Description
Frederic Malle is a true perfume connoisseur and creator of the Editions de Parfums niche” fragrances without compromise” collection. His line consists of 19 amazing perfumes so far, all developed by, according to the Malle, the top ten noses of the world.
The collection expands in November with a new edition named Portrait of a Lady, signed by the famous perfumer Dominique Ropion. Dominique Ropion created the following collection of fragrances: Vetiver Extraordinaire, Carnal Flower, Geranium Pour Monsieur and Une Fleur de Cassie.
Portrait of a Lady is named after the novel by Henry James from the 1881. The perfume deals with rose note and spices in a new, modern way that varies between the oriental and chypre theme with patchouli, natural and intense, dominating the heart of the composition.
Portrait of a Lady is a modern, elegant and unusual expression of the Victorian novel, its heroine, Isabel Archer, her fate and the quest for freedom. She smells of dark roses, mystical and intense.
The notes of this sensual modern classic include Turkish rose, raspberry, black currant, cinnamon, clove, patchouli, sandalwood, incense, ambroxan, benzoin and white musk.
Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady is available in high concentration of perfume from over 50% in bottles of 50 and 100 ml. Portrait of a Lady was launched in 2010.
Loxpiepekig – :
SOTD- Soon as I walked into my office,i got two compliments right away, this is a very nice potent rose scent, I am not a big fan of rose but the rest of the notes in this is my sort of taste so makes sense. I would say this is a MASTERPIECE in the rose genre. 9/10
elagin26 – :
First impressions of this and Musc Ravageur after purchasing,The Essential Collection (7ml samplers of 5 perfumes) at Bloomingdale’s…
WOW..This is an immediate love. As for Music Ravageur, a very strong like..I have a big collection, but, this is my very first experience with perfumes of such quality. Can’t wait to try, Carnal, Magnolia and Iris. Very satisfied with my $180 purchase of sampler collection. Much Aloha, Bob O.
иныргетег – :
An exceptional rose and incense composition. Lasts for a long time with good sillage. One of the best rose perfumes out there. And although it is named Portrait of A Lady, a confident man can pull this.
no1user – :
A couple of weeks ago I ordered a sample of POAL and I was really mystified about a certain familiar scent in my wardrobe. This week I tried the sample and then I knew it: for me and on my skin this smells just like Parfum de Peau by Montana. A lovely smell and with very good memories. And such a beautifull bottle!
So: nothing new and no, not anymore. Not now.
egorka918 – :
This summer I asked a lady passing by, what she was wearing because she smelled soo good! It was Portrait Of A lady she told me. So yesterday I ordered a sample that arived today. I haven’t seen anyone mention it in the reviews above, so this might sound weird, but this reminds me a lot of Jil Sander Woman III before it was reformulated by Coty (sadly…:-( ).
I ordered some more samples of FM (Lyle de Mediterranee, En Passent and l’eau d’Hiver) so at this moment my nose is somewhat confused and I don’t know yet if POAL is for me. It does not bring back the memory of the lady that inspired me to order the sample, in my memory she smelled better than me now wearing POAL, but if I continue to smell the resemblence with the original JS Woman III, I might like it enough to order a full bottle.
hedinyaleterulu – :
I feel I would love this fragrance if I loved synthetic amber more. Everything else about this fragrance is just audacious and sensible, at the same time. Ridiculousness and loveliness. A stunning, realistic and deeply full bodied rose accompanied by dusty incense and patchouli. Earthy, hammy and dry. Such combinations shouldn’t usually exist, but it works for this.
serjoga – :
Sprayed this once on my wrist about 5 inches away, rolled up my sleeve to let it dry. Sleeve kept trying to go down so it might have rubbed off some product. Pretty consistent dark deep (incensy?) rose all throughout the day, constantly getting wafts of it when my wrist is about 20 inches away from my face. Development: only slightly “peppery” at 8hrs, still hint of linearity. Still going strong for 6 days on 1 spray on paper.
I didn’t get any one near me doing that body language when they’re trying to face away from me like they don’t like my smell (while I am in a cramped bus).
Had to walk a kilometre back home after 4+ hours in a not-so-scorching sunny but really cold spring afternoon, saw my friend and just a few minutes in she says, “You smell so good.” (And aside from that comments how good I look that day — I was wearing a leather jacket, fitted pants and my Docs — so I don’t know if the scent translated to me appearing well-dressed as well lol).
Less than 30 minutes later she says again, “You -really- smell good.”
I denied knowing the name of this fragrance, because she’ll most likely stagger when she finds out how pricey this is. But I’m definitely getting one 10ml bottle since that’s what I can afford for now lol, since I got my compliments more than when I wore Carnal Flower. I hope there’s a dupe of this one somewhere so I can wear it everyday (have to test it yet on summer though.. but It would probably appear heavy in the heat).
Also, I think my skin is slightly acidic, if that helps (must be why citrusy frags go too “sour” on me like Elizabeth Arden’s Green Tea does, and there is a time that D&G Light Blue came out of me like sour milk).
smv12 – :
I was so sceptical ordering a sample of this because I am not very fond of rose (or rose heavy scents) but was this a surprise! I was expecting and very dark, spicy, powdery rose scent but on my skin I can smell a the loveliest bend of dark berries, jammy rose and heavenly incense. Been hooked since the first sniff.
Also, people compliment me on my perfume every time I wear this beauty and lasts very long with a superb sillage.
10/10 in my books.
Seetlezilky – :
Cold, dry, dusty, but slightly sweet and deep. The dry down smells like if you bend down to smell a very fragrant dark rose and you can smell the earth that holds it just as intensely.
You have to be in the mood for patchouli for this one, leaves a cloud behind…
I am loving it. TODAY. I am sure it won’t sit so well some other days.
лошадь – :
One spray of this and my mum could smell me from upstairs! The sillage is insane I’ve never come across a perfume like it, unfortunately it’s just too much for me.
phorgemeere – :
Gutted but it’s a definite NO. Firstly, my partner and two sons screwed their faces up asking what the hell is that smell – after 1 spray I could not skulk anywhere… I kind of like it in a self-indulgent, slightly offensive way, but I won’t win anybody over with this. It’s brash and loud. I just got patchouli, over and over, and eventually some oud, no rose, which I was rooting for because on paper I can see how well that might work. I’m a fan of FM but I think this 5ml bottle is either going to last for years or will be donated to a hippie I know, in the hopes it won’t be too perfumey for her…
As a final thought – it actually smells quite masculine to me.
evgenykorolyuk – :
Hi, angel6!
Here is Zelda s answer
I’m very sorry to hear that, I have let Zoka know about it. Could you ask angel6 if the equipment she’s using has been upgraded. It might be necessary in order to access the site now. Meantime I’m waiting to hear back from Zoka or he may contact her.
joshferiks – :
this is beautiful. after looking up every perfumery on my way for the past week and being torn between Ange ou Demon, Black Orchid and Bandit I finally got this one for my girlfriend, It was crazy love at first inhale, to be honest even the name had me seconds before that, its just so mesmerizing I want to smell it all day, it doesnt entice me to wear her myself though. I never expected to fall in love with such a sweet aroma, Im so proud of myself not rushing my options and finding this fucking fabulous perfume. lifes too short to not have your girl smell this good. she has thanked me like a million times today for this, its the kind of scent I imagine “the Perfume, Story of a Murderer” magic perfume smelled like. its oozing art
ldar – :
An incredible perfume, a beautiful smokey rose.
And I can attest to its projection and staying power – because when I opened my sample, the vial slipped and SPILLED ALL OVER MY HANDS AND FOREARM! I shreiked and made a dash for the bathroom to wipe some of it off, but alas it was too late – I was soaked in the stuff, the better part of a 1 ml sample splashed across my skin.
Within minutes, my husband called up to me from downstairs, wondering what had happened that there was suddenly such a strong smell throughout the house. We had to drive to work with the windows open, despite me having scrubbed my hands several times. I scrubbed about seven more times once I got to the office before I was satisfied that I had reached a tolerable level.
And yet, despite my horrible first experience, I love this perfume. It is the perfect dark rose for me, everything that I had hoped Lyric Woman would be. It makes me feel seductive and mysterious, une belle dame sans merci. I couldn’t stop sniffing my arm.
I don’t often care for floral perfumes, but this is the rare exception to that rule. It doesn’t feel dated, nor does it give me a headache (as many florals are wont to do). I will certainly be adding POAL to my collection!
GudWin – :
To me, Portrait of a Lady smells of patchouli, rose, geranium, raspberry, oud, and a touch of clove. At times the scent is pleasant – I like the raspberry note – but at other times the patchouli is unpleasant, the “oud” note too sour, and the overall composition has an unfortunate mold note that I can’t get out of the back of my nose. I love a lot of FM perfumes so I wanted to like this one but it just wasn’t for me, despite how many times I’ve given it a try. Mild dislike.
profit_igor – :
If the scent is conceptualized from a portrait of a lady as it is saying, the prototype must be a bloody cruel one dressed in red with pale skin and staring into lightning storm in her cold castle. Just take Bloody Mary as a reference.
Pungent and nearly plastic-like (in a good way though) patchouli, sharp turkish rose blended with ultra dry woody notes, possibly including a touch of oud. Simplistic and delicate, linear yet refined, and sort of surreal feel to it. I have to say, there seems something missing especially when comparing with a close counterpart, i.e. Guerlain Rose Nacree du Desert. PoaL uses higher quality turkish rose than Rose Nacree, but lacks a “bone” in some extent, which leaves PoaL as a extremely high-end parfum d’ambiance to my nose. I can hardly say that it’s not interesting because it really is, at least for serving its purpose. In fact, rose-patchouli is not a new idea, instead, dating back to Clinique Elixir and being widely reconstructed from 2000 in hundreds of oud scents, but I can barely find too much alternatives that succeed in composing a superb exotic feel as such.
Overall, PoaL is somewhat tricky to review. If you are into rose-patch, try it and judge for yourself.Rating: 8/10
carpinteyrogpy – :
My favourite of all time. Love the geranium note. I can wear it all year long. Apart the fact that now in 2018 everyone is wearing it. A random young woman walked up to me and told me ‘I know what is the perfume you are wearing’ emmm not really what you want to hear however there was a significant pride in the tone of her voice, like kinda telling me it’s her favourite too. Clearly very well established perfume and very (too) well known. Time to move on?
olesi411 – :
An updated review. I have invested in this and worn it a good few times since my last review. It has literally never failed me, not once failed to get someone complimenting me when I wear it. Complete strangers have stopped me when I have been out and about at work, university or out having fun. It’s insane! I have never had that with a perfume before. It’s not quite Carnal Flower but it’s certainly not far behind! I love C.F. and POAL because they are well made and good quality. They both last and project well. Yes they are expensive but you do not need to use much and it’s very unlikely anyone you come into contact with will be wearing it. You kind of own them and they are not afraid to make their presence known.
InhiniVex – :
As it turns out, I don’t like patchouli except in rare cases. This has immense amounts of patchouli, which take some time before the rose sets in.
I won’t deny that it’s a beautiful scent, but I also can’t deny that it isn’t for me.
I bet people who like dark or gothic scents would love this, though.
emi.su – :
lasts for about 14 hours, the last of which as skin scent, pretty powerful rose and incense combo, very unisex and not just for ladies, it has a kinky and very dark vibe, one of the best outings from Malle for some serious silllage it takes some serious spraying!
PriemiUrife – :
This is a beautiful incense and dry rose. I am a guy and I love this. Figuring out the half spray so I can wear this everyday as the performance is nuclear. A tamer but much more expensive and soft alternative would be roja qatar.Either one will haunt you. If you want something that only you or someone close can smell this might be a little too powerful. It is a beautiful work of art.
Update : If you are into this check out Black Aoud by Montale. Not as nuclear and less floral.
assonserogyf33912 – :
Frederic Malle’s Portrait of a Lady stands for a vibrant and sensual rose incense, with a bit of patchouli and spice. A single spray may occupy the room with, well, surreal elegance.
She maintains a well-blended balance between oriental ornateness, and a touch of something inherently modern, even rebellious. She keeps reminding me of the 19c Japonesque curiosities that captured western imaginations.
Imagery: “She walks in beauty, like the night./Of cloudless climes and starry skies.” Lord Byron. The IT woman of a bygone era, dressed in layer and layers of silk kimonos. She gazed directly and nonchalantly at the beholder, whom was left speechless, hopelessly enchanted and enamored.
Impressive lasting power, 12+ hours personally. Whereas the sillage could be more reserved…the presence is a little too strong.
9/10. This is a once-in-a-lifetime olfactory portrait of the ideal——the lady too dreamy for this world, the lady you wish to become.
ДимаА – :
Ahhh, Portrait..❤️
You feel like and smell like class. A grown woman wise to the ways of the world, not a little girl trying to find her way.
With Portrait of a Lady, to me, note-wise I pick up the incense, the rose, the clove and the cinnamon; I also seem to pick up a peppery note..? And as this dries down some 2 hours after applying, a woody note appears; not sandalwood, but more of a oud scent.
At times Portrait of a Lady smells like a very old aged delicate book that had been sitting in the sun all day, which, yes, odd, but I kind of oddly dig.
But for me, Portrait of a Lady is mainly a smoky rose scent with a soft cozy warmth and a woodiness as it dries down. I am always surprised to see fruity notes listed here, I don’t pick up any fruitiness. I really don’t pick up any of the other notes listed, other than the ones I mentioned. This to me is sort of a snobby scent, if you will. Great for a night out to the theater, ballet or some other fancy type of outing. Not an everyday scent (at least not for me)..But I do love Portrait. It has a slight “throwback scent” to my nose of fancy ladies from my childhood who had money and class. When I wear Portrait, I find myself sniffing the pulse points where I applied this often. Great for cooler or colder weather, but wear what you want, when you want!! ❤️
Scherifcom – :
Absolutely stunning. After weeks of debating if I should purchase a whole bottle(due to the crazy price point). Eventually I still splurged. Now I am the happiest man on earth knowing that I have this with me.
It’s a rose fragrance that is somewhat fruity to me? Like a berry kind of smell dominated mostly when you first spray it. And then.. the dry down. Oh god it’s just this incensy rose that you occasionally smell on yourself and roll eyes and be like
“holy I need to sniff my pulse point now”.
Everything is well disguised and blended. No particular notes are really sharp and easy to distinguish.. But you know it’s there…
It’s just really well blended in there. It doesn’t make me feel sick smelling it again and again like other rose fragrances I’ve tried. It is a very complex ancient painting that I am not tired of exploring.
Longevity is really spontaneous on me. Based on my coworker (I asked them because my nose is probably used to it for a while) Sometimes it lasts quite a long time 12+ hours.. Sometimes It disappears around 8 hours. Also that could be affected by the oil content on my skin, how hot my body was at that time. Anyway,
9.5/10
Love love love it. I’ve heard It has been reformulated. I wonder if it smells a lot different before vs after.
JF184577 – :
First review I’m writing. This perfume is not for the faint of heart! It lasts for a very long time, I’d say at least 12h and projects a lot. I was wearing it at work and my colleagues could smell it from 10″.
Very gothic smell, dark and mysterious. I can’t say I dislike it but it is for a certain type of woman or men that I am not. I can definitely feel the incense, the clove as they stay very well on my skin. The rose is almost poisonous. Definitely a powerful night scent. Just not for me 🙁
dracula1985 – :
Rose as a note has always fascinated me. It has an incredibly long history, and it’s come to symbolize so many things. Freshly cut, green dewy roses are sharp and fresh, powerful but still innocent in their cleanliness. A more powdery rose is classic, feminine, gently romantic. Dark, jammy roses are seductive and alluring and conjure up images of a true femme fatale – one who is strong but subtle in her ways.
All this from roses. It is regarded as perhaps the ultimate note of femininity. And here, it is the star. The star because it plays up multiple facets of the classic rose, all to perfection. This “lady” could be any number of ladies. A woman coming into her own, or a woman who knows her way, or anyone in between. That’s why this rose is so masterful.
The funny thing is, I’m not usually a rose kind of girl. While I love it symbolically, the practical application of it sometimes feels contrived, synthetic, or unoriginal. And it’s just never been my style, I suppose. But I think Portrait of a Lady can be anyone’s style, and that’s why I’m slightly enamored by it. I don’t need a wardrobe full of roses of all varieties and occasions – but I do believe this is a scent worthy of being in my wardrobe.
Krasnikovmax – :
Everything I have tried by FM so far is GOLD! This is certainly no exception and I will go as far as to say this is platinum coming from the FM house.
POAL is a smoky rose on a bed of patch with a hint of sweetness that I suspect comes from the clove and raspberry. (which i normally abhor clove but love it here just as i do in Musc Ravageur). Beast mode scent times 2. This is not for those that love light scents. One spray and you are good. I made the mistake of spraying myself 3 times because I am an over sprayer and I can tell that is too much. you definitely get your $ worth with this one. I feel this is meant for a strong and confident woman. She’s wearing Louboutin’s and conquering the world.
Spood24 – :
I wasnt keen on this when it first came out and 8 yrs later i’m still not fond of this.
I think its a cumin note (or a type of spice – doesnt smell like its clove) that i pick up on which is a deal breaker me. The SA said its the best selling fragrance in the FM range and i must be in the minority with this being my least favourite and Un Rose being the winner for my preferred rose scent.
vagankovo – :
An intense, Gothic rose. Imagine a rose in stone library or castle… you don’t literally smell the stone, but this perfume has an unusual, sculptural quality… you smell “space” just as much as the rose, somehow. Lush, passionate, memorable, idiosyncratic. Easily one of the best fragrances I’ve tested or tried — worth seeking out. Takes a certain kind of woman (or guy) to pull this one off in public, but I will probably always keep a small bottle around at home. For women who don’t like sweet florals, or roses specifically, I would still give this one a try.
The female counterpart to Frederic Malle’s “Monsieur.” which I wear *all the time*.
Troy04 – :
Coming to this website has helped me to appreciate my perfumes in a big way. I have always found this a really quite special perfume, but until I wore it very recently (and still am now effectively, as it’s nowhere near worn off), after having perused this site quite thoroughly now (to the extent that I am beginning to neglect other fora that I enjoy), I realise just how very special it is.
I think it is, in a certain way, the perfect perfume – or perhaps A perfect perfume. It is definitive in that it defines a niche of its own, and sets itself up as a reference standard without the support of hype. (Has there been hype? If so, the only function was to sell more of it – it’s reputation for quality is from itself purely.) I would say – some may be shocked by this – that it is a kind of Creed Aventus. I do not apologise – that perfume is a thoroughly excellent one, hype or no. And this is kind of like it, in that it has a similar sheer strength & pungency, and a similar “can’t get a pin between the flagstones” blending. And it is yet more inscrutable: the dominant note in Aventus is clearly pineapple … but in this – what? There is none, to my mind. It just does not lean in any particular direction.
And it helps that none of its constituents are IFRA targeted … (yet!). I actually feel sorry for the Creed parfumiers (purely in their capacity as artists, mind you … as business executives … !), having the child of their genius so grievously maimed so soon after its birth by those stormtroopers. Still, as for myself personally, I don’t particularly like Aventus, in terms of its being a fragrance I would like actually to have on, and I think this one is very much the better of the two.
nick1057 – :
I am usually a bit skeptical about hyped fragrances. After my strong dislike of Carnal Flower, I expected Portrait of a Lady to be some sort of nightmare too. Luckily, it wasn’t. Portrait of a Lady is a very dark jammy rose fragrance, but very Middle Eastern in feel. I have tried much better oriental rose fragrances, and those were with much better longevity too. In general, I think that Portrait of a Lady is not a good investment, simply because it doesn’t perform well, and from my point of view it is nothing outstanding. However, I was in an experimental mood, so I decided to layer Portrait of a Lady with Robert Piguet’s Casbah, and I think they supplement each other quite well. Portrait of a Vampire, why not?
cithromaxer – :
One of my absolute favorite earthy patchouli rose combos. This is very earthy and spicy, a little smoky, and not very sweet at all, which I very much appreciate. Very unisex. Big projection. Long lasting. Beautiful.
ejk160Bessinepome – :
This beautiful perfume makes me want to cry. I can faithfully call this a work of art.
I think of this perfume, when I put it on, as enveloping me, covering me in scent. I picture in my mind a very dark gothic rose, dripping. The cloves, cinnamon, incense and patchouli are perfectly blended. It’s not a tame rose but oh so spicy.
I keep smelling a tiny bit of cumin in here somewhere but it’s not listed. Usually cumin will ruin a completely good perfume but not in this one.
This is near perfection to me: 9 out of 10, and sillage and longevity are great and 8+ hours long.
BlackN1ne – :
Honestly, one of the best fragrances ever.
vadim1806 – :
It’s a nice fragrance, excellent quality, but no masterpiece.
It’s a jammy rose, smells like strawberry or rasberry jam.
There are some very nice dark woody notes, mixed with some fruity notes, and rose.
It’s a dense, and dark fragrance contrasted, with the freshness of the rasberry, and softness of the rose.There is a nice herbal patchouli.
It leans too feminine for me to wear comfortably, especially in the opening, when the rose is most pronounced.
This reminds me of Amouage Jubilation XXV, with rose.
If it wasn’t for the rose and rasberry, it would also remind me of “French Lover”. It doesn’t smell so unique, it’s in the genre of other dark rose fragrances, such as Tom Ford Noir De Noir.
I think MFK Lumier Noir Pour Homme, is much more of a masterpiece than this.
A truly masculine rose fragrance.
This is not girly either. It’s a mature dark woody rose, very classy; befitting an older woman with good taste.
OK, you get past the opening, I guess this could be pulled off by a guy.
I’m definitely note one of those people who think all fragrances are unisex, no more than I think all clothes are unisex.
I think some fragrances are gender neutral.
Rating: 8/10
God bless. John 3:16
MAX984 – :
I received a sample of this with a purchase of Carnal Flower. At first I was not excited by it but I tried it again and I just smelt the most exquisite deep luscious rose. What is this about? I do not like rose! But this is sublime. When I smell Portrait of a Lady, I think of a classic and stylish Parisienne lady who demands to command your attention. It is an expensive scent but it certainly smells It!
Chiz87 – :
Parte decisa dritta con una rosa mentolata e un po’ metallica.
In breve tempo si incrocia con chiodi di garofano e buon patchouli che la rende piu’ vellutata e…petalosa!
Ha una scia elegante e da sera e mentre sulla mia pelle risalta la nota dolce e balsamica del lampone l’idea che questa fragranza non sia totalmente femminile decade presto.
Questa è una rosa che singolarmente non mi convince (non amo questa nota) ma’ è comunque ben miscelata,elegante,un po’ fumee’,pulita con del sandalo e abbastanza caramella da essere…lady!
Sillage e longevità sono grandi.
Mudrik8491 – :
A most wondrous perfume, probably one of my favorites ever, and yet one that I will never need to own a full bottle of. I have the 3.5mL official deluxe sample from the FM boutique in NYC, and it’s lasted me over three years so far. This “gothic” rose requires an occasion. I simply can’t make myself wear it on a daily basis; it demands an exquisite outfit, a glamorous gala, or, as I last wore it last night, a Nightwish concert to accompany a black lace dress and dramatic makeup. This is rose and incense, a church, a communion. I can’t lavish enough praise upon it. But beware, sillage and longevity are monstrous–less than a full spray is needed lest you suffocate your companions!
accedyScerway – :
This was nicely gourmand on me and smelled exactly like Turkish Delight. If that’s the smell you love,
byh693speagoessenda – :
Portrait of a Lady is a VERY “gothic” rose perfume. It’s beautiful. It makes me think of flower arrangements in a church.
The rose and the patchouli come out in full force when you first put this on, but the incense starts to take over after a few minutes. The incense is very smoky and it almost adds a menthol-esque quality to the fragrance, in my opinion.
I personally do not smell the berry notes in this; it’s too floral, smoky, and earthy for me to really notice them (which is a relief, because I am not much of a berry fan in my perfumes for the most part). The cinnamon, cloves, sandalwood, amber, and musk, though, all play small parts to enhance the notes that stand out the most (the rose, patchouli, and incense). The end result, is a rosy, earthy, smoky, and dark fragrance. It’s all beautifully blended.
The strength of this fragrance is crazy, too. One spray should be enough. The sillage is impressive as well. I would also say that this perfume works best in the cold months because of how strong it is. It’s too warm of a fragrance for it to NOT be cloying in the Summer, in my opinion. And finally, I think that men can absolutely wear this despite the name.
I only have a sample size of this fragrance. As much as I love it, though, I can’t justify spending so much money on a full bottle. It is absolutely a gorgeous perfume, though.
DEADTH – :
I can’t help but feel elegant while wearing this. It’s very much a winter scent, as I’ve found it can get a bit cloying in humid environments. But it’s absolutely beautiful on a cold winter day.
The rose is very prominent at first, but dries down delicately. The incense is the most prominent note on my skin, along with a hint of sweetness from the berries. The longevity is perhaps what impresses me the most. I can still smell it on my skin after a long day.
bondar48 – :
Fragrance -Portrait of a Lady Frederic Malle
Bottle from – 2015
In my opinion,Portrait of a Lady is one of the best dark rose fragrance on the planet.
This is a story about a magical,mysterious,dark and mystical rose,with a bit fruity,spicy,syrupy and moderatly sweet opening notes with dominant raspberry,black currant,rose and clove followed by a bit smoky and dry incense and dark patchouli in the middle.
The drydown is a bit musky,dry and smokey with dominant rose,patchouli,incense and with a nice touch of musk and benzoin.This is a masterpiece,there is no question about it.
Longevity – 10/10(10+ hours)
Silage/Projection – 9,5/10(heavy projection and silage for the first 3-4 hours)
Weather -Best in autumn and winter
Age – 25+
Compliments – 9/10
Scent – 10/10(masterpiece)
Main notes according to me -rose,patchouli,incense,clove, raspberry,black currant,benzoin,sandalwood.
The drydown is a bit musky and smokey and I get some -rose,patchouli,incense,benzoin and musk.
Emotions -dark vibe elegance,magical,mysterious,profound, class,sophisticated,mystical.
Occasion -best for special occasions,semi-formal events and life defining moments.
Definitely will get everyone’s attention.You’ll get compliments with this fragrance.
awesome – :
Reminds me of Narsico Rodriguez “rose musc” but the incense here makes it more edgey and more wearable for men.
I get patchouli mixed with fruits “raspberries” and roses, and a very noticeable incense, I think I will stick to Narciso “Rose musc”, as It suits me more, don’t need both of them
max.groznov2010 – :
On me this is just straight roses and sweat. I kind of like what that suggests when considering the name lol.
The dirty kind of mellows but never really goes away during the life of one wear (which is loads better than the Carnal Flower or the Iris Poudre for example). I totally fell for the Rose & oud treatment from the past few years (I have way too many of those) but never found a rose & patchouli that did it for me like Midnight Poison. This certainly doesn’t get there (nothing does), but it might be worth a purchase.
Orbishacash – :
I have finally purchased this perfume. I wrote a negative review a while ago about this exact fragrance. I am convinced I smelled a bottle that has turned bad (perhaps it was an old bottle or exposed to too much light) or my nose was particularly off that day. From my memory it smelled horrible like urine, it was awful! I was put off until I came across it in the store and decided to spray it again on me. I have read too many wonderful reviews and all the notes corresponds to all the things I love. I had little expectations after my past experience but to my surprise it smelled lovely! It was a completely different perfume than what I had smelled a while ago… So people, give this perfume another chance…
For a rose perfume, I consider it a very unique rose. It has a perfect balance of rose, incense and patchouli. It is deep and complex. I would say it is a very earthy rose perfume. As if you would be plucking a fresh dark rose down from the earth full of moss. The rose is authentic and dominant. It is not at all an overly sweet or juicy rose. The incense and spices gives it a great complexion of darkness, mysteriousness and maturity. The patchouli gives it the earthy, green and warm feeling. I finally understand all the comments mentioning that this fragrance is for the strong willed women who is sure of what she wants.
Since it is a very heavy and noticeable perfume, a little bit goes a long way. It lasts forever on me and you will be noticed. I also do agree that for me it is strictly a winter perfume or perhaps a summer night time perfume (with a very light hand). I would avoid this at all costs under hot weather. I would imagine it could get too overpowering and neauseating. Like I mentioned, it is a unique fragrance and perhaps not for everybody. BUT somehow since I have it, the love has been growing on me. Overall, a beautiful scent. I didn’t expect less from a Frederic Malle perfume.
PS: I have never gotten as many notice and compliments when I wear this! And all of them very positive comments asking me what perfume it is. I am more and more in love with this scent…
artembelovich – :
@HappyInsomniac
Thanx a lot for your feedback, i got this juice and i dont know how it is categorized as a female