Frederic Malle Portait of a Lady is a floral oriental and is named after the Victorian era novel by Henry James. Created by Dominique Ropion and released in 2010, and it is not what you think it is at all. First, it is a much more masculine fragrance and intended for a masculine audience, though it is completely unisex. It has notes of cinnamon, raspberry, Turkish rose, rose absolute, sandalwood, incense, amber and patchouli. Note all that rose. It is beyond opulent. Spiced, hot rose surrounded by earth and patchouli and incense. Don't wear this if you don't want attention or would like to nap at the back of the theater. Notes of cinnamon, raspberry, Turkish rose essence, rose absolute, sandalwood, incense, amber and patchouli.
From Bois de Jasmin - "The creator of Portrait of a Lady, perfumer Dominique Ropion, is renowned for his ability to engineer powerful fragrances, the kind that leave a mile long sillage and yet still don’t push into the realm of “need to be banned from restaurants.” This comes from adjusting the elements of the composition in such a way that the heavy, rich effects are interspersed with the lighter, brighter ones. Portrait of a Lady is a good example of his technique and his ability to add nuance even to the heaviest and richest scents."
From the Malle Comprehensive review at Perfume Posse - "Every time I smell this, it takes my breath away with how audacious it is. Rose that slaps you hard, then curls around you and shows you how very essential it is to your continued existence. Dominatrix Rose."
From Persolaise - "Whether you’re a man or a woman, try this astonishing new release and let yourself be transported to an empty church in a country where Christianity and Arabic culture happily exist side by side, a place like, say, Lebanon or Syria. The outside world is locked away behind heavy doors. The lights are low. The silence is complete. You sit down and see a polished, brass censer hanging from the ceiling. Emerging from the holes in its lid is a heavy, scarlet smoke, cascading to the ground like endless ribbons of iridescent fabric. Close your eyes and just wait. Before too long, you’ll be enveloped by the magic and completely trapped in its heady, floral spell."
From Olfactorias Travels - "It is definitely a perfume that needs time. Time to be appreciated in its entirety, not one of those you fall for at first sniff. At least for me."
| Perfume Name | Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady |
| Year Introduced | 2010 |
| Perfumer | Dominique Ropion |
| Gender | Unisex |
| Strength | Eau de parfum, edp |
| Notes | Top notes of cinnamon and raspberry; middle notes of Turkish rose essence, rose absolute, sandalwood and incense; and base notes of amber and patchouli. |
| Country of Origin | France |
Too much rose note for me.
'To me' this is one of the most awesome scents available. I can put it on my shirt and still smell it a week later when washing my clothes. I work on the railroad in the Florida heat (over 100°) and after a 12 hr day I still smell this fragrance on my clothes. If longevity is important to you then this is the cologne you need to buy.
Too much rose note for me.
'To me' this is one of the most awesome scents available. I can put it on my shirt and still smell it a week later when washing my clothes. I work on the railroad in the Florida heat (over 100°) and after a 12 hr day I still smell this fragrance on my clothes. If longevity is important to you then this is the cologne you need to buy.
I love this perfume. It makes me feel confident and awake. It is mild enough but last long. Definitely a perfume for a confident woman.
Smells nice just too strong for my liking.
This is a complicated lady. The rose was definitely there right off the bat, but interestingly it came and went and came back again. When the rose was gone it was replaced by a peppery scent. Most reviewers I see wrote patchouli, but for me it was definitely peppery, which made it seem like a men's fragrance. But then the rose would sneak in and dance with the pepper. Long lasting fragrance and very intriguing.
Oh yes, I was one of those people obsessed with the patchouli gourmands: Angel and her flankers, La Nuit Tresor Lancome, 501 praline, licorice, patchouli Bon Parfumeur, etc. I thought I wanted ALL the candy. Enter this Lady, Portait of a Lady, and those desires for sweetness have been replaced by a desire for a more sophisticated, mature, dry and woody patchouli. This Lady starts with a Rose and all her charms, and dries down to a patchouli that is decidedly not sweet or "dirty Hippie" (a phrase I despise.) I received many compliments, from friends, and even my significant other. Give her a try.
I had high hopes for this but goes to show everyone's nose is different. For me, this perfume falls in the "old lady" scents. No thanks.
I have no idea why I waited so long to try this. I've been wearing Musc Ravageur for several years and I adore it, but I figured I had enough leathery roses in my collection already. Wrong. This is something else entirely; smooth, creamy, intense (using a light hand is advisable).....it's simply gorgeous. I don't know what I'll do when my sample runs out, but I'm doling it out drop by drop to make it last.
Dark roses, wood, and sophistication. I love this and bought a FB.
I work in a VA clinic, and honestly I get asked 3 to 4 times a day.."Please tell me what frangrance are you wearing?" A couple of spays and it lasts all day! I love it it is my signature fragrance!
I work in a VA clinic, and honestly I get asked 3 to 4 times a day.."Please tell me what frangrance are you wearing?" A couple of spays and it lasts all day! I love it it is my signature fragrance!
This is an amazing perfume. I loved the way the intense rose floated on top of the patchouli. It is a complex and amazing composition. I may never buy a full bottle to wear on a regular basis, but I appreciate its complexity. It was created by a master perfumer.
I really loved this perfume. It is very expensive so I wanted to smell it on me before I actually purchased it. The sample order that I got was well worth and I got so many compliments the few times that I wore it.
I am so excited about this fragrance. I've always wanted to try it. And now it's a new favorite. It's definitely worth every penny. I will save up to purchase a FB... Soon.
This fragrance is not for everyone. Gum-snapping tweens will squeal Eiuuuu!!! Women who like to smell like watermelon taffy or laundry will despise it. But if you adore roses and want to smell like an old-money European heiress, this just might be your Holy Grail. It opens with deep crimson roses and berries dusted with spices, then settles into a lush, warm blanket of the most perfectly balanced rose-patchouli accord I've ever smelled. Later, a bit of incense peeks through, then ambery woods. Dry down is a soft, rosy oriental with moderate sillage that lasts a good eight hours on my skin. Expensive? Insanely! Worth it? IMHO totally!
This is a strong, serious fragrance. On me it was quite linear with the rose and patchouli well blended. I didn't get any of the other notes. The sillage is impressive, my kids could smell me at arms length, and it lasted a long time. This is rather sophisticated, too sophisticated for me anyway! I was also hoping for less patchouli and more sandalwood, which I didn't get.
Everything in this hit me at once.Like 20 people trying to speak to me at the same time - Overpowering. I did not find any comfort zones in this scent.
Portrait of a Lady is an exceptional composition. Masterpiece!
Okay, this is not your ordinary lady! This lady is exceptional! Portrait of an exceptional lady! This juice gives plenty of compliments.
This is a stunning fragrance. Elegant, so well crafted, it leaves all the other rose scents in the dust. They are like little girls next to an elegant woman.
Francis Kurkdjian (Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris)
