F is for Frédéric as in Frédéric Malle, and it was another f-word I muttered when I heard that one of the leading figures in modern perfumery was stepping away from his brand for good in June. I can’t, or perhaps I refuse to believe he is completely stepping away from perfume altogether. I doubt he will ride off into the distance, à la Clint Eastwood in High Plains Drifter. I’m sure the creative juices are still flowing. And at only age 61, perhaps we’ll see him in a new role where he can work independently and freely, away from the constraints of Estée Lauder.
But if not, happy retirement! He’s accomplished so much. Indeed, as the self-proclaimed editor or publisher behind his eponymous brand, there’s been a great deal to admire and enjoy. Even in the last few years, the brand’s output was reasonably strong. Perfumes such as Rose & Cuir and Synthetic Jungle maintained the quality of earlier releases. I shudder to think about what will happen to the house now. The perfumes aside, the brand was one of the first (if not the first?) houses to display/recognise the perfumers’ names on the bottles. I’m wearing the galbanum green of French Lover today to pay homage to one of the fragrance industry’s most influential characters from the last 25 years.
Note: All the pictures are my own.