.

I kind of like scents Although my father never wore perfume But he would fit in well in this age group.

And if a younger man were to wear it, it might make him look more confident than he probably is, so it's not a bad idea either.
Fragrances can have a great effect ;)

1 Replies

03/22/2020

7
Scent 7.5
Longevity 7.5
Sillage 8
Bottle

Ernstheiter

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Ernstheiter

Top Review 21

The elegance of the thistle

Anyone who has already dealt with Frédéric Malle's fragrances knows that normally you should not expect to find any that come up with a head note that is so captivating. In most cases, they do not open with a pleasing composition of citric or floral notes that immediately excite the wearer. Of course, one can also find examples of Frédéric Malle's work that defy this claim, which are pleasing from the very beginning, especially Bigarade Concentrée or Vétiver Extraordinaire.

Fréderic Malle - Duets are not images of Monet or van Gogh that are quickly revealed; they are more like Picassos or Pollocks, images that trigger emotions ranging from rejection to admiration, even when they are not liked.

I think French Lover is a good example of that
Even before the image of a lush green meadow in spring can form in my head right after I have been spinning and before the idea of foggy, damp, impenetrable jungle is formed, my imagination is kept in check by a brownish veil. The jungle pictures still in the making dissolve, the grass is allowed to stay, but no longer on the summer meadow. It has already been cut for a few hours and the meadow has been replaced by the compost bin, which is already slightly rusty from the inside. The scent of the fresh green cannot spread by itself. It is forced to peel slowly upwards at the rusty inner walls of the compost bin and has to accept that a brown basic tone mixes with it. Only a few more hours will pass before the green has to give way to a straw-flowery basic mood.

It is difficult to smell individual scents from French Lover, only vétiver and pepper, I can consciously perceive. Vétiver is the source of the green earthy note, which is slightly scratched by pepper. Citric or flowery additions are completely avoided. French Lover does not rely on the successive appearance of different scents; the speciality lies in the change of its character, from green to scratchy to harsh. If I should name a plant that is representative for French Lover, I would choose a thistle. Of course you don't have to find it beautiful, but you should take the time to have a closer look at it.

French Lover is a gruff fragrance, not a stalker who wants to draw attention to himself in a loud voice to provoke. He has personality, knows his rough edges, but makes no signs to soften or even hide them; and he claims them for hours
This scent by Fréderic Malle does not want to be a mass scent. The fragrance was deliberately avoided to create a unique composition with personality, which polarizes, does not allow "so la la" and forces the perfume to make a clear statement, which can only lead to a yes or no.

11 Replies

05/14/2019

10
Scent 8
Longevity 7
Sillage 9
Bottle

Flammingo

Translated Show original

Flammingo

Top Review 15

Je m'appelle Marcel, et avec ce parfum je suis l'amant français.

It took a long time until I had something to say about my current signature. There isn't really much to write, because the French lover isn't complicated at all. It starts off herb-pungent, natural, cool and green. Very extraordinary. He then becomes more wooded and discreet incense joins it. I like that this bitter Angelica-Galbanum mix always remains in the foreground. After a few hours only the sexy, dirty, spicy patchouli incense, which we already know from Armani's Profumo, is still perceptible. Anyway, Profumo has copied the basis here, because the scents are no longer distinguishable towards the end.
The fragrance is very distinctive and masculine at all levels. Something you don't smell on men every day. I honestly can't imagine him in ladies either. I don't see it as an office or sports fragrance because it's too special for that. But for shopping, leaving, dating, day or night, this is one of the best fragrances I've ever found.
Sillage and shelf life could be better, as so often with green fragrances. But this is a scent you can't take too much from. It simply smells pleasant and is pleasing, but still different.

4 Replies

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