Top Notes 
Heart Notes 
Base Notes 
03/03/2013
Apicius
222 Reviews
Apicius
Top Review
10
Cointreau, not Cognac
Frapin's main product is cognac, not perfume. In fact, some of their perfumes – not all – are related to the culture of celebrating a high class brandy. On what occasions do you take out the snifters from the cupboard? Like a good single malt, also a cognac is a fireplace beverage, an after dinner drink. It is best when it is cold outside, and it can contribute to the cosiness of a relaxed evening at home or in the bar of an ancient hotel.
However, if you are looking for a fragrance that directly mirrors the taste of a Frapin cognac, the sweetish 1270 would probably fit best. But with its soft woodiness, also Passion Boisée follows that path – yet, it had been granted some freedom to go for a lighter style. It is suitable for early autumn or springtime rather than midwinter.
Passion Boisée consists of two main accords that go together extremely well. One one hand, there is an elegant woodiness that might give you some images of blond woods, not necessarily antique furniture. On the other hand, this is contrasted by the most beautiful mandarin accord. This mandarin in not just fruity, there is a certain creaminess to it. It gives me the idea of a very creamy white ice cream that has been marbled with a fruity mandarin sherbet. Some soft leathery notes might play their part in changing and softening the fruitiness of the mandarin. I think they are hidden in that creaminess.
What makes Passion Boisée still fit into the scheme of a cognac perfume is that it is rather relaxing, not energizing. However, it is doing so in a light and elegant way, and it is a very optimistic perfume. And even more: after a few glasses of a good Frapin, you might feel relaxed, mellow, and in high spirits. In a way, this beautiful fragrance has quite the same effect on me – without the aftermath of alcohol.
With its lightness and rather simple structure, one might be tempted not to take Passion Boisée seriously – that would be a mistake: Passion Boisée is extraordinarily wearable, and perfect for lifting up one's mood.
I have to admit that Passion Boisée is best in the top notes where that mellow mandarin ice cream is rather distinct. In the drydown, the creaminess becomes a bit vague. It leaves more room to the woodiness then but it doesn't vanish completely. Since the leather and mandarin ice cream accord is something rather special, I accept this withdrawal before it could get on anyone's nerves.
Honestly: Passion Boisée is closer to certain French orange liqueurs, namely Grand Marnier and Cointreau – but these brands are not owned by Frapin. To cut a long story short, Passion Boisée is the best mandarin fragrance I have come across so far. I enjoy it a lot. Highly recommended!
However, if you are looking for a fragrance that directly mirrors the taste of a Frapin cognac, the sweetish 1270 would probably fit best. But with its soft woodiness, also Passion Boisée follows that path – yet, it had been granted some freedom to go for a lighter style. It is suitable for early autumn or springtime rather than midwinter.
Passion Boisée consists of two main accords that go together extremely well. One one hand, there is an elegant woodiness that might give you some images of blond woods, not necessarily antique furniture. On the other hand, this is contrasted by the most beautiful mandarin accord. This mandarin in not just fruity, there is a certain creaminess to it. It gives me the idea of a very creamy white ice cream that has been marbled with a fruity mandarin sherbet. Some soft leathery notes might play their part in changing and softening the fruitiness of the mandarin. I think they are hidden in that creaminess.
What makes Passion Boisée still fit into the scheme of a cognac perfume is that it is rather relaxing, not energizing. However, it is doing so in a light and elegant way, and it is a very optimistic perfume. And even more: after a few glasses of a good Frapin, you might feel relaxed, mellow, and in high spirits. In a way, this beautiful fragrance has quite the same effect on me – without the aftermath of alcohol.
With its lightness and rather simple structure, one might be tempted not to take Passion Boisée seriously – that would be a mistake: Passion Boisée is extraordinarily wearable, and perfect for lifting up one's mood.
I have to admit that Passion Boisée is best in the top notes where that mellow mandarin ice cream is rather distinct. In the drydown, the creaminess becomes a bit vague. It leaves more room to the woodiness then but it doesn't vanish completely. Since the leather and mandarin ice cream accord is something rather special, I accept this withdrawal before it could get on anyone's nerves.
Honestly: Passion Boisée is closer to certain French orange liqueurs, namely Grand Marnier and Cointreau – but these brands are not owned by Frapin. To cut a long story short, Passion Boisée is the best mandarin fragrance I have come across so far. I enjoy it a lot. Highly recommended!
3 Comments
