French Affair

I love this fragrance. Although I have not worn it yet. So I will leave a review after I wear it. ALTHOUGH! I slept with someone who was wearing a fairly heavy application of it. So that should count for something. This person sprayed it 3 x before we went to bed. This person wasn't crazy about it, but said it was nice, then they said, "I don't like when fragrances go powdery on me like this. It's turning into a powdery scent". That I found shocking! because I didn't pick up on the powdery note whatsoever. All I picked up on was this strong, woodsy, masculine scent. It wasn't "beastmode", but it was intense. But not your typical fragrance. It definitely smells elevated. Very masculine, woodsy, fresh. It made the inside of my nose tingle. Is that a good thing? What is in this stuff anyways. I found it sexy and stylish. Not a scent I wouldn't usually like since I'm not a vetiver or fan of Chypre perfumes, but this one I loved. It's the type of scent that makes you think they threw caution to the wind and combined all the banned IFRA ingredients. It smells like it could last forever. And then 20 minutes in. Poof! Gone. I thought how sad. It was all an illusion. What a faker. So I went to the washroom to pee.(I'm not sure how else to say that). Okay, let's say I went to get a glass of water instead, and every time I re-entered the room it was back! It smelled great for another 10 minutes and then disappeared again. So for whatever reason, my nose stopped noticing it. But would notice it when I came back to the bedroom. I rate the juice a 10/10, my partner rates it a 7.

The name is quite clever. “French Affair” literally translates to a French romance, but in English the word affair often implies a secret or slightly illicit relationship. The name therefore feels both romantic and a little rebellious. It suggests a kind of attraction with a hint of risk—something you know you probably shouldn’t get close to, but still want to. The opening is a tart freshness from lychee and bergamot. Within the light fruitiness there is the green edge of violet leaf, giving a cool, slightly watery sharpness. After a few minutes the rose begins to appear. Here the rose is supported by cedar and angelica, forming a clean woody structure. You can detect a faint herbal bitterness and a subtle spiciness, and the overall line of the composition feels very precise. This heart is the most beautiful part of the fragrance. The base settles into oakmoss, vetiver, and patchouli. As the scent sinks down it becomes drier and more stable, with a faint salty nuance. The combination of wood shavings and moss can evoke the structure of classic perfumes, but without their heaviness, so the overall impression remains cleaner. Stylistically it follows a fairly typical contemporary chypre direction: clean greenery, clearly defined woods, and a simplified mossy base. Longevity is about average, and projection is moderate, but it maintains a subtle presence around you. It feels particularly suitable for spring and autumn. In slightly cooler weather, the mossy and woody notes seem to open up more in the air.

I have been wearing this lately because it is just so beautiful. Confident Parisian woman with lots of joie de vivre in a classic trench coat with big, dark glasses and a pretty scarf. A bit powdery, chypre-esque, but heavy vetiver too. Modern with a touch of vintage. It can be unisex if you are masculine and can wear powdery fragrances, otherwise I find it leans a little feminine. It's tempting to call it classy and elegant, but those aren't quite the right words. It's refined in a subtle way that isn't showy at all. The opening is very attractive right off the bat--clean, chic and bright. In the heart, there is a nice vetiver that, over time, combines with something a little bit balsamic. I had to look at the notes, but I don't see anything here that would indicate any resins, but to me this smells like a touch of benzoin in the base to balance out the slight tang of the vetiver. I do adore the opening, where I get a big hit of the most realistic lychee I have ever smelled in any perfume (one of my favorite fruits to eat, when I can get them), but at the same time, the longer its on my skin, the more it blends with my chemistry. Splendid from top to bottom. [Came back to say that this reminds me of Mona Di Orio’s magnificent Vetiver. This is even more modern and a bit more androgynous]

This is the first time I'm writing a review to compliment the perfumer- because this fragrance is a piece of art. Upon first spray- the opening was dirty, earthy, sweet and smoky- like an ashtray leftover with a fresh incense stick still burning. It was actually- nice though. The rose was dark and all I kept thinking was that this was something that a goth girl would wear, or an androgynous European man (an artist) who wore a leather jacket and was too pompous to talk to you. These were the images that kept coming to mind. But then, 10 minutes later, I kept smelling my arm and everything changed. The goth-girl-cold-weather scents evolved into spring time fresh florals. It was clean, it was fresh- it smelled like I washed my body using spring floral soap. The goth girl removed the makeup and clothing because Saturday night turned into Sunday morning and she was meeting her parents for brunch. The European man took off the leather jacket and put on his Sunday's best to attend his nephew's holy communion. That is what French Affair is. How Quentin Bisch did this is something that should be studied by perfumers around the world.

I love and own several fragrances created by Quentin Bisch. In many years of acquiring perfumes, I realize if I love a perfumer's "style" of perfumery, I will probably love several of their creations. Perfumers develop a groove, or a niche (so to speak). Having become intrigued with "mossy notes," and after experiencing disappointment with Racine "La Terre, La Nuit," I did a beginner's dive into fragrances with oak moss. Ex Nihilo "French Affair" popped up as a must try in this genre of fragrance categories. I have no words, I really don't. French Affair is glorious, it really is. Ex Nihilo "French Affair" is a contemporary nod to the most traditional chypre fragrances. The perfume's opening citrus notes start things off but quickly give way to violet leaf coupled with rose and angelica. The combination of notes creates a surreal experience. The ingredients scream high quality. And the blending of the notes is impeccable and flawless. The landing of patchouli, vetiver and oak moss ground the gentle floral fragrance in an ethereal and seraphic way. To me, this perfume is unearthly and rapturous.