Cologne Francaise

High quality neroli "cologne", which I'm assuming is referencing the structure of classic aromatic/fresh men's perfumes. It feels slightly familiar in that respect, but it's skewed mossy, earthy, and bitter-green in a way that is really intriguing. However they've managed to assemble that fig tree accord is just beautiful. Something in here is dense and astringent, like a cleansing, aromatic balm. There's no hint of sweetness, just sappy twigs, bitter fig leaf, mild camphor, and the fuzzy, soft citric, mildly soapy neroli- stems and leaves included. Even though I'd classify it a neroli cologne (maybe I'm off?) it doesn't feel overwhelmed with citrus and sour brightness- instead it's a bit more naturalistic, which I'm thinking is really helped by Celine's signature orris root aroma. Slightly vegetal, rooty, and softly textured. It makes the perfume multi-dimensional and more life-like somehow, as the whole thing verges on being strangely edible...halfway between fruit and vegetable? but with a watery-fresh medicinal quality and a minty finish. As I've already said, I find the dampness of moss and patchouli and general masculine heft somewhat familiar, but it's tweaked and edited into something really exquisite. Amazing for summer and my favorite in the whole Celine line. Haven't done full testing of the range yet but it feels more impactful than the others as well. Reminds me of Ichnusa by Profumum mainly because I can't think of another fig fragrance that stays so bitter-green and doesn't turn into more familiar creamy, sweet styles.

I have never felt less in line with reviews. I love fig, and I love fig leaves, and I have many fragrances that feature these notes. To me, there is very little fig in this fragrance. It has a touch of green that adds freshness, but to me this is a story about when the orange-green florals of neroli collide with the powdery roundness that is the Celine DNA with a bit of moss to even further round out the edges, a hint of vanilla offering a touch of sweetness. This is a very "happy" fragrance to me, jubilant, sunshine--not restrained or bracing or austere. Not green clorophyll but a floral green. In any case, I think this is a truly incredible fragrance. I find the lasting power not nearly as bad as described here either--I get good performance for 4.5 hours, still clearly there at 6.

This is the most elegant hippy-chic perfume I’ve ever smelled. Smells like a crystal shop in the best way possible. Earthiness without any of the dank, powdery without any dusty-ness. At first I couldn’t place the scent and then I realized it smells exactly the way one of my best friend’s apartments used to smell when we were 21 (I’m 42 now). She and her vegan BF lived downstairs, while myself and another friend lived upstairs. It was the time of our lives in L.A. during the apex of youth. Holy scent memory... it was like stepping in to a time portal and now I feel this overwhelming ache of nostalgia. Edit: so I messaged my friend...yes we’re still friends, and she says aww..I bet it smells like Nag Champa the incense they would always burn. And yes. That is what it is.

My second full wearing from the Celine discovery set, and it's another "fresh" scent. Cologne Francaise is a fig fragrance, and seems a little like the odd one out in this bunch of very serious, old school perfumes. In terms of style though, it fits right in. Cologne Francaise has a very sharp, metallic neroli opening, with a sappy green fig leaf. Shortly after, the fig becomes fruitier, but not milky and lush, more like an unripe, sappy green fig. As it dries down, Cologne Francaise becomes soapier, mossier, and muskier, while retaining flashes of the earlier metallic/mineralic sharpness. Completely, actually unisex. Casual, office, or summertime dressy. I got great performance. I like it! 4/5

Wow! it just clicked to me that it reminds me of (95% similarity) The Different Company Limon Cordoza (which one I sold, cause I did wear it often enough). Celine's offering is an aristocratic unisex cologne. It has a blast of neroli in the opening that is toned down after 15 minutes and you get a sophisticated, classy, expensive fresh scent. It not green enough to be classified as "fig" or "Green" scent, but something else, which is much better. White shirt and glasses. Great for business presentations. Totally awesome! Try before you buy and trust your own nose only :)

This opens with a minty freshness, medicinal and powdery accord. Very elite, refined and french of course. I love it! This is a distinguished creation and doesn't bear resemblance to any fragrance I've tried before. It holds a certain seriousness and maturity. I would pair this with a director or a CEO, someone stoic, commanding, stern, effortlessly intimidating but attempts to soften their countenance with a slight smile exemplified by a subtle powdery iris sweetness that cuts through the earthy accords.

Update: Extremely satisfying and lovely. Sharp, metallic, green, sappy, fresh, twigs, branches, sunshine, with added interest from the fig. Not a run of the mill cologne. It works well here in Southern California's gentle Mediterranean climate. Cologne Francaise is also wonderful for layering! Usually, I think that is an indicator that a perfume is not a complete story on its own, but not here. I tried the entire Celine discovery set, and Cologne Francaise is the only one I bought. 4.5/5

Recently I tested all kinds of expensive neroli, fig, etc. clean scents and almost all of them were so soapy or green that they gave me sneezes and headaches. I have never heard anyone speak much about this one. It has fig but not too green as in Phylosikos, it has neroli but not too strong as in Neroli Plein Sud. Everything here is like a whisper. The moss grounds the notes while the musk gives the scent a sweet powderness. This scent smells like carefree summer days in a white dress.

The neroli is so well blended with the musk it's addictive. It's noble and comforting at once, nothing idiosyncratic or avant-garde. Hedi Slimane has simply perfected the eau de cologne genre, making it incredibly longstanding without losing its fundamental structure. I fear that, if any in the HP line is to be discontinued, this would be the one because it's the least talked about. But Cologne Francaise is truly an unsung masterpiece.

I recently got the Celine discovery kit. Thought I would love Black Tie and Dans Paris, but I am head over heels for Cologne Française and Bois Dormant. Cologne Française is a clean but complex scent. It reminds me of grown up Window’s Down by Henry Rose. So airy and elegant. To me it’s predominately green and mossy, powdery from a beautiful iris peeking through. I need a full bottle, STAT!

Mineralized neroli oil imbued with crushed & dried fig and oakmoss. Becomes much more powdery and earthy on the drydown, but still retains that citric and aromatic profile of the opening. Perfect for warm/hot weather, definitely has layering potential. Projects around arms length, will see how it lasts through the day. Full-bottle worthy if the notes are of interest.

Omg, what a beautiful scent! It opens very mossy and earthy, with a bit of neroli peeking through for freshness. The fig is more in a supporting role I feel. Then is transitions into this very different base of earthy, creamy smoooooth, comforting orris. Only the opening is leaning a little masculine, but settles very unisex. I don't see it on a girly girl though.

Extremely elegant, very unisex. Starts off with a gentle fruitiness / green note which settles into a powdery finish but with a hint of earthiness (maybe the moss?). Surprisingly masculine given the powdery notes, I feel. Perfect for the office or a casual evening in a lovely restaurant, not sure I would give it a spin at the beach or a sweltering hot BBQ.

This is going to require some more testing, but so far I really enjoy it! Kinda surprised about how little this and other Celine fragrances are talked about... Edit: pretty earthy. Fig adds a noticeable freshness throughout the life. It’s interesting and unique.

Flashback to classic French, neroli-forward, men's cologne. An unexpected hint of green-fig in the background (think Diptyque or L'Artisan). Common Celine orris base. Best in the line - no questions.

its beautiful!! Epitome of unisex fragrance! its elegant, mellow, aromatic, fresh and clean! I never knew id love this more than my Tam Dao By Diptyque.. its my go to perfume now! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

The oakmoss and neroli stand out to me the most. This is giving effortlessly chic, linen shirt, late lunch on the French Riviera, glass of crisp white wine in hand. Gorgeous!

Cologne Française is a high-quality, well-rounded aromatic "cologne" in the manner of Parade. Both feature a nice neroli note, but fig is most prominent here. I've grown tired of fig perfumes, but here is how I like it best - green and aromatic without any sweetness, encompassing the fig tree as a whole rather than just the fruit. CF has better performance and is more full-bodied than a classic cologne, but its woody-aromatic structure is a nod to its name. CF is fig-dominant throughout, with the green fig leaf note hitting my nose from initial spray. Fresh and fitting for summer, it is well-placed here. It becomes more milky as it develops, but remains lightweight. The neroli creeps in after a little while, adding a smooth, sweet orange undertone. The fig subsides somewhat, never quite fading from view, but marrying nicely with the neroli here. The green, woody base slowly emerges from the early stages, evoking the image of a fig tree while grounding this scent to perfection. I get more orris here than in Parade, its rooty, vegetal powder evident as the mossy chypre base comes to the fore. The musk is soft and slightly sweet, keeping things smooth. It fades to a mossy, musky skin scent. Sillage and longevity are moderate. It is a unisex spring/summer daytime scent. An effortlessly elegant figgy chypre, green and aromatic throughout, there is more to CF than its name suggests. I personally prefer the figless Parade, but this is equally good. 4/5.

Okay so this happens sometimes and it's usually for two reasons. Either a fragrance is so bombastic and complex, it overwhelms and you don't get a good take on it first time around, or (and in the case of this perfume) it's so seemingly simple and such a genre, trope, piece, that you overlook very mild tweaks and manifestations to that stock formulaic feel. What this is, is a very good Eau de Cologne, let's get that said right away, I mean who really owns that vibe? You'd probably be a fool not to say the French (clue is in the name of this perfume) but there's a very southern Italian, coastal feel about this, so much so Acqua di Parma could've made it. I find the waxy white floral heart really appealing and the citrus fresh and lovely but upon this second visit I get the fig accord in there and clearly the fresh, wateriness, works a treat in this context. And still, they're sticking the boot in the base with a creamy orris. Hot summer day, white shirt boom! I think this is a delight. Expensive, I mean you can get citrus, neroli, orange blossom, petitgrain colognes or like I said very good ADP stuff for a better price, but this is Celine does EDC and I'm happy to endorse paying for it if you feel you want to. (I won't be LOL, but only because I have too much perfume)

Aromatic, citrusy, green powderiness. A grounded yet optimistic woody fragrance suitable for anyone. The opening is green and aromatic, with a distinct fig-like green powderiness, instead of a milky powder note. After a short warm-up on my skin, the neroli unfurls, bringing forward a floral citrus note. The sillage is bright and herbaceous with a bite, reminding me of mossy men's colognes. The greenness is retained in the dry down and lasts about 5 hours on my skin until it becomes entirely undetectable.

I do like this, but I don't know if it's a love yet. It reminds me of Parisian Musc but this one is a bit more mysterious. The longevity is actually quite good on my skin; I can smell it 10 hours later. One of these days when I decide not to splurge on a Celine handbag or jacket at their boutique, I might just buy this instead...

I can immediately smell the vegetal fig and bitter neroli at first spray. The moss is also there entangled everything together. Very green, very much like you are stuck in a garden with plants and a few flowers around you. I would’ve given it a love if it wasn’t so faint in the air.

Extremely similar to Parade, if you have one, you don't need the other. Although I prefer the smell of Parade, Longevity and projection are also identical.

Beautiful opening. Bottle the opening. Crisp neroli and woods. Then it turns powdery. Takes a turn for the worst. Loses its edge.

Green, soapy freshness meets powdery iris. Effortlessly chic with a touch of vintage charm.

A fig perfume. Elegant and complex. More masculine to my opinion!

A forest drained of color. Dim light filtering through overgrown moss, dry and brittle, clinging to bark that smells more of age than of life. Fig trees stand, but their presence is ghostly—no milky sap, no lush green, just the outline of woods stripped of warmth. Cologne Francaise is bitter and musky, not sharply so but subtly yet in a way that lingers in the back of your throat. The scent of something steeped too long, catching a wisp of steam rising—BITTERGOURD SOUP. Bittergourd soup in the next room, gloomy, desaturated, wafting. The kind that your mother forces you to drink, the kind that makes you flinch before you sip. Not much else. This scent is really just that, and how I wish it were something—anything— more.

The opening is spectacular, but make no mistake, this isn't a cologne, it's a strong stemone-based perfume, and goes from sparkly joy to relentless bashing over the head with aroma-chemical monotony very quickly. One of the worst in the Céline line, very unsublte and cheap. Bums me out in the same way as Dioriviera, although this one is actually worse.

A neroli-moss bomb. It made me sneeze after spraying it on paper.

Classic colognes are my favorite varietal of scent and I have a ton - from super cheap (4711) to luxe like Chanel's Exclusif Eau de Cologne - doesn't matter if they're .2% different from each other, I love them. Cologne Francais switches it up with the fig and the orris, which is the through line for the entire collection. I know there's mixed feelings about the Celine scents - not loud enough, no sillage, etc - but I appreciate the narrative that they're trying to create and tying it all together with that orris butter. Not all of them work on me - Dans Paris smells like a tomato salad on me and Nightclubbing is revolting, like rotting ashtrays. But the ones I love - I really love. I bought Eau de Californie very soon after the line came out, and am now getting back to trying them. Reptile is a new fave, and somehow I feel a connection with Cologne Francaise between the two. This is the freshest of these three but I get whiffs that remind me of Reptile and Eau de Californie. CF is fresh but the fig, a nice earthy note, combines with the orris and get something better, almost gasoline-like, in the first hour - it helps ground it and when that dissipates the entire drydown is gorgeous. Now I'm torn between this and Reptile for a full bottle.

I agree with the review below that says there isn't much fig leaf/tree in this scent, and it smells virtually nothing like Dior Dune Pour Homme, which I have in my collection. I can understand the comparison with Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Forte Nerolia Vetiver, but that one bothered me so much I'm selling the bottle. Never blind buy, even at a great price, right? But I get the comparison, and it looks like Cologne Francaise will go the way of Nerolia Vetiver and be a pass. There'sthat sharp, almost quasi-metallic accord that is so piercingits annoying. I also get the comparison to Dior Balade Sauvage and Wood, Sage & Seasalt, although I like the Dior more. This is nothing like The Dandy by Penhaligon though, which I also have in my collection. The Dandy is much closer in scent profile to Kilian Straight to Heaven, in other words nothing like Cologne Francaise. What first came to my mind in the opening was Sacred Green Forest by Zara, which also has the "mossy" accord right at or near the top of the accord stack, and has a similar scent profile. Again not one of my favorite scent profiles.

Absolutely majestic luxury scent! Its musky woody in the best way possible , especially for women. If you have ever been in Celine store , this is their signature scent in store and the projection of this perfume is quite good. I wouldn’t not wear it in too hot weather but every other season is completely fine to wear it. A lot of people sleep on Celine perfumes as its really in your face in perfumes section but rather only inside the Celine store but if you are there please give it a go! I never found anything that could beat this one and make me fall in love as much as I love this.

The lowest rated is the one I actually like lol It's like mixing your typical EdC(neroli + citrus) with a woody, earthy fig leaf and maybe some cypress. It's simplistic but it works. It smells very Mediterranean, in the best way possible. Performance is so-so unfortunately, and for the price, I just feel robbed. A pass.

It sits close to the skin, with a soapy , powdery vibe interspersing with hints of fig. Initial spray presents neroli, which settles in 20 minutes. The rest of the scent journey is soft soap and powder and musk. Safe office scent. I'd have given it 8/10 had it lasted longer than 2 hours on my skin. As it is, 7/10 .

This is a French cologne, indeed. It is fresh, green, and at least on my skin SOOOO neroli-dominant, too neroli dominant for me. Cologne Francaise is beautiful, though. I don't find it masculine at all, it's squarely unisex. If you like 70's style chypres, I think this is a quality contemporary rendition.

Really nice, lasts a long time on skin too. Funny the fragrances like this that I assume aren’t my thing end up being some of the nicest. Very well blended and not the typical citrus type fragrance. Well balanced with the mossiness

Absolutely gorgeous scent. Perfectly unisex and is a sweet sweet whisper. Feels so cozy! I wish this fragrance could hug me and never let go.

Very elegant and versatile fragrance. Aristocratic as well. Day, night, summer, winter. European indeed, hence named "cologne Francaise".

First thought was : is my sample mislabelled? I get so much white floral (specifically tuberose) from this. It’s beautiful.

Love fig notes in perfume and this is no exception. Nostalgic, beautiful, had to get a full bottle.

Probably the best masculine-leaning fig fragrance. Incredibly modern and sophisticated

This smells like the far, far drydown of Dior Homme (pre-2020).

Smells almost identical to like Dior Eau Sauvage (1966)

Anyone based in the UK able to decant this for me?