French niche line Frédéric Malle will launch Monsieur, a new fragrance for men. Monsieur is intended as the masculine counterpart to the brand's Portrait of a Lady.
Monsieur was developed by perfumer Bruno Jovanovic (who also developed Malle's Chez Monsieur candle). The fragrance reportedly features an overdose of patchouli, along with notes of mandarin, rum, vanilla and musk.
Frédéric Malle Monsieur will be $190 for 50 ml, and will presumably be available in the other standard Frédéric Malle sizes as well (100 ml and 3 x 10 ml).
(via departures, elle.fr)
Update: the description via Barneys...
Bruno Jovanovic, in this first perfume signed under his name, took on a symbol of classic perfumery, patchouli, an emblematic material for many perfumers.
Monsieur. through its unique dosage (over 50% of patchouli obtained by molecular distillation) is to patchouli what Carnal Flower is to tuberose.
Monsieur.
The perfumer endeavored to purify this material in the extreme to turn it into the key link in the evaporation chain:
The initial tangerine notes convey a particular freshness. These top notes mingle with the enigmatic and syrupy character of rum absolute, a link with the sea of patchouli that lies at the heart of the perfume. A substantial measure of cedar and of incense endow the latter with a sensuous and mystical vibration, while touches of modern amber confer a darker side to it. Hints of vanilla and musk tie everything together and soften the sharpness, to tame this brute into a sensuous, magnetic and nonetheless civilized animal!
No one had dared use patchouli in such a pure form since the 70s.
The formula, both simple and essential, has evoked since its genesis in Frédéric Malle’s mind Alfonso de Portago, Mark Birley, Jose-Luis de Villalonga or Gianni Agnelli, remorseless seducers who would playfully flit from women’s embrace to social merrymaking. Gentlemen whose manly and timeless elegance has relentlessly guided the development of this perfume and enabled Frédéric Malle to stay on course during the creation of this very minimal scent.
Sounds like a perfect Autumn fragrance
Could be! Although I’m mostly interested in the rum & vanilla myself.
Sound like something I could enjoy wearing. Wondering how it compares to Bornéo…
For my sake, I hope they’re nothing alike
Wow! I love POAL, and my husband loves patchouli! Although I thought the masculine counterpart to POAL was Geranium pour Monsieur.
I wouldn’t necessarily make too much of the idea of masculine counterpart — I don’t sense they’re necessarily related smell-wise (or at least, have not yet seen enough press material to know).
I always understood that POaL was inspired by Géranium. Apparently the former is widely worn by men in the Middle East.