Frederic Malle Monsieur
Patchouli is a cult ingredient in perfumery and a base note in many classics of fragrance artistry (Mitsouko, Femme, Miss Dior). It is also often found in the finest men’s perfumes. These creations have nothing in common with the cheap patchouli oil that hippies used in the 1960s—an association largely responsible for the poor reputation this perfumery substance once had.
Monsieur features a unique concentration—over 50% patchouli, obtained through molecular distillation by the renowned Monique Rémy Laboratories (LMR) in Grasse. No perfumer before Bruno Jovanovic, the creator of this fragrance, had dared to use patchouli in such a high concentration. His goal was to elevate patchouli by surrounding it with complementary olfactory materials. In the top notes, mandarin and aldehydes amplify its camphoraceous character, while a warm and creamy rum accord leads to a heart composed of cedarwood, velvety leather, and incense—a combination that gives the fragrance a sensual, aristocratic, and mysterious aura. Vanilla and amber in the base lend softness and comfort, while a subtle touch of musk ties the scent to the skin. Its expansive aura evokes mythical seducers—strong men with warm hearts, a velvet glove over an iron hand.
Monsieur is a neoclassical fragrance that does not conform to passing trends. Monsieur. Period.
Bruno Jovanovic has been fascinated by scents since childhood: he would steal roses from neighborhood gardens to create his own extracts and gave members of his family new scent-inspired names—Chamomile for his father, Violet for his mother, and Rose for his grandmother. As a teenager, he collected perfume samples and studied fragrance classifications. He earned degrees in physics and chemistry before enrolling at the ISIPCA school in Versailles, the most prestigious perfumery school in France. He currently works at IFF (International Flavors and Fragrances) in New York, where the legendary Sophia Grojsman recognized him as a rising star and helped him collaborate with some of the world’s top fragrance brands (Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Jil Sander, Ralph Lauren, Boss...). For Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, he created several fragrances - Dries Van Noten and Monsieur are available at Metropoliten.
