My New Fragrance Love: Carnal Flower by Fredric Malle

I recently ordered a decant of Fredric Malle's Carnal Flower from The Perfumed Court on the basis of the review in the book Perfumes: The Guide by Luca Turin (which I will review in greater detail later). It was a very smart move, as I'm in love with it.

I love heady, sexy florals in the summertime, especially if they have a tinge of beach to them, such as a coconut note. I'm not a fan of straight up coconut or pineapple pina colada scents. I want something mysterious and complicated. Carnal Flower fits that bill perfectly.

The perfumer who created it, Domonique Ropion, uses the highest concentration of tuberose available on the market. Other notes include bergamot, melon, ylang ylang, salycilates, jasmine, tuberose absolute, orange blossom absolute, coconut, and white musk. I read somewhere that Juicy Fruit gum was an inspiration to this scent, but don't be fooled - it's not sweet. The opening notes to me are quite green, which then gives way to a beautiful tuberose. The musk shows up in the drydown and makes it deeper and adds complexity. The coconut just throws a small beach note in there. It's not very noticeable - almost an unconscious association.

If you're a fan of white florals that go beyond sweetness, then give this a try. Especially if you like glamourous, complicated fragrances that are beyond the mainstream - Carnal Flower fits the bill perfectly.