M.Micallef perfume bottles are hand crafted in Cannes France

I will admit these M. Micallef fragrances on paper do not seem like my cup of tea at all and the lavish Swarovski bottles are not exactly aimed at my more minimalist and experimental tastes; but as with books and covers, as it is with flacons and juice.  I was very kindly sent a vivid and revealing cross-section of the range, from sparkling décolleté florals and caramalised fantasy aouds to darker drier glimpses of sexy woods and quixotic spices. These are opulent scents with precious associations and lavish ambition, when they are done right the sensual formulae makes the skin radiate an intense sense of satiated, exotic comfort that seems just right.

Martine Micallef and Geoffrey Nejman

Martine Micellef has a background in art and beauty, using her skills and passions to drive a singular and vivid House; she launched Parfums M. Micallef in 1997 with her husband Geoffrey Nejman who created the original Mon Parfum as a wondrous personal gift for Martine. This delicious moreish mix of caramel, passion fruit, musks, orange blossom and vanilla has creamy echoes of  Thierry Mugler’s Angel whilst a generous splash of mandarin tips the recipe into fabulous gourmand inundation. This deeply personal formula was eventually (after much persuasion by friends and family) released in 2009 and is one of the most popular fragrances in the range (as well as a favourite of a certain Çafleurebon Editor in Chief…)

Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra.The Film premiered in Cannes in 1963 (art MC)

Jean-Claude Astier is the perfumer working with Martine and Geoffrey on the M. Micallef line, developing ideas and helping to expand the Micallef dream. I’m surprised to be honest, considering the lovely wearability of the fragrances that they are not more widely known; the website states 900 retailers in 60 countries, but they are still relatively elusive. The perfumes do have a particular stamp, a Cannes Film Festival glitter and shine, a burnished hot skin quality which I think appeals to certain markets. The attention to detail is delightful, Martine’s specatular bottles and a soft-edged feminine vision of the olfactive world that seems to be a trademark of the Micallef vision. Even the men’s scents have a dreamy soft-focus glaze to them. Much of this I assume is due to the generous and glossy amounts of aerated aoud floating through so much of the Micallef line. Aoud and I have our difficulties, but it’s hard to resist this form of glassy, languorous agarwood and I must admit I fell heads over heels for M. Micallef’s ridiculously sexy Aoud Gourmet, which manages to neither sicken or over-skank. It seduces completely with marzipan, honey and spices poured over sticky aoud, woods, cypriol, amber and a massive whoosh of cashmeran.

Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra (art MC)

Mon Parfum Cristal was launched in 2013, a light-infused, sugared flanker to Martines’ original bespoke scent and now in 2014 we have Mon Parfum Gold both signed off by Jean-Claude Astier. Mon Parfum Gold is one of those perfumes you spray and the air stands still for a fraction of a second, things smell unexpected, but you’re not sure why. You just know you want to inhale more. The hit of plum is plush and rather ordinary at first, but as it drops into tuberose, jasmine, musks and vanilla, the composition comes alive. On the skin, it’s hard to resist; it’s weird as it doesn’t really do anything special; no huge olfactory pyrotechnics, no aromachemical sleight of hand. But then sometimes, simply smelling beautiful and soft is enough. Mon Parfum Gold is an essay on how to lay down classic CHANEL style floral games and veil them in discerning exotica. It is done with discretion and style, making Gold a desirable reflection of Martine’s lovely gourmand original.

Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra  (Art: MC)

 Mon Parfum Cristal  emphasised the rose, dripping toffee on the petals to ramp up the vanilla facet of the original.  However, there is is something else sitting mysteriously in the background of Mon Parfum Gold, be it smoke, the trademark sweet aoud or a saffron-tinted myrrh; whatever it is (in the press release it notes a secret ingredient), it glows like a candle in a tired window, generating a sensual capture that makes this an elegant scent. Martine, Geoffrey and Jean-Claude have worked hard to assemble a collection of chic fragrances that make skin smell sexy, warm and inviting. Mon Parfum Gold is true to form and a welcome addition to  the Micallef Collection of sun drenched exotic luxury perfumes that you really enjoy wearing. I kept wondering who smelled so damn fine. It was me.

Disclosure I received a sampling of M Micallef perfumes for consideration

–The Silver Fox, Senior Editor and Editor of The Silver Fox

Mon Parfum Gold  Bottle Art by TSF

Editor’s Note: Parfums M.Micallef has introduced an E-Boutique where you can buy any fragrance in their collection and they ship anywhere in the world. It is no secret that M.Micallef perfumes suit me very well; I own seven more than any other House.  I have implored Martine and Geoffrey to bring back Notes Vanille, which is one of the best vanilla fragrances of the past decade.  Which as Asali commented just might be available in the EU. But for now,  I shall soak my skin in Mon Parfum Gold,  line my eyes with black kohl and feel like a legendary much married movie star. -Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief

Thanks to the continued kindness of Geoffrey, Martine, Laurence, Claudia, and Lesley of Parfums M.Micallef we have a 100 ml bottle/190 Euros of Mon Parfum Gold for a reader anywhere in the world.  To be eligible please leave a comment with what you found compelling about The Silver Fox’s review, where you live and if you have a favorite M.Micallef fragrance. Draw closes November 3, 2014

We announce the winners only on site and our Facebook page, so like CaFleureBon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will just be spilled perfume