Ylang in Gold M. Micallef

Desirability: Decant

Source: perfume.org 

There's no denying that Micallef makes fine and pretty fragrances. You can't hate a Micallef, they are  quality fragrances and just too pleasant to inspire negativity but at the same time I find some too sweet and some others too...prosaic? Apart from the seductress Le Parfum Couture the other Micallef creations I have had the good fortune to sample are lovely if innocuous ladies.

Ylang in Gold would be welcomed into this society of ladies for like a Stepford wife she is perfectly groomed, decked out in luxury and...a conformist. Not a hair out of place nor a toe out of line, Ylang in Gold has no edges or surprises but is a seamlessly blended sweet and intoxicating (but of course) ylang ylang drenched in vanilla cream. Adding to the food theme is a smell of fruit, more like a fruit stall then a particular fruit but there are coconuts or rather coconut milk involved and overall has a tropical vibe but more an upper class resort in Tahiti than a beach hut somewhere less glamourous. 

Great projection and decent longevity, I would recommend Ylang in Gold to those who enjoy sweet fruity fragrances with an emphasis on the word sweet. Ylang ylang lovers might want to try this too for the ylang ylang note is gorgeous and realistic although engaged in a tug of war for domination with the sweet fruit. You will undoubtedly smell charming, obviously expensive and everyone will adore your scent but you won't make history. 

M. Micallef in Singapore!

For Singaporean perfumeheads who don't already know, M.Micallef has a counter in Takashimaya, Ngee Ann City that's right next to the Bond No. 9 counter. It has quite a good selection, off the top of my head I recall seeing the following (My apologies to the men, I paid more attention to the "feminine" perfumes):

• Rouge No. 1 and 2
• Le Parfum Couture
• Rose Extreme
• Ananda
• Black
• Aoud
• Royal Rose Aoud
• Watch
• Royal Muska
• Ylang in Gold
• Mon Parfum
• Mon Parfum Cristal
• Gaiac

I am sure that I've missed out others during my brief time at the counter so don't let your hopes be dashed, your favourite Micallef might be there!

Aoud Gourmet M. Micallef

Source: flickr.com

Equal measures of "aoud" and "gourmet" seamlessly blended and of good quality, Aoud Gourmet reminds me a little of Sådanne in the sense that both are nicely balanced between happy light-heartedness and a brooding darkness. Sådanne is fruity sweetness with leather whereas Aoud Gourmet is an earthy oud and honeyed candies that remind me of baklava. The oud is the predominant note at the beginning, it is so potent that those who are wary of the note may be put off but the strength wanes quite quickly on me and the scent maintains an equilibrium between gourmand and the noble rot for the rest of its lifetime which is about 12 hours on me with an average projection. Aoud Gourmet has a welcoming warmth that is imparted by the obvious oud and baklava as well as a woody musk that becomes more prominent as time passes and the scent lulls one into a soothing calmness.

Despite its obvious positive qualities, I am still on the fence with this one after going through two large decants. It is without a doubt lovely and every time I wear it I add it to the want list in my head, but once out of sight, out of mind it becomes again. Perhaps it is because I find Aoud Gourmet too muted, too tame? 

Le Parfum Couture M. Micallef

Desirability: Full Bottle

Micallef does sexy beast.

A far cry from the juicy fruity floral scents that I've tried from Micallef so far and I'm totally loving it. Fans of dark roses with some kink would want to try this, it's a sibling of Frederic Malle's Portrait of a Lady, Ex Idolo Thirty-three and the rest of their alluring kind. 

Sweet, spicy, unrepentantly sexy, velvety rose that starts oh so very animalic as if a big cat just rolled in the rose bushes thinking it was catnip. After the animal gets off the trampled flowers, the smell of spiced woods comes in and mingles with the rose scent, becoming a peppery rose and woody scent. In the dry down, the spicy notes become less obvious but the rose and wood notes prevail and are joined by a warm, salty, musky smell that I've come to associate with ambergris. Average projection and longevity was about six hours on me. The black floral lace stocking material covering the heavy glass bottle gives you a bold hint to the va va voom inside.

Not the most awesome music video, but I'm putting this here for the music which goes well with this Micallef. Those who watched Empire Records would remember this one :)