Reviews – Frederic Malle – Lys Méditerranée – Spring has Sprung

Frederic Malle – Lys Méditerranée – Watery lily – 8.5/10.

Spring is in the air in Australia. And with it comes the blooming flowers. Some of the more prevalent around the place are lilies. Indeed, I see them everywhere in various forms and colours, many of them in my garden. Despite its beauty, the lily is not one of the more loved or coveted floral ingredients in the perfume world. Rose, tuberose, and jasmine receive all the attention. But seeing all the lilies around the traps got me thinking about my favourite perfumes featuring the note. Smoky compositions such as Lys Fume from Tom Ford and L’Artisan’s Passage d’Enfer feature highly. However, Edouard Fléchier’s marine-themed Lys Méditerranée might take the cake.

One of the more underrated scents from Frederic Malle, Lys Méditerranée, places the lily front and centre in a powdery, waxy, aqueous setting that works brilliantly in the warmer weather. Sea notes and marine scents are not my favourites, but for once, the sea salt accord in Lys Mediterranee is realistic and well-judged, lifting the fragrance beyond a linear white floral scent. When I wear this fragrance, I can easily picture myself walking along the water’s edge with the smell of sea salt in the air and the wind stirring up the heady aroma of the lily.  

Lotus further develops the watery qualities of the fragrance. After about 20 minutes, angelica adds a green, vegetal earthy touch. But, perhaps my favoruite part of the scent is the warmth and tang from the ginger note. The ginger isn’t fizzy, as it often can be, but its spicy presence is unmistakable. Indeed, it pairs well with the musky vanilla dry-down. It’s surprisingly tenacious on my skin, and I’m sure I’ll drain plenty of my 10ml mini bottle this season. One of the originals and still one of my favourites from the house. Simply wonderful.

What’s your favourite lily composition? All photos are my own.

Quick Notes:

Launch Year: 2000.

Perfumer: Edouard Fléchier.

Top Notes: Sea water, ginger.

Mid Notes: Lily, lotus, angelica, and orange blossom.

Base Notes: Musk, vanilla.

Longevity: 6-8 hours.

Projection: 3 hours, medium.

Season: Spring, summer.

Price: 10ml, $91AUD, 50ml, $323AUD, and 100ml, $455AUD.

Alternatives: Tom Ford Lys Fume, L’Artisan Parfumeur Passage d’Enfer, Hermes Un Jardin Sur La Lagune and Serge Lutens Un Lys. Also, if you’re a fan of Eau de Magnolia, En Passant, and Synthetic Jungle from the house, you may like this one too.

More lily pictures are below.