Rose & Cuir

Rose & Cuir by Frederic Malle is an utterly distinctive and polarizing fragrance with a highly linear, green-herbal profile that prioritizes sharp, astringent notes over traditional rose and leather. The dominant impression is of fresh, green geranium, sharply framed by blackcurrant and Sichuan pepper, creating a bright, peppery, and slightly metallic sensation. The rose is not present as a floral bloom but emerges more as an abstract green accord, largely suggested through the geranium, while the leather note is not overtly animalic or rich, but rather a smooth, dry, and slightly sweet IBQ-based chypre leather—more an aromatic suggestion than a tangible texture. This signature dry, green, fragrant 'petal and stem' experience is described by many as reminiscent of freshly cropped garden roses, pea pods, or a thick green forest. The scent is exceptionally long-lasting and projects moderately, making it highly noticeable in its quiet intensity. Its unisex nature and modern chypre structure lend it a sense of elegant, understated sophistication. While some individuals find the intensity overwhelming, others deeply appreciate its refinement, minimalist complexity, and intellectual elegance—making it a strong choice for those drawn to avant-garde, green, and transparent perfumes that challenge expectations of rose and leather. It stands as one of Jean-Claude Ellena’s most conceptually daring creations, not for emotion or sentiment, but for its exacting, precision-based design.