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.

My favourite offering from Ex Nihilo by a long mile. Such a beautiful, sophisticated, earthy Chypre that somehow manages to stay within the realms of the contemporary and yet is still very wearable. It is not at all an old-fashioned Chypre. It can stand shoulder to shoulder along with some of the best. It's cold, damp and organic but not in any way gloomy like Myths Woman or Chanel No. 19. It's bright and sparkling like the sun shining on raindrops after a storm. Dark clouds are still ominously lingering while the aura of the sun is making them recoil. If you're a Chypre fan, you should test this. I personally find it very empowering to wear. Yes, it is expensive, but the performance is nothing short of beastly. I get an easy 12+ hours from only one or two sprays. It has super strong silage too so don't spray it any more than once or twice. Unisex and a perfectly composed French Chypre for modern times and a must-have for any Chypre collection.

This is a vetiver style fragrance – it’s in the same ballpark as Terre d’Hermès, for me uniquely masculine like most vetiver fragrances are, the rose which is also clearly present makes this more special, more classy, maybe it’s the Oakmoss-Vetiver combo which gives an extra touch to the fragrance, the citrus is in the background and not so much present like in many Vetiver-Citrus combo designer fragrances – I would not say this is immediately a fragrance to be worn by the youth, only if they are very confident and want to smell differently in compare to most youngsters, I get quite some compliments young and old wearing this fragrance ( and I am middle age ), like Terre d’Hermes it is loved by many, if this would be easier to access, it would be loved by many as well but I want to make it clear as well this fragrance is not to compare to Terre d'Hermes, it’s simply a lot better and a more mature scent

Ex Nihilo chose the perfect name for this lovely unisex fragrance, which uses rose oil, violet leaf, and lichi to heavenly effect. It has the underpinnings both of a classic chypre (oakmoss) and of a "new chypre" (vetiver and patchouli) to ground it so it is not all sweet fruit and flowers, and lots of bergamot (common to both kinds of chypres) to make it juicy. The narrative the perfumeur provides for this is of the glamorous designer fantasy of Paris in the 1970s, and I can imagine the famous dandy of the era Jacques de Bascher wearing this. I wish I could afford a full bottle!

Every time I think I know what this smells like, it just shocks me because it's never what I remember. If you're a scent collector and are looking for something entirely it's own creation, this is it. I have had a friend literally grab my wrist to try and figure out what the hell is going on with this scent. Rosewater and patchouli opening, with an odd pink-pepper overtone, and upon deeper inhalation the wood and oakmoss comes forward. This is the absolute scent of androgyny, complex and shifting.

So nice and wonderful! It smells like a sophisticated spring afternoon with a cocktail on a luxury Parisian rooftop. It is manly, but not for everyone to wear, because the rose/violet/litchi notes makes it some kind of sweet, but not feminine. The longevity is great, it lasts all day and gives you whiffs all day long. Sillage is super: people complimented me, without me having the idea the whole room smelled like it.

I'm normally an amber gal, but this is fabulous. Mossy and green and a bit woody, it's moderately long lasting and very sophisticated - feels like a welcome departure from today's fragrances. It totally reminds me of a bottle of YSL Rive Gauche I bought in Paris as a kid in 1980, though my memory might serve me wrong. Gorgeous, and much more beautiful than other Ex Nihilo frags, which I find cloying sweet.

Rainy, Mossy, Dusty and Dirty... in all glorious aspects. To ME this leans masculine, but I can see the right woman pulling it off. As others have said, this pays respects to the old school but absolutely makes it nods to today’s modern world of perfumery. This feels very recognizable yet super unique. Could very well be the most underrated fragrance in the game.

Am I the only one who gets a beautiful cumin note?! In fact I told the SA I love cumin in fragrances & she recommended this. My only regret is that I didn’t purchase the bigger bottle. One last thing is this reminds me of rose 31,not identical but similar enough to be called cousins imho,but different enough to where I need both in my collection.

It’s not a usuall fragrance to blindbuy! It’s something vintage which is not flowery or fruity at all. An exotic vibe which takes you back to dance club cornered with drunk people! It is sweaty and dirty because of violet leaves but on a sexy side. It's completely narcotic and addictive. love it.

Halfway through the bottle. Sexy from start to finish, always interesting. I wear it everywhere. My FU scent.

way better mossy fresh rain dirt type scent than mousse de chene 30 IDGAFFFFF

I put this on this morning, a humid day in Autumn. I remember smelling something fruity-- obviously the litchi and bergamot. It was sweet-- I wasn't prepared, but kissed my partner goodbye, and then I zipped out the door to run to some appointments I didn't smell much except glimpses here and there throughout the morning. But it wasn't the fruity opening notes anymore, it was something else. Something deeper, woodier, I would say that if this scent at a season, it would be fall. It just felt so 'natural' for the surroundings. Some rain, with wet leaves falling down, a mixture of the moss from the nearby forests. When I returned to my flat a few hours later, I was greeted with the top notes again when I opened the front door! A pleasant surprise. 6 hours later I'm still getting whiffs of it from time to time-- the skin smell is pretty low though now, but for some reason it still greets me when I'm not expecting it. I am not sure if I'll purchase a full size of this, but I might grab it again in the upcoming autumnal months.

French Affair reminds me of football games and walks in the park during the fall when the leaves are falling. On the opening all I could smell was oakmoss and a hint of rose and angelica. I had hoped for more litchi and bergamot but was unable to smell either. The drydown became well-blended oakmoss, vetiver and a hint of rose and angelica. Definitely a unisex scent leaning more toward the masculine side, but either way it is very very sexy. The longer I wore it, the more I liked it. Unfortunately it became a skin scent after about twenty minutes. Longevity 2/10 Projection 5/10 Sillage 5/10

What a unique, interesting scent. More oakmoss, lychee and rose (in that order) than vetiver to my nose, though there is some. The lychee/rose combo gives off a feminine fruity vibe while the oakmoss/patchouli keeps it sturdy enough to stay unisex. Now that I think about it, this would be extremely attractive to me on a girl. The major accomplishment of French Affair is that it is a thoroughly refreshing spring scent holding a complexity typically found only in heavier fragrances. The quality here is undeniable.

Opens bright and fruity with the litchi, gets dryer, woodier, and earthier as it dries down and does so quite fast. There's an intensely green, bitter, and slightly metallic cord that dominates, feels damp and dry at the same time? Odd but I like it very much and so does my body chemistry. It's been over 4 hrs and it's still going strong, I get whiffs of my sample. Perfect for transitioning weather, so spring and autumn would be perfect. I'll be finishing my sample and definitely purchasing a full bottle.

A lovely modern simply constructed chypre scent. It opens with notes of litchi fruit, violet leaves and bergamot. The heart is rose surrounded by cedar and angelica. The perfume settles into a mossy powdery base of oakmoss, patchouli and vetiver. The unisex scent has moderate to strong projection and very good longevity. Not hugely exceptional but a very pleasant easy to reach chypre that can be worn easily in any weather or setting. Enjoy!

Strong vetiver and oakmoss, well blended with rose and fruits. Yes, I do get a beautiful cumin note too, as well as patchouli (but not overbearing). Very well done scent even if not for me I cannot help to recommend it to people that love vetiver because it's quite interesting and unconventional, slightly sweeter and more complex than a lot of other vetiver.

Yeah this is similar to Eldo Hermann but take out the geosmin and add patchouli. This is a bit of a lighter take but certainly no slouch performance wise. A camphoric forest feeling. I actually feel like ELDO Hermann can ve really overwhelming, and this is more elegant. If you like this vibe, you also might like Ex Nihilo Citizen X.

This has a gorgeous, green-fruity opening that made me so hopeful for what might come next. However, after only a minute or so, like others have mentioned, I got a strong cumin note. Not a nice, interesting cumin that just hints and teases (Zoologist Sloth comes to mind), but a strong, BO cumin that had me checking my armpits to make sure it wasn't me. The Rose note in the heart is beautiful. It emerges with a sophisticated, bitter-green tint (angelica + cedar?) that reminds me of galbanum. Although at this point the cumin is a bit more blended, it's still just too much for me. After an hour or so the cumin fades, and the rose swaps its green tint for a slight bit of powder. On me the rose lasts and lasts, through to the end of the fragrance. I never really got much from the listed base notes, perhaps just a hint in the background of a clean earthiness. In the end, I just can't do that cumin, it's a deal-breaker. This is the second Ex Nihilo scent that to my nose had one unbalanced, unpleasant note that stuck out and ruined an otherwise gorgeous fragrance. The other was Explicite, with its overly prominent note of Coumarin.

There's something bitter, sour, and wet about French Affair. Like the richness from aging tree leaves on the damp ground, the scent certainly acts as something I wouldn't expect to smell or find myself coming across often. It's heavy at first and quite herbal, bold and sharp within the base. This scent seems to start in the base and work it's way down into the softness within the top notes. It's as if you get the rose's thorns and roots instead of the petals. It's a scent with a vintage flair and deeper end that's so lovely. But at some points, this does smell a bit like pickles...and nowadays it kind of always smells like pickles.

I get a green rose/geranium over a bitter woody backdrop, warmed up with a bit of dry amber. Bergamot does its transparent, woody brightening on the top. It doesn't stay interesting for very long. It quickly gives me an unbalanced effect, with a geraniol-type note sticking out over the rest, not entirely unlike what happens with Terre D'Hermes Eau Tres Fraiche. It's like a cologne pasted onto an EDP, but the base of the EDP doesn't have much going. Like pretty much everything else in the world, it's absolutely not worth exorbitant Ex Nihilo prices.

French Affair embodies the essence of French hospitality, charm, and old money. A true chypre fragrance with damp oakmoss and Indonesian pachouli make this fragrance feel earthy and exotic. French Affair is Humphrey Bogart smoothly lighting the flame of Lauren Bacall's cigarette in Dark Passage. Picture velvet tuxedos and elegant fur coats. I would not entirely call this fragrance alluring, but rather an incomparable gauge to one’s trust fund inheritance.

Very bitter, tart opening. Dries down to a scent like Terre d'Hermes EDT. The earthy quality is there, but instead of orange, it's has more of a generic fruity qaulity. The longevity and sillage is average/below average. Casual, best suited for spring.

Unisex, androgynous, semi-old fashioned Chypre. I love vetiver and can only detect a small bit in this but I would say this perfume is earthy, aromatic, and mossy. I would love to wear this before a hike in the woods or something outdoors

I didn't like this scent. The opening made me nauseous; it smelled like musty oakmoss and stale vetiver, like an old house with furniture starting to deteriorate. As the scent dried, it wasn't so bad; after an earthy and mossy smell, it transformed into a not-so-bad violet scent. I have to say, it struck me as an extremely vintage scent. This fragrance might be good for those who like vintage violet scents, but I definitely didn't like the opening.

Has a fresh but kind of rubbery leathery opening. Reminds me of the smell a cheap leather band of a watch leaves on your wrist in a very hot day. Not getting much of the rose, only the oakmoss. Very sour. In the dry down it becomes relatively pleasant but it's not worth the initial torture of the opening. The good thing is, it's really weak and almost unnoticeable on my skin after a few hours so you don't have to tolerate it too long. 4/10

A clear rose lifted by modern fruits, surrounded by old world chypre accords, but then, the putrid stank of sour body odor seeps through (cumin? a dirty patchouli? a foul oak moss?). Absolutely not.

The dankness of moss combined with cedar/citrus brightness.... as it dries (and it dries quickly) those brighter notes calm a bit, unfolding into sweet, musty rose--a basket of dried petals intermingled with dusty woodiness. I don't perceive the cumin some others are mentioning. There's a real stuffiness about it which I'm not enjoying. On my skin, there's this certain unpleasant, almost-metallic sharpness--a certain acerbicness, an unwashed tshirt. Probably the fault of the oakmoss--I am not powerful enough for such a note (though I like it on others)... I could see myself enjoying smelling this on the right person--a sophisticated woman--but I am decidedly not that person. Since I am somewhere between a hippy and an untidy goth, on me this just presents as potpourri and must in all the wrong ways.

French Affair by Ex Nihilo is an overwhelming blend of oakmoss that leaves you feeling like you've taken a stroll through a damp, mossy forest. The earthy notes are so dominant that it's harsh on my nose. This is not the refreshing and subtle scent I was hoping for; it's more like a heavy dose of nature that lingers uncomfortably throughout the day. I am a huge fan of classic Chypré fragrances but this is a hard pass for me as I don't find this pleasant at all. 2/10.

It’s sweet, it’s sultry, it’s woodsy in all the right ways. This reminds me of my 20’s in NYC. It smells like intrigue and mystery. Beautifully composed. Unique. Completely unisex. I am a 43 year old woman and I’m going to rock this. 10/10

The worst out of 15 ex nihilo samples. I love the house but this sounded great but honestly I cannot stand it for more than a second. Smells like a French musky crotch.

Cumin party plus it's extremely mature, one of the worst things I've ever smelled.

I’ve had this beautiful fragrance for over a year. I wanted to get to know it before I formed an opinion. The mysterious thing is... I still don’t know it...yet I can’t leave it alone. I really can’t figure it out, except to know it’s beautiful, sharp, and brilliant like a diamond. It’s not one I used to wear much at all, but now I find myself helpless to the lure of it. This is my only Ex Nihilo fragrance, and I certainly consider it to be worth the investment. The quality and extraordinary fearlessness of this unique fragrance make me want to try others from this house. This was a very risky blind buy, and a successful one; it is in the top three most unique of my collection. If vintage YSL Rive Gauche and vintage Chanel No 19 had a love child, it would be French Affair. It’s bright, piercing, and not sweet at all. There is something in this fragrance that reminds me of the aromatic beautiful green of vintage Aramis and Aromatics Elixir. It smells utterly expensive, and has a reckless sophistication about it. The lychee and rose are cool and icy, not warm and dewy. There is a white hot fire beneath the ice in this gorgeous parfum. I find the fragrance holds the bright opening from start to finish. Yet, it really doesn’t finish because it clings to my clothing like a glittering jewel barnacle. French Affair is a powerhouse, and the sillage is intimidating. I have hesitated on this one at times because of its strength, and uniqueness. I’m slightly addicted to it now. The nostalgia is heavy in this one for me. I have a thing for it...I’m drawn like a moth to a flame... like an illicit affair.

fruit sweet vetiver. The vetiver shows at the beginning with oakmoss, violet leaves, and bits of cedar wood & roses. The calm down, the litchi patchouli blend shows quite clear and the violet leaves as well comes out to be uplifting. It's kind of that masculine labeled fragrance plus sweet litchi and violets. Umm.. meh! Edit (18th Dec 2017) Well, i regret the meh above, as the above review was based on a plotter but now i do have the whole sample.After applying it on my skin, i kind of like it now although i am not a vetiver lover BUT the rose, litchi, oakmos and violets leaves are changing the mix quite well! it has that harsh yet sweet tingly effect when applying on my skin! as i keep sniffing litchi roses as a sweet with the tingly violet leaves, and some harsh cedar, vetiver, and major oakmoss. It is not a masculine labeled fragrance, it is quite charming actually. the 2nd fragrance i like after "Oud Vendom".

This is really intriguing to my nose. Off the sprayer, it has this jeckyl&hyde sort of character which is alluring in a very strange way; it has the sharp almost citrus-like open which clashes with moss and woods with something else smoothening it out towards the end. It is sharp.. yet dank. It is certainly a scent to try out before you buy a full bottle but in my opinion, it IS quite unique because nothing really compares well to this. The drydown is much more tame, agreeable and smooth and reminds me a bit of what some people call an old school barbershop fragrance. I enjoy this - a very occasional wear for me though when I want something exotic yet sophisticated and unique.

This is the most masculine-characterized scent I wear and I love the drydown for its deep sweaty burning rubber appeal, emitted by the amazing retro oakmoss and leather combo. It is not for the faint of heart, and the Rive Gauche reference is apt: it smells like the 70's, a gamine young woman in a well-tailored tux jacket and no blouse beneath. The longevity is off the charts. After wearing it for some months, the floral started to finally register under the big leather accords, and I understand why some men complain this is too floral to be unisex. Be brave, men. This tough floral is androgynous sex appeal.

French Affair begins beautifully with a fruity citrus-rose. I think most people will find this skews masculine, but I enjoyed wearing this and plan to do so again. After that bright opening, this fragrance dries down to a burnished trio of oakmoss, vetiver, and patchouli. By the end of the evening, I couldn't stop sniffing my wrist. For people who love oakmoss and vetiver, this one is a must-sniff!

Update: after smelling it as a sample twice for a few days, i had to buy it! Superb and well balanced scent, as usual with Quentin Bische's creations. I smell a prominent rose and therefore reminded of POAL but not as cloying and leaning less feminine. I find it way more wearable and versatile than POAL. Totally unisex in my opinion. This one is a crowd pleaser btw.

Smells like the hairy man I made out with in a darkroom in Barcelona for like a good 20 minutes. No idea what he looked like obviously but I just know he was hot, well groomed and not wearing any deodorant so he smelled a bit like tomato leaves and spices but I did not mind at all in fact, it turned me on. Roses, cumin and patchouli? Hot and dirty

I too get the cumin note. Strongly. But unlike others, I hate cumin in fragrances! It never turns out well on my skin. The rest of the fragrance stays sour and pungent on me. Must be the litchi and violet leaf? Whatever the mix is in this perfume, it does not smell good to me! Even after an hour of putting it on, I still can't take it.

A cold night around boulevard St. Germain, a Toulouse-Lautrec painting, lichee, naked women, lingeries, roses, strangers in the night - like a Sinatra song -, sex, lust, a high dose of cummin mixed with cinnamon, latin quarter, eyes that shine like diamond, galbanum and the certainty that Paris is all about liberté.

Stunning and very unique on my skin. Reminds me of a “new”, it could be a “recreation” of Mystere Rochas! Chypre, loud, beautiful and it smells expensive. It has this old Glam vintage vibe. I get compliments everywhere I go when I have it on.

-French Affair must have been intended to recreate the vibes of a day-drunkard in his 30s. -Boozy scent with hints of woody notes. -Reminiscent of a drunkard passed out in some random planted area. (-)

Portrait of a Lady is the eldest sister, Eau Capitale the elegant middle one, and French Affair the youngest — who resembles the middle sister, but dreams of becoming the powerful, iconic first...

Starts off like Eau d’Hermes, transitions into a mix between Rose 31 and Portrait of a Lady, and ends with a beautiful and smooth wood note similar to the one in Bond No 9 Brooklyn