Feminin Pluriel

This is a must buy. I have MFK's B540, Extrait, Grand Soir, Oud Satin Mood, and both Gentle Fluidities, and Feminin Pluriel was one that has quickly risen to my top favorites especially for summer and for work. It has great longevity, it's not a scream queen, it will not radiate off of your body at all times, but you will smell it on yourself throughout the day pretty regularly. I sat in my office for 3 hours and left to get a snack and came back and oh my goodness I thought to myself 'is that what I smell like? is this the scent that others are smelling on me? because WOW!" I have a bunch of candles in my office so I know the typical daily scent in my office, and when I walked in the room smelled like a bright floral sweet almost fairy like scent - I've never smelled this scent even on the days where I wear my B540. The iris is a dream in this fragrance and what makes it unique to the other line up in this house. It's what makes it that 2000's magazine fragrance sample scent that's nostalgic, it's what makes this scent grown up, professional and serious despite the playful, flirtatiousness of the more sweet and floral notes in this fragrance. Playful and Professional is how I think of this fragrance and I love it so so much. I think if this didn't have the staying power that it does I would be upset at the price I paid for the full bottle, but because I can smell it all day I am very content with this purchase. It is one of those scents that can easily be a skin scent depending on the person so always sample. I always validate myself because as a fragrance collector you don't buy perfume just for others to validate, you have to do that yourself and the added benefit is others noticing too - and that happened the first day I wore this to an event outdoors. An acquaintance said that I smelled divine and I agree. This fragrance is an underrated release from this house and is easily overlooked for it's more niche siblings, but do not be fooled, this fragrance is for those who know they're gorgeous inside and out, playful and flirty, but requires respect to be talked to in the first place. She's serious underneath and that's why I love this so much. I'd say it lasts 8 hours on me. I like that it doesn't jump off my skin or clothes because that would make this the headache nausea nightmare that you would associate with Iris 2000's fragrances, which this is not. I consider this my commercial niche daily signature scent, you pay a niche premium for a designer note you likely already have. The reason I justify this is because I do not own any designer fragrances that you'd pick up from a local store, all my fragrances are niche, including this one, which is why I love its commercial appeal because even though it may be common to the designer nose, it is still a tier above in it's unique blend.

It was early spring this year, I was running errands, and all of a sudden I decided to visit my favourite perfumery. One of the sales assistants let me sample "féminin Pluriel". So far I had only tried Baccarat Rouge 540 and 7/24 by MFK and had been only semi-impressed. Previously I had known Francis Kurkdjian from when he still created stuff like "Lady Vengeance" which I got in 2007 and still love - and I just don't get his obsession with too chemical smelling stuff since he founded his own maison de parfum. So my expectations were low... I am in the perfumery, I am having my arm sprayed with féminin Pluriel, and what's this? I am being transported to another world like Jack Skellington in Christmas land, only better. I am hearing some soft pearling flutes (the orange blossom), and then Anna Netrebko and Elīna Garanča start singing "Barcarolle" from "Les Comtes d'Hoffmann". I am enchanted! I am then getting roses, iris and parma violet, and I love it! It's never loud, never screechy (just like Anna's and Elīna's angel voices), just pure bliss and subtle elegance. I get why some people find this too "mature" because especially the Parma violet and the iris give it a powdery touch (not as in baby powder, more as in your elegant aunt's make up on her exquisite dressing table which you were allowed to play on when you were little). Then again, some people like opera and some don't. I am instantly happy. I decide to cycle back home and am driving one-handed most of the time because I can't stop sniffing my arm. Listening to Les Contes d'Hoffmann in my head again, the choir in "Barcarolle" sets in and gives this masterpiece a subtle yet profound backdrop of just the slightest hint of vetyver and patchouli. The beauty of this scent is so breathtaking I want to cry. The longevity is not too good, though. I got myself a decant recently and need to respray after about five to six hours. I will most probably buy a full-size bottle though. I like complicated (not loud) fragrances and edgy ingredients (if well blended); however this is just very easy to wear but I have a feeling that it might complement my fragrance library in a very beneficial way. I don't get why people feel it is generic; I have smelt many generic fruity flowery vanilla waters over the past few years (even from Guerlain - sorry but "Mon Guerlain" and its flankers are just boring AF to me), and this is not generic, at least not to my nose. I don't believe in gendering perfumes but if you do, I am seeing this on the feminine side. "Le temps fuit et sans retour emporte nos tendresses".

Maison Francis Kurkjian: FEMININ PLURIEL This is just downright lovely on me! I turned my head slightly just after spritzing because the scent wafting from my wrists was so alluring. A decidedly rare, unusually clean and delicate floral chypre as it reads on my skin. Every single note sings out distinct and pure in this composition, every single note takes a wonderfully positive turn on my skin, and yet, every note is masterfully woven together in a seamless silken blend that is altogether more than the sum of its parts, and an ultra-feminine joy to experience for me. Clean and clear the orange blossom, non-indolic jasmine, and startlingly intense, fresh-green un-wax-like lily of the valley florals herald the joyous opening here with no overdone soap or cleaning products evident. A cool and soil damp regal Iris emerges full force with a delightful shower of non-candied violet petals, swirled through with a crisply moist, just picked Rose de Grasse; the whole composition being impeccably balanced, and absent the overdone carroty powder bomb side effect. The patchouli support here is immaculately vegetal and restrained, adding depth with no tinge of musty-dusty offensive decompositional odor. The vetiver is wonderfully blended so as to bolster things with a hint of the most delicate citric-spicy-woodiness, and cool earthy support. The balance between the vetiver and the patchouli is just flawless in enhancing the refined sensuality of the whole without overwhelming it. The entire scent make me think of strolling through an enchanted fairy forest at dusk with all sorts of little magical creatures glimmering in the shadow. I find that Maison Francis Kurkjian is growing to be my favorite house. So far, I absolutely love everything he has done. Notes that I ordinarily dislike in other perfumes, I find to be clearly present, and yet not only completely inoffensive, but marvelously realized by an astonishingly skillful blending of exceptionally high quality basic ingredients. I’m definitely getting a full bottle of this one, and the scented cream as well.

This is just downright lovely on me! I turned my head slightly just after spritzing because the scent wafting from my wrists was so alluring. A decidedly rare, unusually clean and delicate floral chypre as it reads on my skin. Every single note sings out distinct and pure in this composition, every single note takes a wonderfully positive turn on my skin, and yet, every note is masterfully woven together in a seamless silken blend that is altogether more than the sum of its parts, and an ultra-feminine joy to experience for me. Clean and clear the orange blossom, non-indolic jasmine, and startlingly intense, fresh-green un-wax-like lily of the valley florals herald the joyous opening here with no overdone soap or cleaning products evident. A cool and soil damp regal Iris emerges full force with a delightful shower of non-candied violet petals, swirled through with a crisply moist, just picked Rose de Grasse; the whole composition being impeccably balanced, and absent the overdone carroty powder bomb side effect. The patchouli support here is immaculately vegetal and restrained, adding depth with no tinge of musty-dusty offensive decompositional odor. The vetiver is wonderfully blended so as to bolster things with a hint of the most delicate citric-spicy-woodiness, and cool earthy support. The balance between the vetiver and the patchouli is just flawless in enhancing the refined sensuality of the whole without overwhelming it. The entire scent make me think of strolling through an enchanted fairy forest at dusk with all sorts of little magical creatures glimmering in the shadow. I find that Maison Francis Kurkjian is growing to be my favorite house. So far, I absolutely love everything he has done. Notes that I ordinarily dislike in other perfumes, I find to be clearly present, and yet not only completely inoffensive, but marvelously realized by an astonishingly skillful blending of exceptionally high quality basic ingredients.

This fragrance has a CHOKEHOLD on me. I discovered it in the winter season of 2022. Because of the freshness, it can absolutely be worn year-round, but this is so sparkling and dazzling in the colder months. It reminds me so fondly of the watching The Nutcracker with my partner, and going to Pilates classes dressed in pink. I associate this so fondly with pink Christmas. It’s very feminine. If you hate soapy fragrances, run away. To me, it smells very natural and soapy, almost like I’m not wearing perfume but I’m instead smelling like a product of fresh laundry and clean hair. I don’t care if people think it smells generic. I’m not really sure that I would even disagree. It just blends into my skin so well that it’s never too much or too little. The musk is extremely natural and addictive. I’ve had hundreds of perfumes over the years and this is by FAR my most complimented. I work in healthcare (no direct patient contact, but in close quarters with a lot of people) and this is very safe for that setting. Every single time that I wear this, which is about five days a week, I get compliments. Someone told me the other day that it’s just the perfect amount of freshness and not overdone. I have two backup bottles because it’s increasingly more and more difficult to find... I read that it’s because of the lily of the valley being banned in the UK and they’re attempting to reformulate.