Marseille

Comme des Garcons Marseilles is like a creamy soap bar musk scented with the smell of hot iron-pressed clothes that were freshly laundered with powder detergent. I'm grateful I don't relate to some complaints. To me, there are no animalics, sharp neroli, scratchy unblended texture, overly powdery accord, or whatever else. Doesn't smell like public bathroom soap smell to me either. Just clean. The pressed texture reminds me of JHAG Not a Perfume Superdose, except that one is like hot-pressed paper to me. Think of plain paper freshly ran through a printer. I also more closely think of Mizensir Very Musc which smells like the steam while ironing clothes, except there is a slight animalic touch to me. I like that iron accord and think Marseilles will do great as my gym and generally clean scent. It performs moderately and lasts around 7 hours on my skin. Price is reasonable. The compared Jo Malone Musk Memento Cologne smells similar with its smell related to clean clothes too, but its texture is more like an aerosol-like musk. MM Replica Bubble bath which is shorter lasting and Kilian Musk Butterfly which lasts about the same are similar in its creamy soap bar texture but they lack the clothing and iron-pressed accords and goes in a more full-on bubble bath direction. Le Labo Lavande smells more similar than the other two people compared to Marseilles, as it has the laundry clean smell but it's brighter.

Marseille opens with a bright, clean neroli before transitioning into a pretty good evocation of Savon de Marseille. The soapiness of the scent is, of course, clean, but beyond that aspect, the overall impression created here is of very high quality ingredients blended well. Indeed, my overwhelming impression of the fragrance is simply an echo of the soapy cleanliness produced by a very high quality bar of bath soap. The fragrance is linear, surprisingly long lasting (definitely a consequence of the aromachemicals used in the composition) and as unisex as can be. Office safe for certain, but where this fragrance truly shines is in the moments after a shower. Applied after a shower, this fragrance takes the fresh from the shower feeling so many of us love and makes it into a multi-hour experience. I find that I quite enjoy wearing Marseille from time to time, particularly following a before-bed shower. The clean soapy scent creates a wonderful harmony with the smell of freshly laundered bed linen. I really enjoy using the fragrance in this manner. I think you might too. If you enjoy soapy smells, this fragrance is well worth a try.

Picture literal white fresh clean cotton laundry that is what this smells like. It's so satisfying and comforting. It makes me feel nostalgic for some reason. I'm so impressed, I never thought I could find a perfume that smells like this. It's currently out of stock in most places near me (and that's online only this is nowhere instore in my city which sucks). I don't know if this is something I would buy for myself I've just spent so much on blind buy perfumes and feel discouraged at the moment. If I were more financially comfortable and could house a fragrance collection I would definitely want this in mine. Edit: this is definitely something I'd buy for myself. I can't stop thinking about it and always go back to smell the sample that was only sprayed on a paper thingo and sent to me in an envelope very generously by some staff. It still smells strong and impressive. I just love it. For me it paints a picture of an old movie with a vintage filter and young children running about in fresh linens. Up close this is what the linens would smell like. In the best way possible.

Comme des Garcon Marseille (2021) - soap musk - As a collector, a soap accord is what I try to stay away from, as they can smell generic and like soap! But #quentinbisch created a fragrance that changed my mind and look at “clean” fragrances differently. Starts with a balanced yet fresh Neroli mixed with Salt water, and Orange blossom. As a backbone of the fragrance, he was able to make me smell & imagine the texture of bubbles (popping and foaming) - just by cleverly using a mixture of White musks and Cosmone. The latter is a Givaudan-developed substance that mimicked nitro-musks used in the earlier days of perfumery (now banned) that creates this rich and diffusive quality and heightens the floral-citrus top-notes. In the drydown, the musks sweeten creating an amber-like accord combined with woods. A refreshing delight to wear - with a crisp white shirt.

Since they are not listed above, these are the notes as seen on Comme des Garçons Parfum website: "Savon de Marseille Accord, Neroli Accord, Petalia (Floral, Rosy, Lychee), Oranger Crystals, Overdose of Ambrofix (Amber, Woody), Cosmone (Musk, Powdery)." Let it be known that soapy fragrances are really not my favourite. I first smelled this in a California shop on a very hot day. I was struck by its cheery, candied-orange opening. Like cracking open a can of fizzy orange San Pelligrino. Although we might gravitate to a more aquatic or watery citrus fragrance in the hot summer months, Marseille is a richer experience, a "clean" fragrance with a full-bodied sillage that cuts through the stagnant heat of summer. I think the use of cosmone and amberfix, rather than aldehydes, was a brilliant choice. I bought myself a bottle then and there. 10/10

This scent reminds me of soap, laundry and childhood. It feels like home to me. It's so subtle yet beautiful, not 'in-your-face' at all. But feels clean, fresh, and makes me feel like I'm living in a time before I was even born. Like laundry from the 1900s, however with a young and innocent feel to it. I don't know why it triggers nostalgia for me but this is my personal favourite scent ever. I'm really sad it's currently out of stock, and have been checking it every day I just wish this were EDP - I haven't worn it and can't say anything for longevity due to this however I was sent a sample in an envelope within an envelope and the whole thing just smells so strong, and has lasted months. I really hope this is somewhat longlasting once I get my hands on it.

Clean & soapy but not sterile. There’s a natural earthiness, almost aromatic to my nose, that keeps this from veering into bland and boring territory like other clean scents. Earthy, crunchy health food store bar of soap, like something rustic & hand-cut that you’d buy at a farmers market, and it’s fabulous. Having grown up on Dial, Dove, etc. I don't have the Savon de Marseille reference, so this is very unique to me. I saw a review mention the scent of an old Spencer’s store in the mall (remember those?), which is SO CORRECT. What even is that smell? The headshop reference from another reviewer below feels accurate, too. Anyway, I dig Marseille quite a bit if you want a musky, soapy scent that doesn’t feel sterile or too oppressively clean.

I’m hesitant to talk about it but I must I proud myself for being genuine and frank about fragrances I take it rather seriously The truth is I always bashed the perfumers work Not sure if the hype around him was a reason but I tried a lot of his work and it seemed mediocre Repetitive even so I just lost interest of his work Now I believe I regained my hope in his style I think of he had enough to work and to show his creative side he can actually create something special And this one is definitely special One of the best detergent smelling fragrances ever The feeling of fresh clothes is insane and to depict it inside a bottle of liquid is insane to me I love this and yes it is expensive but to me it was worth it Thank you Mr. Bisch

When you first spray it, you get hit with that unmistakable, no-nonsense, old-school French soap scent — pure, honest, almost austere. It smells like someone grated an entire block of traditional Marseille soap and turned it into perfume. No flowers, no fruits, no vanilla to hide behind. Just clean, slightly fatty, alkaline soap vibes with a tiny touch of that classic waxy, mineral undertone. This is not a room-filler. It stays close to the skin (intimate / skin scent after 30-40 minutes). If you want to announce your arrival, look elsewhere. Longevity is surprisingly excellent. I’m getting a solid 6–8 hours on skin, which is impressive for such a minimalist, soapy composition. It doesn’t scream, but it quietly refuses to die.

Uniquely clean and soapy, yet there's an organic quality to it. Not necessarily similar to Marseille soap, at least not the kind that is a classic staple in household cleaning (olive-green cubes that smell like bay leaf). I imagine this is what Italian ladies wash their laundry in (not a bad thing in my mind). A tiny bit pungent, invokes childhood memories of vacationing in Sardinia and walking beneath trees blooming in endless heat, their fruit almost fermented. I might be a little bit anosmic to this as it occasionally disappears for me whereas I've received compliments many hours after applying it.

This was a blind buy together with ganja and it is my best blind buy yet! It does indeed smell like marseille soap without being too clean or too soapy. It’s just right and it still feels avant-garde. I am sensitive to neroli and is not my favorite note but here it is really perfect. If you like the smell of marseille soaps and you want to smell like it, this is the perfect perfume. It is great for office or work as I can’t imagine anyone who would dislike it. I also think that it doesn’t have season or gender. I am very happy I got the 50ml and not the 30ml bottle.

Smells like luxurious soap. Not loud and cloying laundry detergent crap that FM Acne Studios put out. I think Acne Studios as a brand has really lost its luster. I am really in to Japanese streetwear fashion houses lately, Junya Watanabe got me interested in Comme des Garcons. Not gonna lie a lot of their fragrances scare me a bit but glad I got this one. Something from Quentin Bisch that is not quite Quentin Bisch. Hate or love this guy, he deserves to be in the Perfumer Hall of Fame if there ever was one.

Absolutely gorgeous scent! My favorite soapy one! After 15 mins or so, when it settles down, it's so creamy and cozy but in a fresh way. Perfect for spring and summer, but I wear my whole year around. You may get that "clean bathroom" at first sniff, but let it settle... it's really nice! Longevity is great, projection is moderate. If anybody have Gritti Jacqueline and Marseille, would you agree that they are similar in DNA but Jacqueline is much creamier version or is it just my nose?

True to its name, if you want to smell like Marseille soap, like the white sheets hung to dry under the warm sun of Provence then this is your holy grail, it is also a decent cheap alternative to lavande 31 and blanche if youre looking for a clean scent without wanting to go bankrupt. Sillage is beastly, longevity is decent. another work of art by Quentin Bisch. Edit: overall good fragrance but theres something annoys me about the drydown, something very synthetic and unsmooth

First impression is it's very accurate impression of high quality French artisanal soap. But not just the soap itself, I also feel the clean atmosphere. Like when you're stepping into a perfectly clean shower at a luxury hotel. Very strong and sparkling clean. 🤍 It has a nuance of abrasive cleansers like comet powder if you're familiar with that cleaner. This I believe is from the neroli which gives a feeling of being crystaline. Scent 8.5/10 Performance 7.5/10

My 1ml sample arrived today and I immediately ordered a full bottle. This has instantly gone to my number 1. It smells so expensively clean and comforting without being screechy or verging in to cleaning products territory. It's a typical clean smelling perfume in the same realm as Replica Lazy Sunday Morning and Byredo Blanche except this is far superior. I can't imagine anyone disliking this, you just smell clean and lovely.

I think it smells just like you imagine. A very sincere interpretation of Marseille soap. This perfume made me realize I just love it, which is something that I never really thought about before, being a very overlooked note – until now. If you are familiar with it, you will certainly recognize it. It's not boring at all. It's beautiful in its simplicity. Extremely versatile. You can't go wrong.

smooth neroli, soapy, musky, not at all screechy, very smooth. linear, inoffensive, but interesting and unique. warm and cold at the same time. very comforting. would be great in any weather, i imagine, but the neroli brings forth a distinctly summery image - orange blossoms cooling at night after a warm, sunny day. rather natural smelling, but very clean. definitely feminine leaning.

I usually never buy 50ml bottles especially at this price point but its the only size available and i had to have it. My go to soap scents where mugler cologne and prada amber but this is better than MC and just as good as PA but with way better lasting power and sillage Smells like a dry white bar of soap cut in half. CDG parfums deserve more credit and recognition

Tried on wrist on a cold London winter day. On my skin the smell was powdery abrasive, definitely soap, dry. Clean, but... off? Kept me lifting my wrist to the nose for many hours, investigating. Reminds me of the movie of the same name by Angela Schanelec. Like a carton box of washing powder with something inside that you cannot quite see through a thumb made hole.

One of the top five soupy perfumes. This is unisex soupy perfume with a lot of musk. This is the perfect synthetic high-quality version of reflection man. The drydown of this after 3 hours is better than reflection man. I'm sure this is not EDT, maybe it's a mistake because the longevity is excellent (6 to 8 hours) Rating 9/10

It's citrusy clean! I tried this perfume in Scentbar NYC, although I decided to get something else at that time, this scent keep haunting my mind. It's unique, soapy clean with a hint of orange. Yes, it's an eau de toilet, but it last on my clothes. Only a few spritz is enough. Overall 8.5/10 (I hate the price tag)

It just smells clean and fresh and not at all like what perfumes normally smells like. I think it leans more feminine because of the floral notes and the softness of it, but sure everyone can use it. If you just wanna smell really good and clean then this is perfect!

Such an underrated scent, yes it smells like soap. But there is something more to it, definitely a nostalgic scent. I cannot stop smelling myself, this is definitely a white/baby blue scent, with peaks of baby yellow. So fresh and such an uplifting scent!

Soapy perfection. So cheerful and nostalgic but at the same time carnal and sexy on skin and leans a bit masculine. I don’t understand how this doesn’t catch more attention. And to top it of, Quentin Bisch is the mastermind behind this stuff.

Yes, Marseille does smell like Marseille soap ... and smell clean. The perfect perfume for the summer and the office ... Curious at first, I bought it ... today ... I am adicte !! Another beautiful and unique creation from COMME DES GARÇONS!

I’m a sucker for a soapy fragrance as a disclaimer but really sensitive to too much Neroli and averse to powdery scents. Marseille captures the essence of soap perfectly to me, the most photorealistic high end bar of soap in a perfume

Extremely strong, half a spritz is enough to have you smelling like italian laundry for the whole day. Nonnas comfort in a bottle, such a good unisex soap scent that is not childish or akin to a rancid bar with tons of additives.

The stuff is season-less. Neutral, soapy, unisex greatness. Clean linens, fresh out the shower vibes. It preforms exceptionally well. This is a main stay for me and I’ve got a lot of stuff to wear! 10/10

As others have said, it smells like artisanal soap. If thats something you like then its an easy blind buy. I think its absolutely phenomenal, and have been looking for a soapy fragrance like this.

A beautiful, unique scent. Very fresh, like after a shower with classic, natural soap. It gives a feeling of freshness and cleanliness even in the heat. Simply wonderful, amazing!

Just picked up a bottle after sampling. This one does not come cheap, but it delivers. The scent is a clean, fine French soap and performance is very good. Unisex. Recommend. 🧼 🫧

Clean sheets!! Sometimes I just spray this in my bedroom for a refresh. Pretty soapy neroli and orange blossoms. Very much a daytime clean fragrance. Doesn't last very long.

This reminded me of when I was 7, on a ferry with my parents... Why? I have no clue. This is peak soap. Your Prada L'homme's and Dior Homme Eau's have nothing over this.

soapy-musky. Smell and feel fresh, clean and pure all day. Buy Maseille soap bar and u will appreciate it. bought mine from "nose" in Paris ( order #2000086863)

This is true love for me. It’s a soapy fragrance with no aldehydes. One of a kind in my opinion. Marilyn wears Chanel 5 to bed, I wear this!

Bought this one for my husband, love it on him and on myself, too. It's true to its name, very clean and comforting. 10/10

It's not like a spectacular, complex composition, but damn it's so cozy and comforting and nostalgic.. amazing

This is the best soapy scent I have tried. Smells like freshly cleaned linen sheets and white shirts.

*Update* A compliment Marseille has garnered me; “You smell like a beautiful coming-of-age movie!”

Very well done! Kinda of a soapy sparkly musk! I get an old world but modern type of feel.

I love it! It smells like a bathouse!

This perfume 😍😍😍 im in love

🧼 Marseille by Comme des Garçons: A Soapy Homage 🧼 Score: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 Marseille by Comme des Garçons is a fragrance that stands out in the realm of soapy scents. It's a niche, straightforward take on the classic clean aroma, reminiscent of the old-school bar soaps that left your skin feeling squeaky clean. Upon the first spritz, it evokes memories of Acqua di Parma Colonia Essenza, yet Marseille stands out with its pronounced creamy, soapy heart. While Essenza is more herbal and floral, Marseille offers a more scenic experience, perfect for those who appreciate a concept that doesn't try to be crowd-pleasing. This fragrance isn't like the luxurious soapy experience of Prada products; it's more like the rugged, handmade greasy soaps of yesteryears—the ones that made your skin so dry you felt like a crocodile. Yet, the longevity is great, and the projection is completely acceptable. Interestingly, although ambroxan is listed among its ingredients, it doesn't induce the typical noseblindness associated with the compound. Subtle whispers of honey and mild lavender grace the senses, akin to the honeyed notes found in Cartier L'Envol. It's a great product, recommended for fragrance enthusiasts and nostalgia seekers. It celebrates the simplicity and raw beauty of traditional cleanliness. The Artisan Behind the Scent: Quentin Bisch Quentin Bisch, the Givaudan perfumer behind this amazing product, brings a touch of his French heritage to the creation of Marseille. Born in France, Bisch was very familiar with the type of traditional soap that inspired this fragrance. His expertise and understanding of such quintessential French cleanliness have led to the success of Marseille.

I've been getting really into soap (not "soapy" but literal "This smells like soap") fragrances recently, with my top so far being ELDO Exit the King. When people say "this is pure soap" about Marseille, they mean it lol. With others, if I was doing a blind smell test and had to guess whether or was perfume or soap, I would probably be able to correctly guess most of the time, but not with Marseille. If I close my eyes and hold my hand under my nose, it's like my brain is tricked into thinking there's a bar of soap there. I haven't decided yet whether I prefer something with a little more added "flavor" but I'm so glad I tried this one. PS - If you, like me, are not a fan of Quentin Bisch's work, don't shy away from this one. It's nothing like the rest of his akigalawood-laden output.

It smells like soap, its a very pleasant scent. And even though I love this scent a lot, I do have a major issue with it. And that is how quickly the top notes fade and the aldehydes end up dominating. That beautiful, bright soap scent turns metallic really fast. The top notes like orange blossom and neroli, which make that beautiful soapy scent, fade away relatively quickly. And because of the aldehydes, I can't really smell the musk, woody notes or amber. The only thing i can smell is iron/metal. I voted this scent to wear during winter because of how quickly the top notes evaporate with the heat. If it weren't for that, it would've been an amazing summer scent.

Any fragrance that thinks it’s "soapy" and is somehow enlightened enough to be self-aware and question itself, can honestly pick itself up and throw itself in the trash, because this is the first time I’ve encountered a bar-white-soap smell this realistic. This is, to my nose, exactly the aroma that gives those giant cube-shaped marseille soaps their signature smell, I mean the slightly modernized, white versions. This isn’t a perfume. This is the actual soap aroma used in the industry. Absurdly realistic, hahah. Tag(s): soapy, bar-soap, realistic

You’ve probably encountered this scent before in your life. It’s similar to a new pair of sneakers from Foot Locker or something along those lines. With that being said, I am curious to know how this will perform in the heat. Because It may be bottle worthy. Oh... and this is similar to Amouage Reflection Man. Edit: This is the first fragrance that has ever just stopped performing abruptly on me. I mean, one second it was there and the next I didn’t detect a single thing. How odd...

Last week I was on holiday in France, I’ve washed my clothes with Marseille scented detergent, this perfume is literally that. It smells exactly like that. All of the reviews below have stated it already, it is soapy without aldehydes, it smells clean, it lasts, it’s nostalgic (but to me not old fashioned or outdated), everything. And I do really love the scent but I’m just not sure I like it as a perfume?

An intensely soapy-sudsy clean-musky synthetic cocktail, in the best possible way. The scent of freshly laundered linens dried in the sun and carried on a warm breeze, impeccably clean and full of hazy nostalgia, fizzy and floral around the edges. On the whole, Marseille is simple but effective, performs extremely well, and is incredibly versatile.