Outrageous Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle 2007
6
The Brazilian Debussy!
When Claude Debussy went to the Conservatory of Music in Paris, he was a rebel. Moreover, a young, inexperienced one.
As a composer, he began early to abandon time-tested harmonic techniques (“Outrageous!!” or rather “Scandaleux!!”, his professors must have exclaimed…), in order to bring forth his own style of pentatonic, novel timbres, and whole-tone scales. Strange, ethereal sounds were the foundation of the nonconformist Debussy, who remains the quintessential musician of Impressionism to this day.
Outrageous undoubtedly possesses impressionistic traits for me. All the statements that accuse it of being an iron-apple-musk - or celebrate it for that very reason - have indeed deciphered the top notes of the fragrance. However, similar to Debussy's compositions, there are still encrypted, tangled harmonies against the heart and base - devoid of any classical-romantic structure - waiting for us reviewers. Flickering tremolo surfaces, morning mist legatos, sunbeam tones. Diverse timbres! Much in pianissimo. Reserved. But with soul.
From the start, these are not exactly Monet-like sunrises - those come later - rather, Outrageous surprisingly offers Brazilian Caipirinha references: although not listed here, these would primarily be lime and mint. The Brazilian Debussy! The apple, however, remains predominant. Added to this are the often obligatory fresh notes of bergamot and mandarin. Aldehyde-musk envelops the heart, blowing in the wind of the sunrise. But again Monet? The fresh laundry Monet! Major chord brushstrokes reaching into the sky - in bright green-blue.
It is said that Frederic Malle and Sophia Grojsman actually met in a Brazilian bar for their joint project. The impressions from this meeting gave birth to the idea for the fragrance presented here. And one of them is said to have actually had a Caipirinha….
Leaving the Brazilian image behind, a cedar that has long been hiding surprises at the end. As if it were a secret in the overall picture. One that is only ever seen, heard, or smelled very quietly and very briefly as a motif. A loneliness quintet. In the midst of the colorful light that has been shining on us all the time…
As a composer, he began early to abandon time-tested harmonic techniques (“Outrageous!!” or rather “Scandaleux!!”, his professors must have exclaimed…), in order to bring forth his own style of pentatonic, novel timbres, and whole-tone scales. Strange, ethereal sounds were the foundation of the nonconformist Debussy, who remains the quintessential musician of Impressionism to this day.
Outrageous undoubtedly possesses impressionistic traits for me. All the statements that accuse it of being an iron-apple-musk - or celebrate it for that very reason - have indeed deciphered the top notes of the fragrance. However, similar to Debussy's compositions, there are still encrypted, tangled harmonies against the heart and base - devoid of any classical-romantic structure - waiting for us reviewers. Flickering tremolo surfaces, morning mist legatos, sunbeam tones. Diverse timbres! Much in pianissimo. Reserved. But with soul.
From the start, these are not exactly Monet-like sunrises - those come later - rather, Outrageous surprisingly offers Brazilian Caipirinha references: although not listed here, these would primarily be lime and mint. The Brazilian Debussy! The apple, however, remains predominant. Added to this are the often obligatory fresh notes of bergamot and mandarin. Aldehyde-musk envelops the heart, blowing in the wind of the sunrise. But again Monet? The fresh laundry Monet! Major chord brushstrokes reaching into the sky - in bright green-blue.
It is said that Frederic Malle and Sophia Grojsman actually met in a Brazilian bar for their joint project. The impressions from this meeting gave birth to the idea for the fragrance presented here. And one of them is said to have actually had a Caipirinha….
Leaving the Brazilian image behind, a cedar that has long been hiding surprises at the end. As if it were a secret in the overall picture. One that is only ever seen, heard, or smelled very quietly and very briefly as a motif. A loneliness quintet. In the midst of the colorful light that has been shining on us all the time…
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6 Comments
Definitely not my cup of tea, but that doesn’t matter here.
I enjoyed reading your review!