A classic fruit chypre, Femme by Rochas was the perfume my mother wore before she was a mother. I recently won a bottle on eBay, and couldn't wait to take it out of its package. My immediate impression was: softness. How can a fruit chypre with hints of leather smell that way? It smells like butter-soft suede, like the inside of a woman's purse that has accumulated the feminine smells of perfume and lipstick and other womanly objects.
Perfumer Edmond Roudnitska created Femme in 1944 for Marcel Rochas to give to his wife, and the bottle was designed to recall Mae West's hourglass figure. It has since been reformulated by Olivier Cresp, with a promiment cumin note, from what I've heard.
This is definitely a sexy woman's perfume, but a sexy woman of the non-ingenue variety. She is too quiet to be a femme fatale. You will not see (or smell her) from a mile away, but once you get close to her the warmth of this scent will draw you in. This perfume is Virgo sexy, intellectual sexy, Charlotte Rampling in the '70s sexy.
Top notes: Peach, plum, lemon
Heart notes: Jasmine, rose, rosewood
Base notes: Patchouli, musk, amber, civet, leather, oakmoss, sandalwood
(Notes courtesy: The Scented Salamander)
Arrrgh! I bought a bottle of this at Filene's today and then stupidly returned it because I didn't wait for the drydown. Now it is taunting me from my wrist with its beautiful fruity notes!
Posted by: Scentsofself.wordpress.com | March 05, 2010 at 09:34 PM
I like the idea of a perfume taunting you for not giving it a chance. Just like a woman...;)
Posted by: Perfumaniac | March 06, 2010 at 10:12 AM
I wore Femme as a teenager, that stewed prunes and leather.
The new verison released in 1989 is a sad reflection of the original. I was lucky enough to get the pdt on ebay and no cummin in site.
Posted by: Donna | August 23, 2010 at 08:16 AM
Hi Donna. I have a 50s Femme, I think, and I have what looks like a 70s bottle. I think there might be cumin in that, and I have to say, I don't mind it! But it is very different...
Posted by: Perfumaniac | August 23, 2010 at 01:27 PM
Just got a vintage bottle today- EDP. It is absolutely wonderful. Dark and mysterious, soft, sensual- sexy! Great silage, and it lasts. A little goes a long way. This perfume says W O M A N....
Posted by: Cathlyn | July 15, 2012 at 02:13 AM
Hi, Cathlyn. Any idea which vintage? The older ones smell less cumin-y than the later versions. I like the stinky addition of cumin, however!
Posted by: Perfumaniac | July 17, 2012 at 01:55 PM
I don't know what vintage it is- but there's not much cumin at all. I'm going to get more of this perfume- before it's all gone. I love it. I'll try to find out the vintage from the seller.
Posted by: Cathlyn | July 19, 2012 at 06:15 PM