Finally got my little sample of Frederic Malle’s newest, Dans tes Bras. Created by Maurice Roucel, it has notes of bergamot, clove, violet, jasmine, sandalwood, patchouli, salicylates, incense, Cashmeran (a mix of musk, woods, and resin), heliotrope and white musk. DtB starts off very rooty and earthy, the dirt elements of woods and iris. There’s some hints of musk, but it stays right in that very gorgeous dirt smell for a long time. There are hints of the other notes floating around, thought I get more violet early on, and the incense and musk embellish the composition. Oddly enough, I sprayed it on my arm instead of my hands, and I get much more violet. This fragrance feels like fall to me, the outdoors, crisp and cold. I went out for a run on Sunday morning – it was cold and drizzly, and as I ran looking up at the trees turning color on the parkway, my eyes filled up with tears at how beautiful this world can be. I should have been wearing Dans tes Bras, that would have made it perfect
This won’t appeal to everyone, but it certainly has itched my fragrance scratch in an almost pervy way. It is different, knows what it is, and isn’t afraid. More like this, please. Oh, wait, there will be another on Thursday as I sniff Amouage’s hidden and sky-high priced treasure, Homage. I should have picked my nose up off the floor by then.
So excited to sniff this, of course!
I’m intrigued to smell Dans Tes Bras – it sounds like 50/50 it could go either way love/hate. I’ve smelled the Amouage Homage – it was very good but didn’t move me to pay $360+… I think I like Amouage 25 better.
Glad I read through the previous comments before posting because I was going to ask you if you took that photo, too! It’s beautiful.
I’m curious about Dans tes bras, too. You’ve really piqued my interest.
I’ve already kind of pre-reviewed Dans tes Bras this summer before it came out, but decided to dedicate another post to its strangeness. It’s one of the fragrances that are so out there you can’t figure them out all at one go…
Eeke, I’m off to see what you had to say, yeah!!!!
It’s written but not posted yet. Stay tuned tomorrow… I agree with what you wrote above. Total nose-shifter.
Patty, this one may be worth a bottle, but I am still on the fence. I started to wear the rest of my sample today, but then decided on Lady Vengeance.
I love the rooty, violet, salty, earthy part of DtB. But there is something way-ay-ay down in the base, don’t know what it is, that bothers me. Maybe it’s the cashmeran??
Further testing is warranted. 😉
Hugs!
I think that Cashmeran or even some of the violet could take it over the edge. I put it on again today, and it smells different now than yesterday. It’s a nose-shifter. 🙂
I ordered 6 samples of FM perfumes from their website becaused of this review! I just wanna try DTB as I always love the smell of dirt (have you tried Demeter’s Dirt? It’s a REAL dirt!) but then i found many of them sounded so interesting….
I’ve been reading your blog as well as other perfume blogs for almost one year and it become my daily enjoyment! Thanks so much!
😡
Demeter’s dirt is great, but the founder of Demeter, Christopher Brosius, has some amazing dirt scents, if you haven’t already found them.Black March is my favorite, followed by To See a Flower, and I can go on from there!
and thanks for the nice words!
Oh! actually i’ve bought decants of Black March, Burning Leaves and Memory of Kindness based on your previous review! Ha! I love Black March and am wearing Burning Leaves these days as autumn approaches. It is just the smell of autumn! But they’re of minimal sillage and last only for 1-2 hours on me.
I also have Demeter Dirt. I really enjoy it but my ex said it smelled like lawn fertilizer. That reference makes me hesitant to spray it, damnit. Yeah, CB Black March is also a great dirt, more complex than the Demeter, as it should be as the Demeter Dirt (at least the one I have) is a cologne. Now I must try To See A Flower! So is Christopher Brosius CB I Hate Perfume?
Yes, Christopher Brosius is the “I Hate Perfume” guy. Black March is very cool, especially layered with things like certain white florals in early Spring. And Demeter Dirt is certainly good for layering as well. Black March is a more complex scent. It has that (for me) almost nausea-inducing root scent (don’t know how else to explain it, and not sure anyone else finds it nauseating) that is the authentic smell of fresh soil in the Spring.
The world really can be a beautiful place sometimes, beautiful enough to even make you well up with tears 🙂 I loved the imagery. So my question after reading is, is this undoubtedly unisex?
IF the violets aren’t prominent on you, yes, definitely unisex. If the violets dominate, it’s iffier and up to individual taste.
I’m mesmerized by that photo. Gorgeous!
Dirt?! SOB! I get only the slightest hint of clean dirt and then it’s all violets on my skin. Brutally unfair. I’d much prefer a mix of 80% dirt, 20% violet.
That is so bizarre! I mean I love violets, but I wouldn’t like this nearly as much if that was the main theme. It’s the grittiness of it overlaying some very smooth notes that appeals.
didn’t take that picture, but I wish had. It is amazing.
PS did you TAKE that photo? I bet you did. It’s gorgeous.
Ooooh, yummy!!!!!!! I am overdue for a hopeless lemming of some ridiculously priced, hard to get item! 😡
No, I didn’t take it. I haven’t figured out how to take the camera while I’m running. I should just remember to take it when I take the dog for a walk, but always think it’s just too much to juggle.
This sounds interesting! I am finding I have difficulties with certain musks (they quease me out, alas) but the violets and woods sounds lovely. I love the idea of violets, though the only violet I’m able to bear are more watery (Liz Zorn had a little sample of Violets and Rainwater that is beautiful, with the violets not going into that weird, Nose Slammed Shut phase).
I am singing LOUDLY and covering my ears on the Amouage. I’ve steadfastly avoided them, as they are too pricey for this po’ thang, at least for now….
….(psst! don’t like it, okay?)
xo>-)
I know! I plugged my ears and sang lalalalalalala for a long time. 🙂
Well…being that Fall is still far off in south TX…I’ll take your word for it that this is a great cooler weather scent! I should be getting a sample soon from a scent-twin who also loves this!
I’m looking forward to your review of the Amouage and with the USD gaining strength…ok…will never own this own but at least can enjoy your experiance! I think the 12mls is currently about $360ish??
I feel like I should be out for a good run right now! :-\”
Yup, it’s about 360’ish, I think once shipping and everything had been thrown in, it was more. But it’s super-concentrated! You need barely a drop, and then you can spread it around everywhere.
Dans tes Bras sounds quite lovely. I was fairly disinterested prior to reading it. And now, I am now officially lemming a morning run. Too bad I hate running! A morning walk sounds about right though…
As for Thursday, please tell us that Homage is mediocre, or at least not worth even 1/2 the price. Oh wait, at 1/2 the price, it’s still expensive, isn’t it?:((
I hate running, too, but I do it anyway, and I love it at the same time. it took me a lot of weeks – after taking a few months off due to shin splints – to get to running the full 30 minutes, and now I’m pushing for 45.
Homage is pretty stunning. But! If you don’t like ouds, this won’t change your minde. How’s that?
No! I love ouds! Say it ain’t so!!!:o
Thank goodness for Frederic Malle!
I do wind up loving most everything they’ve done. So very different and unique, each and every one
Thanks, Patty for a new lemming 8-| Your lovely post changed my mind about giving this one a whirl, cynical as I’ve gotten over the fall’s new releases. Sound wonderful :d/ !
I am now frightened to read Thursday’s post-Homage is sounding way too compelling and very $-) Funny, though, after some recent perfume “investments” how my scale/perspective is shifting upwards:-$
Well, the great news about about Homage is it takes very, very little to creats some amazing clouds of fumage
I am so sad about this one. Morphs once… beautiful, morphs twice…beautiful! Then, poof..gone. The dog on the other hand was snugglin’ my arm for hours. I think its her HG. I’ll try it again, till I get it right. :)>-
Ha! I love that, and chuckled for a while… an object lesson in adjusting our expectations…instead of US finding our holy grails, we should be happy when the dog finds one. :-j
Oh, no!!! that is so sad. It sticks with me for hours. But the pup smells great!
I’m afraid of white musk. But, I will try a samp if available, it will be my trick or treat to myself. And a learning lesson either way. Your Fall morning run sounded moving. I bet the air smelled great too. Although Fall is the Southwest’s best season as far as I’m concerned, it’s not comparable to areas with moisture and more prominent change of season.
I just realized there is no chance I will get a hold of a decant samp before Halloween, so I guess it will be belated trick or treat.
thin, fall Colorado air is always amazing, it’s my very favorite time of year.
I don’t smell a lot of white musk in this. It’s there, but not in a way that screeches.
I forgot you were so “close” (I’m Albuquerque). I bet it is so gorgeous up there right now.
Everything but the violet sounds wonderful to me. Violet screams spring to me and I have a hard time imagining it with musk, dirt sandalwood and patch, but then I guess that’s why I’m not Maurice! I think I’ll have to try this one for sure.
The violet could be make or break if you hate it. I get less violet, and I could have stood for more!
Dirt? Incense? Patch? Musk? Yum!
yeah!!! You don’t hate violets, right? it appears people get different strengths of them on their skin. They were very light on me and perfect, even if they had been heavier, but mostly I got earthy dirt.
Of course I meant to say CLOVE!!! :-s
I really like the sound of this one! Dirt and cloe violets, yeah, bring it on!
And HOW on earth are you getting to try Homage, I thought it was practically mythical! Is it coming here soon, pleasepleaseplease!?! [-o<
It’s available on the Amouage website under attars – s’all I’m sayin’…
You can get the Homage from Selfridge’s in London or on their site, per the comment below!
DtB is pretty darn great.