Frederic Malle Body Butters / Beurres Exquis Review

Fredericmallebutter_2

Indulgence has acquired a new meaning for me when I tried Frédéric Malle Body Butters (Beurres Exquis). Imagine a thick, luxurious cream that feels like sweet whipped cream on the fingers, melts into the skin like warm butter and has a fragrance as rich as the pure perfume. One can choose from Iris Poudre, Une Rose, Carnal Flower and Une Fleur de Cassie. The butters are presented in the elegant bakelite jars, the heft of which perfectly complements the experience of the product itself. Applying these body butters is almost as enjoyable as catching their fragrance throughout the whole day. …

The fragrance that captured my attention the most in the body butter form turned out to be Une Fleur de Cassie. The beautiful mimosa note is presented in all of its dark and seductive beauty, with the leathery facets being accented by the lush violet sweetness. It is very similar to the Eau de Parfum, minus the aldehydic sharpness of the top notes.

Une Rose is the rich confection of Turkish rose underpinned by amber. It is more candied and radiant than its Eau de Parfum counterpart, less complex, but quite striking nevertheless.

Carnal Flower body butter struck me as much greener and airier than the Eau de Parfum. Even if its character was different from what I love about the perfume, it presents the full beauty of tuberose, including its succulent green stems.

Iris Poudre butter lacked the opulence and vintage elegant of the perfume upon the first impression, being rather green and woody. Yet, it eventually assumed a richer iris quality, which I very much enjoyed. Still, it is perhaps the butter that is less true to the perfume that inspired it. I find that it works beautifully for layering with Hermès Hiris.

The formula is so rich and luxurious that I wish that there was an unscented version in the range for layering with my favourite fragances. My skin is silky smooth after using the butters, remaining so for the entire day, notwithstanding the dry air of central heating. Certainly, the indulgence comes with a price, and it is not an insignificant one. Carnal Flower body butter costs $165, Une Rose–$150, Une Fleur de Cassie–$135, Iris Poudre–$125. Yet, if one is prepared to spend the money, the experience will certainly live up to the expectations.

The body butters are available for purchase directly from Frédéric Malle and Barneys.

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22 Comments

  • chayaruchama: Aren’t they lovely?
    I’ve enjoyed trying them, but haven’t splurged.
    [I’ve enjoyed reading you, of late, but too weary to comment- hope you’re well and happy…] November 16, 2006 at 6:23pm Reply

  • Robin: Well, I only want 3 of them, so that will save me a few pennies, LOL… November 16, 2006 at 8:13pm Reply

  • Judith: Oh, dear! I was afraid of this!! Une Fleur de Cassie sounds perfect! And some Carnal Flower on the side, please. (I am, personally, glad they do not have a MR, because my money would be gone by now). November 16, 2006 at 8:46pm Reply

  • Cait: I saw this recently in a magazine and couldn’t believe my good fortune. Alaska makes me want to wear all my perfumes in cream this time of year. Your descriptions make me want to whip out my credit card immediately. Now, I just need to choose which one! In the abstract I am most drawn to Carnal Flower or Iris Poudre, but it’s really a hard decision. November 16, 2006 at 6:10pm Reply

  • Bois de Jasmin: Cait, Iris Poudre was my least favourite out of the four, because it reminded me of the perfume that inspired it the least. It was enjoyable, but not as ravishing as the others. I would say that Carnal Flower is a great choice. My favourite is Une Fleur de Cassie. It lacks the sharp paper mill effect of the edp’s top notes.

    I want to say that they are ridiculously expensive, but here I am, plotting my purchase of Une Fleur de Cassie butter. November 16, 2006 at 6:23pm Reply

  • Bois de Jasmin: Chaya, they are so beautiful! Please do not worry about commenting–do so if you want to, but you should definitely feel no obligation. I completely understand. November 16, 2006 at 6:38pm Reply

  • Marina: Sounds amazing! Oh, to have one in Musc Ravageur…or Le Parfum de Therese…are they planning on adding those scents too or is this it? November 16, 2006 at 7:15pm Reply

  • Bois de Jasmin: Marina, I would love jasmine body butter based on Therese! And Musc Ravageur butter sounds so seductive. I asked about it, but right now there does not seem to be Musc butter in the works. I hope that they might change their mind. November 16, 2006 at 8:24pm Reply

  • Bois de Jasmin: R, at first, I was thinking that I probably do not need it, but as I keep catching whiffs of Une Fleur de Cassie on my skin all day long, I am succumbing slowly to the temptation. November 16, 2006 at 8:26pm Reply

  • Tigs: I was hoping these might be terrible. *sigh* It seemed unlikely, I admit. I’ll cling to the rumour that skin butters in tubs are supposed to be unhygenic, as well as the fact that I’m nowhere near a Barneys. Otherwise, I’d be having a very merry Christmas with Une Rose. November 16, 2006 at 9:18pm Reply

  • Anjali: Man oh man Victoria, I did not need to hear this. When I heard the initial ballpark price for these, I thought they meant $160 for a set of four (much like the sets the soaps come in). Very unprepared to hear they cost that much individually! And yet, I still have an uncontrollable desire to own Carnal Flower and Une Rose. Sigh. POTL Cream will just have to get used to no longer being the most ridiculously expensive b&b product in my collection 🙂 November 17, 2006 at 2:42am Reply

  • Bois de Jasmin: Judith, I completely understand you! I would be very tempted if they had Musc Ravageur. November 16, 2006 at 10:49pm Reply

  • Bois de Jasmin: Tigs, I was hoping so too. I certainly do not need another expensive temptation. Une Rose was my second favourite. November 16, 2006 at 11:12pm Reply

  • Madelyn E: Dear Victoria,
    Have you heard the adage ” A body cream of beauty is a JOY forever “? Well, for “butter ” or for worse – that has and continues to be my mantra. It is often a sad reality that body products often do not measure up to the level of their fragrange correspondants. It is a pleasure to sniff and apply a quality body cream -that not only holds the original scent but also hydrates. An example was Annick Goutal’ body creams ..i.e. Passion, (my favorite ), Narcisco Rodriguez, Joy. I have been bitterly disappinted with many .. (Hermes Eau de l’orange vert,..) and more. So.. these luscious body butters should perhaps set a new standard for frangranced body creams. ( Manufacturers .. tae heed ) ! I , would love Musc Ravageur.. somhoe I have not been able to appreciate Carnal Flower . although I adore Tuberose.
    As fragrange has always and continues to be alas for me a form of aromatherapy . I would view these new creams as a welcome but forbiddingly temptation. Or a soon to be necessity. Would love to check out the Une Fleur de Cassie !
    Chaya, I miss your commentary !
    Have a wonderful – and scented W-E.
    Madelyn E November 17, 2006 at 9:27am Reply

  • violetnoir: V, I saw these body butters at Barneys last week, and let me tell you, they are very lovely. However, the prices leave something to be desired.

    While I didn’t mind shelling out the money for those fabulous FM soaps, I would rather spend it on the juice itself. Une Fleur de Cassie EdP is calling my name!

    Hugs! November 17, 2006 at 11:34am Reply

  • Bois de Jasmin: Anjali, I thought so too at first. Well, these butters are so amazing, I am now turn between Une Rose and Une Fleur de Cassie. My Libran indecision is now most inconvenient. November 17, 2006 at 3:01pm Reply

  • Bois de Jasmin: Madelyn, there is a Russian adage, “kashu maslom ne isportish’,” which means that you cannot ruin porridge with butter. Mind you, I think that it is applicable beyond this. 🙂 I have not tried Annick Goutal body creams, but now I know that I should. Thank you for recommending them. November 17, 2006 at 3:03pm Reply

  • Bois de Jasmin: R, I love the soaps, especially Vetiver. They are fantastic, and the scents are very beautiful. All in all, I am impressed with the ancillary products from Malle once again. November 17, 2006 at 3:04pm Reply

  • Patty: Oh, V, this is a cruel, cruel review, I am just needing the Cassie one for sure. I love rich creams, and these sound so luxurious. Thank you for making my bank account a little lighter! 🙂 November 17, 2006 at 5:16pm Reply

  • Bois de Jasmin: Patty, I am always happy to assist with that! 🙂 Cassie is just so perfect in this form. I definitely need a full jar. November 17, 2006 at 8:56pm Reply

  • Nick: Speaking of body creams and lotions, and in reference to the Bulgari Black review, I have to recommend the Black body lotion. It comes in a delectable rubber presentation – and its like smoothing on the EDT itself. When so many body lotions give you just an echo of the scent – a hint of powder – for example, the Black body lotion is so faithful to the spirit of the Eau de Toilette. I highly recommend it. November 18, 2006 at 10:06am Reply

  • Bois de Jasmin: Nick, thank you for the recommendation. I will add the Black lotion on my list of things to try. It sounds wonderful! November 19, 2006 at 2:35pm Reply

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