Designers » F-H » Frederic Malle Woody Aromatic « Groups

French Lover Frederic Malle for men

French Lover Frederic Malle for men
I have it
I had it
I want it
love
like
dislike
winter
spring
summer
fall
day
night
Total people voted: 87
female 25- 25+
male 25- 25+
main accords
earthy
woody
green
musky
balmy
Pictures
French Lover Frederic Malle for men Pictures French Lover Frederic Malle for men Pictures French Lover Frederic Malle for men Pictures

French Lover by Frederic Malle is a Woody Aromatic fragrance for men. French Lover was launched in 2007. The nose behind this fragrance is Pierre Bourdon. Top notes are spices and galbanum; middle notes are incense, cedar and angelica; base notes are oakmoss, vetiver and white musk.

Perfume Pyramid

Top Notes
Spices Galbanum

Middle Notes
Incense Cedar Angelica

Base Notes
Oakmoss Vetiver White Musk

Main Notes According to Your Votes

Loading...
This perfume reminds me of  
Angéliques Sous La Pluie
5 no yes
Timbuktu
3 no yes
Comme des Garcons x Monocle Scent Two: Laurel
2 no yes
Coeur de Vetiver Sacre
1 no yes
Terre d'Hermes
0 no yes

French Lover Fragrance Reviews

sherapop
sherapop

I managed to acquire samples of both Frédéric Malle BOIS D'ORAGE and FRENCH LOVER and had no idea that they were the same. I started with the decanted sample of BOIS D'ORAGE, with no knowledge of notes, perfumer, intended gender, etc., and my initial impression was that this was similar in some ways to ANGELIQUE SOUS LA PLUIE--only better. It must have been the angelica-cedar-pepper connection...

Next, upon learning that BOIS D'ORAGE really is FRENCH LOVER, I took a gander at my manufacturer's card and discovered that, lo and behold, this composition was created by beloved Pierre Bourdon! According to the marketing text, this perfume is intended for men with a sense of humor. Hmmm... it doesn't smell funny to me. Oh well, it smells great! A very nice blend of angelica, galbanum, pepper, incense, cedar, and what not, FRENCH LOVER is now my friend.

This angelica composition has much better longevity on my skin and also more depth and complexity to my nose than does the J.C. Ellena FM angelica offering. BOIS D'ORAGE/FRENCH LOVER seems entirely unisex to me.

Jan
12
2012
Kharnak
Kharnak

Strong STRONG Green Foliage, that's the Galbanum & Angelica. Dry earthy, soil, like a the Dryest Patchouli.... Minty? Merciless Vetiver Root. Very complex and layered, and dries down gently, gradually. Revealing a clear Woody Cedar, like Finely chiseled furniture. Spices turn faintly oily, like Caraway, Fennel.... Mossy mossy moss. Harsh at first, i must say... Very Euro, sophisticated, unmistakably Masculine. This has character. I'm a fan of Pierre Bourdon, he sure knows how to "layer" things. The most solid "guy smells" created. Gets better with time and really grows on you. The Cedar is very clear.. i can almost see the Red sappy sheets of wood. Very VERY Astringent opening, but sweetens gradually...
This makes Aqua di Gio smell like a girly sugary FlowerBomb by comparison. Yeah, this smells like a man yo!
Oddly enough, i really think one's skin chemistry and body smells are MEANT to contribute to it. This blends so well... lingers for a long time... in waves. I catch a whiff of a sweet spice rack... Sage, Fennel, Cumin... oh that's just me... and ah love eeeet!
I actually do like the original French Lover name. But in the US people tend to think of inspector Clousseau & Pepe Le Pew.

Dec
23
2011
nurStress
nurStress

ficusmuskus, the original name is French Lover, but for some obscure reasons they sell it as Bois D'Orage in USA only (Barneys for instance) :)

You can read this on the boxes:

FRENCH LOVER is a modern, although timeless scent designed for smart men with a sense of humor.

BOIS D'ORAGE (which translates in english into "Thunder Wood"), is a dramatic, almost Wagnerian composition that expresses the contained sophistication of the smart man.

Dec
21
2011
al.to
al.to

wow galbanum angelica oakmoss!
hard and dry without mercy and wonderfully without heart!
It sounds like crushing dry wood
i think angelica it's on the top notes,just in the beginning.

for the galbanum remember me villoresi incensi that is sweeter but bois d'orage/french lover is dark more and more
not for everyday
elegant for gentleman but also for tough guy
ok only for tough guys:-))


one of my favorite absolutely
p.s.
on Malle's site you can read vetiver pimento cedarwood iris incense..
i don't know...maybe a little bit of pimento..i can't find nothing else
but this is only my opinion

Jun
17
2011
spoombung
spoombung

This is very well composed and follows a classic, woody, vetiver, nutmeggy thing in the manner of Gucci Pour Homme and similar ilk.

The problem I have with it is it's so utterly dry, lean and peppery it gives me the illusion of having a parched throat and a dry tongue. Er, that's not really something I want in a fragrance! Compared to the full-figured appeal of a scent like GPH, French Lover is emaciated and boney... and quite frankly, hard work to get on with. There's also a chilly, airy, ozone note in there gently hissing away somewhere that adds to the effect.

I admire the perfumer for not politely fleshing it out with pleasantries or sugaring the pill too much.. but this french lover has a cold heart. Maybe that was the joke? It doesn't last long either - maybe that was the other joke?

One for the purists, I reckon.

May
16
2011
ficusmuskus
ficusmuskus

the original title is Bois D'Orage!

May
14
2011
alfarom
alfarom

I'm convincing myself everyday more and more that EP Frederic Malle is one of the best niche perfumes house of the last 15 years and French Lover just make my beliefs even stronger. An incense-pepper-vetiver scent that is as dry and bitter as much your immagination can go. It opens with a crispy blast of galbanum and woods, and even if not included in the note list I also get laurel. After 20 / 30 minutes a strong but sophisticated vetiver shows up together with frankincense. French Lover is a completely desweetened fragrance that leaves nothing to prettyness but at the same time it's austerely elegant, refined and modern.

If you're into fragrances such as Sycomore, Vetiver Extraordinaire or Memoir Man, you will probably dig this. Even if they don't share many objective similarity we can say they're in the same vein, they have a similar effect. Don't get me wrong, French Lover with its bone-dry structure can result much more disturbing to someone but its extremely sophisticated composition make this scent unique and immediately recognizable.

IMO this is an important and potentially influential release, kind of a trendsetter in the modern male perfumery. After two years from its entrance on the market it already has a few clones (i.e. Comme Des Garcons Monocle Scent # 2 Laurel).
Great projection and tremendous lasting power (12 hrs on my skin). A superb work and one of my favourite from this house.

Rating: 8-8.5/10

Apr
03
2011
Mokokos
Mokokos

Intriguing fragrance. This is more suitable for a man. It exudes stremgtj and a certain sexiness and it is elegant with a citrus edge. The beginning smokes you with sharp tea spices and animalic notes. This is a power fragrance for the boardroom and a night on the town to a classy restaurant. when your girl leans in close for a kiss and embrace she will love it on you.

Mar
11
2011
monsterkruemel
monsterkruemel

Yikes!

This has definitely been a scrubdown for me!

Offending to my nose like ammoniak.

I pretested FL on a cardboard and my kitchen very soon smelled like cheap obtrousive after shave.

It was breath taking odor and i was happy to take out the trash (where this cardboard pretty soon went the night before).

Great lasting power though.

Nov
16
2010
guest_Jamalito22
guest_Jamalito22

Personally this is the Best of P.B. Its expensive but its worth it personally it is head to head with Creed and Armouge. But this might win it as a Unique killer. followed by Armourage then Creed

Aug
28
2010
daniel DeLouv
daniel DeLouv

I like this one.
at the start it's just amazing classic.

BUT i'm Disappointed, cause after 30
min it's Rimnds me Paco rabanne Black Xs. i think i smell the the oriental woody part of xs.

and i'm trying to avoide it but i can't.

I dont want it do reminde me the Black Xs shit.

Jul
30
2010
mosesbotbol
mosesbotbol

I wear this one a lot. Very "euro" and classic. I like the incense and wood. This fragance has some staying power.

Feb
20
2010
jeca
jeca

An elegant aromatic scent, the beginning is sharp herbaceous, with a hint of cypress, after ten minutes I smell the cypress note quite clearly, then the fragrance becomes warmer, with incense and woody notes.

Mar
14
2008

Add Your Review

Become a member of this online perfume community and you will be able to add your own reviews.

French Lover by Frederic Malle 4.16 out of 5 based on 87 ratings and 13 user reviews
×"French Lover by Frederic Malle" would smell nice on:
you have 0 spritz left today
All Selected

This page contains information, reviews, perfume notes, pictures, new ads, vintage posters and videos about Frederic Malle French Lover fragrance but we do not warrant accuracy of information. If you have more information about Frederic Malle French Lover, you can expand it by adding a personal perfume review. Fragrantica has a unique user driven classification system and you may classify French Lover by Frederic Malle. Click on the appropriate options on the fragrance classification form below the perfume picture. Also, you can find links to 3rd party websites/Internet stores, but Fragrantica has no access or control over those websites. We do not make guarantees nor accept responsibility for what you might find as a result of these links, or for any future consequences including but not limited to money loss. User reviews of French Lover by Frederic Malle are representing views of credited authors alone and do not reflect Fragrantica's views.

Who likes this, also likes
Frederic Malle Vetiver Extraordinaire Lalique Encre Noire Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur Frederic Malle Carnal Flower Comme des Garcons Comme des Garcons 2 Man Serge Lutens Chergui Caron Yatagan Gucci Gucci pour Homme Creed Green Irish Tweed Montale Black Aoud Lubin Idole Amouage Jubilation for Men Guerlain Vetiver Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady Dior Fahrenheit Tauer Perfumes 02 L`Air du Desert Marocain Frederic Malle Lys Mediterranee Guerlain Habit Rouge Serge Lutens Fille en Aiguilles Frederic Malle Noir Epices

Popular brands and perfumes: