Fragrance Review: M. Micallef Spicy, Aoud and Jewel For Him + A Very Micallef Christmas Draw

We join Joey and Snake’s Virtual Truckstop of Fragrance Fashion for their Christmas special, lost somewhere in the petabytes of YouTube……

 ********************

 Joey:  Good evening people!  Welcome to our little roadside café of fragrance….

 

Snake:  Or as we like to say, pull your rig on in and give ‘er a park!  Have we got a show for you tonight!

 Joey:  Yes, we do.  Specifically, our annual Christmas special!

Snake:  Yup.  I’m really lookin’ forward to this one – cuz I ain’t just gettin’ a new frag – I’m gettin’ a whole new house!

 Joey:  Indeed you are.  And so am I!  I’m SO excited, dear brother!

 Snake:  So why don’t you tell the folks how this works?

 Joey:  Gladly.  People – we are SO beyond just giving each other fragrance.  I mean – really.  The wishlist is for people who just don’t get fragrance.  But Snake and I?  We’ve been sniffing together since two little kids just happened to douse each other with Mom’s best juice during “Perfume Wars”.  We really needed to up the ante.  In recent years, our main gift to each other is to find an overlooked house that we know the other bro is REALLY going to love. This year it is Snake’s turn to try and get me to open my eyes by first closing them.

 Snake:  So without further ado…. Let’s start the game! Close your eyes.

 Joey:  I’m so excited!  OK – they’re closed.  Thrill me!

 

 

 

Snake:  Take a whiff!

 Joey:  OK.  Hmmm.  Interesting…..   Oh.  My.  God.  What is that?

 Snake:  Keep sniffing….

Joey:  I like it.  A lot.  It’s as if somebody reimagined the Brut-era fougère as a classy, modern fragrance.  It starts off like a spicy fougère, but then it turns into a modern, spicy masculine.  But nothing cheap or loud.  And it is SO French.  But quaint.  In a good way.

 Snake:  I thought you’d like it.  Kinda feels a bit like Creed, don’t it?

 Joey:  Only with a more feminine style.  That touch of soapiness is just right.  How on earth did I overlook this?

 Snake:  Let me quote.  “Oh, Lord.  Not ANOTHER expensive niche house in round bottles.”

 Joey:  That’s not helping.

 Snake:  OK.  Let’s move on.  There’s two more to go, bro.

 Snake:  Close your eyes.

 Joey:  Damn.  I wanted to keep sniffing the first one.  OK.  Closed.

 Snake:  Go for it .

 

 

 

Joey:  Ooooooooo.  Has a Voyage d’Hermès vibe.  Musky.  I love it.  Only more oomph.  Yes.  This is a complex little beast.  There’s a lot going on in here.  Nice topnotes.  I’m getting the pepper, but just right.  Not too little, not too much.  Soft – musks and benzoin – but not powdery.  I’m getting the cedar but no splinters.  Very sexy.  Good grief.  This stuff makes me want to put on a suit and just go out and do business.  It’s reminding me of Grey Vetiver but the vetiver’s not running the corporation.  Lots of balance.  In every direction.

  Snake:  The drydown is killer, too.  You’ll never want to wash it off.  And wait ‘til you see the bottle!

 Joey:  Damn.  Who is this?

 Snake:   Ah-ah-ah!  Not yet.  You still have one more to go.

 Joey:  Well, I can tell you now – you really outdid yourself this time, Snake.  I want to cry, but I’m just too excited.  You knew I’d like this.  I can’t believe it.  These fragrances are nothing like each other on the surface, but down underneath, the style is similar, and you knew I’d go for it.  I’m touched. 

 

 

Snake:  I saved the best for last!

Joey:  Oh, God.  Now I am going to cry.

 Snake:  Close your eyes.

 Joey:  They’re closed.  But they’re dribbling.  Hurry up!

 Snake:  Check it out!

 

 

Joey:  OK.  Wait.  No.  Put it on skin.  Do you have some skin?  Quick.  I have to smell this on skin.

Snake:  Hang on.  Let me find some fresh skin.

 Joey:  Not too fresh.  This needs oily skin.  It CRAVES oily skin – I can just tell.

Snake:  Here you go.

 Joey:  Good.  I’m smelling….  I’m smelling….

 Snake:  And?

 Joey:  It’s oud.  Oud – but it reminds me of the way perfume used to be.  Long before the oud craze.  Yes – I’m getting the house style, but yet it’s totally oud.  Still very complex.  Very feminine – very classic.  There’s a bit of animalic side, and I almost want to say beeswax, because it’s a very clean animalic smell.  Nice and spicy, too.  But very French.  Very, very French.

Snake:  It sorta reminded me o’ that Bond perfume, only more oudy and more complex.

    Joey:  Yes, I’m getting that.  Much more transparent than Creed’s oud.  Damn.   This is a nice scent.  Oh, crap.  This can’t be cheap.  

  Snake:  No worries, bro.  You’ve got a bottle of it.  Surprise! 

  Joey:  Really!  OMG!  M. Micallef?  Aoud?  What were the others?  

 Snake:  Spicy, and Jewel for Him.

   Joey:  Oh, crap.   I never even clicked on those ads.  God, I was SUCH an idiot. 

  Snake:  See?   Don’t judge a frag by the bottle. 

 


 

 

Joey:  I guess not.  So why did you click on the ad?  I’ll bet it was the gloves.

Snake:  Oh, man – Martine Micallef is SO hot!

 Joey:  And APPARENTLY she has quite a sense for quality fragrance, too.

 Snake:  I reckon so.  Soon as I smelled this stuff, I knew you’d go for it.

 Joey:  So THAT’S why you never said anything when I bitched about the round bottles.   Tricky, tricky!

 Snake:  Yup.  I gotta use every trick in the book to get past your nose, Joey.

 

 

 

Joey:  Well, what can I say?  I’m touched.  You really scooped me.  OK – well, there’s no way I can top that, next year, but I’ve got to give it a try.  I do have a stocking stuffer for you my bro.

Snake:  Ed Hardy Villain!  My personal snake frag!  You’re all right, bro.  You shouldn’t have.  Damn.  It’s a gift set, too.  And a Ralph Lauren pullover?  Nice.

 Joey:  It’s not just for you, it’s for Keiko.  She said she loves it on you.  Both of them.  So – get to work.  I want a niece.

Snake:  You’re a bad influence, Joey.

 Joey:  Ah-ha!  I thought I saw you eyeing “my” new bottle of Aoud.  Tell you what.  How about we trade some decants after the show?  A little Micallef style would do you good, brother.

 Snake:  YEE-HAH!

 Joey:  Folks – that’s all for tonight.  With oudy melodies playing in the background, here’s wishing all of our dear viewers a candle-smoky Hanukkah, a green and coniferous Christmas, and a fresh, cool, and FBW New Year!

Snake:  I’ll drink to that!

 Joey:  You don’t say.  Are we off the air?  Good.  Now.  Let’s see how that pullover looks on you.

 Snake:  You Villain!

 

Joey and Snake don’t want to have all the fun and so courtesy of M. Micallef Parfums we have three 10ml  minis of Spicy for Him, Jewel for Him and Aoud to give away to one lucky reader. To be eligible leave a comment naming your favorite Micallef fragrance, one you would like to try or tell us what you think of Joey and Snake's radio show. Draw will end December 26, 2011.

 We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilt perfume

–Neil Sternberg, Contributor

-Art Direction, Michelyn Camen, EIC

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29 comments

  • kamajasmine says:

    A very unconventional review indeed. I think it works though because Snake really describe the fragrances well. I love Micallef fragrances especially Black Ananda The Auod sound wonderful
    “it reminds me of the way perfume used to be. Long before the oud craze. Yes – I’m getting the house style, but yet it’s totally oud. Still very complex. Very feminine – very classic”.
    please enter me into the draw.

  • Borko Boris says:

    Thanks for the giveaway. I would like to try Black Sea because, well, I live near the Black Sea.

  • Masha says:

    I really enjoyed Red Sea, I always like the cinnamon frags! This is a great line, and I’d love to try these 3.

  • Elemi says:

    I don’t know whether Madame Micallefs husband counts: I would choose G. Nejmans Emir. Otherwise it would be Micallefs Avantgarde.

  • marcopietro says:

    I really like the scents of Micallef and Nejman, especially their oud, and even those three appear to be excellent.

  • Paul-Laurentiu says:

    I would like to try Aoud. It seems to be like on of the best aouds on the market. Many thanks for the generous giveaway.

  • Jasia says:

    Thanks for this inspired review, Neil. I do love the Micallef fragrances, which I discovered through CFB, and since the review is for three, I will cheat and mention my three favourites 🙂 Those are Mon Parfum, Gaiac and Black Sea.
    Merry Christmas, and thank you for the spendid draw

  • d3m0licion says:

    I’d love to get my hands on those three, they sound really good, and I have to say that Micallef is really overlooked, I never tried any of their fragrances and Spicy and oud sound really amazing actually. I like the Joey and Snake reviews, pretty unconvetional and fun to read. Thanks for another amazing draw. Happy Holidays!

  • Isa says:

    I’d want to try Gaïac because I have read many good reviews of it and I think both my husband and I would enjoy it. I have read that it is similar to Five o’clock au gingembre which happens to be my favorite Serge Lutens, so I’m very sure I would like Gaïac 🙂

    Thanks and Merry Christmas!

  • Olga says:

    Neil, this is wonderful! I am certainly looking for a sequel of Joey and Snake radio show. Who’s the tempter here, hahah? “Not another expensive niche house in round bottles”? LOL.

    Well, I do have respect for the house, but I only tried one fragrance (and that’s thanks to Cafleurebon and Michelyn personally), so it has to be my most favorite and least favorite, just strictly speaking. I tried Mon Parfum.

    The one I am dying to try, that is, WAS dying to try before reading this review is Note Ambree. And now I am thoroughly intrigued by Aoud, which seems to have a nice old aura with a new popular ingredient.

  • ololiuqui says:

    I would realy like to try Spicy for Him,I’ve read a lot rave reviews about it.Guaiac and Aoud are also a must try I love this essences one of my favourite ingredients.

  • Ccc says:

    The radio show was fun and got me interested in all of them.
    It is so much fun reading how other people interact with a fragrance. What notes that pick up first. The impact and connection they make.

    My favorite is Jewel for her. LOVE IT.

  • Cheesegan says:

    I like the blind sniff reviews. I haven’t tried any Martine Micallef ‘s perfumes but Jewel for him and Gaiac sound very good.

  • Claudia says:

    I cannot just pick one favorite Micallef fragrance, i actually have 2 …Mon Parfum and Vanilla Aoud. Definitely a beautifully done line of fragrances and the bottles are gorgeous too. Black Ananada is on my want list.Sounds like their Radio Show is fun and i would definitely listen in. Wonderful draw…thank you.

  • carol says:

    I have not tried many of the Micallef fragrances, but recently fell for Black Ananda. It is simply luscious. When wearing it, I can’t keep my nose away from my arm. I’m sure you all know that feeling. Thanks for the fun review!

  • Amer says:

    I think my favorite would be gaiac or aoud since I am a sucker for wood notes. I can’t say I have a lot of experience with the house since they are so hard to come by. I don’t think they distribute their products nor samples of them online. I find the presentation of their products fascinating btw.
    About the Joey and Snake… I think some of the humor was lost on me since I am not a native English speaker.

  • Michelle Hunt says:

    Ha! That was a fun and very original review! I would like to try the Aoud, but all three sound intriguing!

  • Blue Lotus Flower says:

    That’s was a very creative review!!!
    I’ve never tried any Micallef parfums but would like very much to try any. Aoud seems very intriguing since there are so many today out there, is good to compare them from each other.

  • Mary Beth says:

    I always enjoy an appearance by Joey and Snake’s reviews from the truck stop. I can almost hear the broadcast on NPR. Can’t say as I’ve tried any of Micallef’s work, but these guy make Jewel for Him sound *very* appealing. Oh – and good luck with the ‘niece project’. ; )

  • Brooke says:

    I really enjoy Gaiac but these new offerings have piqued my interest. Thanks for the draw and the fun review.

  • Jake says:

    Hilarious dialogue, loved it! My favourite Micallef is Gaiac- comforting, cozy scent. Thank you for the draw and Merry Christmas!

  • Anya says:

    I love Mark’s writing, ever since I discovered him on Basenotes years ago. Hilarious and creative! This review really made me want to try Jewels for Him. I think it would be a good intro for me to the Micallef line.

  • Feliciag says:

    This made me laugh I can picture thiese two together. Besties hanging out at a truckstop…a fine place to meet by the way. I have never sniffed any of Micallef’s creations. But I am sure based on the snake and Joey’s review, I would love to waft it. Sounds awesome.
    I love the Joey and Snake tales especially a good Christmas giving story about them.
    Merry Christmas and thanks for the laughs. Thanks for the draw:)

  • mim says:

    Joey and Snake are indeed funny 🙂 How did the truckstop thing start?

    I’m not familiar with M. Micallef, although I think I’ve read other reviews (not nearly so memorable!)
    and maybe sniffed a sample of something years ago…hiver maybe?

    This review made me most want to try Jewel for him. Love the bottle too! Aoud sounds great and well-structured, and the ‘clean animalic’ bit is really drawing me in… and Spicy sounds like it might work on a woman who wears masculines really well.

    Out of the ones on the site, Gaiac and Aoud Gourmet look interesting, like I’d enjoy trying them even if they didn’t end up working. This blog creates way too many cravings! My to-sample-wishlist has balooned. But I love the reviews anyways, it’s like wearing perfume vicariously–and articulately!

  • Ela says:

    That’s untypical review, we want more! 🙂 Don’t have big experience with Micallef’s fragrances though I liked classic Ananda. Merry Christmas!