Hey Hey Gang,
I have been humming and hahing over Geranium Pour Monsieur but there was never a sample. I want to wear a fragrance that costs this much a few times before I go FB. See if I reach for it a few times over a short space of time or if it sits there like a wallflower, overlooked and unloved. Guess what? The lovely Danika at Mecca under Grace Bros in Pitt St finally got me a sample! YAY!! I have worn it now 3 days consecutively for some of the day and now we are at day 4 I feel ready to tell you how I feel about Geranium Pour Monsieur by Dominique Ropion for Frederic Malle.
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Geranium, rhodinol (fresh, fragrant ingredient extracted from Chinese geranium), anise, mint
Heart: Cloves, cinnamon
Base: Sandalwood, white musk, Siamese styrax benzoin (lat. Styrax Tonkiniensis)
WHOOOSH! Geranium Pour Monsieur takes no prisoners as it opens all dental visit, hospital, chewing gum and booze. Am I wearing a Mojito? An almost violent minty opening that is surprising, refreshing and nostalgic all at the same time. Every time I spritz there is a frisson of excitement through me because I know I’m about to go WHOA!! It takes a while for this mentholated sizzle to calm down enough that the herbal greens can come out from hiding, this is like my first jump in the swimming pool in Spring. At first my body is outraged, my skin tries to shrink away from the surprise and then very soon my temperature has normalised and I am swimming laps again, feeling comfortable. That is the feeling I get as Geranium Pour Monsieur opens up to my bodies warmth.
Photo Stolen caittsnails
Though the cinnamon, sandalwood and benzoin now take their places, and we are over an hour into the fragrance life, there is still a lovely sweet minty freshness. It is undercut by the buttery, vanillic woods giving a complex duet between the warmth and coolness that is on the verge of disharmony Geranium Pour Monsieur never makes that mis-step but it does keep you on your toes. Sometimes I get a slightly citrus burst over and through the rest at around the 2-4 hour mark and wonder if the cloves are responsible? Who knows? As it moves towards dry down there is only a loss of intensity, Geranium Pour Monseiur stays remarkably linear after the first 3 hours and though it warms a little more and becomes deeper and richer it is the same beautiful fragrance for up to 7 hours, less depending on the day and my running around etc
Photo Stolen ngb.org
This is a flamboyantly masculine fragrance that I think the ladies can rock equally well. Part old school after shave and part modernistic rewiring Geranium Pour Monsieur is beautiful and interesting and will certainly be a full bottle on my shelves before too long, because it is exactly the long lasting breath of fresh air that I would like to flaunt throughout the next few months.
TheNonBlonde does a great first impressions review and NowSmellThis is a great read too.
MeccaCosmetica have 3 sizes: 3 x 10ml, 50ml & 100ml all available instore or online.
SurrenderToChance starts at $6/ml
Do you have a fave fragrance that crosses the gender lines, sold as one but works for all? I have a few. What art your favourites? Leave us a message in the comments, we love to chat.
I hope this finds you happy as it left me.
See you tomorrow,
Portia xx
Australian Perfume Junkies 
Hi Portia,
I’m so glad you like GPM, I bought it for my husband but hide it until the weather warms up! I love the herbal geranium when he first sprays, then later when he comes home from work I get more rounded warmth. I would not like this on me though…a little herbal.
There are a couple of leathers that I steal from him…Cuir Cordoba, Tuscan Leather.
Oh, and Kiehls Musk oil.
Must double check his stash!
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I love the Keil’s musk oil. Your husband has a super stash.
Portia xx
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I found this interesting, but found that it wears me and not the other way around. That initial blast is truly a blast though!
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Yeah, I get that you could feel that way. It’s mighty and unusual. Is there a Malle that you particularly love?
Portia x
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So far it’s Portrait of a Lady. One day I’ll own a FB of FM, but I think I need to do some more exploring. I keep hearing raves about Carnal Flower as well… but tuberose and I don’t get along very well so I’m being a bit shy about trying it. What’s your fave?
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Geranium Pour Monsieur followed closely by Bigarade Concentree and then Une Rose. I also like Portrait of a Lady and French Lover.
I know! Frag Whore! Can’t help it,
Portia xx
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Hi Portia,
What a lovely review. Sounds like Geranium Pour Monsieur really works on you! It’s slightly uncanny that my bestie and I were just discussing this last evening, when you were probably writing this review. Like you, he simply loves it and has gone FB. But for me, the mint note really throws me off, not in a horrible way, but just leaves me going “eh?”. Cartier Roadster similarly throws me off too.
As for crossing gender lines, , I’ve gone FB with Frederic Malle’s En Passant for its damp lily (so lovely on an autumn day) and Hermes’ Eau de Merveilles for its ‘skin saltiness’. Still loving them both today!
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Hiya Jenson,
En Pasant is one that I can’t remember trying, I willl remedy that next time I’m in town, Eau de Marvielles is lovely and I still don’t have a bottle of it. Something else always comes up.
I love that you were discussing GPM last night. That’s spooky cool.
Portia x
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I do enjoy minty notes in fragrance but I have to be in the mood ! I use Dirty body spray from lush and it’s so STRONG on the spearmint ! If u can ride out the burn then you are fragrant and fresh like green peas ! You story today will have me swinging by Mecca for a huff !
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YAY Tim,
Tell them that you read the review and that I thanked Danika please,
Portia xx
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Yes, will do that ! I really don’t want to fall in love with FM line, they are hidiously pricey! I’m still hurting from my relationship with SL , I need a 4 th job ! I hope u are finding sunshine in this grey weather? I think I need a bright cologne to sprits! Off to work , xx
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Hi Portia!
I just wanted to let you know that my prize from P&S Co arrived today. Samples had a tough journey I guess and there happened some tiny leeks and labels got smudget but all is still readable. Thank you! hugs!
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Hey Lucasai,
I think the leaks happened when I was packaging, I have yet to master the grand decant. Sorry. Have you tried any yet? I’m SOOO Excited for you. Love new stuff.
Portia xx
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No problem, there’s still plenty in the vials. Didn’t try any of them (soo busy at university) will try the 1st one very soon.
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I hope you love them,
Have fun at Uni.
Portia xx
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Great review luv! Yes I have a few cross-dressing scents. Cabochard Gres the lady with the leather whip. Bal a Versailles… the skanky masterpiece that seduced the likes of Richard Burton. Sarah Jessica Parker’s Lovely… Musky woody wonderful!
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We are so similar Lanier, frag wise. I think we are coming to SF sometime next year. Will you be our frag guide?
Portia xx
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YOU BET I WILL!!! I can’t wait to meet you!
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I have worn this Malle scent and I have to say I got sick of the mint ! Sorry.
Jicky was first created for men ….. been wearing this for many, many years and I adore it ! LOL
Its been changed a bit over the years sadly but … its still is great 🙂
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Ha Ha Ha! I love it LadyJicky. Not everyone wants the mint experience, it’s true. Excellent response.
I do love me a little Jicky too but never smelled it in its original form. Right nows version does me fine,
Portia xx
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I love GPM! Even if it smells like mouthwash at first. Kind of sexy mouthwash, if that can be a thing. Did you compare sniff it with Portrait of a Lady? They share the same base . . .
Thanks for the review! It’s good to see it get love!
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I haven’t compared it with Portrait Of A Lady but now that you’ve mentioned it I will. AWESOME! I love finding out new things about fragrances. It’s a universe unto itself. Thanks BaconBiscuit2
Portia xx
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Me too! I learn so much blogging. And it’s great to know that there are other people as obsessed with smells as we are 🙂
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Oh Portia …. I am alot older than you and let me tell you …. if you sniffed the older formulation in the Parfum —- you would swoon!!!!
I buy the EDP as the parfum has changed and its really not worth the $$$$ to me but …. in the EDT or EDP its pretty good and the price is not so hot! LOL
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I am going to hunt me down a few ml of Vintage Jicky parfum now and find out what I’ve been missing.
Thanks LadyJicky.
Portia x
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My fave gender-bending frag is Dior Homme, which smells fantastic both on me and on my 17yo Archimedes. I also regularly steal some of his LADDM, although technically it’s unisex. And because of Thomas’ great reviews, I plan on checking out A*men at some point.
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I love Dior Homme too. Even the current reformulation is good, though not as hefty. Jin and I both have a bottle of it. YUMMY!
Tried A’Men Leather yesterday. ACK AAAARRGGHHH ARAGHRAR. Wouldn’t wash off and seared my nostrils for about 40 minutes before it calmed down to something only slightly violent.
He He He. It will teach me to spray instantly on skin.
Portia xx
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