The Lover's Tale

This perfume is masculine initially and in the dry down, though it does dry down just a tiny bit more subdued. My beast of a skin as always drinks up every perfume and eventually turns it somehow feminine, so this smells like I rubbed myself all over my lover who wore this perfume himself. Projection is only slightly powerful on me because of aforementioned hoarder skin of mine. But that’s a pleasant thing since this scent is so dirty, so sexual and powerful that it could easily overwhelm. People said it lasts for days, eternal? No, it lasted 3 hours on me, and then I had to sniff my skin. Perhaps it lasts on clothing. But if your skin is a beast.. it isn’t eternal. It is polarizing and not for the faint of heart. warmth amplifies the leather, in summer you would smell like an actual animal. It is a scent that is highly stirring, highly salacious, that the word ( and please do not excuse me for the profanity) “fuck” replaces “lovemaking” here. It’s not feminine sexuality, (since it’s clearly not feminine to me) it’s animal and rough... that isn’t to say that feminine sexuality isn’t like that, but if you do dress somewhat feminine and have somewhat of a feminine disposition in all feminine facets- feral, dark, soft and airy, vicious, wild, sensual, it’s still a scent which might strike as incompatible to you because it’s really masculine. (to me) I tried it on and didn’t plan immediately going out.... but ended up having to, and people twisted their heads at me. Getting a hit of that leather is dirty alright! With all that being said, I wouldn’t buy a bottle. I’m too feminine in dress and in personality for it. That isn’t to say that I prefer good girl scents, but I do wear airy dresses, and lace. But I love deeply richly darkly seductive feminine scents... and I thought this will be like that. It’s not. I would love this on men, and on the rare women who can pull it off... As an art though, this is an absolute emotion and masterfully crafted and I love Francesca as a perfumer and woman. You just must sample, because even on men this can settle oddly. Also, people say it smells like the epitome of sex? Good lord, no. Well. Maybe animals in heat. Not a complete sexuality, but primordial sexuality. It smells more like a 1960s sex lounge, (particularly 1960s because of its contemporary brazen feel) ornamented with whips and leather accessories and unclad women with nipple tassels offering guests drinks, with leather seats and cigarette smoke. This is not sensual. Its dirty. Theres a mighty difference. One is suggestive, alluring, the other one grabs you by the ass and bruises you. it’s not even carnal, it’s vividly kinky. Or, When I say it’s sexual, I mean it in the most animalistic and distilled way. i mean mating. if you will. It depends on whos wearing it too. Dandyman above said “ Must say: Masculine, +30 years, motorcycle-crowd, big city, dark nights, sexual.” Spot on. This is for an older man, dominant, and animalistic, dark and contemporary. I would definitely be intoxicated with this on men. This is a scent I imagine alpha werewolves in disguise wearing, Think Jacob black.. EDIT- SAMPLE. It can sit on some people like the smell of a rotten dead cats body. I mean it.

Lovers Tale I have waited a long time to write anything on this fragrance. This was maybe the first or one of the first drops for her as a brand and named after herself. This is a big deal in case you glossed over that. Like in many forms of art, the beginnings are where there is a sort of sign and root of what sits at the core of the artist. So I was walking at night when I came across some bushes of a white flowering plant. (I think it's part of the jasmine family of plants.) I was shocked at how intense and yet how subtle all the various shades of this scent were. Words like "narcotic," "dense," "misty," "raw," "animallike," "light," "effervescent," etc. I am no stranger to this magical act of plants producing potent scents at certain times. Yet especially at night whenever I notice this, I am just shocked again and again. Why do I mention this? Because this is the part that makes this fragrance so amazing. Yes, there are animalic facets, (first time I smelled it, I felt a faint feeling of being sick). It's also got a sort of cheesy facet, especially gorgonzola cheese, as if you smell the dried packaging of this sort of cheese somewhere around you. Yes, it has leathery facets (which I won't go into directly....). BUT..... This is a floral fragrance in its most glorious state. Not only the descriptive scent but also the visceral impact it has. Like the write-up says, The Lover's Tale is a "naughty leathery jasmine." This is as if you are a jasmine plant...only...you are made of flesh, bones, and many organic fluids. So a leathery, human-animal being that oozes jasmine. If the jasmine plant stops me at night with how gloriously it lights up the whole area and carries its beauty with the wind. This scent blooms around a person as someone who is gloriously oozing his or her white floral essence with all of their human-ness. It took me 3 wears to realize that I need a bottle. I now own 2 bottles of this beauty. Like in many artistic creations (think of films), the first one is THE one. I respect and enjoy many of her fragrances. However, this one...just does something that, although I know it well. It just always stops me right in my tracks. Just like that plant stopped me, not caring if anyone sees a random person standing and just inhaling standing next to some blooming bushes. It feels as if the world disappears. Similar to when you are with that special person, how the rest seems to fade....

As I read thru the comments I realize how this fragrance is so different on different ppl. Which is why I decided on buying a 8ml decant from MaxAroma first, because i didn’t want to be stuck with a perfume that I’ll never wear. I actually ordered decants of all the perfumes she offers. I fell in love with all but one. I bought full bottles of 7 of them thus far. As for Lovers Tale, yes it starts out very unappealing and even I was put off, but....after about half an hour it changes into a beautiful and very wearable fragrance on my skin, I start to get the rose and the Labdanum and the beautiful sandalwood. It becomes so beautiful, but then about an hour later it’s a barely there skin scent. I can still smell it on my hand if I put my nose to it. So, yeah it starts out very loud and animalic but then the florals show up combined with the sandalwood and Labdanum, I also get a lil orris in there, it’s just so beautiful. If it only lasted at least 2-3 hrs on me, I’d buy a full bottle and back ups. I had to buy back ups of TYGER TYGER and under my skin immediately. I’m slowly getting back ups of the others. I wouldn’t need back ups if the bottles were 100ml but at 30mls, that’s just not enough juice for me. 30mls is what I consider a purse spray size. I love this house and I have not found any of the scents that I don’t love or like. Well, except for Sex and the Sea, I just can’t tolerate that one. I don’t know which note or notes are repulsive to my nose but it just ruins it for me. However, I did try Sex and the Sea Neroli and THAT one I do like very much, I’m about to buy a full bottle of it as well. She has improved it 100 times by adding neroli. I love neroli and imho it only improves anything it’s added to. Great move Francesca. As always these are my own opinions and experiences with this house :) you may have a much different experience with this fragrance. Oh, I also forgot to add that my skin just drinks up perfume like crazy. I often have to remember to use a heavy moisturizer and wait for it to be absorbed into my skin, then the scents seem to perform much better and last a bit longer. (Except for my neck, scents i spray there seem to last and project longer) I guess it’s just my post menopausal dry skin...sigh .....it is what it is.

New signature scent for sure. Lets break this down. Fecal? Barn full of poop and animals? I dont understand why people are saying this. Never had any whiff where i could see why people say that. This is pure brown leather jacket dripping castoreum and honey, surrounded by iris and rose. Opening is very strong due to the high concentration and the quality. So if you want to try this beast and actually give it a chance seeing why people love this, do yourself a favour and let it sit for a few minutes. After that, it turns into a beautiful leather dominant, while honey and rose come in to the play. Im not much familiar with castoreum so i cant say much about it but i sense something very smokey and animalic in this and im sure its the castoreum. It stays leathery all throughout so if you’re not into leather scents- I’d pass. Definitely unisex with sweetness so i think anyone can pull this off but if you are into sweet feminine perfumes i wouldn’t recommend this. If we compare another leather perfume like ombré leather, which is fully masculine and straight forward black leather jacket. The lover’s tale has its own twists while leather is the star of the show all the way. The creamy iris and the sweet honey make it a unisex brown leather. It has a lot more depth and warmth. I would die for this on a man. Yup, sex in a bottle, use with caution. Should you blind buy?- I blind bought BECAUSE of the interesting reviews and how controversial this perfume is. Im super adventurous with my perfumes so if you are ready to step into the next level of niche fragrances and like to experiment with unique scents- you might want to risk a blind buy with this one. I dont understand why so many people hated this, really. Its perfect. Although, not for any occasion. I wouldnt wear this to work. Its too dark and sexual (also very strong for the office). Suitable for all weather, more for winter and fall but i will rock this all summer. Best blind buy ever. I will comeback for an update about longevity. Update: its been 15 hours and still on. Also, im sick and woke up a few times at night and the first thing i felt in my senses was this perfume. Still leathery, touch of raw honey, animalic and sensual. Very comforting.

Oh, this is an animalic beast– primal, yet still refined. I only applied three sprays the first time I wore it, in an attempt to not overapply per the recommendations of many reviews. I should have gone with one spray; this is one of the most potent fragrances I’ve ever worn. The Lover’s Tale leads with high-quality castoreum and leather, followed distantly by honey, orris, and peach. It is not a sweet scent, nor is it for the faint of heart or those who prefer conventional perfumes. However, it has an intimate, beautifully crafted, earnest appeal. I would recommend sampling before buying as not everyone can tame this passionate beast. The sillage is very leathery. If smelled up-close to the skin, however, it is more muddled. I own more than 300 fragrances and have owned far more than that over the last two decades and I can say with 100% confidence that this is the most long-lasting scent I've ever tried. I wore three sprays under a sweater and undershirt. The perfume transfer to my Jeep's seatbelt when I drove to the store and remains weeks later. My whole jeep smells like leather because of the 30 minutes or so I drove while wearing it. The sweater itself has been washed THREE times, once on the heavy soil setting with hot water. The scent is still perfectly distinguishable to this day. Indeed, all the clothes that were with the sweater in the first and second wash smell like leather now too. It's a really pleasant smell, but good lord, it is indestructible. All of this is to say, go very easy on the trigger with this one. Focus more on the scent of the sillage than what it smells like from 1/2 inch away. If you do these things, you're more likely to have a good experience with The Lover's Tale.

I note the dusky animalics in the opening but they are subsumed under a thick layer of pasty-starchy iris butter. To be fair, this is a note my chemistry amplifies or to which my nose is very sensitive—possibly both—and others may not experience this phase as I do. A heavy, soft leather develops. A pungent suede. It is dark and calming. Powdery. It makes me think a bit of make-up and lipstick but the image in my mind is all venetian ceruse. Over time a bit of peach skin and a purply-floral accord accompanied by a smoky and ultimately warm, resinous undercurrent emerge and sweeten by the hour, but the fragrance never turns saccharine. I have had two people comment on the smokiness of this stage. Oddly both thought it was something in the environment and not perfume itself. “Rubbery” and “tires” were also mentioned. As many have noted, one spray lasts for hours on skin, days on clothes. For 5-6 hours this wafts around like crazy. It's not in-your-face, it's just kind of everywhere as a strange ever-shifting narcotic haze. There is a passing similarity to Mitsouko in the early stages, but Lover’s Tale pretty quickly winds up in a heady dusky and moderately sweet leather incense territory. It is extremely nice once I make it past the iris butter overwhelm. I do not experience the feral narratives some describe. Not even a little. I am a compulsive wrist sniffer, and the first 1-2 hours do not smell nice to me up close. I have to spray on the back of my neck only, and I very much enjoy it this way. It’s not really perfume-y. It’s like something else entirely. Dreamy.

I rarely recognise the lovers evoked by certain perfumes in the house spiels by brands. But, in olfactory terms at least, here is a lover who can seduce me. This is not the sickly sweet froth of a bottled cheap romance novel that we encounter all too often in mainstream perfumery. It illustrates (through the nose) the difference between a desirable lover and pure, abstract love. Leather underscored with animalic notes are the brace on which it is built. And no, that doesn’t mean it’s all ‘Venus in Furs’. It’s a revelation. You can barely recognise the florals of heliotrope, rose, mimosa or jasmine, even though you feel their subtle presence raising it above the animal. Nonetheless, there is something rooted in physicality; the desirable body of a lover and not just his or her unique personality traits or dazzling mind. This is a lover that must make love; does not shrink from the corporal. Perhaps influenced by the name, the minute it went on I thought of Dante and Boccaccio and a universe in which love may be heavenly or eternal but for which we pay a physical price. Your loss if you don’t understand why that’s better than the courtly kind. Sidestepping worthy discussions about gender (which I believe irrelevant where fragrance is concerned) I nonetheless suspect that, statistically, this would be favoured by more men than women in a blind testing. I say this not as a sleight to the smart women drawn to it but as a word of advice to cautious men whose gender bias may lead them to bypass it on account of its name. Don’t. You’d be missing out.

Vroom vroom VROOM! Hair-raisingly dirty, relentless leather which will flog your nose to oblivion if applied without careful moderation. An ultra-dark-smoky-formula of brutal force, but as always with Francesca Bianchi, there are layers and layers of artistry to complicate the experience: the tapestry of sweeter, floral notes are all perceptibly THERE, not smothered under a layer of grease, and make it oddly, workably unisex despite its incredible force. Surprisingly not tarry or sweaty (despite the castoreum), but has the same 'living skin' energy of so much from this house. From a distance (and it truly does go the distance - can be smelled from metres away) the impression even becomes floral and retro. You've gotta go all in, though; its aura is bad-boy all the way and makes no allowances for the nervous. (I have a friend, no shrinking violet about other rough-beast scents, who told me she "simply can't deal with it" as it reminds her so vividly of a former biker boyfriend's well-used leather trousers ... and I can see and smell exactly why). True leather-lovers will live it, but anyone ambivalent or wussy about the note will run away screaming. It has the muscle power to give you a blinding headache if oversprayed and it lives for EVER (seriously - at least several weeks - tested and verified) on clothing or bedding. This lover makes few compromises and demands a great deal of commitment - but can take you places few competitors can match. Use lightly and be prepared to test your mettle.

Another one for the collection, and this time Ms. Bianchi pulled no punches. Incredibly dense fragrance with the robustness, longevity and multifaceted development worthy of the "niche" designation. All the heavy hitters from the Bianchi signature profile are here, except for ambergris, but with the introduction of the animalic castoreum that gives it just the right amount of funk. Despite having multiple florals in the notes and the bergamot giving a hint of citrus zest in the start, this is not a fresh flowery scent in the slightest, and those are not the type of floral notes that would do that anyway. What you get instead is a dense, vegetal, leathery, smokey blast in The Black Knight mixed with that baked peach marmalade we know from Tyger Tyger, but with the florals and the dense, buttery, almost suffocating base of oakmoss, musk, orris butter and sandalwood, and the castoreum note that keeps it interesting and unpredictable even in the deep drydown. The bulgarian rose is hard to pick apart from the much denser notes here, so it is if anything a background and not a prominent influence in this. After having nine other bottles from this house, i thought it would be hard to be as impressed with it as i was in the start, but this one proves me wrong again - it is starting to climb towards a spot in my top 3 Bianchi's, and in the top 5 for sure. Unmistakable must have for a niche enthusiast. and the price won't break the bank either.

Reviewing a bottle from ?2024 Lot #65 014. The Lover's Tale was launched in 2018. The Lover's Tale is a poweful floral leather with an opening that is not for the faint of heart but will reward the determined. The opening seems to be the most challenging for many; this is certainly unusual as most fragrances open with lovely aromas in order to make a quick sale only to die or disappoint as the top notes fade. The Lover's Tale begins with piercing leather , a Cuir de Russie type leather with varnish/medicinal overtones. This toluene note is reminiscent of a shoe repair shop using barge cement. I'm not sure how this was acheived but suspect Orinox +/- apo patchone +/- creosol. In any case, this slowly fades over the next 30 min allowing this now tamed leather to meld with indolic flowers - mostly jasmine as well as powdery notes from orris and heliotrope. The base in about 2-3 hours is a soft rich woody amber with lovely labdanum. Not sweet, I get a touch of beeswax rather than honey. Does not come across animalic - if there is castoreum it is very subtle. Quality- very good 4/5 (a bit too bipolar ; I find that florals are gone too soon and would like more please) Unisex Performance- excellent 5/5 (>10 hrs) Overall, this begins as shoe repair shop potent varnished leather but transforms into a moody ambery floral that lasts forever. Give it time. 8.5/10

I wrote a review of this fragrance back when I first got it in 2022, but my understanding of this scent has expanded enough to warrant sharing anew. With this fragrance, quantity is EVERYTHING. The first time I wore it, I applied three sprays, which is more restrained than usual for me. Three sprays were too much, massively overpowering, and remained on my clothes and every surface that touched me for weeks. Now, I know better. One spray still delivered the most besital performance of any fragrance on earth (my husband could smell it immediately from the other end of our house), but the lighter application allowed so many more nuances to peek through. I suspect maceration helped sweeten the overall juice, too. The opening is still a haymaker of castoreum and leather, with an almost industrial quality. But the oiled machinery and leather quality tames into something deeply earnest and sensual. I hadn’t picked up any honey or mimosa last time, but they are present and STUNNING this time. What was once a “like” has become a “love” as I cannot stop sniffing my shirt to admire the subtleties that I hadn’t noticed before.. The Lover’s Tale is definitely the most challenging of Bianchi’s creations I’ve tried so far, but I have fallen for it completely and do not feel intimidated to wear it! Just apply with restraint and give it time to tell its tale.

I had to write an apology of The lovers tale.. Do not be discouraged after reading all those negative reviews.. It's not that bad! Personally, I love it. But: 1) It should not be worn in very warm weather, it turns very nasty. Trust me. 2) It is not suitable for most of the occasions. Work? University? Family meeting? First few dates? Forget it. It may be a little offensive, not only because of the uniqness, but as a result of inner vulgarity. It's sex in the bottle. 3) It is of enormous strength and lasting power. Two sprays in not that small room with glass of water, and the water was undrinkable when I got back to it few hours later. No more than two sprays, or people will suffocate. And most the people won't be fond of it. Less is better. Given right occasion, right mindset (well, you have to be prepared to live this fragrance, you cannot be ashamed of it) and right weather it is beautiful. Smells a little bit like a old cabinet, naftaline, leather, very powdery, animalistic. Leans a little masculine, but can be well-worn by a woman, rather bold and courageous. Quite a dominatrix fragrance. It was blind buy for me (I would not recommend it though), started with liking it, end up with loving it.

Wow! what a complex masterpiece from Francesca Bianchi! This is my first experience with her fragrances and all I can say is that i'm totally in love! 🥰 The animalic leather is the undisputed star of the notes here 🌟 and it is such a well-blended formulation! The animalic leather immediately gives that carnal sexy allure that awakens our basic instincts which are still primal despite how much we evolved as a species! It's a very very sexy fragrance! Sex in bottle! And the performance is definitely beast mode! 🦁 The peach 🍑 supports the scent-profile by making it even more sexy and fuzzy! What a genius decision by Francesca was to pair peach with an animalic leather accord! Some believe that heliotrope is an aphrodisiac, and coupled with the indolic animalic qualities of jasmine here makes this fragrance a true sex in a bottle! 🍑 This fragrance is one of the few fragrances that actually evolves on the skin! The notes unfold and take you on a journey into the depths of desire and carnal awakenings! No wonder it is called "The Lover's Tale" ! ✨ 💕 ⚠️ Don't spray it on light colored clothes though as it stains red. A video review is also available on my YT ▶️

Dirty and sex. Not sexy, but sexual. The entire fragrance can be described in terms of behavior as follows: Sensual enticement, Sexuality, After-sex bonding. 👸🏼 The character and visual imagery are like a naked person draped casually in fur, sinking into a resilient leather couch, enveloped by the softness of the leather. - She invites you to sit beneath the couch, inches away, where you catch whiffs of floral and sweet scents emanating from his body. She sits silently, resembling a seductive, sensual beast tempting you, with estrogen fermenting within. 👸🏼 Overall, leather forms the foundation, with other scents built upon it. Here, the leather isn't smooth leather jackets but rather fur-covered leather, softening over time until the coarse fur becomes as soft as human skin, enhancing the carnal desire. - It embodies dark, solid powdery sweetness, a chaotic romance, and the seduction contained within a bottle. The powdery and leather aspects persist, with a brief hint of metallic emptiness and hollowness at one point. —.——.——.——.—— Scent 8/10 (Fragrance may vary based on personal preferences and experiences) Longevity 9.5/10 Sillage 8.5/10

Okay let's break this down. Bianchi's fragrances are so loaded and potent that the base notes have top notes if you know what I mean and the clarity in the opening can sometimes be lost. Youmust be patient though because these fragrances shift in tonality as they mature on your skin. The opening of this is sweetly a mixture of sweetly resinous and oriental and huge amounts of animalic notes. Primarily it has that 'cheese' smell you get from real civet (not the non animal replacement) and some oud oils. It's a barnyard connundrum/carcrash...and interesting to me...somewhat of an olfactory psychonaut but is it pleasant perfume...not particularly. However all is revealed and forgiven in the drydown when The lover's tale mutates into the most beautiful, castoreum leather and buttery floral scent (like Cuir de Russie) and just oozes masses of quality. Absolutely sublime. reminscent of a much nicer and smoother experience than Cuir d'Arabie by Montale but somewhat analogous with the harsh opening. It's brilliant though. I want a bottle but I don't want anyone to smell me for the first hour or so?

“A secret encounter of lovers, tightly bound by an impossible passion.” The Lover’s Tale is a romance of a by-gone era, a secret encounter between two lovers at a time when scandal could bring social ruin to your family. It walks the edge between refined and perverse, sophisticated and lustrous. A sweet, powdery marriage of countless florals makes up the bulk of this scent; jasmine, rose and heliotrope, with Bianchi’s signature use of leather and orris following closely behind giving the scent even more thickness. A touch of peach and a whisper of castoreum interpret the contrast between sweet innocence, and filthy desires. It smells like a close encounter between two esteemed members of society who are already betrothed to someone else. I absolutely love it, words cannot describe how much I love it. This scent fits my tastes perfectly - a dense, leathery Chypre with an overdose of vintage-style florals and woods. This is easily my favourite creation I’ve tried from Francesca Bianchi, I would even consider calling this a masterpiece.

A spectacular perfume that puts me in mind of Melt My Heart, although it replaces oud skank and wood with castoreum skank and leather, and I'm here for it. Real, buttery Orris envelops me, but with that "nasty" animalic edge, very sensual but not offensive. My only gripe would be the colour of the liquid, as you have to be careful where you spray it. Update: a lot of perfumes get labelled 'eternal' but this one really is. I sprayed it yesterday morning and I've had two showers since (climbing session too, very sweaty) and it's still going strong on my wrist! Sprayed on my inner elbow (my favourite spot for revealing the true faces of a perfume, perhaps because of the heat), I get Iris Silver Mist spilled into an exquisite Italian leather bag that's being used to carry mimosas at their most honking and pungent. To compare this to Cuir de Russie, its inspiration, the Chanel has that trademark ethereal sparkle and politesse, whereas Bianchi replaces sparkle with cream and restraint with salaciousness.

It is a truly unique scent—not a safe blind buy for sure, but definitely worth testing if you love leathery notes. I instantly fell in love with it and decided to get a full bottle. First of all, the performance is excellent. The sillage is strong, and the longevity is quite impressive. But most importantly, for me, it’s an instant confidence booster. It’s very assertive, yet at the same time, toned down by the powdery notes—most likely from orris. It feels both extroverted and intimate at once. Now, on a more general note: I know some reviewers complain about Francesca Bianchi's frequent use of orris in all her creations, arguing that it makes them too similar to each other. Well, I disagree. For me, the orris base is what makes all her scents uniquely appealing. I also own Etruscan Water and Sex and Sea Neroli, and to me, these are completely different fragrances—despite the clear presence of Francesca Bianchi’s signature DNA. Overall, I highly recommend testing this brand!

I had a generous sample in my bag that unfortunately slipped out as I raced to work late as always. It somehow got trapped in my handbrake lever and as my car sat in the sun the vial ruptured. The next time I opened my car I swear I thought it caught fire. It literally smelled like the whole thing blew up in flames. Then I saw the vial shards and wooosh got hit by a wave of that buttery smokey iris and pure animalic funk. Yeahhh that’s my girl Francesca. My car smells like this forever now like nothing will get rid of it and I love it. Driving at night in the south with the humid air mixing with the trees and jasmine that lines the streets on my way home seeping into my car the environment mixes so so so well with this scent. I was iffy on buying a full bottle of this bc I feared it might just be too much for people but everyone that’s driven with me has adored it. Men especially get really emotional about it like bruh.... Why are u moaning right now?

For the first two hours I kept on smelling a combination of bad breath and dirty homeless. I went outside and stood in a cold autumn day, to dilute it. I felt sorry for myself and consider it a swap. Gradually, it changed to the best leather mixed with light honey and raspberry jam I had the chance to sniff. It is a marvel, only if you can resist to the opening. I assume that I have to let the bottle settle for a while, or have some air in it. It is too full. 22 hours away and a shower, the amazing combo of horse stable (harnesses, saddles, you name them) with raspberry tart is still on my skin. The Lover's Tale is the best (and the worst) leather I have put my nose on. <3 Edit, one year and a half away: I love it. No more horse manure and dirty homeless. I dared use it when I went to Lucia de Lammermoor, at the Opera. It is so perfect I wanted a backup right away. It is all leather, honey, labdanum and touch of a fruitylicious desert.

Immense sweetness, yet utterly avant-garde. The sweetness itself feels avant-garde. But then again, Francesca Bianchi is a true artistic gem, with a signature that exists entirely outside conventional perfumery. I struggle to describe the intensely epidermal, living, almost shocking (in the best possible sense) experience of this fragrance as anything other than a stream of honey syrup, clean sweat, warm skin, and a creamy, erotically charged jasmine. It’s true: this is not an easy fragrance. Nor is it one that will appeal to everyone. Yet I have never experienced a perfume capable of actively seducing me in such a profoundly carnal way. What deserves praise regardless of personal taste is its extraordinary ability to make skin feel alive. Not merely to evoke it, but to transform it into the true protagonist of the composition, celebrating it in all its warmth, intimacy, and unapologetic sensuality.

From my sampling so far of Francesca Bianchi perfumes, they are like being in a dysfunctional, roller coaster relationship. "I love you!" "I hate you!" "Good God what are you!?" The Lover's Tale continues the saga. It opens with this raw, overripe hyper real leather that made me recoil. Then this weird fruity note began to take center stage and I was riveted, though it didn't exactly smell pretty. Then this sultry iris amber musk took over and the leather faded into the background and I am in love. This is fine as an artistic experience but not something I can subject others to at dinner. But it is brilliant! Good projection and longevity. Update: a sample smear survived a shower and is going strong the next day. This is the only perfume I've experienced this level of longevity. Do not test the day before a job interview.

Well, this is something else...can't stop sniffing my wrist! I love all things involving leather so I had to try this one. I almost bought Under My Skin but the cumin bothered me in there. No cumin thank god, here, only leather goodness. On my skin, initially, it's a big oomph of leather...then when the leather melts on skin, the iris aspects along with some sweet support come out. I'd say this frag is an animalic leather iris on me for about 80% and the rest of the notes smoothen the edges (I can pick out peach, labdanum and honey). I might be one of the lucky ones who can tame this one :) As for feel, while there is some 'powderiness', it is a creamy smooth powder, not the dry one. I went for the full bottle after 3x testing, but certainly this may be too big and dominating for some. #sensual #chic #femmefatale

Smoky fecal rubbery leather. Intoxicating, nauseating perfume The heliotropin Is wellbalanced, but the leather isnt even that Smoky, ita Just fecal and pissy. Pure feralness ABSOLUTELY not safe blind buy, different from Gucci guilty abs and Tuscany leather. The horse Is here. Smells like a stall. A stall that has not been cleaned for at least 2 months (horse smells Expert here). Smelt shit from horse, hands After petting a horse, bay that has been used by the horse to give birth to a Little horse, the breath, the fart, the fur, the farm Land. Cant wear It, if you layer It with oud or/and fruit its wearable Atomic 110/100 long 24 h on skin 5 m sillage 3 m proj Made me vomit in a alcool/coke combo, never happened with any perfume. Be careful, if you dont like the smell of smoke from cars dont buy it

I do love The Lover's Tale and consider it (in my opinion, of course) the best perfume created by Francesca Bianchi. Each and every time I wear it I'm asked about what I'm wearing. It's truly unusal comparing to the modern creations (all of them) and smells just divine. And it's 100% unisex. I'm so happy that one day Fragrantica introduced me to this perfumer and after reading the comments I was brave enough for a blind buy (first Sex and The Sea, then The Lover's Tale). Even though it has really good longevity and sillage I like to take it with me when I go out (30 ml bottle is small enough) and reapply it - it makes people turn their heads! I adore the perfect combination of warm sensuality and bold seduction that this scent exudes. So chic and so naughty, like nothing else I know.

This is the 3rd time I wear The Lover's Tale (I've got the FB Discovery set), and each time I get a different "facet" of this amazing extrait de parfum. This 3rd time I could detect the Castoreum right up there with the top notes (as well as the Leather). This was pure, dirty, animalic, leather. Sexual, not sexy. Very powerful and very intimate. 3 sprays are enough for 12+ hrs. The 2 ml sample of The lover's tale (with the rest of the samples from the Francesca Bianchi discovery set, have me set, if not for life, at least for a very long time before I need to actually buy a full bottle! (because of how little you need to spray on yourself). This is perfumery at its best (but, really, really, really, try before you buy, as this is probably not a crowd pleaser, but I love it).

So I made the mistake and sprayed The Lover's Tale from above my head, like I sometimes do, and it got in my hair. 4 Days later and I can still smell it, clearly. The fragrance starts like a duet between a smooth leather and a lovely pristine jasmine. Over time, leather wraps about the jasmine flower as it becomes more and more indolic (read: fecal) and the scene becomes... explicit. By the end, all that remains is raw, highly animalic leather, unapologetically raunchy. A tale of innocence lost, and by this I mean the innocence of my nostrils. Surprisingly, in the atmosphere around me, it smells very enticing. Just don't overspray and make the mistake of getting it on textiles or hair, like I did. But I do love it. I knew what I was getting.

Wearable art, but only with a head-high-and-fuck-'em attitude. This fabulous perfume plunged me into a brandy-honeyed castoreum-littered cave draped with cave-man leather, in which a rather timid vase of jasmine flowers sits. The atmosphere is strangely powdery-soapy, as if the cleaners have been through the place with luxury products; perhaps they've starched the tablecloth on which an oakmoss-knitted bowl of honeyed-peach segments waits, glistening, promising voluptuous pleasures. Hugely powerful chypre-leather extrait and a full-on olfactory assault for the first 15 minutes, so proceed in the spirit of adventure. Absolutely gorgeous drydown awaits. Distillation: head high and fuck 'em honeyed-castoreum cave draped in soft leather

I very much like this, the reviews made me think it starts off repulsive and funky,...etc. to my nose, this is a slightly animatic leather. You feel some notes flirting with you in different intensity and vibes but the dominant smell is a bit animatic leather and ink!!! Those nice old school inks bottles, if you spill some , you get whiffs of dense dry strong ink smell, that comes very close to this scent. So it’s animatic leather and dark ink. A first feeling is “power”, it’s what a general in the army with power and influence would wear. Its dryness and density make it not playful, youthful or feminine. It’s just power. Like Dior Homme Parfum without the metropolitan touch, same vibe.

That's right there is my best experience in fragrance world I've ever had. If I try to explain every single note one by one and try to show you image of what can I or can't detect in this perfume I would certainly show you a wrong image, one can try to attach the note or the whole pyramid with somthing similar which with unique fragrances it's totally misleading. The only thing I can say is this as a whole experience been my best ever since I start yo sniff around. Nit only this one, but as long as my wallet allowed me also black knight and under my skin. You can detect the unique Francesca-Bianchi DNA in all of them but each one different and more challenging and beautiful. Cheers.

Such a crazy creation The idea of leather and animalics is nothing new it’s a genre of its own that was introduced a long time ago and a lot of brands followed up with their manifestations of artistic perfumery What made the difference here is the orris root How come a dark gritty animalic scent gets beautifully interrupted buy a supposedly smooth orris root which was overdosed in this scent to merge with this genre effortlessly With performance that exceeds expectations and projection that is sure to satisfy any frag head It’s a must try at least Those who are worried of the crazy animalics they are present strongly for a while then they tone down to acceptable dose

Hospital?? Barnyard?? Furniture polish?? I don't smell any of these... Yes, perfume is subjective, but even the opening of this perfume does not smell like a barnyard or a hospital to me. An exquisite combination of leather and jasmine accompanied by animalic notes. It is also a perfume that many people find very different and sensual after switching to drydown. If you are someone who loves strange(!) smells like me, The Lovers Tale is a masterpiece for you. But you MUST love leather and animal nuances to like this beauty. Ahhh it's so so so good in my opinion. Francesca Bianchi, you're THAT girl. Love you <3

Maybe im a castoreum junkie but this is really nice, paralel to being a really really long journey. I never had tantric sex but this feels like what it should be. Doesnt quite feel like quick desire and passion, moreso an adult certainty within your body linking up with a compatible other-body. Moreso a feeling of experience that says “i know a lot but i still want to know about, specifically - you, and i want to know that for hours.” Objectively yes it is a heavy leather/castoreum fragrance with a creamy finish, a bit like a white cow and its calf - both alive and pooping: ever so beautifully.

Reading all the reviews I was expecting something super intense. But I guess I'm not averse to animalics. Afrika-Olifant probably broke my nose. I blind bought this, expecting a castoreum bomb, but was met with a super realistic, buttery leather. I don't find it challenging at all. I found it super pleasant, this felt like it was in the iris-leather scent camp—but the best I've smelt in that family. It is super well balanced. The honey, peach, and florals lift the base ever so lightly. Its not too sweet, just right. Smells unisex to me, but leans masc on the drydown. Quite captivated by this.

Very leathery leather from the start, drydown is much softer and sweeter, I get more jasmin, more of a classic scent. For me, it's very sexy and empowering. It makes me feel strong, and I wear it when I'm comfortable with being very present. Understandable that many people find this too potent and animalic. Like most Francesca Bianchis, this is potent stuff, it lasts and projects very well. On my clothes, it lasts forever. I also have Luxe, Calme et Volupté and Sticky Fingers from this house, both of which I adore as well!

Gorgeous stuff, dark and warm. Despite being listed as a base note the leather is there from beginning to end, and works so well with the orris/ castorium heart. In the middle some very natural smelling flowers join them. For those concerned, this projects well, and lasts forever. I get compliments with it too, and I don’t overspray, so you clearly don’t need to to make an impression. I feel like this would work on anybody too, though it might feel a little silly on the wrong kind of man and is probably better for women.

First things first: this smells like desire. It strikes me more as masculine, even though I would wear it with pleasure. The sensation this gives me is that of a man's biker jacket. The leather is omnipresent, however mellowed by the honey and orris. It's sensual to a totally another level. It reproduces the scent the human skin leaves on a beautifully worn out leather jacket, bringing to mind all the adventures and passionate moments you went through wearing it. Stunningly balanced. Beast mode longevity and sillage.

This fragrance is a dangerous dichotomy. The aroma of leather, castoreum and musk is dominant but hides a submissive accord of floral notes, where a jasmine that envelops you, the creaminess of orris and honey stands out. It is a sensual game without reaching sex, it is the attraction in a romance. Within its duality it is an elegant fragrance, but it allows me to go totally casual if I feel like it. One of my favorites at home, or perhaps my favorite... Uniqueness: high Scent: 9/10 Sillage: high Longevity: more 12h

What if the revival of a certain classic “French-style” perfumery occurred in Italy? With its frank, dense, carnal signature, the Italian brand masters old-fashioned writing, which gives the perfume its roundness, consistency, real flesh. An narcotic and honeyed bouquet, a disturbing animality, a powdery almost oily iris blows on a warm skin some leathery and musky swirls. The image of a naked body wrapped in fur on an old threadbare sofa, sows confusion but pleases the nose. 18th century Revival...delightful.

The opening here is really musty, bordering on unpleasant, but it turns into one of the most beautiful leather scents I think I've sampled. This is a stong animalic leather complimented by powdery and floral notes, vaguely similar to Guerlain's Cuir Intense but definitely its own thing. Not sure yet if its full bottle worthy for me, however its definitely an interesting and artistic fragrance to try out, especially if you're new to Bianchi's scents, as I find this sums up her perfumery DNA pretty well.

i think after wearing this for sometime now, and cuz its so long lasting (when someone said it could last 2 days on skin theyre not kidding, experienced it firsthand), the nice part only starts at 6 hour mark or so. the initial few hours can be quite challenging, both to u and others but the late late drydown is so damn lovely that i wont mind getting backrammed for the first few hours. now im considering wearing this before sleep so by the time i go to work the next day id smell nice lol

Conflicting emotions Magnificent leather, big dose of iris butter and classic chypre background. This pretty baby pictures conflicting emotions perfectly, and in that sense is similar with the legendary Mitsouko. ( The scents have nothing in common ) It takes you to a beautiful journey that love,passion,secrets,regrets, and wrong desires are all happens, and then, they remember it without remorse, tenderly. Performance is excellent. Overall: 10/10 ( Beware, this is a ruthless fragrance )

On my skin it is fruity, floral and undeniably leathery. To my nose, it is the most leathery perfume from this house. The other very distinctive note is Jasmin, but not your usual "green tea" like Jasmin. This one is carnal and camphoric, truly "narcotic". Lasts 24 hours on skin and weeks on clothes. On me, leather and castoreum blooms in the dry down. It is not a dirty animalic smell, but a very smooth raw leather with shoe polish/wax over it. VERY SEXY, it charges me when i wear it.

The new packaging's liquid color is lighter compared to the earlier products, and the scent also seems different. Personally, I feel the buttery note and overall sweetness have decreased—the new version is almost unsweetened, more masculine, with a stronger animalic scent. Of course, the performance remains as consistent as ever. Though I also really like "BLACK KNIGHT," its mid-to-late stages are too cloyingly sweet due to the honey, so this one is my NO.1

This one is my favorite from the line. It has a tale to tell. Without being too chatty, a bride (Orris)and a groom (leather accord) get together at the wedding ceremony. They’re the only ones in the spotlight and speak to the invited audience (all other notes) without giving them too much attention as they’re so much one into the other (no pun intended) to live all their life alone from beginning to end. Longevity is outstanding. A good piece of work

I love it but my wife (a newbie to the fragrance hobby) ran away. I feel the projection is average but my wife can smell it across the room. I smell the leather, castoreum, and honey but my wife smelled torture, as in punishing her by forcing her to smell this. I kept sniffing my arm throughout the day because it's very interesting and I really love it. I am stuck if I should buy a full bottle because she will smell it no matter which rooms I hide.

These creations are addictive. I mean all of Francesca’ s creations. I got the sample set & it was like - O.K. I know this smell. I don’t have to spend on these then & after 15 days I have 6 of her creations. All beautiful. This gives me honey,Castoreum,musky undertone throughout with florals at the beginning & then its a hide & seek between vetiver & sandalwood. So far I have backup of Oud Monarch only. This will be the second. It’s that good.

How to add notes? Because after 10 minutes I clearly scent a complex sensual mint This fragrance is fantastic, despite the first minutes are insufferable and disgusting, it becomes a masterpiece of floral genuine leather, which with time goes more and more underground... To reveal the mint and the fruits of the forest Masterpiece and the ingredients are exceptionally well blended This could be priced much much higher Thank you Francesca

This is an unexpected love. As an iris/orris lover, this hits the spot for an animalic nuanced leather/iris. This thing is a beast. It’s survived washes, dry cleanings etc. I spray TWO light sprays and I get 12+ hours, and can still smell it on me at the end of a work day. What my co workers say: “Smells like sharp leather and hospital soap” “You smell like a sweaty biker chick” “Vintage leather bag over sprayed with berries”

Never pay attention to those who say the opening smells like sh*t or a barn. This is a REAL leather perfume. Think of a vintage, quality leather jacket... and the floral notes that follow... definitely a sexual and INCREDIBLY different perfume. I've never smelled anything like this before in my life. But it's a really challenging scent, don't buy it without trying it. Francesca is an artist. This is SOOOOO niche, love it.