Perfume Review: Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur

Musc Ravageur was created for Frederic Malle’s Editions de Parfums by Maurice Roucel, the creator of Hermes 24 Faubourg, Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist, Rochas Tocade, Gucci Envy, Shalini, and a legion of other scents. The Editions de Parfums site promises that there will be “no flowers” in Musc Ravageur, “just a refined and exalted skin scent”. As much as I like certain floral notes in perfume, a scent with “no flowers” will always find a special place in my floral-mostly-hating-heart. As will a warm, deep, sensual, spicy scent with a hint of little something dirty-animalic. Musc Ravageur starts with a series of tiny fragrant explosions on my skin. First there is a starry firework of bergamot, then cinnamon enters the scene with a bang, “like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the sky." (Jack Kerouac) Then suddenly there is a short period of warm, enveloping darkness of wonderfully animalic musk. And then the ravageur stage is all over and done with and we step into a cozy, candlelit world of vanilla and amber and sweet spices. I smell cardamom, saffron and (sometimes) ginger at this point, with cardamom being especially prominent on my skin. From that stage on, Musc Ravageur is a like a comfortable loving embrace, like snuggling with your loved one, feeling warm, secure, adored and darn sexy, all at the same time. This is undoubtedly one of my most favorite and often-worn scents. I find Musc Ravageur wonderfully versatile, it can be worn on dressed up and /or romantic occasions, to seduce and conquer, and it can be worn “just for yourself”, to comfort, soothe and warm, all with equal success. Musc Ravageur is available at Editions de Parfums, €80 for 50ml or €120 for 100ml, or at Barneys, $155 for 50 ml, $230 for 100 ml. *Image of Fireplace at Night is from sxc.hu *Tomorrow- Nectarine Blossom & Honey by Jo Malone