No.13 Nouvelle Vague

It’s so interesting seeing all of the polarizing reviews and everybody’s personal experiences with this fragrance, and their takeaway. It’s amazing just how much body chemistry plays an extraordinary role in one’s olfactory experience, and people’s sense of a fragrance on their skin vs. on paper, or worn by another person etc. I’m a dude, and I really enjoy the smell of coconut. It has been much harder than I thought it would be for me to come by a fragrance that is coconut dominant, or at least one with a nice, well rounded coconut note that compliments the fragrance as a whole, and doesn’t feel out of place, overly synthetic, or cloying. Pretty much every fragrance I’ve come across looking for “the one” is more often than not heavily reminiscent of sunscreen, or is a gourmand, heavy and rich to the point of being cloying, and feminine. So I’ve been looking for a nice coconut fragrance for a while! I absolutely love Creed Virgin Island Water, it’s one of my favourite fragrances, though is quite a bit more citrus forward, with a hint of the most delicious coconut note. I’ve been mainly unsuccessful in my journey of finding a fresh realistic coconut note akin to the quality of the latter. I really like this fragrance, both the oil and EDP. On my skin it’s a very simple, linear, refreshing coconut scent. I don’t get sunscreen, or rubber, and I find it perfectly unisex. I’m of the mindset that not every fragrance has to have beast mode silage and longevity, and be overly complex. This is a nice and simple, refreshing coconut forward fragrance. It’s projection is intimate but I still get compliments when I wear it. It’s a great on its own, and when layered with other fragrances (especially freshies on a hot summer day - but I can see this layered with warmer frags during the colder months). Don’t let the comments dissuade you from trying this, I’ve been wearing it a lot and quite enjoy it in this hot weather. But it seems like this wouldn’t be a safe blind buy, considering people’s experiences seem to heavily differ due to everyone’s unique skin chemistry, which is super interesting! It’s something to keep in mind if testing a fragrance on paper, it might smell completely different on your skin.

I agree with reviews that Maison Louis Marie no. 13 Nouvelle Vague eau de parfum opens with the scent of lemons, progresses to a powdery floral perhaps such as lily of the valley, and stays on the wrist like oceanic sandalwood and something vegetal. I don't see no. 13 as coconut dominant, and I am not familiar enough with fig to comment. Yes there is something to round out the fragrance that could be described as amber, or musk. Personally I like how natural this fragrance smells, conveying elegantly dressed people at a marketplace by the seaside with some blooming flowers around and humid air. I can easily see it being worn in spring or winter as it has a scent a bit like old books. Despite having citrus I think Nouvelle Vague is less of a "clean" scent and more of a lived in, musky botanical scent that you can equally wear to go hiking in with boots and to a coastal restaurant with a straw bag. Despite this description as well it's not very heavy due to its moderate projection and the way the lemongrass and lily of the valley lingers. I think Nouvelle Vague can be unisex, perhaps for a man that does not mind smelling like florals, and has a romantic disposition. No I don't get anything like rubber or plastic or fake coconut or sunscreen. I think No.13 Nouvelle Vague is a pleasant, very natural scent, exactly like some of my scent memories of flowers on the breeze. But I think this isn't a scent for everyone, even if I do find it well rounded.

Green, bright, fresh, joyful. While others cite coconut as the first & most predominant note they encounter in this fragrance, I smell a green & creamy fig haloed in the diaphanous, watery sweetness of lily of the valley (a note not listed on Fragrantica, but noted on the Maison Louis Marie website). I smell the sunshine in this fragrance; luminous, simple, & truly fresh, not in the way that term is so often used—as in “clean laundry”, “shampoo”, “soap”, etc—No, I can imagine smelling this while strolling through an open air market on the Mediterranean: verdant zip of leaves & tree bark, fresh figs split & rosy, distant tang of lemon rind, white flowers nodding on a sea-softened breeze. As with Diptyque’s Philosykos, there is something in this that feels nostalgic to me; something in its joyous greenness that reminds me of being a child beneath the trees, playing in the latticed shadows of leaves—it makes me smile. &, at the same time, I can imagine this scent lingering on the nape of a woman’s neck as she walks barefoot on a summer day. & I want to be her as much as the child among the leaves.

Really pleasantly surprised by this one. A new favourite summertime scent. Smooth and creamy, soft and beachy. Very round, well blended, and balanced. Beachy but not screechy sharp sunscren. The coconut is milky, not toasted flesh and not salty coconut water. Compared to other beachy coconut type scents: No "sunscreen" vibe like Tom Ford Soliel Blanc, MM Replica Beach Walk, or Bobbi Brown Beach. Has a sunny feel, but no bright sparkling citrus like D&G Dolce Shine. Not floral like Juliet Has A Gun Lust For Sun or Phlur Solar Power. Coconutty but more fresh than Comptoir Sud Pacifique Coco Extreme. Similar to but more smooth than 7 Virtues Coconut Sun and Nest Balinise Coconut. This is suitable for day or night, smooth and creamy, sweet but not cloying. Easy beachy vibes. Remains consistent throughout wear - the milky coconut and fig does not burn off and dry down to dry dusty woods or musk. Scent bubble is moderate - not overpowering, but people around you will notice. Longevity is incredible - lasts days on clothes and hair.

I've been wearing the oil for about a week and I really like it. I agree with the review below it is very similar to BBW Brown Sugar and Fig. My daughter actually thought that what was what I was wearing! There are some floral hints in this, though. Also within the first hour or two the fig reminds me vaguely of the fig in Womanity, but without any of the salty and briny qualities of Womanity. Womanity is one of my favorites. I feel like Nouvelle Vague does not have enough sillage for me, but I do really like it and may get the full size oil. The sillage is fine for the first hour or so, the longevity is amazing though. Applied at 4pm yesterday, it's now 9am and I can still smell it. I have the mini oil and am burning through it due to the sillage issue. I may see if the spray perfume has more throw. I have both the oil and parfum in NO 4 Bois de Balincourt, layering works well.

I am mad with giggles reading these comments! I didn't think this pretty scent could be so polarizing! I bought a sample of this and pulled it out randomly today. It's honestly so pleasant. It's a creamy, powdery scent that isn't strong. Fig and coconut always compliment each other nicely as they do here. I don't really get lily of the valley. It calms into a warm, sweet skin scent quite quickly. I put on 6 sprays an hour and a half ago and have to put my nose right up to my arm to smell it. Maybe I need to add some to my clothes next time. I do agree with some commenters on how they could get "new car" from this. And I do see a resemblance to Brown Sugar and Fig by B&BW, but that is much harsher to my nose. THIS has a soft, fluffy feel to it. If any haters want a home to send their bottle, I'll kindly take it off your hands for you. ;)

Like stepping into a sunlit garden, where the air is thick with warmth and the promise of something luxurious. The fragrance opens with the creamy sweetness of coconut, a soft, tropical embrace that feels both lush and soothing. Then, the sweet, almost milky essence of ripe fig intertwines, adding a hint of earthiness that grounds the scent in something natural, like the first bite of summer fruit under a shaded tree. Finally, the amber emerges, its golden warmth wrapping everything in a soft, radiant glow, like the lingering heat of the sun as it dips below the horizon. It’s a scent that’s sensual but not overpowering—effortlessly sophisticated and rich in its simplicity. Nouvelle Vague feels like a quiet, sun-soaked afternoon, where time stretches out and everything feels just a little more beautiful.

My updated review of this fragrance is that I still like it! I am wearing it during winter. I get migraines from a lot of perfumes however this does not. I am attributing it to the fact this is a clean brand using high quality ingredients. It does have a coconut/sunscreeny vibe with a bit of fig. I can smell these notes! This perfume has decent sillage and is long lasting. I only have the travel spray but 2 sprays is all you need because it truly does last a long time. I have 9 hour hour work day and can still smell it on my clothes at end of day. The packaging is very good with no leaking. The design is also very clean and minimal. I want to get a 2nd fragrance from this brand but not sure which one.

A soft coconut fragrance that has a slight resemblance to Dent la lait by serge lutens, its a subtle fragrance that is signature scent worthy as with most of the offerings from this house, projection sits close to skin and last about 5 - 6 hours. Not a power house by any means but if you're looking for a scent for the gym or for cozy night time wear, look no further. I have a few offerings from this house for sale along with alot of discontinued/rare/vintage/designer fragrances that i am decluttering some of which im able to be competitive to discounters. My IG:ArmedFragTO Located in Toronto, ontario Canada i do ship within country and to the U.S

This smells heavenly, if you love coconut like me. A rich, creamy coconut is like all I can smell throughout, and despite what others have said, I don't detect a "sunblock" note at all. Lemon and agave stand out to me, as well. It smells downright tropical. Dries down rather quickly, though, and once faded the coconut is ameliorated some by a sandalwood smell. At this point sillage & projection go down quite a bit, and it becomes something that someone would have to be right in your face to smell. I wish it lasted longer, I love it so much. For the money, you're better off trying to find a secondhand deal on it rather than buying it full price.

Fragrantica is listing just 3 notes on here. I smell more than just 3 notes. What I really love about this is it's not necessarily perfumey. It reminds me of Clean Reserve Clean Skin. I smelled them both side by side and whilst they have different DNA there are many resemblances. 1. Your skin but better vibe. 2. Not perfumey. 3. Will blend with your chemistry to create a uniqueness. 3. Clean based formula 4. Non floral 5. Unisex 6. Skinscent after a few hours. I really love this and I recommend both in the oil and in the spray. I currently have the 10ml bottle but will be getting the full bottle soon.

I love this fragrance. I love how lactonic and creamy it is. I'm not even a huge fan of coconut in fragrance, and I've smelled quite a few of them. Yes, I adore Un Bois Vanille, but that one is more beeswax than coconut to me. I've smelled the coconut frags from Diptyque, Mugler (Alien Goddess), Kayali, 7 Virtues, Maison Margiela, and Montale/Mancera. Nouvelle Vague is somehow a standout for me. Maybe my skin chemistry just works well with it? Yes, it's probably intended to be a summer frag, but I can see myself wearing this on a cold winter night at home.

I made a Fragrantica account just for this perfume. I believe I have the "baseline" skin chemistry for most perfumes, most of them smell exactly as advertised on me. I received a sampler fragrance oil of this, and immediately upon putting it on my wrists, knocked out cold. This scent smells like a midday nap in early summer, as a gentle breeze slowly wafts through fig trees. I didn't grow up in Italy so I can't even use that as an excuse, but the fig note is so dreamy that I woke up a whole new person. 10000/10, better than melatonin.

To me this smells like a sunny spring day. It's a good combination of sweet and clean and woody (?) and totally works with my skin. I wear this pretty much every day in the springtime because of how simple and light it is. I don't get coconut or sunscreen. My biggest qualms are it loses its sweet fruitiness when it dries down and leaves only the powder/musk/clean scent that feels a little boring on its own. I wore this on my first date with my boyfriend and now I associate it with him, so maybe that's why I like it so much.

I received a sample of the oil version of this perfume. I am in love, it is so amazing and nostalgic: it smells like clean laundry, with a little bit of coconut and sunscreen. It feels like clean linens in the summertime, taking a nap after a day in the pool. Since it was the oil version the sillage was intimate, and it is not the most long-lasting scent in the world, but it smells so clean and nice. I will buy it when I go back to London or the States. Lovely!

Y’all have strange noses. This doesn’t deserve to be rated as low as it is. It is such a unique coconut fig classy scent, I instant feel like an old money chick on her summer European trip with a hot sugar daddy. It’s an absolutely love and it’s top 5 in my perfume collection. It doesn’t smell anything like anything else out there. And no philosphykos is straight up tree, it’s not this.

This scent is incredibly beautiful, I don't know why it isn't talked about more. It is a slightly sweet coconut and fig scent that is warm and so so comforting. The first time I tried it I was actually speechless. I have an extensive perfume collection, but I knew right away this was going to be a new signature scent of mine. I absolutely recommend.

This is a delicious warm-weather fragrance, smells like a mai tai and expensive suntan lotion on a secluded wooded beach. Creamy coconut, under-ripe fig, wet florals with a light woody base. This is very sexy to me as the airy creamy sweetness feels so nicely intertwined with the earthy gourmand fullness. I would love to have this in a full size.

smells identical to bath and body works “brown sugar and fig”. shocked reading through reviews and not seeing that mentioned, but the body spray is a favorite and i have it currently to compare. if anything, the no13 sweet notes linger longer and stay on the creamy element longer bc the perfume itself lasts far longer.

Of the 4 Maison Marie fragrances I tried at Sephora including No 4, this one was my favourite. It smelled very well blended and natural. I only smelled the oil. A sort of musky, peachy, coconut w/ a prominent fig note. No headache. I can 100% see the merits of the oil vs the spray.

This is so GORGEOUS and sophisticated! This is classy, elegant, rich girl on and island! So beautifully blended with a great silage and lasts on me. The coconut with the fig is just divine. This is a compliment getter for sure!

These notes are different from what's listed on the maker's website. Pulled from maisonlouismarie.com: top notes: Muguet, Coconut Waters, Lemon middle notes: Tuscan Fig, Tonka, Agave base notes: Vetiver, Amber, Santal

So simple, one of my all-time favorites. I've bought it twice since it was released last year. Perfect for summer days or cold ones where you want to remember summer. The notes blend so perfectly, it's magical.

Very solid creamy coconut scent with some nice fresh fig. If you're looking for an equally creamy but much juicier fig, I would recommend getting the oil version, which fits my preferences a lot more.

Bottle is pretty and brand is amazing!!! But to my nose this was cloying, synthetic and linear. I did not enjoy it no matter how hard I tried. I was getting car airfreshner vibes.

A beautiful coconut milk and fig scent! I layer this with Father Figure and am obsessed with the combo. Longevity and projection could be better so overall 8.5/10 :)

I love this scent, its a soft warm delicious hug of coconut warmed by amber and refreshed by fig. Usually not a gourmand girl but i loved this!

Nice sunscreen coconut scent! I actually like the sunscreen smell it reminds me of summer!

Surely this must be more than just 3 notes??!

Bath and Bodywork's "Brown Sugar and Fig" is much sweeter and less creamy to me. A much closer DNA would be Distillery General's "Wood" - although I'd argue that Wood is more rich and ambery (I believe it's classified as mens but its neither masculine or feminine). The coconut specifically reminds me of the coconut in Soliel Blanc. Ok, comparisons aside, Im getting creamy, fresh and ultra cozy with this one. Covers many bases with the light sweetness from the fig and a cozy warm woody amber that becomes prominent after 10-20 mins. Somehow this is also a very clean scent. Could easily be someone's vacation smell as well. Honestly this scent is quite versatile unless you hate fig or coconut. 90's Calvin Klein kind of vibe. The oil of this scent is also quite nice! I sampled it on my wrist in Sephora and couldnt smell a thing in-store, but as soon as I got out of the chemical overwhelm, the scent kept flirting with me as I shopped. I then fell under its spell... The staying power of the EDP is fairly decent but both the EDP and oil would be magical together.

My top picks are a citrusy coconut water, a raw fig, a soapy clean aroma and a watery, slightly sweet, and green with a touch of earthiness note that I guess is agave. Piña colada without rum. It's a very gentle perfume that won't offend anyone. Not tropical, not sweet. It's more like hanging out your “coconut and fig scented laundry” in a boutique hotel where the breeze comes from the lemon orchards. Fresh, tranquil and mellow. Top note: Muguet, Coconut Waters, Lemon Mid note: Tuscan Fig, Tonka, Agave Base note: Vetiver, Amber, Santal Note: Those who think it is similar to Philosykos either have a broken nose or just look at the notes and think "it smells like figs, I definitely have to compare it to something, what is the most famous fig? Philosykos is alright".

sweet, woody, and fresh. the opening is a bit astringent (maybe from the lemon?) but it quickly settles into a warm coconutty-figgy dry down. i don’t get the “sheer floral bouquet” mentioned in the description but i do get a coolness from the agave that balances things out. in terms of other fig fragrances, this doesn’t have the raw greenness of philosykos to me. off the top of my head, it’s more reminiscent of my samples of essential parfums fig infusion and imaginary authors yesterday haze. almost done with my travel size but i could see myself repurchasing - i haven’t worn it for a while but testing it to write this review has made me fall back in love a little bit.

This smells like a beach front hotel lobby or the soaps you might find in your hotel bathroom. The coconut pulls lactonic and reminds me of a creamy lotion. It’s luxurious and bright and would be a beautiful spring or summer scent. There’s something very refreshing and crowd pleasing about this fragrance. The notes aren’t exactly right as the brand describes the notes as: Top: muguet, coconut waters, lemon Middle: tuscan fig, tonka, agave Base: vetiver, amber, santal

This smells like toasted coconut but also maybe a strong black tea? It's warm but also a bit fruity, like a fragrance I can wear in winter with a cozy sweater but could also work as a warm weather fragrance because of the fruit notes. The dry down is more fruit and creamier than initial spray. I wouldn't say that this is a sophisticated fragrance, it's sometimes bordering on a cheap fruit fragrance, but I love that it evolves as I wear it and I find it very wearable.

First thing that came to mind was Diptyque Philosykos, though not quite as green. I recently smelled Tears by Regime Des Fleurs (literally smells like tears) and this kind of smells like the opening of that in the mid-drydown. Honestly, without looking at the notes I probably would not have thought “coconut”, just creamy fig that dries down a bit minerally. At any rate, this is a really nice scent and I think this is a great take on a chic summer scent.

Reviewing based on the oil. I like it, there is something more earthy to this coconut which I appreciate. It doesn’t smell like a sunscreen coconut at all. The notes don’t show it on here but I definitely pick up sandalwood as well. There must also be something green in here that allllmost blends a little funky but thankfully doesn’t for me after the dry down. Moderate lasting power, other oils can last all day for me but not this one.

To my nose, Nouvelle Vague is a dewy-lactonic scent with exceptionally delicate woody, green, and floral nuances. It has the cool, waxy minerality I tend to associate with orris, backed by the greenly-woody sweetness of fig. It's a fresh, subtle, translucent scent. It's certainly in a similar vein to Diptyque Philosykos , but somewhat more pale, waxy, and ethereal.

I wasn't expecting to like this so much. It's a great creamy coconut, but there's also a clean soapy element to it. It reminds me of dove coconut body wash, but a little more complex from the fig note. It's a perfect tropical vacation scent. It also has much more lasting power than some other Maison Louis Marie fragrances I've tried, which I'm happy about.

I bought the travel spray of this because of the fig. I'm kind of a sucker for creamy, coconutty, figs and honestly was a little underwhelmed, mostly on the longevity and projection front. It's nice for the couple of hours it lasts, but after that it fades out into little more than weak amber. Just wish it stood out a little more.

Upon application all I get is rubber gloves! Then once it dries down it smells like creamy coconut and salted fig. It’s nice and kind of reminds me of a very toned down version of Womanity by Mugler with added coconut. This would be nice to wear during the summer months. It’s warm and soft.

On me it smells like magazine pages; I love synthetic with tonka coolness, agave sweet. Doesn't go full coconut on me unlike most of these reviewers. Very clean hair smell, with a warmth despite sharp sort of synthetic start.

How is nobody comparing this to Brown Sugar & Fig from Bath & Body Works?? It smells just like it but better honestly. If you know and love that scent then this is a good option!

This smells like Diptyque philosykos to me. But No.13 doesn't have that powedery scent, it's less green and the dry down is more nutty.

Smells like creamy sunscreen to me. I didn't get the "plasticky" note that others mention.

reminds me of Vanilla Vibes Juliette Has A Gun but less sweet and more green

This review is for the perfume oil: I was really excited to try this one as have been on a bit of a fig kick. But I think I find salty and fruity notes together somehow disturbing - a salty note isn't listed in here but it has a similar quality which I dislike in Bois Naufrage by Pierre Guillaume, and Fig Man by Carner. Something about that combination unfortunately turns my stomach. Though I will try it again outside on a really hot sunny day. It is a shame as I really did love the occasional whiff of coconutty muguet I was getting from this. I also had a similar experience of a rubbery/oily note as others in the reviews below, I think I get a similar thing from all of MLMs perfume oils and I think it is just the smell of the carrier oil. It comes and goes in the first hour or so and then dissipates - so I would say if you love the smell otherwise don't let that put you off as it should dissipate. A little goes a long way as well, so if you are getting the oily/rubbery smell for a long time maybe just ease off on the application :)

I like it tons better than the oil, which came off too coconutty and musky for me. Had to double check because at first spray, I just get juicy clementine and something green. It's actually really lovely. When I rubbed my wrists together (bad idea), it broke down into that lemon smell that I think others might feel is too disinfectant. It's not terrible -- it's playing off the tonka and fig underneath but they don't play so well. The lemon covers up too much and is too heavy to be a top note. Curious what happens when the lemon leaves, and will edit when I find out. Edit: When the lemon disappears, I get coconut and fig. It's fine and pleasant, but not a scent I'd purchase in full size.

The full notes don't seem to be listed. According to the Maison Louis Marie website: Top Notes: Muguet, Coconut Waters, Lemon Mid note: Tuscan Fig, Tonka, Agave Base note: Vetiver, Amber, Santal I was excited to try this as I've been on a fig kick lately. I'm not fond of coconut but don't mind it in Diptyque's Philosykos, so I assumed I would be fine with it here. Unfortunately, the coconut dominates while the fig hides shyly in the corner. Great if you love coconut, but it's not for me. Note: my review is for the oil, not the EDP, but the notes are the same.

Blind-bought because of the fig. Unfortunately the fig features minimally -- I was also hoping for more "citrus accord" but there isn't much I can smell. It's overwhelmingly coconutty with a dominant sharp white floral note from the lily of the valley. Overall I expected something more citrus/fruity and ended up with a sweet white floral coconut. Great if you like those, but I don't like it as much as I thought I would. This is a bit like the lactonic green coconutty drydown of Philosykos but less delicate.

It's so close to being nice, it just has this strange rubbery 'overtone' getting in the way. It kind of smells like the icy tarmac of a petrol station in winter if that makes any sense. But then I also get this corner shop minty chewing gum. Underneath that I can just barely smell the frutiness which is uniquely fresh. I don't know, it's definitely different.