Frederic Malle Carnal Flower was released in 2005, created by the legendary perfume Dominque Ropion (Dior Pure Poison, Thierry Mugler Alien, Mall Portrait of a Lady and Vetiver Extraordinaire). Carnal Flower is carnality of tuberose wrapped in the glorious fresh green from an opulent bouquet of flowers. Candice Bergen was the muse Dominque Ropion in the creation of this fragrance. The creation of this, there was no limit put on the budget for tuberose, and it allegedly contains the highest amount of tuberose ever included in a perfume. Notes of Tuberose, bergamot, melon, eucalyptus, ylang-ylang, jasmine, white musk cocktail, coconut and orange blossom absolute.
From the Malle website description - "If nature offers olfactive clashes, tuberose is probably the best example of it. These pretty flowers exude an almost carnal smell, superimposing in a quasi-miraculous way flower shop freshness, camphorous violence – spicy and animalic – and milky sweetness. This mysterious equilibrium has always fascinated perfumers. 18 months were necessary for Dominique Ropion to forward a modern version of that theme, an “olfactive Everest” that only the most talented perfumers were capable of reaching."
From Perfume Posse - "Green, gorgeous tuberose. It is chewy and buttery and covered with lovely greenhouse aromas puffed out with eucalyptus."
From Now Smell This - "Carnal Flower opens on heavy green notes, evoking the fragrance of crushed stems and leaves over mild citrus. As the tuberose begins to peek though, the green notes fade into camphor, but it is very soft; it warms and dulls the heady floral notes without calling attention to itself."
From Scentertainer - "Carnal Flower is a tuberose that grows in Parmigianino’s garden, like the characters on his paintings, gracious milky white, with long and soft limbs like the petals of a flower."
From eauxsillage - "Almost retracing the “doesn’t smell like Fracas” path paved by Tubéreuse Criminelle, in creating Carnal Flower, Malle and Ropion have crafted a truly unique tuberose perfume – a soaring symphony of intoxicatingly fleshy tuberose buoyed by jasmine and orange blossom, deftly cut with green eucalyptus and coconut to stave off any cloying elements – more natural than the buttered orange blossom heavy Fracas, but still less capricious, more wearable than the Lutens example. A modern classic, a tuberose whose opulence never veers into the realm of antiquation or cloying heaviness, Carnal Flower is green, gorgeous tuberose. My ultimate tuberose"
From Olfactoria's Travels - "I had a very wrong impression of Carnal Flower. There was no need to be afraid, it is a very wearable, elegant, beautiful and almost understated floral. It evokes feelings of well being and contentment in me. Tuberose has this knack of seeming like internal sunshine to me. As soon as I wear Carnal Flower it is as if a lamp has been switched on inside."
More information and Frederic Malle reviews can be found at:
| Perfume Name | Frederic Malle Carnal Flower |
| Year Introduced | 2005 |
| Perfumer | Dominique Ropion |
| Gender | Unisex |
| Strength | Eau de parfum, edp |
| Notes | Tuberose, bergamot, melon, eucalyptus, ylang-ylang, jasmine, white musk cocktail, coconut and orange blossom absolute. |
| Country of Origin | France |
This is a very well made fragrance, but is too tropical flower for me. My sister loves it as she wears Pikake all the time. It is quite enduring. I like it best when it is nearly gone. For people who like a tropical/flower shop floral, this would be rated higher.
A beautiful white, creamy, and fresh tuberose. Less indolic than some might prefer, but taken on its own it's heady, bright, and lovely.
This is a very well made fragrance, but is too tropical flower for me. My sister loves it as she wears Pikake all the time. It is quite enduring. I like it best when it is nearly gone. For people who like a tropical/flower shop floral, this would be rated higher.
A beautiful white, creamy, and fresh tuberose. Less indolic than some might prefer, but taken on its own it's heady, bright, and lovely.
It's like walking into a florists' shop. Flowers, plants, and leaves, plus whatever else they're selling in there. I don't feel like it's loud, let's say "assertive". I spray it once in the direction of my ankles.
I can tell this is a well made perfume, with good sillage and longevity, but its too lady-like for me. If you like tuberose, though, this could be for you.
I haven't worn perfume for decades as it all smelled like bug spray on me. There were some restrictions on making old stlye perfumes and maybe that was the problem.
Also our executives were counselled not to wear any fragrance. This is just wonderful and different and I wear very little but got a compliment from a man the first day I tried it. I don't know the lingo.
So that's it. I really like it.
This is a super green tuberose screamer on me. It goes on with a roar and stays potent. Tried to wait it out but could only last an hour. I generally like tuberose and perfume with good sillage but this was bananas. I had to take it off after an hour and even with alcohol scrubbing it left me with a headache. Not for me at all, but glad I tried it as it is much loved.
Luuurrve this scent. It's sexy yet fresh and not at all overwhelming. I just wish it lasted a little longer on my skin!
A FEW SPRAYS AND THIS EDP STAYS AND SURROUNDS YOU IN ITS HEAVENLY TUBEROSE SCENT. I FEEL SURROUNDED BY A GARDEN AND
IT CERTAINLY KEEPS MY SPIRITS UP.
Such a nice fragrantly floral scent with a large hint of sexy polish in the undertone. It just lasts and lasts which is phenomenal on my dry skin. Nuances of fruit and flower are blended into a creamy smoothness. A very well thought out scent, which I love, besides makes me feel quite beautiful
I liked this perfume, but found it rather linear. It's just tuberose on my skin and nothing more. Perhaps if I'd gotten a larger sample with a spray pump, I'd be better able to detect the various notes. I think I like Serge Lutens version better. It has a little more character with that camphor thing going on in the beginning.
