Lipstick Rose

One of the most abstract and fun perfumes from Edition de Parfums, a line often referred to as "cold" or "dull." Lipstick Rose is not a dull or cold perfume. It fills me with joy every time I smell it. For many reasons. For one, it does stay true to its name, accurately capturing that waxy-cosmetic texture that could relate to the make-up product. I remember being utterly fascinated the first time I tried it, never imagining that it could so vividly capture the "lipstick" accord. Then, it recalls scents that I can trace back to my grandmother, most likely her cosmetic products, therefore, it has a beautifully nostalgic impact and retro flair. Finally, it feels like a comical interpretation of a Rose perfume, like a bizarre caricature of the flower. Thoroughly fun and highly original. I believe it was the first of its genre back in 2000 when it was released. I feel Ralf Schwieger is such an underrated perfumer. I wish he signed more creations for Frederic Malle. His perfumes seem very clever, a bit peculiar, with a ubiquitous amount of laughter in them. Lipstick Rose is first and foremost a rose perfume, with many twists and turns. If you don't like Rose perfumes, give this one a try. If you just want to try something fun, get a sample. Even though nowadays this DNA has been done to death, I still believe no one does it as well. The opening is bright and sparkling with fruity accords like pomelo and raspberry. There is a fizziness about it that makes me think of champagne. I love this introduction, and it is one of the reasons why I enjoy Lipstick Rose in the heat. It's such an invigorating kick that lasts for a good while. The mid is dominated by floral accords, where the Rose takes center stage. A pink and green, bright and fresh rose. The violet plays gently around it to imbue a slightly powdery feel and to complement the fruity accords, then later in the evolution, the iris comes to add this waxy and lipstick-like texture, which creates the overall impression of a cosmetic product. It reminds me of Dior Homme and the way the iris is used there to suggest a similar effect. The base is ambery-musky with vanilla that never cloys but wears as a Frederic Malle perfume should, elegant and poised. Therefore, I have no problem wearing it in the heat. For many years, I enjoyed smelling this perfume but felt unsure about wearing it till I realized it is such an abstract piece of art that one cannot put a gender on it. How could you put a gender on a Picasso or a Kandinsky? I think men should look past the name and give this a try. If you have your looks down and know how to dress it up, it can make for a brilliant match. IG:@memory.of.scents

I discovered Lipstick Rose while looking for a replacement for my beloved and sadly discontinued Bvlgari pour Femme. While certainly not a "dupe", Lipstick Rose has very similar notes and instantly became a favorite within my collection, helping to fill the void left by the loss of one of my long-time signature scents... yet with a glamorous twist. Lipstick Rose envelops me with a beautiful and flirtatiously feminine bubble of violet/iris/rose and a confectionary touch of powder. There is nothing whatsoever "baby powder" or "baby wipe" about this fragrance to my nose. While Lipstick Rose and Bvlgari pour Femme could be sisters, they are not twins. Lipstick Rose is what I envision Marilyn Monroe should have worn in "Some Like it Hot" while cooing "I wanna be loved by you" in her barely-there sequined dress. Jayne Mansfield would have reached for Lipstick Rose while coordinating outfits with her poodle in "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter." It's flirtatious, va-va-voom, the ultimate Old Hollywood Bombshell scent. On the other hand, Bvlgari pour Femme is a cool Hitchcock Blonde. As much as I love Lipstick Rose, another scent I recently discovered and love equally is Perlerette by Volnay, which is a cooler, more refined "Hitchcock Blonde" violet/iris/rose. It too won my heart instantly and is currently tied with Lipstick Rose in my quest to replace Bvlgari pour Femme. Another similar scent that is vying for my attention is Rose Chérie by Guerlain. It is very similar to Lipstick Rose, but it has a distinct cherry/almond note that is preventing me from loving it as much as Lipstick Rose. I received a generous sample of Rose Chérie along with my last Guerlain purchase (L'Instant Magic... now THAT is a baby powder scent!) For a week, I've been wearing LR on one wrist and RC on the other in order to compare them. LR is a bit "sharper", stronger, and it is definitely longer lasting. RC is sweet, lovely, and girlish... I rather wish the cherry/almond was not so strong. I haven't yet decided whether or not to purchase a full bottle of Rose Chérie because I find the two scents so similar (and expensive!), and I prefer Lipstick Rose. In summary, Lipstick Rose is a masterpiece I am delighted to have as a favorite within my collection! It makes me feel oh so glamorous and feminine. It's long lasting and projects beautifully, enveloping me with an Old Hollywood Bombshell aura of bygone days.

Several years ago, I fell in love with L'Artisan's Drôle de Rose. I had a a used, 3.4 oz bottle that unfortunately turned less than a year later. Since then, I've tried to hunt down the version in the clear glass with the pink label and had no success. Even finding it in the dark bottle is challenging. I have many rose/violet, lipstick type scents, but none could replace DdR in my mind. Enter Lipstick Rose. While not a dupe, there is something very delicate about the formula, which I attribute to the musk. The quality of ingredients is there, of course, as they should be in any fragrance the commands Frederic Malle prices. DdR was my "I feel pretty" fragrance. Not challenging, not difficult or harsh in any way, and Lipstick Rose now plays that role for me. I love the touch of raspberry, which lends a bit of fruity sweetness without turning the scent into a "fruity floral", but it is the quality of gorgeous rose, violet, and clean musk that turns this into more than just another lipstick scent. Actually, I think it has more in common with a face powder such as Meteorites than it does with lipstick due to a fluffiness from the musk that replaces the waxiness associated with lipstick. The only issues I have so far is that I get a distinctly plastic note when I first apply this, but it dissipates in under a minute. I also wish it had greater longevity. I don't mind that it's basically a skin scent, because a perfume like this should whisper, not scream, but I'm either going to need to purchase a 3.5 or even 10 ml spray to carry with me, or make my own decant. I have a 3.5 ml I carry with me when I wear the gorgeous Iris Poudre, and will need to do something similar with Lys Mediterranean as well. My skin seems to devour the FM scents I own. Even though I still hope to find a vintage bottle of Drôle de Rose in good shape, I am quite happy owning Lipstick Rose, which satisfies my desire for a soft rose/violet fragrance that shines in its own right, for days when I want to "feel pretty". For me, this is a love!

Oh, Beautiful Lipstick Rose, The Queen of Pin-Up Scents. I absolutely adore you. I've lost count of the amount of reviews I've read that start with "I wouldn't usually wear something like this, but I love it". Well, these types of scents would definitely be my usual choice; this is what I'm always looking for! This is what I love. I love perfumes that project classically feminine auras that smell vintage, yet modern. This is Lipstick Rose exactly. Wearing this makes me think of pale skin, hourglass figures in well-fitting dresses, tiny waists, and smiling, rosy-cheeked vintage pin-up girls. Malle's version of the "lipstick" scent is my favourite of the genre so far. It is full and rich and creamy and sweet, and is much better blended than Chanel's Misia or YSL's Paris, in my opinion. The second two choices are more elegant, ladylike and softer than this one, so they may be better for you if that's your preference. Lipstick Rose is a very sweet perfume, but not in an aspartame or chemical sort of way; this is like wearing candied violet jam. The violets also add a sort of modern-day sweetness, which prevents this rose perfume from smelling too dated. This note is also the most prominent on my skin, along with waxy undertones, that echo the scent of vintage lipsticks. It smells full and round and smooth, like the curves of bee-stung lips and the red rouge that stains them. During the dry-down the scent looses some of it's potency, and develops into a cleaner, muskier, more delicately powdered and silken rose. I also think that I can safely wear this one because of the blend; roses sometimes smell like potpourri to me unless they are extremely well-blended with other notes, and because they are in Lipstick Rose, happily, this perfume works very well for me. The sillage is perfect; soft to moderate in strength, and longevity on me was about 9-10 hours.

This is a really old Malle and usually something I wouldn't be interested in particularly but if you contrast this with the other 'Roses' in Malle collection then this is much more up my street even than the seminal Portrait of a lady or Une Rose, both of which are great for what they are. Lipstick rose is quite outrageous really and even though I remember a time when cosmetic products and lipsticks did have this kind of hyper powdery smell, it can't help reminding you of femininity and probably your mum. However, I think the 'lipstick' of the title is merely an evocation, a mental picture to enjoy your olfactory art with. What's great about Lipstick rose is that it's not really a rose fragrance, although it does have a jammy, fruity, raspberry rose note upon application. It's also not an Iris, but has the thickness and dominance in that powdery, opulent direction, but it's not a iris or orris either. It's probably more accurate to talk about violet, because this has a pervasive, powdery violet quality which I love and no ghostliness which violets can sometimes hav, this is a perfect balance. There's vanilla at the base and it becomes almost edible, but sort of mildly bubblegum...but not the kind you chew and spit out, it's not disposable or cheap. It's the kind of stuff you might buy in Fortnum and Mason or Selfridges tea room. It's a little fragrant cake of a thing. It's kinda popcorn, popart, popculture, but also classy. It's playful but sexy in that deep 'red' way the bottom of a Laboutin shoe or a really red lip and a bit of cleavage gets this helpless, hetro, male in heat! However strange it is (having said that then) that I completely love wearing this fragrance! It's an absolute revelation to me. Puts a smile on my face, I had to add it to my FM collection, which is becoming quite comprehensive.

At first sniff Frédéric Malle’s Lipstick Rose was very reminiscent of Guerlain’s Rose Cherie, to me, on my skin but they aren’t identical twins but rather sisters. Guerlain’s RC being the older, sophisticated sister who has a little more projection and longevity, she is sexy and uninhibited. Longevity on my skin is 8hrs. Lipstick Rose is the beautiful, dainty younger sister, she’s demure and dare I say day or office appropriate, she is quite fleeting on me, maybe a good 4hrs and only those within arms length can pick her up. I can see why so many individuals associate Frédéric Malle’s LR to Chanel’s Misia it could be because of the violet, vanilla, iris and rose notes which are present in all three perfumes, coincidentally. They don’t smell alike at all to me. I have Guerlain’s Rose Cherie ($380/100mL), Chanel’s Misia($275) and a decant of Lipstick Rose($330/100mL). Guerlain’s RC was a love at first sniff for me, then I was drawn to Misia while testing some other Chanel fragrances at the airport. Misia took me back to a red lipstick my mom used to wear from Avon. I got myself a decant of Lipstick Rose just for travel instead of carrying my full bottle of Guerlain’s RC. I don’t think I will buy a full bottle of FM’s Lipstick Rose right now but she’s on the list. I would say if you like those vintage lipsticks/make-up from back in the day that your mom, Aunty or Grandma used to wear from Avon, Maybeline, Fashion Fair or Max Factor—Lipstick Rose, Rose Cherie and Misia will definitely transport you back to that time with just one whiff.

Lipstick Rose is easily the most fun Frédéric Malle scent. Perfectly capturing the unmistakable waxy, creamy scent of old-school lipstick that most likely twists out of a heavy gold casing, LR is based on a simple idea and is perfectly, humorously executed. It appeals to the universal memory of our mothers'/grandmothers'/aunts' make-up, evoking personal memories for me of the lipstick my mom always kept in her handbag, housed in a mirrored case that shut with the click of a button. LR opens with powdery violets - Insolence-like, and a note I'm partial to. Iris complements it perfectly, and the warm rose at the heart emerges pretty early on, making for the powdery lipstick accord promised by its name. The raspberry note is a perfect addition. The powdery rose develops, taking centre stage as it progresses, but is kept firmly in lipstick territory by the violet-iris accord. Here, it reminds me of YSL Paris. There is a good bit of smooth sweetness present - thanks in part to the soft vanilla in the base, but I also get a hint of rich honey. It is quite well-blended, fading to a sweetly musky skin scent after several hours, remaining powdery until the end. Sillage and longevity are both moderate, and it is ideally applied for evening wear. LR delivers retro glamour without resembling classic, vintage-style perfume. Ultra-feminine and sultry while evoking memories. Excellent. 4/5.

I understand the comparisons to Misia, but I find this to be much more wearable and likeable. Misia is beautiful, but it has a coldness I can’t seem to get past that goes just a bit overboard, where Lipstick Rose is a perfect balance of softness, femininity, and “coolness” rather than sharp, bitter cold. I think the rose softens out the cool violet and it is so nicely balanced. I am always weary of these types of fragrances smelling too doughy, but this does not. It is jammy and delicious without being at all too sweet, cool and clean without being bitter cold, powdery without Pampers. It’s the safest option of cool, violet-centric fragrances I have tried; I could wear this on many occasions, still being a bolder choice without much risk. What an absolute masterpiece. I personally am not drawn to the idea of this fragrance story being told as embodying old-fashioned, pin up, vintage make-up; although I see it fits, that’s not something I am naturally drawn to when choosing a fragrance. Instead, I must create a different story to go along with the scent. I would wear this on a very romantic night out, a dinner in Paris, accompanying a nice long pea coat, sheer tights, ballet flats. Loose hair that isn’t trying to hard. That’s it. Lipstick Rose is a makeup scent that does not try too hard at all. She is just perfect as she is.

Powdery lipstic rose. Perfect at that. True sister to Musk Ravageur. Very wintery, possibly autumnal. Through the iris, violets and rose with raspberry tinge leather can be imagined. But imagined rather than felt. It feels a bit simpler than Musk Ravageur and more feminine. But it is still very complex and beautifully done. Enveloping, soft and sensual. Worth the hype. Beautiful with soft fruity notes in the middle. It dries down fruity-floral in a powdery veil, lighter than the opening. It has a lot of depth. It reminds me of The Rose by Musicology. The rose and powder are in both, these are very similar but The rose is rosier. It is also a big sister to Magnifique by Lancome which is powdery-woody-rosy too but lighter, less sweet and spicier. Out of the matches listed here Misia is more similar to Guerlain Meteorites and Insolence, Parisienne is light, fresh and does not have the musky-ambery-woody depth nor the lipstic or powder. Moulin Rouge is similar but deeper and more powdery. It has very good presence but like Musk Ravageur it does not project when outside on me. I would call its sillage polite as this is rich but not too much.

Reminds me of my early 2000s Dior barbell shaped lippies and the YSL ones with the cutout side cage. Waxy but with raspberry instead of the plum in those lippies. Sweeter with old school makeup powder and sunshine in a bottle. Recalling happier times and memories seen through (most likely) fond rose tinted glasses. Thankfully the rose, raspberry and a touch of lemon are dominant over the violet. The powder is pretty intense here and may take your breath if over sprayed or if you don’t like it. I get the references to Misia but thankfully it’s not the same. The overdose of violet in that just killed it for me. In the air / sillage I gets shades of Tom Ford’s Rose d’Amalfi but only a sketch of it. That is more summery, marshmallowy and less violet yet again and less powdery than LR. Much girlier than I ever thought I would love and wear (oh she who couldn’t stand roses and most florals 18months ago)... oh how things have changed! ❤️ Just gorgeous. It’s been hard to source here recently so I’m happy to snap it up now, my decant can be used to refresh during a work day.

Lipstick Rose is a bold, elegant and feminine fragrance that balances floral, powdery, and slightly sweet notes. It’s not a traditional rose perfume, but the smell is reminiscent of vintage makeups or lipsticks. The opening is bright, fresh and fruity. It gradually turns into a powdery, waxy, creamy, and slightly sweet scent of classic lipsticks because of the Iris, Violet and Rose notes. The base is warm and slightly sweet and musky with a soft, powdery vibe. Lipstick Rose is a fragrance that captures the essence of vintage glamour and femininity. It is perfect for those who enjoy vintage-inspired scents or want something unique yet approachable. It’s ideal for the ones who enjoy powdery, floral fragrances with a touch of playfulness. Longevity is around 7+ hours with moderate Sillage. It's perfect for everyday wear as well as special occasions. This is a fragrance worthy of being a signature scent. It's unique but approachable.

The smell of this makes me feel transported back in time- I feel like I'm backstage at a 1930s burlesque show where barely dressed beautiful women powder themselves and stencil in their bold red pouts. The violet raspberry opening is so candy sweet and delicious as to be edible, the rose bold and antique. The drydown is delicate and powdery- literally like the powder in the jar with the fluffy puff our forbears used so liberally to stay cool and smell pretty. I am honestly not feeling much vanilla, nor any resinous amber? But it does feel so vintage, intimate, and womanly. Bonus that the powdery, deep rose-violet scent bubble of Lipstick Rose lasts in rich concentration for hours. 💄❤️🌹 Editing 20 August to spill the tea that my aluminum free Secret deodorant stick in "real rose" smells so much like this fragrance. If you like the scent of Real Rose Secret, you'll be in heaven with Malle's Lipstick Rose!

Lipstick Rose is really quite something, being in some ways a modernisation of the scent of vintage makeup, but I find the thing I enjoy most about it is the tumultuous underbelly of spices, ambers and musks which lurk below the classical rose-violet-iris floral core. It reminds me of Insolence, Misia et al., and whilst Insolence EDP remains my favourite of this group of makeup violet frags, Lipstick Rose really does tingle and dance in the nose more than any of its counterparts. It lacks the subtle solemnity of Insolence, but I do in fact think it eclipses Misia and manages to walk the line between reserved and camp very effectively. I'd never buy a full bottle but I'm very happy to smell it on my sister when the mood strikes her. A fragrance for people who love glamorous women simply for being glamorous women. Flighty and buzzing with life

I could probably construct a collection of only violet/iris-centered perfumes and this would also be a part of that "best violets/irises ever" collection. I am completely swoon about that drydown. This smells a bit vintage, so if you are not interested in these types, beware. There is some Misia resemblance, but Misia is more full-bodied than this. This is, although a heavy perfume, in comparison it is ephemeral and more dainty. But just in comparison, it is not dainty per se. Misia contains a noticeable amount of orris root and so it gives Misia that dense, earthy, balmy powdery effect. Powdery effect here is much more airy and lightweight. Lipstick Rose has some glamour about it too, I would not call it a fairy-forest-violet. The rose note is just perfect, it projects as creamy and soft. Vanilla and musk are subtle and add just a spice. +

I was gifted a lovely bottle of this perfume and it is a really nice fragrance. It’s pretty powder (a step above baby powder), rose and waxy lipstick. I actually really like it. I don’t like Rose on its own, but when mixed with iris it becomes lovable for me. One of my grandmoms and many other elderly women I have grown up with never smelled like sweet pretty powder. They liked those bitter powders like Guerlain L'Heure Bleue which I kinda hate. I smell the Rose but it never goes into potpourri territory even though it is dry. Then it smells waxy like basic lipstick of practically any brand. Maybe that is the smell of the ancient whale blubber base that was once used and they continue to mimic that smell today. It’s very girly and surprisingly gentle. It has enough character to wear as a day fragrance but soft enough to wear to bed.

It does remind me of old school lipstick, and most of the reviews here are spot on, but I also get a sort of fudgy, sweet, sticky undertone which is delicious and addictive (benzoin with orris?). It makes the florals jammy but In a different way to most jammy roses I've come across. The raspberry and grapefruit are fleeting and unidentifiable to me (i.e. If I hadn't read the notes..), and make the opening quite sharp and screechy, but only for a couple of minutes. It seems a shame to call this lipstick rose, as it's much more complex than that suggests. To me, it's also less powdery than many here are claiming, although there is powdery iris, it's just the warm, almost spicy, caramel underbelly smooths the powder out so it's not dominant.

As I am on the search for my perfect lipstick scent, this feels kind of like the big boss ahaha. And she truly is a spectacle! Powdery violet and balmy rose with a juicy raspberry top note. The clove in the heart gives a slightly vintage quality, and the amber musk and vanilla really come through in the drydown. The iris and other powdery florals are definitely what come through for me upon initial spray. I don't get the green notes at all, and the citruses are a bit masked by the rose and other florals. I would compare it to Bulgari Omnia Amethyste if it had a heavy hit of rose and spice. It does have a play-dough type of vibe once it really dries down, so if you're not into that I would pass.

@Inge71 and @étoilesdejasmin, take it from someone who fell in love with Lipstick Rose upon first sniff, bought it in a whim, and made it my signature for years, it really is worth it. Plus now you have those 10 ml vials that are no less affordable than any of the regular designer frags. Do trust me that only 2 sprays of this thing can be one too many. It has amazing longevity and is incredibly potent, so those 10 ml should take you a while to use up. I'm not trying to manage anyone's budget here, and this page may not be the right place for a discussion, but I still think that it may be relevant for someone who is considering the purchase.

Amazing powder. I’ve come a long way from hating powder to saying “it’s not for me” to wholeheartedly dousing myself in it. This one is a lot like Jardins d’Armide from Oriza L. Legrand, but softer, with less of that tart crispness that comes from greener florals and star anise. Lipstick Rose instead has that thick, buttery, cosmetic orris texture found in the best iris perfumes. I can tell the ingredients are quality, and the synthetic musk doesn't irritate me as so many do. Not a lot of rose, but it is fairly sweet, in an elegant and girlish way. An anytime, anywhere scent for anyone feminine.

I tend to wear darker perfumes and POAL is my signature. But I wanted to wear something lighter for a while, so I thought I would try Lipstick Rose. It seemed gimmicky on my first couple of tries -- a nice flashback to perfumed make-up of the 60's, but nothing more. Now I find I really enjoy it. On my skin the "lipstick" vibe (still a fun opening) dissipates and leaves a wonderful vanilla/musk/floral scent that follows me around. If I can find perhaps a less expense but otherwise sophisticated vanilla+ perfume out there, I'd love to try it. Please make recommendations.