Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady Eau De Parfum Review

 I just finished a perfume today...so I ordered a new one and in the meantime this will be my go to. It's almost gone though so I figured no time like the present to review it. Frederic Malle is a new brand to me. I am trying to get my hands on more of the classic fragrances. So far it's been a fun journey for me. I actually ordered this to go to my parents house and then picked it up when I went to the states because I noticed it was on sale and they actually sold the small size. So that's what I ended up with. But even the small size was kinda pricey. Even on sale. 

Frederic Malle claims:

Eau de Parfum 

Floral Chypre notes

It’s not just a perfume, it’s a revolution.

A paradox in every drop

An exceptional fragrance by Dominique Ropion, PORTRAIT OF A LADY enhances the opulence and voluptuousness of the Turkish rose in extravagant proportions.  

With PORTRAIT OF A LADY, Frédéric Malle and perfumer Dominique Ropion mark a new stage in the great timeline of perfumery. With this immoderate rose, magnified by woody tones, amber and incense, the designers are redrawing the contours of the cypress, an olfactory family synonymous with the finest eras of 20th-century perfumery. Their play of light and shadow, their elegance and extreme refinement. From this expert craftsmanship, there emerges a splendour created to outlast time.  

Rose, patchouli, sandalwood, incensePortrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle is a Oriental Floral fragrance for women. Portrait of a Lady was launched in 2010. The nose behind this fragrance is Dominique Ropion. Top notes are Rose, Clove, Raspberry, Black Currant, Cinnamon and Red Berries; middle notes are Turkish Rose, Patchouli, Incense, Sandalwood and Ylang-Ylang; base notes are Incense, Sandalwood, Musk, Benzoin, Amber, Cedar, Ambergris and Vanilla.

I'm surprised to see the perfume has only been around since 2010. The name just evokes a feeling of it being a very old fragrance. But I do really like the name. It's very intriguing. Kinda like the perfume. 

I've gotten quite a bit of compliments on it which was surprising to me. I'm not sure I've really developed an opinion on whether I like it myself.

I do like that it's unique. So many newer scents tend to smell the same. They all seem to be very sweet florals. This is a very unique scent. I've never smelled anything like it. I can say I do like that about it. 

I don't know how to describe it. It's definitely a grown woman scent. It does have rose in it, but it smells different from all other rose scents. It's incense-y, dark, spicy, mysterious. If I take a deep sniff, I get a lot of Rose. But...the very best Rose scent. It's not powdery. Which is a good thing for me. I don't like powdery rose. Or at least all the powdery rose scents I've used lately I definitely have not liked. I'm sniffing my shirt with it now...and the rose is intoxicating. 

I was kinda surprised when I looked up reviews to see a lot of men reviewing it. So I guess it's unisex. I can kinda see that. 

I've been wearing it for 9 hours and it's still going strong. Especially in my clothes. So it does last very well.

I like it. I'm glad I gave it a go. I don't think it's one I will be sad about when I use it up. Nor will I wish I bought a bigger size. But I'm glad I got my nose on it.