Dans Tes Bras

This is one of the hardest fragrances to "understand" in the Frederic Malle line. After spending a considerable amount of time with it, days in fact, I'm still not quite sure how or what to say. So, I guess I'll start with my notes on what I smell during each stage of the perfume, but this is likely going to be on my list of reviews I am least satisfied with. The opening of the perfume is very attention grabbing. Picture heavily aldehydic citruses in your nose's mind, and then remove the "sparkling" quality and the effervescent quality of them that can make your nose tingle in a fun and pleasant way, and that's what the opening of Dans Tes Bras is like. Trying to dissect the opening is tough, but it certainly smells like the brightest and sharpest of evergreen resin, powdery bergamot - which has the brightness of citrus but also the oily quality of zest whilst being incredibly dry, and then there is the violet note. This isn't sun shining on dewy freshly bloomed violets, the sun is inside the violet and radiating the violet outwards. The opening is blindingly bright, but in a very warm and hair-raisingly sensual way. Dans Tes Bras quietens significantly as it dries down. I'm not sure how much cashmeran, heliotrope, and musk materials Maurice Roucel put in Dans, but I will say that it has to be a massive amount. Usually these materials are the "glue" that holds more prominent material notes together, such as woods, incenses, and florals. In Dans it's the reverse: the dry down is all about cashmeran, heliotrope, and musks that have spicy and milky sandalwood shaved over the top and flecked with notes of earthy and sweet patchouli. In contrast to the opening, this conjures feelings of comfort, softness, and cleanliness, like a clean down comforter still smelling of fabric softener draped around your bare skin.... I think.... This is a tough one, folks, but Malle's description of the perfume helps connect it all together. In Your Arms is supposed to reflect the feelings of a sensually physical embrace, and Roucel nails it. The opening, as I said, is hair-raising, like the electrical tingle weaving through your skin and putting a knot in the pit of your stomach when skin meets skin with someone you are head-over-heels for. Once that feeling of electricity subsides, the skin-on-skin contact becomes an embrace that feels of energetic comfort and contentedness rather than raw sensuality; you want to hold, and be held, tighter and tighter. Many have tried and nearly all, if not all, have failed to describe what love feels like. We're told by parents and guardians and older confidantes when we are young that it's a feeling "you'll know when you feel it," and that's about all you'll get for a description because it is nigh on impossible to accurately explain. I think that's why I am struggling to tell you what I think of Dans Tes Bras. If I were a legendary philosopher and scholar, or poet laureate, maybe my attempt would be much more eloquent. Maurice Roucel seems to clearly understand it through his nose and the abilities of his blending hand. And I have to say, from my experiences evocated by Dans Tes Bras, Roucel deserves the legend or laureate title. This is a beautiful and stunning piece of work.

After reading the latest article about Dans Tes Bras posted on Fragrantica and seeing the tumult of reactions it received, I felt compelled to remind myself of it. It is the most abstract, misunderstood, and perhaps demanding perfume from the house. It feels like a blank canvas on which the individual can draw his/her interpretation of the scent. For the most part, opinions are divisive on whether "In Your Arms" evokes a warm or rather a cold embrace. I stand with the latter. If this perfume intends to evoke the feeling of being hugged, it is a sad hug. I can draw a parallel to another aloof woody-floral perfume composed by Roucel, as poetic as Dans Tes Bras, and I'm speaking, of course, about Iris Silver Mist. They share quite a few elements: the cold air, the cloves, and the woody-incense-infused base. The first time I smelled it, I pictured this: taking a stroll through a pine forest in early Autumn during a foggy and chilly early morning, wearing a cashmere sweater that has been recently washed and ironed, still smelling of violet and heliotrope fabric softener. That's precisely what Dans Tes Bras evoked in me - a somehow sad/melancholic walk through a forest. The only warmth came from the sweater dressing you. I also get the sandalwood and the incense in the dry-down, the latter only amplifying the austerity. That being said, I absolutely love this perfume and see it as a true work of art. It is such a conceptual smell that will smell different to each person. If I force myself, I can see other angles of it, but the overall feeling of aloofness never goes away. The opening is the weirdest part as it greets you with a prominent pine accord, a mineral and flint-like smell, and something that I'd address as salty mushrooms in the sense that it feels somehow "meaty." Later, I get the violet and the heliotrope, but the way these floral accords feel is like smelling them through a glass. Or imagine the flowers made of crystals, shuttering once you clasp them in your hands. Yes, I get this ever-present flint-like, mineral, and crystalline quality with the fragrance that comes from the cashmeran. The latter is the major player in the composition, while everything else is either pasted on top or is a direct facet. I believe that the pine accord is also imparted by this molecule, together with the flint-like smell, the mineral quality, and the saltiness. The clove is used to accentuate the cold sensation, and the incense in the base perpetuates the feeling of detachment. The white musk and the sandalwood help to push everything up and add some fluff and creaminess, but overall, the perfume doesn't stray into the warm territory for me. I find this piece a genuine work of an expert from the man who gave us so many worth remembering compositions over the decades. And then Lauder forced Uncut Gem upon him, poor Maurice. I want to remember him for works like Musc Ravageur, Iris Silver Mist, and this "Cold Embrace" in Dans Tes Bras. IG:@memory.of.scents

My favorite fragrance so far in my fragrance journey. Very simple, yet very effective. Starts out very powdery (my guess is the violet). There's also a green touch, makes it feel slightly aromatic (probably the pine tree note). There is only one transition on my skin, the opening lasts for a few hours before transitioning into the base: musky, musky, musky. Musk is one of my favorite notes, might be my favorite. I don't understand how such an amazing masterpiece is criminally underrated and under appreciated throughout the frag com. Youtubers in the frag com seriously need to try this. I'll stock up on many bottles if no one else wants them lol. The cashmere is very present throughout the life of the fragrance. People have raved about Musk Raveguer for years, but I wonder where the love for Dans Tes Bras has been. For being a 2008 release, this is very modern, also very sexy. Very alluring. I don't say this a lot about fragrances, but Dans Tes Bras is intimacy in a bottle. Save it for special occasions where you're alone with your significant other. Where it whenever, but it feels like you're cuddling up with your significant other, in bed, just appreciating one another. Wear it when you're with your special someone, they'll probably love it. A perfect couples' scent: it is very unisex, and you both can spray each other and enjoy the way you smell. Off my skin, projection is moderate to moderate/heavy the first 3-4 hours; it's airy but very present to those who can smell it. Each time I've worn it, it has lasted at least 12+ hours. After the first 3-4 hours, it is a skin scent, but a very long lasting and sexy one. If you don't like the opening, wait for the dry down. It's worth waiting for. The dry down is to die for, and you might get lucky if your lover smells it. If you don't like it, then more for me and the others who love it. I rarely say this, but the retail price is justifiable. If there were no other way to get a hold of this, buy it at full retail. It may cost an arm and a leg, but you can grow that arm and leg back with Dans Tes Bras. Of course, sample it first, as it is a Frederic Malle: niche and expensive. I want to try Musc Ravegeur, Dries Van Noten, Portrait of a Lady, Carnal Flower, and some others in the Malle house, but Maurice Roucel did his thing. This fragrance is a lifer. Update 11/12/21: I must confess I read all the new reviews about Dans Tes Bras and Under My Skin to see what other people think about those two. Both are my favorite fragrances of all time (albeit I only began a nonstop fragrance journey almost 2 years ago). I guess it depends on the emotions you want to look for: Dans Tes Bras is comfort, security, and intimacy; Under My Skin is dark, mysterious, lustful, and animalistic.

I don't recall ever reaching for the adjective "tangy" when describing a fragrance, but there is a first for everything. Dans Tes Bras opens up tangy, meaning there's a bit sour, a bit sweet, a bit salty. So, imagine if you will, an alternate dimension where violet had become a flavor that reached critical mass, and there was a Tang beverage powder, flavored violet (I used to eat Tang power raw as a kid, I was weird then as I am now). Dans Tes Bras is what this violet Tang would smell like, especially in its first hour. But wait, what is this? Pine needles in my powder, hmm, I am not aghast at all. Quite contrary, this is quite tasty. There is a fragrance material called Koavone, in the ionone family produced by IFF, for which I am familiar. It's diffusive, woody, simultaneously violet and pine-needle. It seems that Maurice Roucel might have used it here, but that's up for debate. However, what is irrefutable is that Cashmeran makes a dashing, smashing appearance, partnering with heliotropin fluffiness and rendering the violet in the heart more so like a Choward's violet candy after it is slowly dissolved in one's mouth. The real question is: do I really like all of this? You bet your sweet bippy I do. It's hazy, gauzy, nearly psychedelic, which is why it may be polarizing to some who seek out the rational and straightforward in fragrance. Malle himself has stated this is the most underappreciated in his oeuvre, and I am inclined to agree. Musc Ravageur may be David Bowie's Aladdin Sane, but Dans Tes Bras is Bowie's Low. Cashmeran smells to me like a blurring of the lines between natural and synthetic smells. It seems woody, but so abstract that the brain, well, my brain at least, has a difficult time discerning where the wood association really has its origins. It feels woolly and vague, yet ever so present and enveloping. It fuses into a formula rather than rests upon it. That's why a deft hand is needed so that it doesn't dampen all else. Roucel made the ambient Cashmeran truly beautiful here, carrying all elements to a musky cocoon in the dry down, violet powder whispers and woodland daydreams lingering for hours.

Dans Tes Bras - In Your Arms Maurice Roucel just loves musk and musk loves him. Maurice has “only” two perfumes for Frederic Malle and I would say that both are masterpieces. Musc Ravageur and Dans Tes Bras. Totally two different approaches to musk. Sweet gourmand musk (MR) and salty creamy musk (DTB). Dans Tes Bras has more musk than Musc Ravageur, that's something which Maurice said. And indeed, musk is there for the life of the perfume. Cashmeran is there and gives that "smooth", refreshing, powdery note. Violet gives saltiness, but it is so well synchronized with musk, sandalwood and cashmeran that the saltiness is not sharp and aggressive but creamy. For me, the biggest factor in this perfume is sandalwood. I smelled a bunch of sandalwoods but I only found this one in Frederic Malle (Example of the same/similar sandalwood: Une Fleur De Cassie). Not only that sandalwood gives that creamy/woody note but it is also the only note that stays in the nose after a few seconds and then when you move your nose away you can feel it on your tongue as well. Really amazing perfume. Pure quality in a bottle. Along with Une Fleur De Cassie, Iris Poudre and Musc Ravegur, I would say that this is one of the "most artistic" perfumes from the house. I’m not saying these four perfumes are that hard to wear (I wear them all), but definitely the idea while creating was to satisfy and make the wearer happy, not to give you a compliment (Although somehow Musc Ravageur is hyped (well deserved), I think that it was initially made as a masterpiece work for a brave audience or fragrance enthusiasts rather than to be hyped). It lasts 10-12+ hours, but the drydown can last a few more hours depending on the temperature and weather. It stays on the clothes until washing (for a couple of days), solid for this type of fragrance. My rating would be 10+. Even my wife who isn’t that crazy about FM sometimes goes for DTB and says it’s wonderful and refreshing. DTB will be with you for the whole day, close to your skin. It wont bother the people around you. But no doubt, DTB will be felt by the person who is *in your arms*. :)

One for the mad scientists. Dans Tes Bras is likely the single most experimental release from Frederic Malle, eclipsing all others in terms of sheer weirdness - it's got that same energy (though not smell) as Lutens' Gris Clair - the overtly and unashamedly synthetic purple floral musk. Here, an enormous slug of a synthetic molecule (cashmeran) creates an incredible, multidimensional accord of vinegar, salty; sweaty skin, woollen jumpers, forests, concrete, metal and flowers. If the Barbican could be distilled into a fragrance it would be damn close to Dans Tes Bras. However, the scent (dominated by cashmeran as it is) is also almost frighteningly linear, maintaining this balance of paradoxical smells in a staunch, brick-like way through its 7 hour lifetime - never committing to one association and never changing meaningfully on me. As the brand suggests, Dans Tes Bras is both intimate and inviting - it smells actually quite good - and can at one moment conjure the image of a shuddering clavicle complete with a salty drop of sweat. But any association it has with the sensual is, I think, overshadowed by this overtly synthetic smell - it smells less like a lover and closer to some kind of consolation-programmed robot. It smells like a creature born in a lab to cater to human whims - it puts up very little resistance and quickly melds into its wearer's aura. I just can't get away from the sense of some kind of sci-fi creation whenever I smell this - I love it for how different and strange it is, and yet its linearity lets it down slightly I think, as after many hours the fascination can give way to impatience. I strongly recommend everyone try it at least once.

Imagine your self born out of a violet. This is how this perfume starts on me. It capture me from the very beginning. I stumble down from the violet and land in the soft moss just near a big mushrom. I think I am some sort of littlest fairy and all the wonderful fragrances around me are so big, beutiful and absolutly amazing. I am taking a flight in the enchanted forrest and it is so utterly well done that I almost cry. There is threes, violets, mushroms, moss and behind some bushes I am sure there is a fox (or a big, bad wolf?) sleeping. Flying through the forrest I discover that another little fairy had flew before me, I think it is the Maurice Roucel-fairy that has spilled out small, delicate drops of Tocade all over the forrest. I have never experienced such a beutiful, magical opening as with this fragrance. It is like being transformed to a fantasy fairytale with bright colours and a lot of magic. The first halfhour of this perfume is perfection in a bottle. I do think that it develops differently on different people. Unfortunatly the drydown dosen ́t live up to the opening. The drydown is a soft, discrete and nice skinscent. A bit powdery, a bit musky and a bit salt, really nice but not so special. For me, with this fragrance is is all about the opening. On a scale from 0-5 I give the opening 10! :) The rest is probably a steady 4, but it is like a real dip compared to the opening. A must try just to experience the opening! Even tough I am sure that it all depends on nose and skinchemistry how it develops.

I almost cried the first time I felt this scent. Not in the very first moment, though, but half an hour after I had sprayed it on my wrist, it took me by surprise. I was at a street corner in Frankfurt, just sitting there and at first I was trying to remember what was on this wrist, because, "Dans Tes Bras", what is this anyway? It was an accidental spraying, I didn't have any info and I'm still not sure I get the title, and the smell looked just a bit weird, insignificant, maybe a little extravagant experiment in the field of synthetic perfumery. But then I just felt the violet and the fresh dirt, a memory of some apothecary, of some hair product, some melancholic sweetness, I don't know but it just spoke to me. I'm always sensitive to violets, now I understand how heliotrope can be in fact very close to the feeling they emit. Dans Tes Bras is like a transparent, fragile flower, levitating above the ground, and yet bearing traces of earth on its petals. There's this dramatic tension between the "natural"/familiar, and the totally synthetic, that makes you wander what it is actually, almost creating a cognitive dissonance of overlapping polarities. I did my research on Cashmeran scents after that and I can say there are some I enjoy and some not, so even though it is claimed to be the main player here, the composition is more than that. Strange, new and unexpected common facets between the different elements are discovered here. A strange beauty that shakes me every time.

Yes this is an acquired taste, but once you have acquired it, it is really hard to let go. I absolutely love this one. LOVE it. The first few minutes are absolute magic - without doubt, if I spray this in front of anyone, the opening always gets me compliments and a 'what is that' kind of reaction. It is really quite hard to describe but the heliotrope and violets sparkle on the skin. As the scent warms up it becomes soft and skin-like, and wears like cashmere. There is not a huge projection but is unusual enough to get noticed by anyone close enough. There is a slight powder, but not the sweet, overly done lipstick clean kind - this is violets tempered by earth, and I love the addition of pine. I love powder but get bored by most powdery scents. It is so hard to describe as the notes are choreographed into such a beautiful dance, and it is absolute magic. I do not find it heavy but I do notice it and find it hugely comforting - I love the feeing of wearing it and have been through a full 100ml bottle already. To me this is a hugely underrated scent from the Frederic Malle line. It is so beautiful. One thing to note - this one does seem very reliant on body chemistry. I know others who have tried it and they don't get the same sparkly opening at all, and it seems to fall quite flat. I would urge everyone to try it at least twice before dismissing it.

This is totally underrated, guys. Maurice Roucel is the king of unexpected scents. Even though Musc Ravageur is a bit aggressive to my taste, Dans Tes Bras smells exactly like a gentle warm hug! None of the notes seems already exist in nature but something in it is lifelike. It is an olfactive expression of putting on a fluffy, lightweight sweater. I was initially intrigued by an ingredient called Cashmeran when reading an article about it on Fragrantica. Also, Frederic Malle in a podcast depicted this perfume as the intimacy between him and his wife. What is this magic compound anyway? For me, it resembles a scene where I hug my feline friend basking in the sunshine, the clean and puffy "scent" from the cat's fur. Roucel appears to have a down-to-earth character in an interview, in which he introduced his name as "nobody" because noses were often not recognized behind the perfume. However, In my opinion, his work for FM is like a bold signature. Musc Ravageur is the release of a wild creative mind. On the other hand, Dans Tes Bras is like humble love. The delicacy is extremely romantic. Now Dans Tes Bras is my third favorite from FM line (After Carnal Flower and L'eau d'Hiver). Not only because of the uniqueness, but more of the opulent connection in other sensory perception. This type of perfume to perfumery is like Picasso to painting.

UPDATE: i bought myself a travel size and have worn the perfume properly several times. The base notes stay with me for days. My family could smell it on me 2 days later. Great performance! I went to the Frederic Malle store with my eyes on Carnal Flower. The SA recommended this perfume so I came back with both CF and Dans Tes Bras on my wrists. While Carnal Flower (albeit being a beautiful perfume) went away after the first couple of hours, this one stayed with me overnight. Initially the violet was quite strong so it was a very airy floral scent. The next morning I could still smell this on my wrists and it had turned into a warm, powdery sweetness. While this perfume is more intimate and doesn’t project much, it stays with you and takes you on a journey. It is a sophisticated fragrance, yet it is sensual, and somehow gives off a sad-to-be-happy vibe (while they’re nowhere near alike it reminds me of Vol de Nuit in that sense). I am definitely saving up for a full bottle. *Edit: Got my FB ;) Edit2: If you have seen the movie Dead Ringers by Cronenberg...while Musc Ravageur reminds me of the cockier twin brother Elliot, Dan Tes Bras reminds me of the softer, more introverted twin Beverly. Just a thought.

Dans tes Bras is a fragrance that wants to enhance the main ingredient of every perfume: our skin which, enriched by olfactory notes, does nothing but project sensations, emotions, which become ours. I find this creation really beautiful, if I have to be honest, more during evolution than in the opening: in fact, initially we feel slightly salty notes that enrich the cashmeran, then preparing us for what is an olfactory masterpiece in my opinion: violet, incense, sandalwood, which give a sense of comfort and warmth and accompany this note giving it a completely different vibe from the one perceived at the beginning. Beautiful, comfortable like a hug, which should never be missing at any time. “The Hug”, painted by Ron Hicks. "There is a place in the world where the heart beats strong, where you are breathless, no matter how much emotion you feel, where time stands still and you are no longer of age; that place is in your arms in which the heart does not age, while the mind never stops dreaming... From there I will not be able to escape because the fantasy of enchantment He feels our heat and no... i will never allow that I can give up on whom of love can make me fly. Alda Merini - In your arms

Definitly another true masterpiece from Maurice Roucel. One of my favorites scents ever and the most enigmatic, elusive to me.... I must admit that I hardly understand this perfume, it's still quite a mistery to me and I think that's why I'm addicted to it... It would reminds me of a blurred picture of a violet in the fog, not a sharp image, and a glimpse of a nude body , the bare salty skin in the neck... but in a more abstract and spiritual way than musc ravageur wich I would say is more on the physical side (however not animalic to me). Here the violet is more an evocation of the flower, greeny and woody, not the strong girly and candylike you have Insolence from for exemple. A violet surrounded by the very soft, musky, woody haze of the cashmeran . It's a tactile softeness not in the sense of sweet. I can also perceive a discreet hint of jasmine in the drydown. Also I agree with the "mushroom" note that adds an uncanny ,thrilling effect. What would every great perfume be without strange, animalic and disturbing notes? (civette, castoreum, musks, hyraceum, etc.) I 'm more and more addicted to it and I guess it'll replace soon Helmut Lang EDC as my signature scent...

Not sure what exactly it is that makes this scent quite powerful or chemical. Ultra clean and slightly wet and iron like. I love all the notes in this. And I do love the smell now that I let it take its course , in fact the middle and the drydown is what's beautiful about this scent to me. It needs time to open up. To develop on your skin. The first ten minutes I would call harsh , cleaning solution like , chemicals floating in the air , a spoon of liquid iron in front of my nose to cure my anemia , ,,,but wait and it develops into something very good ,airy and fresh , clean and beautiful. Yes like hugging a person after a shower , or wait ,did they have a shower or did they just roll in the sheets ? Salty skin ? A little sweat , some soap ? Well all in all it's really what the name says , in your arms ! And it's fresh but sexy , musky and quite a work of art ! Unfortunately I only have a sample. Once I am finished with it I may have to order a bottle , or at least a 10 ml travel. April 2018 This perfume is now my signature and I have a big bottle and a travel set , phantastisch!!!!

The opening 60 seconds of Dans Tes Bras has to be the most thrilling olfactory experience of my life. My mind stands still to appreciate the richness of what just happened. After that, I begin to ponder the implications of the name Dans Tes Bras or 'In Your Arms' in relation to the skin scent of a lover vs the pervasive mushroom odour which puzzles my nose. What manner of skin disease does my lover have? Ach, putting that conundrum out of my mind for a moment I am again arrested & thrilled by a sweet, dirty violet. It wasn't until my third testing that the saltiness begins to manifest to my nose and I start to understand the skin scent, although that exciting organic vegetal earthiness with the gorgeous sweet undertones is still very apparent. The drydown in comparison is disappointing, being a simple (in comparison) musky, woody trace upon the skin. I find it eminently wearable, although it is more of a lonesome scent than that of a lover's touch. The conversation between human nature and the fertile dark earth underfoot. And a mushroom or two.

Dans Tes Bras is really growing on me since the first time I've tried it. It is a very comforting scent, stays quite close to the skin, nothing loud or harsh here. It is a perfume of great contrast. On one side you have the floral notes, mainly violets, and heliotrope, soft, delicate. On the other hand, you have the woodsy notes, sharp and clear. A big dose of musk encloses the composition and makes it perfect. When Frederic Malle and Maurice Roucel were working on Dans Tes Bras, the plan was to make a perfume that wraps around you like a scarf made of cashmere. The cashmere accord is masterfully done here by combining the woody notes with the musk. Overall the composition comes off as floral, woodsy, powdery, a bit creamy, and slightly sweet. Very sensual and soothing. Longevity is very good but the projection is quite contained, which is exactly what the perfumer had in mind, and what you want from a fragrance like this. One of the most beautiful and possibly the most sensual from the line.

I love this musky, cool, smooth, soapy violets which make this a clean fragrance. I have been wearing this one for a long time now and have already finished 2 bottles. My partner and I both like the fragrance and the fact that this is unisex, so we use it together. There is a fresh blend of florals and woods making one feel comforting as well as refreshing. Lifts up the mood immediately and brings back the seaside memories. Truly a unisex fragrance that may be worn easily by men and women as well. To me, it feels a romantic, fresh, cool, inviting and a comforting fragrance. A perfect blend of notes and accords such as you can hardly smell notes distinctively. The opening is somewhat harsh, clean, and chemical-based with some iron feeling but as soon as it develops on your skin, in around 10-15 minutes, there is a very fresh, airy, and clean fragrance that is incredibly beautiful. Highly versatile! Could easily be someone’s signature. Magical! Blissful! Subtle warm!

How does something that smells so synthetic blend so naturally with my skin? Strange but not edgy. Sexy but it's not at all trying to seduce you. Not for the basic, the macho, the girly, or the devil's advocate. Don't count on the jasmine to femme it up, the votes don't lie. I liked Dans Tes Bras from first sniff, and with regular use have fallen in love with it. It's not the strongest scent I own, but I get whiffs of it for hours and hours. EDIT: I finally know what this reminds me of! Gene Wilder's Willy Wonka. There's nothing gourmand or chocolatey, but the violet smells like the violet pastilles by a little Italian candy company named Leon. All the other notes seem like chemicals Wonka could have invented as well. There's a corner of the chocolate room, away from the chocolate waterfall, where his candy pines and violets smell like this. It has that pensive, internal vibe of a romantic who has become a hermit in his factory.

I can't really say it smells "good" or pretty. I can only describe it as oddly alluring and addictive in an almost morbidly curious kind of way. I think Malle describes it as warm skin with a touch of sunscreen. I find it a stretch to think of it as a floral. To me it smells of some sort if lotion, maybe lanolin, slightly tangy,and unwashed hair or scalp which can be both alluring and repulsive simultaneously. Like when you hug someone with thick hair and you can smell lingering shampoo fragrance and that sebaceous oil smell. I find the effect to be what I believe was intended: the smell of skin in an intimate experience such as a hug. Not freshly showered clean but not dirty either. I actually like it. I say that because I'm compelled to keep sniffing my wrist in a way that doesn't happen with other perfumes. Not sure I would buy it but I'd want to keep a small sample around just for the experience once in a while.

When I opened the envelope with a number of perfume samples in it, this beautiful scent wafted out. It smelled like heaven or angel wings. I smelled all the perfumes and I didn't find that beautiful smell in any of them. Well, turns out when you smell Dans Tes Bras right up close out of the sprayer, it is super tangy/sour + pungent musk + violet powder. But after you put it on, that heavenly soft floral smell hangs in the air like a cloud of contentment. A co-worker commented that they could smell it in the room. So it does carry. I just bought a bottle of BR540, thinking that was going to be my signature. I bought a bigger decant of Bal d'Afrique because I loved it. I have Grand Soir and Feminite du Bois - all the best of the best. And what do I keep reaching for? Dans Tes Bras. There is just something about it that is pure beauty and really the feeling it imparts of peace and contentment. Love, love, love it!

Frederic Malle collaborations drive me crazy. The openings are awful, and then more often than not the dry down is absolutely beautiful. This has to be done on purpose. It is comparable to a modern art piece. You have to sit down and ruminate in order to fully understand and appreciate the complexity and expertise/effort necessary to execute a fragrance such as this. That being said modern art is not for everybody. It does not matter what kind of intellect you have. Sometimes it's just bad. I try my hardest to find the excuse necessary to sell my Frederic Malles. I thought I could get rid of this one. But I can't. After it dries down on your skin it is absolutely beautiful. It is soft and sweet but it also has a brilliant earthiness. Almost like you just pulled a flower out from the ground. For all of the fragrance connoisseurs out there, definitely add to your collection. This is a sleeper.

I know the Frederic Malle line very well, but it took a while to give this one full attention. It has a harsh chemically opening (the cashmeran; think: hairspray) which I find very unpleasant. And then, within an hour, it becomes addictive. It just smells like amazing skin... with sweet notes of violet and hay mixed with more metallic and sweaty notes. On a warm summer day in particular, this is bewitching. It shimmers, constantly revealing new facets. It's a very artful blend of artificial and natural, masculine and feminine, in-your-face and subtle. It keeps evolving wonderfully for hours. I think most people would not identify it as "fragrance" after a few hours, they would just think "that person smells great." I'm not really into anything powdery or floral, but this one was an education in how those notes can work, and work well, for me. Now one of my go-to favorites.

For the first time i test it late 2017, it was most desgusting fragrance i ever smelled. Excualy it was not desgusting, probably just too complex for me at the moment. 3 years later, one morning i just woke up and diceded to buy a bottle even if was still unwearble for me. I used to train my nose every day and every hour and push myself to smell it all over again, and guess what? Shortly after that i completly feel in love with DtB. Warm, wet, earthy, powdery, salty and sensual. Is obviously synthetic as hell, but is highly conceptual. Cashmeran is the cour of the fragrance also pick up lot of violet and heliotrope. Wearing it only in the cold rainy days otherwise it can be really challenging and less enjoyable. The most complex fragrance of entire line.

It’s taken me a long time to warm up to this scent after owning it for 2 years. There’s something almost nostalgic, leaning into heartbroken about this scent. Like a sadness that lingers and manages to be beautiful yet slightly alarming. Gorgeous slightly burnt caramel edges limned with that haunting violet shadowed note. At times it reminds me a little of Dries Van Noten before deepening into a sexy skin-like musk that never gets too carnal. Buffered, creamy and lightly powdered edges give texture and heft and the crushed piney touches dance slightly out of reach. Earth Angel /fairy hybrid this is soothing, haunting and always just out of reach. I love it now and am incredibly glad I was patient with this beauty. One for cooler days and nights, for me.

I used to think that I hated violet. I used to think that I didn't love cashmeran. The only reason I even tried DTB is because I'd read that Malle thinks it's the most underappreciated fragrance in his line. I 100% agree with him!! I've learned from Dans Tes Bras that one doesn't dislike notes so much as they dislike the way those notes are usually used. I wish I could describe its scent for you, but I can't. It's so utterly unique, and all the components are so masterfully blended, I simply don't have the words to describe the experience. I will say this: I can't get enough of it!!! It's much more subtle than many of its peers, so it's perfect for an inoffensive, everyday scent. I've been wearing it everyday with no end in sight!

Just two words: STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL.. I can agree with most other fans here:the opening of that perfme IS magic,gorgeous and I m out of words here.. alas,after one hour or so only a faint scent of the violet and jasmine is left and its getting weeker... so I have a trick: put on a little unperfumed skin oil or even sunstick for the lips without perfume and it will stick an hour or so longer to your skin and that is sooo nice: ONE MORE HOUR of magic!! BRAVO Maurice! If you are a fan of MR try his newest one for Linari: Acqua Santa.. that is my personal favourite of his creations,it s even more sparkling,multilayered, strange and beautifully feminine..

This may be the greatest fragrance of all time. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to give off an impression that feels a little shadowed, rather than simply happy or cheerful. That said, it isn’t dark in the usual sense. It reminds me of the scent of taking a bath as a child — a fragrance that quietly brings back memories of happier times. As it dries down, it becomes centered around an incredibly rich sandalwood, giving it a far more mature and refined character. I’ve smelled many fragrances, but this one feels genuinely complex, elegant, and masterfully composed. Frédéric Malle has far too many masterpieces. It’s almost a problem.

What a joy. I enjoy wearing this from the very first moment. I would say this is the original skin scent, from that time when it was meaning something. Perfectly unisex, amazing longevity, whispering sillage. On my skin I detect some similarity to Orpheon diptyque, but DTB is more mature and not that loud funky powdery scent. Sometimes it reminds me of sun lotion but on a very clean and salty skin, like a very decent person on a Cote d’Azur private beach. But in the meantime it really is being in someones arms. Magical. Edit: in warm weather it somehow reminds me to Tom Ford Grey Vetiver. I am wondering if anyone else gets it why?

The most amazing opening ever seen. It must be the cashmeran with its woody (pine)and floral (heliotrope, violet) notes. The start is the PERFECTION floral, violet, heliotrope.. It develops into a soft moss,near to mushroom. Here, I know it develops differently depending on the people, but luckly on my skinchemistry is sublime. The drydown is discrete, a wonderful salty woody skincent. Wearing it I feel safe, feeling good. Perfect for a Very Special "physical meeting"... It will be unforgettable. Beautiful and absolute amazing. Thanks Maurice, this and Musc Ravageur are two of my very very favourite fragances.

This will be one of the most unique fragrances you’ve put your nose on. Yes the opening is really unusual and it takes a while for the sourness to dissipate. I love pine, so the pairing with citrus is lovely to my nose. However, I see why some people might think this smells like a cleaning product. Incense and patchouli in the dry down smells like a really luxurious Balinese spa. If I were to mix L’Ombre Dans L’eau EDP with Musc Ravageur, sprinkled some incense and sour notes, it would be somewhat like this. You need to be patient and let it develop on your skin. It’s a masterpiece, if you let it do its thing.

I have it and still I want it, sort of like a new lover at the stage of the affair when you can't keep your hands off of each other. It's not sex though, it's more like basking in the afterglow. Clean bodies tangled in silk sheets, fresh sheen of sweat on the skin, subtle vaguely flowery scent of the bedroom, warm breath and peaceful sleep. It stays very intimate, very close to the skin, and beautiful from the very first opening note of fresh creamy sweetness to dry spicy incense right at the end, every second of it pure pleasure, delicious lingering bliss mixed with anticipation. What a masterpiece!

A very subtle woody iris type scent. Its transparent and light as a feather, but this has surprising longevity and projects quite well. I have always been impressed Malle fragrances as they are always exceptional quality, and this is no exception. As beautiful as it is, it's not overly unique and it reminds me of a lot of other fragrances, one being Boucheron Iris de Syracuse which I just purchased. I'm surprised iris isn't listed as this to me reminds me of a dry papery iris. If you are in the market for this kind of light fragrance, this would be a wonderful choice. Overall, thumbs way up

Originally I found Dans Tes Bras while searching for something reminiscent of Musc Ravageur, even though is not that similar to it I guess I just found a similar feeling whether it's simply sandalwood and musk or something else I'm not sure. Either way, Dans Tes Bras doesn't scream sex for me but it does remind you of cuddling or something equally comforting. It's a heavy, deep scent that feels a bit too much during warmer seasons but works both for day and night. I might be biased because it's my signature but it's beautiful work that you just want to gatekeep ;)

Perfect. I was looking for something of Guerlain's L'Instant nature... but something where jasmine is not so prevalent and without the heavy musky vanilla drydown. Dans Tes Bras fits those conditions perfectly. Jasmine is very audible but not prevalent, the switness is replaced by bitter fresh notes. And it just smells of sex... whatever that means - salty earthy alert scent. As it turned out L'Instant and Dans tes bras have same author... and if you want something even more exotic - try Iris Siver Mist form Lutems - yet another creation of Maurice Roucel.

Clean, soapy violets, musky, smooth and cool. This is a refreshing blend of soft florals and woods with some clean mountain air; a mineral sparkle. Quite unisex, an easy wear for women, a softer floral musk scent for men. Fresh, romantic, cool, yet inviting, uplifting and comfortable. Dans Tes Bras is a lucidly dreamy perfume with a contrasting sweet antiseptic detachment. Most certainly one to experience for men who love florals and for women who want a cerebral break from loud whites. A solid contender for a unique signature worthy floral. Divine.

Frederic Malle Dans Tes Bras (2008) - understated artistry - #mauriceroucel ‘s creation is so divine and comforting. I prefer this over #muscravageur! The fragrance is a high dose of Cashmeran @iffinc a synthetic molecule that resembles cashmere’s velvet feel - spicy, musk-like, powdery, with a strong floral accord. I also get Pine, Violets, Heliotrope and balanced by Sandalwood. Why is this mastery? Cashmeran is so hard to use and could be the only fragrance that uses it in such high amounts to come out so refined and resemble wool and human skin.

Thats how I want my male friends or colleagues to smell like! Its crispy-clean but not sterile, its like washed by cold water face-fresh-ready-to-go scent. Alluring, positive, reassuring in way - "I know I look good" and gives clear thinking vibe its on cold side, on airy side, yet the projection is very good over here, we dont have snow, but I feel, wearing it, like wearing crispy white shirt and walking on crispy white snow. Woodiness of pine absorbed by musk and nice heliotrope with sandal at the drydown. Recommended for friendly tailored look.

After the iconic Musc Ravageur and the misunderstood masterpiece Uncut Gem, I had high expectations. I love Maurice Roucel, one of the most talented perfumers out there. Dans Tes Bras overwhelmed me the first time I smelled it - it is not an average love/hate perfume. Falling in love with it does not happen immediately, but when it does - you would not love anything else quite the same way. A work of art, the likes of Musc Ravageur and Uncut Gem. Its musky drydown is to die for. No one really creates perfumes like Mr. Roucel.

I'm just going to say it. This fragrance smells like sheets after a loooong session of love making and I LOVE it. This fragrance screams intimacy all over the place. Try before you buy. This is not going to be everyone's cup of tea. To me, it is just awesome. Edit/Update: An hour in and I smell soap and incense. Just amazing! This is a masterpiece and totally underrated. I will be seeking out more fragrances by Mr. Roucel. Also, just read some reviews below. I am not alone in my opinion of this scent as very sensual! ;)

Intrigued by the love-or-hate sentiments here, as well as a mention an an article in Allure magazine recently I tried and bought it. To me this is the perfect "your skin but better" scent, just like finding the perfect nude makeup which makes you look like you, but better, or like wearing his sweater when you're feeling lonely. Very pretty scent composition, not perfume-perfumy at all. Very well done. Thank you Mr Roucel. Edit: depending on the time of month, this turns into bad body odour onto me. Naughty frag.

Such a nice blend this is, most beautifull in rainy weather, when the humidity is at the maximum. The combination of ozonated air after the rain, washed grass, violets and wet earth in the backgound. Might feel a bit unnerving to begin with, but once the brain have placed all the nuaces, Dans te bras creates a scene of its own and it is just lovely and never boring. Being on the light and fresh/clean side it should have disappeared in a couple of hours, but does last the whole day.

This scent is absolutely stunning—both cozy and sophisticated. At the same time, it gives me a great sense of confidence. It smells like something the Greek gods would wear which is someone said earlier. It has a strong presence, feels comforting, and brings a sense of reassurance. You’re embraced by the softness of cashmeran and heliotrope. It’s not overtly sensual, but rather refined with an overwhelming sense of elegance and presence.

Not a review but a quote from the back of the box: "The deep and lasting odour of warm skin, with all its salty hints and rich overtones. A fragrance carved with hefty chunks of cashmeran, sandalwood, musk and patchouli. It is reinforced with salicylates and incense, softened with heliotrope and coloured with a violet accord. Intimate, deep, a quiet sensuality, an exalted skin scent, the real essence of perfume."

As a Maurice Roucel fan, I had to sample this one. LOVE IT! I can only refer to the first review by "rebella" in this column and might wanna add: "It's like an Alice in Wonderland" 3D film experience. I will buy and wear this for late winter/ springtime when mother nature returns to life.....as a matter of fact this makes THE perfect Easter gift (to myself!) For now I am still enjoying my Xmassy "Musk Ravageur"!

this took be a second to appreciate because the opening is so sour and sharp, but the dry down allows for the sandalwood and cashmeran to develop a musky, fluffy scent. the violet adds a sweetness that came off a bit bubblegummy, and the pine starts of pinesol-y, but adds a sharp aromatic edge to the overall smooth and sweet base. very artfully crafted and a cool scent profile i haven't encountered before

This is magical. I read the notes but experience something totally different- no woods in it for me- just blissful, subtle warmth. The more I wear it the more I fall for the scent of Dans Tes Bras. It is quite soft in terms of projection, but remains present for many hours. To me it smells like entering your home after being away for some time-when you recognize the smells and shapes of well known place.

First review for me. I feel compelled to sing the praises of this addictive beauty. Pine, musk and violet in that order on my skin. The pine is aromatic, almost menthol like. The musk warm and soothing. It wasn't love at first sniff, (please don't dismiss this after trying once) but now I'm hooked. I love wearing this to bed or on rainy days and I'm dreading the day my bottle runs out.

Another one that stood out despite having 10000 amazing scents up my nose today at Harrods 6th floor...so must be something special! Would not have spotted the violet but than again probably nose blind today. The musk and sandalwood stood out, but had a fresh green crisp aspect to it (maybe more of a violet leaf?) Anyone in the UK have a sample / decant for swaps? PM me!

You're camping in the woods with your lover, waking up on a misty morning, skin clammy from embracing tight in your sleeping bag, the scent of the dewy forest mingling with the warm musk of your lover's nape.. Incredible. Edit: The milky sandalwood drydown shares similarities to Frederic Malle x Dries Van Noten.

@tuilark Nothing strange about your reaction, DTB is the most complexed FM scent, Most people take it for granted, but reality is much different. Big name and even bigger work are the backbone from this piece of art. Give it some time and test it again on a rainy fall day.