Music For a While

“At a party on Paris’ rive gauche, a woman’s fur coat is lifted from her bare shoulders, exposing her neck to the candlelight. Aware of many eyes upon her, she pauses, smiling to herself, before emerging like a conqueror from the shadows.” Oh Mr. Malle, how I love your tendency to wax lyrical about nonsense! The writer in me loves the imagery you draw, and the consumer in me wishes you wouldn't. The mention of paris, and the risque exposure of the skin of the neck in the candlelight is a striking, if slightly cliche, image. However, it makes little sense in the context of the scent. And unlike with Dans Tes Bras, and with Musc Ravageur, where I found myself in grudging agreement with the branding, in the case of Music For a While (hereafter, MFaW), I find it fairly odd, and unfitting. That is not to say that MFaW is a bad fragrance, it isn't. Far from it, in fact. It's just that reading the PR drivel, one would imagine a sensual, femme-fatale experience to come from the atomizer. Instead what's found is a playful departure from the usually serious, "buttoned up" fragrances that come from the house of Malle. One thing is certain, though. I have never smelled anything like this, and that is, perhaps, why it took so long for me to pen a review of something I loved from the first spray. MFaW opens up with the first of many surprises bottled by Carlos Benaim, in a shockingly acerbic burst of pineapple. It is very odd to find pineapple in anything from Malle, considering their penchant for sobriety, but here it stands in all of it's glory, tart, citric, and beautifully unripe; far more the natural fruit than the tinned variety found in most fragrances of today. Despite this, it seems almost sacrilegious that something as...well mainstream, as pineapple found its way into a Malle fragrance. I was nervous, since I expect more "high effort" perfumery than I do frivolity, but I was pleasantly surprised at how nicely Carlos Benaim utilized this note. Of course, the surprises are far from over, with the pineapple being coupled with a large dose of very austere lavender, that is dry bordering on incense-esque! The stark contrast between the exuberant pineapple and the far more restrained lavender makes for a combination unlike any other I have smelled. And quite frankly it works excellently! As the fragrance progresses to the mid, the pineapple changes character and becomes deeper, denser and much sweeter, while still retaining a touch of the earlier acidity, while the lavender goes from more floral, to slightly vegetal. It is here we find the third of many surprises, in the addition of what is a burnt sugar/caramel note finding it's way into the mix. The way they meld, however, is absolutely gorgeous! It veers into a territory just shy of gourmand, evoking the image of a dark, almost burnt caramelized pineapple, with a lavender glaze. The fragrance here, takes on the more masculine character that it retains to the very end, while still maintaining its less-than-serious demeanor. And as we approach the drydown, there is yet another surprise waiting in the wings, where fragrance seems to take on a completely different character in the later hours of the wearing. The delectable, almost gourmand fragrance, is joined by a rich patchouli and warm vanilla, each playing off the other to give it a rough, yet well rounded finale. The patchouli is similar to that used in Monsieur, however far less potent, playing more into the chocolatey and vanillic aspects than the dry and boozy patchouli of Monsieur. This cuts through the brightness of the earlier melange in an elegant way, taking it from borderline gourmand, to what I can only describe as a sweet fougere. An odd but fitting end, to an odd olfactory experience. MFaW is truly a unique wearing experience, and one that I have enjoyed thoroughly! It is a very confusing scent, veering between exceedingly masculine (bordering on macho) and delicately gourmand, seemingly at random. It has me hooked in a way I rarely find myself, wherein I go back to it time and again, to experience the multitudes found within. And as someone who isn't the biggest fan of fougeres, this is a shock in and of itself. Would I recommend you blind buy this fragrance? Absolutely not. It is brilliant yes, and it garners compliments yes, but hardly a safe blind buy. Despite it's apparently whimsical nature, it still has the fundamentally complex core that makes Malle fragrances what they are, which can be challenging for the inexperienced nose. And for those that care: This is a strong fragrance! The sillage and longevity are both stellar bordering on obscene. 10/10 on that front for me, your mileage may vary though.

Some perfumes don’t just smell like something. They smell like someone you used to be. Music for a While opens and suddenly I’m back in Sheffield, not the Sheffield of maps and postcodes but the city I lived in as an architectural student in the 90s. The one stitched together from late nights, cold mornings and the warm glow of friendships that felt like they’d last forever. Zaha Hadid (RIP), Peter Blundell Jones (RIP), Daniel Libeskind, Rem Koolhaas, Coop Himmelb(l)au, David Chipperfield and Santiago Calatrava were our familiar guest lecturers back then, oh... good 'ole days. The lavender hits first, soft and familiar, like the air inside a friend’s uni room when you walked in without knocking because back then, nobody knocked. The radiator clanked, the posters curled at the edges and the speakers were always humming with something: 90s house, hip‐hop, remixes we’d hunted down like treasure. That lavender feels like the warmth of those rooms, the safety of them, the way they smelled of cheap incense, warm electronics and the faint sweetness of whatever someone had spilled last week. Then the pineapple rises, bright, juicy, almost glowing and it takes me straight to the record shops where I spent hours flipping through discounted and reduced-to-clear CD singles and 12" vinyls - 99p and below. My fingertips remember the feel of those glossy covers, the soft scrape of cardboard sleeves, the quiet thrill of finding a rare remix tucked between two albums nobody wanted and at times, some paper cuts from flipping through the sleeves. The shop always smelled faintly of dust, plastic wrap and the cold air that rushed in every time the door opened and the owner remembered me every time I stepped in - "ah, that bloody 'reduced to clear' student again!" That pineapple note carries the same familiar spark, the excitement of discovery, the sweetness of youth. As the scent deepens, the patchouli and vanilla begin to hum together, warm and rhythmic, like the bassline of a track you loved before you even knew why. It reminds me of evenings spent in cramped uni quarters, sprawled on mismatched furniture, swapping CDs, arguing about mixes, rewinding the same beat again and again because someone swore they heard something new in it. Those nights felt endless, the kind of endless that only exists when you’re young and the world hasn’t yet asked you to hurry. There’s a softness in the drydown, a quiet animalic warmth that feels like vinyl warmed by a turntable lamp. It smells like the last track of the night, when the room goes still and the conversation softens into something honest. It smells like the walk home through cold Sheffield air, headphones on with my trendy Philips DCC player at that time (who can recall that 'innovative' Digital Compact Cassette system in the 90s?), breath fogging, the city lights blurring into something tender. By the time Music for a While settles on my skin, it becomes a memory more than a perfume - a warm, sweet, rhythmic echo of who I was then. A student with too many CDs, not enough sleep and a heart full of music and possibility. Someone who believed that friendships forged over shared tracks and late‐night mixes would last forever. And maybe, in a way, they did. Because every time I wear this scent, I’m back there, in those rooms, in those shops, in that version of the city that still lives somewhere inside me. For me, Music for a While isn’t just a fragrance. It’s a pocketful of memories, the late nights, the long queue at the club, the Sunday early mornings catching the first train back from London so that I wouldn't miss my early Monday morning Architectural Theory's lecture, the record shops, the friendships built on beats per minute, the feeling that life was one long mix you never wanted to fade out. A place where the music never really stopped. More music, just for a while please.....

I hadn't worn it for a while, but a few weeks ago, I dug out my bottle of Jersey (Chanel), reminded again of how satisfying a sweet lavender scent can be. Soon after, the same, only with Brin de Réglisse (Hermès). That rekindling of my lavender passion led me to exploring others that might fall within the same family. Et voilà... Music for a While! Upon first spray, it's immediately apparent why this perfume is so polarizing. You've never smelled anything in this wheelhouse. It's almost as though you've sprayed two diametrically opposed scents. A starkly herbal lavender and a sweet (though never too sweet) pineapple—two totally distinct accords—clash for control of your nostrils and olfactory bulb. Being so foreign and unfamiliar, disgust may be a visceral response. HOWEVER—and this is crucial—DO NOT ABORT MISSION! DO NOT SCRUB! DO NOT PLACE NOSE TO SKIN! Or, to repurpose Milgram's directive: "It is absolutely essential that you continue. You have no other choice. You must go on." Let it settle. Let it waft. Let it win you over, convert you. Because what develops is so, so beautiful. The lavender and pineapple soon reach a magical détente. At first glance, lavender and pineapple don't seem like they'd mesh well. On its face, it sounds downright odd. But Carlos Benaïm is inspired. He's identified how, out there on their edges, lavender and pineapple share something in common. (Don't ask me what that "something" is; I couldn't tell you. I just "get" it!) Below, you'll read of others failing to detect any lavender, or failing to detect any pineapple. I understand. In the dry-down, I can fool myself into perceiving Music for a While as a lavender "soliflore" or as a pineapple "solifruit." Those two notes, so at odds at the outset, fuse in what I can only liken to an optical illusion—I see two faces looking at each other! Oh, now I see a vase! An olfactory illusion, if you will. The patchouli in here acts as a bridge to fuse the two together. It's captivating. And, yeah, though Music for a While is a sweet lavender fragrance, it doesn't really feel aligned with Jersey or Brin de Réglisse. To me, those both embody a sense of quiet comfort. Not this. No, no, no. If it's possible, Music for a While simultaneously projects quirkiness, gravitas, and joy. I don't recommend blind buying EVER, especially for something as controversial as this one, but here we are. I did. (I'm a piss-poor role model.) Fortunately, this was a major success. Deep love. I'll be stanning Music for a While... for a while.

I blind bought this as a birthday gift to myself and luckily it was a hit. This is one of the most innovative creations released in the last years. A retake on the immortal fougere fragrance profile. Your classic Lavender / Patchouli / Oakmoss / Coumarin blend, keeping the DNA alive but modernising it through the addition of Ethyl Maltol and the Pineapple Note. Very daring and hard to pull off from the house of Frederic Malle. But once again, as they did with so many past releases, they have hit the nail on the head and broke the traditional walls of perfumery. With so many mundane and boring fragrance releases, the re-releases and the milking of the already drained cows that are the hit-pieces designer perfumes and their flankers, which also get increasingly expensive and reach niche level pricings, this fragrance stands out from the crowd. A bright start of bergamot and aniseed gives way to a camphoraceous, top-notch quality lavender oil that lasts for a very long time on the skin. the dry down is the magic of this "musical" piece. Ethyl Maltol laced patchouli accompanied by the signature of Carlos Benaim, Labdanum. While the DNA is classic, it is definitely sexualised through the addition of these base notes. The Labdanum will not leave your skin until the next day. I wore it on a Saturday morning and could smell it on Sunday afternoon in the sauna. Brilliant perfumery, fit for a great summer day, and evening. Gathers real life compliments. A quite brilliant addition to anyone's collection. 8.1 / 10

Boy oh boy I loved this perfume. Now anyone who says 'just get some lavender essential oil' clearly doesn't get this perfume. It's Lavender dominant sure enough (at least at first) but comparing it to the raw material lavender (which depending on origin/extraction etc...can be very changeable) is just not fair. Neither is it fair to say it's remotely like a Caron Homme or Dior Eau Noire or any other lavender based fragrance. Now how can something with such lavender bias be so different...well for the reasons I mentioned above but more pertinently a great perfumer at the helm and complimentary surrounding notes. The opening is fresh, sweet and strange but anchored by a growing herbal lavender note which blooms quickly and does give a musician like feel (whatever that means?) I suppose a kind of creative, calmness. The main thing Music for a while does is transport me back to youth reminding me very vividly of some kind of gummy, jelly sweets, tropical fruits and the listed pineapple here makes absolute sense although I didn't immediately get that myself. I can understand why some folks would hate this, cloyingly sweet and pungent lavender and even I will admit it became a touch that way with the candied, fruit juice sweetness and generally artiness, but it accessed something within me and lovingly tickled it. Carlos Benaim is an interesting perfumer but this was a touch unexpected but then in hindsight, absolutely his style. I want it, but not at FM retail price.

Music for a While by Frederic Malle unfolds as a captivating olfactory journey, notably renowned for its unique Coca Cola-like scent. The top notes, featuring lavender, fruity notes, anise, mandarin orange, and bergamot, establish a refreshing and vibrant opening that distinctly evokes the playful effervescence of Coca Cola. As the fragrance evolves, the heart notes of pineapple and geranium introduce a fruity and floral complexity, contributing to a layered and nuanced experience. The transition into the base notes, which include patchouli, caramel, sugar, vanilla, and labdanum, enhances the gourmand character. The interplay of sweet and resinous notes further emphasizes the comforting and nostalgic ambiance, akin to the aromatic allure of Coca Cola. However, despite the remarkable character of the scent, Music for a While falls short in longevity. The relatively brief duration on the skin is a notable drawback, especially considering the premium price associated with Frederic Malle fragrances. This limitation challenges the overall value proposition of the scent, urging potential enthusiasts to weigh the allure of its distinctive aroma against the expectation of sustained longevity. In essence, Music for a While stands out for its exceptional interpretation of a Coca Cola-inspired fragrance, offering a unique and enjoyable olfactory experience. Yet, the brief lifespan poses a consideration for those evaluating the investment in this premium fragrance.

I have a large particularly diverse collection. I fell in love with CARNAL FLOWER! But I smelled so many scents that day (at defunct Barney’s RIP Boston counter) had entire line. But I walked away with my new best friend CF. My new friend gave me migraine. It’s a complicated relationship. I wear her when I am not in “I'm about to get a migraine soon mode” But I realized after going through entire large bottle I needed something just as brilliant but a little softer. I remembered MUSIC FOR A WHILE. For me this is magic. Every night before bed. This is for me. I went through 6 100ml bottles in 2 years. I won’t be purchasing again since ridiculous price increases. They are amazing I am sure the are worth it. But I have loved it, so will hoard my last 2 bottles TOP: Sharp pineapple not gooey, lasts for second! It melts into lavender vanilla touch of white flowers Middle: Joined by bergamot patchouli sandalwood musk Pineapple pops in every once in a while Base: iris honey tonka wait...is that pineapple? Maybe. Is very subtle For me it’s not a gourmand it’s herbal. Even the fruit is herbal (bergamot). I get solid lavender and vanilla top to bottom This is not granny’s lavender it’s somehow creamy. Brilliant nose Carlos Benaim. Also “the moon” and “Eau De Magnolia“ he’s created hundreds of Parfum. this is so well blended. its not masculine but it would smell spectacular on a man. I don’t discern tobacco or leather Or very much rose It’s sublime

I normally don't like to wear lavender on the body but the sensual lavender opening of MFAW is surprisingly comforting and lovely. Patchouli and a bright juicy pineapple have center stage for the next half hour or so. Pineapple is only listed as a minor note but I definitely get it as the main note during the opening. It's unexpected and yummy, like a real, juicy and ripe pineapple. It settles slightly into a tropical fruity, citrus, anise, patchouli and lavender. Not so much "blended", it's more like the notes are all settled next to one another where you can smell each individual note. I think this is the polarizing part that seems to separate wearers into the love/hate categories. But here comes the magic - slowly over the next half hour, these notes softly melt together and are met with a warm sugar-caramel base, to create an absolute symphony of flavour. One of the most unique scents I've tried, and you can really sense the mastery behind it! Carlos Benaim has managed to make a fragrance that looks tropical gourmand on paper, into one of the most unique and sensual fragrances around. It's bright enough to wear during the day, sensual enough for date night, and completely unisex. The perfect mix of luxurious, interesting, and modest. If you like pineapple, lavender or patchouli this is absolutely blind buy worthy. If not, it's still worth a test just for the journey; you might surprise yourself with this combination. What a creation!

I received a deluxe sample size of Music For A While when I purchased Portrait of a Lady. It was love at first sniff. First sprays release a sexy fruity essence with a calming touch of lavender. Later the anise starts poking through sending subtle, spicy notes to add a little kick to this scent. Just lovely. I will be ordering the full-sized bottle. Another review mentioned mixing this with Carnal Flower. I had also received a sample of Carnal Flower and didn't like it a bit ...... until I mixed the two. Another glorious fragrance. *** UPDATE *** I ordered the full-sized bottle of both Music For A While and Carnal Flower and they are fantastic both individually and/or a little of both together. I have found with both that all I need is the tiniest bit to be engulfed by these fragrances. Absolutely the best. Music For A While lasts "forever". Since regular outings have been pretty non-existent during Covid, I've been using one perfume for a week before rotating to another one. I'd left a t-shirt from my "Music For A While" week folded on the back of a chair. When my granddaughter brought it to me, she wanted to know what the "wonderful smell" was that was on the shirt. That was well over a week later, the scent lasts forever.

I instantly loved this one. I will be getting this after my samples are finished. Music for a while is a contemporary sweet lavender perfume , it’s a fruity , unique , polarizing and not for everyone. Mouthwatering pineapple , patchouli , juicy strong and sweet. It gets very smooth after some time and is very well put together. The Pineapple patch vanilla lavender combination works so well and is juicy and fresh , it lasts for hours , 2 to 3 sprayes Maximum . It can be used All year long and is definitely gender free . I think if you like lavender this is a must have. It’s like a lavender gourmand , but it’s fresh and airy ,light but strong.it also has this herbal aspect due to the lavender. That slightly masculine quality. It’s like masculine ( herbal ) and feminine ( very sweet ) all in one. I neeeeeed this !!!!! Masterpiece! The more I wear this the more I love it if that is even possible. It’s so unique with its masculine cologne feel of lavender and patchouli and so feminine with the vanilla and sugar caramel and pineapple notes. I just loooooove this !!!

the initial opening is very reminiscent of a specific lush scent that they use in their bath bombs and soaps. i can’t remember which one, but regardless this is a very good quality scent. the lavender is very bright in here while the pineapple adds this really sexy element to the lavender. i find the patchouli very fresh and not herbal or dark but it adds some very good depth. the background of the scent is very much uplifted by the citruses, while the sweeter notes of the sugar and vanilla really round out everything towards the end. the sweet notes in here aren't sickly or gourmand, they just really bring out the sweeter aspects of the pineapple and the patchouli. the patchouli becomes more apparent in the dry down and it gets more earthy but it's still has that musky sweet component to it. the anise is very nicely blended in here, but you can definitely smell it if you’re looking for it. i don't find it very fruity, but rather more aromatic with an earthy sweetness. this is super wearable, and there is something very chic about this fragrance that i love.

The "bravest" releasing from the house. It is fascinanting because of complexity of itself. Mr. Benaim is menaged to perform an retro classic on a most possibile futurisric way, the result is a fragrance much ahead of its time. Most realistic lavander i ever smelled. It is so prominent and bold which make a pseudo feeling of some strange animalistic tones. Once the initial huge blast of lavender begin to fade, goes into drydown where it starts to warming up due to huge dose of roasted and peppery pineapple, sweet vanilla and earthy patchouli. It smells sophisticated and luxury like many others FM creations. I can immagine middle aged classy gentleman wearing this. Sometimes can be pretty challenging thats why i reccomend to wearing this masterpiece on a cold autumn days. I respect all crations by Carlos Benaim but this one the most! Longevity and sillage are stellar.

It smells deliciously like lavender and pineapple in the opening and feels nearly overwhelming with the initial sprays. The fruit serves as a counterpoint to the herbaceousness of the lavender while warmth from patchouli bridges the two. It's a nice balancing act. I quite enjoy this scent and find it solidly done, especially the multifaceted opening lavender. The dry down sits comfortably in the gourmand fruity patchouli zone, which is probabaly the zeitgeist of the last two decades of modern perfumery. While I would not say that it’s the best gourmand lavender, it's certainly a more interesting and more layered interpretation among the recent gourmand lavender offerings. If you happen to be searching for a well-balanced gourmand lavender-fruity-patchouli fragrance, I think Music For A While is well worth a try. longevity: 10 hours

Wow, what a jumble of scents. Pineapple and lavender stand out strongly and the rest mix together into a very unique scent. I keep getting a peppery/pepperminty vibe on the dry down, which makes the sweet fruity notes more palatable. This is a fragrance that probably mixes well with some body chemistries (including mine) but I can definitely see how some might detect fruit past its sell by date. One minute I think I don't like this and the next minute I love it...it certainly will not leave you ambivalent. Definitely do not buy this blindly. UPDATE: I procured another sample from Neiman Marcus and I've found that I enjoy this a lot more in the colder weather, but I think it's definitely something you can wear year-round. This is absolutely my next fragrance purchase. I'm totally in love with this scent and must have a full bottle.

My love for FM desert gems really had me convinced I wouldn’t like or have much time for anything fresh in the FM collection. As much as I say this is fresh, this is only in reference to the lavender note. Everything else by nature is warm and comforting. The genius behind combining lavender and pineapple to any normal person is insane but this just works. I am not one for sweet smells at all, in fact they repulse me. While this is sweet, it’s compensated by the sharpness of the pineapple and the bitter/dryness of the lavender. I have to disagree with those who say this is sickly or something a teenage girl would wear. This like many FM has a story to tell and is blended so perfectly it works when on paper, these notes just shouldn’t. MFAW has blown my mind and is definitely going to be a fragrance I wear this Spring/Summer.

This scent is very polarizing. You either love it or hate it. I absolutely love this fragrance. I love sweet lavender scents for one, and this one is super sweet....mainly lavender and pineapple here. The geranium pops in and out and can break up the sweetness at times giving it a fresh feel. I personally love wearing this when it’s raining in spring or fall, and I love to wear it in winter. Too cloying for summer. You need one spray or you will suffocate yourself. It is super strong and lasts for days on clothes. It also can fill a room. Both my full bottle and travel size are beast modes so i don’t see a difference in these two batches in regards to strength. If you love sweet and tropical AND you love lavender, then try this fragrance. I feel it is a beautiful composition if you like these types of fragrances.

Music For a While is a really nice scent. I consider this to be very interesting interpretation of lavender. The notes are really well blended. All I can smell is lavender from the opening, but after that the pineapple comes with some caramel and it gives you along with lavender a really nice scent on the skin and in the air. I find this to be very sweet. MFAW is one my favorite FM scents that I really enjoy. This scent is suitable for every season, I prefer wearing it during summer and spring months. Both genders can wear this. The longevity is very long lasting (8 hours +), it lasts weeks on clothes. I consider this fragrance to be very youthful. Is it worth it? I think so. Is it for everyone? No. You should try it first and see if you like it.

Actually quite an interesting perfume. This one makes you think. I get the realistic pineapple smell, awesome. Like a pineapple + Vicks VapoRub smell, lol. So.. this will not be a love at first sniff for many, it's a bit 'out there'; avant-garde. At first you're like, "Blegh, what the heck is this." After a while you focus on individual elements and you're like, "Hmm.. this is interesting. I get this note, I get this aspect. Huh, how creative." Then later on - acceptance: "You know what, this is actually pretty good and a darn intriguing perfume." Give it some time, people! Wear it on your skin and DON'T scrub it off, just give it some time - smell it, understand it, realize it's different than the norm and accept that aspect.

Let me start by saying that this is a very unique perfume!!!!! Extremely unique better! No notes of caramel or sugar are listed in the FM website and this is not overly sweet as some claim. Been using this for quite a while, and it is such a bright but powerful perfume. It is not warm at all, at least to me. It is very sharp, but not a fougere! A great combo of lavender, pineapple and patchouli. The patchouli here is the same as in Monsieur., pure, without its dirty facets. It is a very elegant scent and extremely long lasting, and diffusive, enough not to disturb someone in the summer heat. It is a piece of art, and not obvious like the other pineapples in the market, e.g., Aventus, Hacivat.... Elegance always wins!

I love the strong and natural smell of the opening where the lavender, pineapple and patchouli notes leap out together and stand on their own. After one hour or so it morphs into a high heat and humidity filling the surrounding air with wafts of a beautiful clean fruity scent which I am assuming are those ingredients finally creating music for a while? Playful, clean, tropical, all purpose, casual or dressy. Definitely unisex. Not too sweet. Not picking up on caramel or anise notes. To sum it up in one word, FRUITACHOULI! I live on a sailboat in the tropics so this is perfect. Honestly, it’s overpriced for what it is, but its versatility and spot on attraction justifies it for my rather small collection.