Esxence 2016: Pure Extrême by M. MICALLEF~ Perfume Review + Lakmé de Delibes “The Flower Duet” Draw

stella tennant tim walker vogue italia

Stella Tennant by Tim Walker "Flower Fantasy"

After discovering that our Editor-in-Chief wore Pure Extrême by M. MICALLEF during her off-hours while at Esxence 2016, I was longing to test it.

pure extreme parfum micallef cafleurebon

Michelyn Photographed the Collector Edition of  Pure Extrême by M. MICALLEF at Esxence 2015

As luck would have it, a perfumista friend with a stunning fragrance collection told me that she has the gorgeous Collector’s Edition bottle and was kind enough to send me a sample.  From the very first spray, it was obvious why these ladies, both with impeccable taste, are drawn to Pure Extrême. It is a fragrance of seamless beauty and effortless chic.

Tim Walker Vogue italia dancing flowers people

Tim Walker Vogue Italia

Pure Extrême by M. MICALLEF is above all else, a transcendent duet of rose and jasmine. The quality of ingredients used by M Micallef is legendary, and these magnificent ingredients make this classic pairing sublimely beautiful. M.Micallef roses are beyond compare, by far the loveliest I have ever smelled. 

Stella Tennant by Tim Walker roses

Stella Tennant  Flower Fantasy Tim Walker

In House perfumers Jean Claude Astier and Geoffrey Nejman have adorned this queen of flowers in robes of sweet, diaphanous jasmine, interweaving the notes so perfectly that it is impossible to tell where one starts, and the other begins. The rose and the jasmine are both delicate in feel, but powerful in beauty, like two exquisite arias melding into each other, in perfect olfactive harmony. 

Flower duet - Anna Netrebko & Elina Garanca (Lakmé de Delibes)

Anna Netrebko & Elina Garanca The Flower Duet (Lakmé de Delibes)

I couldn’t help but think of The Flower Duet, from Delibes “Lakme”, as the lyrics could have been written for this perfume:   

 Dôme épais le jasmin                                          Thick dome of jasmine
 Sous le dôme épais où le blanc jasmin              Under the dense canopy where the white jasmine,
 À la rose s'assemble,                                          Blends with the rose,
 À la rose s'assemble,                                           That blends with the rose

STELLA TENNANT & IMOGEN-Tim Walker

Stella Tennant and IMOGEN for Tim Walker

 A lovely soft white musk grounds Pure Extrême, adding a little sensuality and superb longevity to the fragrance.  I believe a bit of velvety gardenia adds her voice to the chorus of Pure Extreme, but the rose and jasmine are what captured my heart. This lyrical combination is ideal for springtime, but you will reach for Pure Extreme any time you need a perfume that is in perfect harmony with your own unique beauty.

NOTES:  Do not be deceived by the listing of only three notes; this is an incredibly complex perfume; Transparent jasmine, rose and white musk 
DISCLOSURE My review is based on a decant sent to me by a friend.

Tammy Schuster,  Senior Contributor

Art Direction: Michelyn Camen I chose the dreamy flower fashion editorial by Tim Walker

Dame Joan Sutherland as Lakmé in Lakmé (Delibes)

Dame Joan Sutherland in Lakme de Delibes

 Editor’s Note: Lakmé is an opera in three acts by Léo Delibes to a French libretto by Edmond Gondinet and Philippe Gille. The score, written in 1881–1882, was first performed on 14 April 1883 by the Opéra Comique at the Salle Favart in Paris

pure-extreme-par-m-micallef-

  As Michelyn previously wrote in her Esxence report,  Pure Extrême  has been released in a new bottle, created by world-renowned glass artist Marya Kazoun. But if you love your bling, the original collector’s flacon  studded with hundreds of Swarovski crystals is still available in 50 ml.

Thanks to the continued generosity  Martine Micallef and Geoffrey Nejman and team M. Micallef, who have an online web boutique that ships globally we have a draw for a 100 ml bottle of Pure Extrême for a registered ÇafleureBon reader anywhere in the world (if you are not sure if you are registered click here  or your entry will be invalid). To be eligible please leave a comment with what you enjoyed about Tammy’s review  of M.Micallef Pure Extrême, where you live and if you ever  associate classical music with perfume. If you have a favorite M.Micallef perfume we would love to know. Draw closes 4/23/2016

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 spilled perfume

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28 comments

  • Beautiful review, and the pictures are very interesting also. I very enjoyed the whole review. I have never had a chance to try any of M.Micallef perfume unfortunately. Pure Extrême sounds wonderful, I would very love to try that perfume. I have never associate classical music with perfume. Thank you for the draw. I live in Europe.

  • Lellabelle says:

    Sounds like a classical beauty. And the only person I know who owns this (also the stunning collectors edition!) has impeccable taste. If Michelyn loves this too, I am certain it will be divine 🙂
    I mainly associate classical music with classically styled or vintage scents, with a high degree of refinement. This sounds like it would fit the bill. Great choice. Please enter me for the very generous draw. I would love to win this, in either the new bottle, or the old!
    Thanks!

  • MikasMinion says:

    I haven’t ever consciously associated a perfume with classical music or any other music really, but can see the connection for some people. I do adore the Flower Duet so am anxious to try Pure Extreme now. I also love Ylang in Gold which I first sampled through a Cafleurebon draw and later purchased a large bottle of. It’s the only Micallef I have tried but I do have the rest of the house on my (admittedly very long) list of things to sample. I’m in the US, thanks!

  • I can recall humming to myself getting ready to go out back in the day but I cannot recall whether the cologne I had on had anything to do with it. This perfume sounds like a masterpiece when it comes to roses, so many of the ones my wife tries with roses leave something to be desired. I close on our new house tomorrow and I thought this would sound like an amazing house warming present to her. Thank you for the opportunity to win such a prize.
    I am from the US
    Greg

  • fazalcheema says:

    From Tammy’s review, the combination of rose and jasmine makes it seem like this creation is a variation on the Rose Extreme from the brand but instead of focusing on huge rosy notes, it adds Jasmine to it. I do not really listen to classical music so not in a position to render a reliable judgment regarding classical music and perfumes relationship but I do know many people do find a link as they see perfumes as symphony also. My fav. Micallef creation is Sashka Black. thanks a lot for the draw. I am in the US

  • This sounds like a gorgeous perfume. Rose and jasmine is such a classical combination, I’m curious to smell M. Micallef’s take on it. Tammy’s description of the quality of ingredients just further tempts me to try this one.

    Because of the inspiration behind the perfume, I always associate Amouage Honour Woman with the Humming Chorus in Madame Butterfly.

    I’m in Canada. Thanks for the draw.

  • I’m not a massive fan of opera, but The Flower Duet (from Lakmé by Delibes) has always spoken deeply to my soul, the intertwining of the voices is almost otherworldly. When I hear it, I have to stop what I’m doing and concentrate on the beauty. If the perfume provides half as much joy, it will be beautiful.

    Thank you for adding another dimension to the always vivid words and stunning visuals.

  • I haven’t really thought about pairing music with perfume before, but a lot of the cafleurebon posts have been about that, which is so interesting to me as a music lover! I want to try this perfume while listening to Lakmé 🙂 The Flower Duet is one of my favorite arias to perform (and I get to perform it again this June!). I think my favorite thing about this review (besides reminding me of this gorgeous aria) is all the pictures. That’s often my favorite thing about cafleurebon reviews–they’re so beautifully presented, with pictures that go so well with the text. I live in the EU. Thanks for the draw!

  • I love both Jasmine and Rose although I seldom find a good blend of both, often one prevails over the other, I guess that is the nature of these two “Diva-flowers”. If Micallef’s Extreme Pure brings to mind The Flower Duet then I absolutely need to try this! Great review! I would love to win this perfume, I live in the EU.

  • This fragrance sounds exquisite and the bottle alone is vanity worthy! I love classical music and it’s comparison to the Flower Duet (jasmine & rose) is a wonderful combination. I have wanted to try Micallef’s line for a while and this is the perfect opportunity. This was a great review and with the perfect pics to complement it. Thanks for the generous draw and I live in the US! 🙂

  • It seems I am not alone in loving lakme duet for flowers
    This is such a lovely review and I especially liked the fact that the “diaphanous” Jasmine is so wonderful with rose
    The review is as lyrical as the aria
    I read about M Micallef on Cafleurebon and bought Gardenia blind
    I also like Gaiac and watch which are on my must buy list
    I live in the US
    When I think of music and perfume Madame butterfly and honour
    As someone mentioned but also Turandot andLuiby Guerlain

  • What a beautiful bottle! And I’m sure the juice inside is at least as good at the bottle, because Tammy said that rose and jasmine are what captured her heart.
    I have never associated perfumes with classical music or any other kind. I love music and I love perfumes, but never crossed my mind until this article. I’m in the US.

  • The Micallef bottles are works of Art in my book. I really have never really associated perfumes and classical music but I could see the connection for sure. I agree with Tammy that this an extremely beautiful and effortlessly chic fragrance, very French imo. For me it is not only in the fragrance, it is also about the bottle and Micallef does not disappoint. I am all in love with Rose Extreme which is another quite gorgeous and chic fragrance. I would LOVE to be entered in the draw, it would be a dream to own a bottle of the Pure Extreme. Thank you so much. I am in the US

  • Pure beauty! Great looking bottles. Wish I had any one of those in my collection. I can only imagine what it smells like. Thanks for the review. I would love a fragrance with perfect harmony and my own unique beauty. Well written!

    I don’t own any M’Micallef but the line is opening my eyes and I gotta get the husband to buy me some, Thanks for the giveaway from the US

  • Gorgeous! The review is beautiful and makes me want to learn more about opera! I can’t help but think that Pure Extreme is on its way to becoming a true classic. I’m curious how Pure Extreme differs from Rose Extreme – one of my Top 10 fragrances.

    It would be wonderful to be entered into the draw! I am in the U.S.

    Thank you!

  • well, the flower duet from Lakme is a favorite of mine. it still manages to transport me whenever I hear it. Rose and Jasmine? yes please! I’ve never had a chance to try any of the Micallef, but would love to having heard about them for quite a while. In the USA. Thanks!

  • Another beauty to try from M Micallef. They do make very lovely perfumes and from the description here, this is on the must try. Just reading through this review, makes me want to wear it now. Great description of how the flowers work together, but also cautioning this is more complex than those beautiful blooms. I have several of M Micallef’s creations and cannot wait to try this. Pure Extreme sounds captivating. I’m registered and in the US. thanks so much.

  • I’m a huge fan of the classic rose/jasmine combination and hearing that the M. Micallef perfumes are made with the best of ingredients makes me really want to try it! Besides, who doesn’t want effortless chic? I do associate perfume with music. It’s hard not to, with all the talk of interpreting notes! I live in Canada, thanks.

  • Wow, that IS a beautiful bottle! M. Micallef scents are always a cut above, and Pure Extreme sounds like no exception. Tammy, your reviews are so uplifting and evocative I can almost smell the scents as you’re describing them. The Lakme duet is a classic… makes this sound like a perfect scent for spring/summer! I live in the US (and don’t have a favorite from M. Micallef, because so many are so exquisite!) Thanks for the draw!

  • Diana Devlin says:

    Rose, jasmine and gardenia? This sounds so incredibly beautiful! And I love classical musical. And if I had to pair a fragrance type with classical musical, it would definitely be something like Pure Extreme. Any floral fragrance that smells romantic makes me think of the Victorian era and Mozart.
    I live in the U.S.

  • Rose and jasmine do combine beautifully, but I had never thought of it as a duet. Micallef’s ingredients are reknown, and I own a couple of bottles of theirs which I treasure. I would love to smell this scent. I don’t believe I’d ever heard of it before so thanks for the review.

    USA.

  • I loved the way Tammy interprets the intermingling of the notes of rose, jasmine, gardenia and musk with that of an operatic masterpiece like Lakme composed by Delibes.
    I loved the words of Tammy where she mentioned:
    “The rose and the jasmine are both delicate in feel, but powerful in beauty, like two exquisite arias melding into each other, in perfect olfactive harmony.”
    I do associate music especially when I listen to opera, medieval and classical period music, not deliberately but at the back of my mind yes I do long for the smell that each music piece evokes to my ears!
    I am a registered reader living in EU, Greece and although I have not experienced any M.Micallef perfumes I am a big fan of them.
    Thank you both for the lovely review and so generous draw!!!!

  • While I have never associated any perfume with classical music, Tammy does make Pure Extreme with its classic notes sound beautiful. I’d love the chance to try it, thank you for this opportunity. I live in the US.

  • ntabassum92 says:

    I loved the lyrics of the beautiful song…they really took me to a magical gazebo in my mind where the two beautiful flowers live. I am in VA, U.S.A.. I don’t think I usually associate music with perfume, but now I think I will try to think of them in that way. It is an interesting way to mingle the arts!

  • I really like the idea of a duet of rose and jasmine. I do often think of perfume alongside classical music, although not usually opera because I’m not as familiar. I’m still looking for perfume to fit the mood of my favorite piece, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D. Thanks for this draw, I’m in the US!

  • I can’t say I ever associate music of any kind with perfume but my favourite Micallef is an old one called Note Ambree. I would love to win this as it sounds beautiful. I am in the UK

  • Tammy’s review and her interpretation of the perfume with classical music intrigues me a lot. I associate a lot of perfumes with music not necessarily classical as they evoke emotions in a very similar way.
    Thank you for the draw I m in the UK!

  • I confess that I do bit usually associate classical music with perfume or vice versa, bit there is a timeless beauty to rose and jasmine that this review definitely brings up. This spring, I am all about classic fragrant flowers, in the garden and in personal perfume. I’m in the US, thanks for the draw.