Frédéric Malle: where to start? 7 perfumes to discover the house

Frédéric Malle is a French niche house whose catalogue goes in every direction: rose, musk, white flowers, iris, woods. There's no single "house style", more a collection of perfumes that are very different from each other. That's what makes it exciting, and a little intimidating when you don't know where to begin.

We picked seven perfumes, seven moods. The notes we mention are the ones on our perfume pages, nothing more.

Spiced rose: Portrait of a Lady

Portrait of a Lady (2010) brings together rose, raspberry, blackcurrant, clove, cinnamon, patchouli, sandalwood, frankincense, musk, amber and benzoin. A rich, dark rose that leaves a trail. For evenings and the colder seasons. See Portrait of a Lady.

Warm musk: Musc Ravageur

Musc Ravageur (2000) pairs lavender, bergamot and tangerine with cinnamon, clove, vanilla, musk, amber, sandalwood, cedar and tonka bean. Spicy, vanillic and sensual, it's a musk that gets noticed. See Musc Ravageur.

White flower: Carnal Flower

Carnal Flower (2005) blends eucalyptus, bergamot and melon with tuberose, jasmine, ylang-ylang, orange blossom, coconut and musk. Tuberose is the star, made fresher by the eucalyptus. For white-flower fans. See Carnal Flower.

Woody rose: Promise

Promise brings together pink pepper, rosemary, apple, Bulgarian rose, Turkish rose, clove, patchouli, ambroxan, labdanum, cypriol and castoreum. A more modern, woodier rose than Portrait of a Lady. See Promise.

Powdery iris: Iris Poudre

Iris Poudre pairs rose, violet, ylang-ylang, iris, sandalwood, musk and tonka bean. Soft, powdery and elegant, it's the most delicate of the selection. Easy to wear by day, at the office or at the weekend. See Iris Poudre.

Green incense: French Lover

French Lover (2007) brings together angelica, galbanum, black pepper, frankincense, vetiver and musk. Green, peppery and woody, with an incense base. For you if you like dry woods that stand out from the crowd. See French Lover.

Vetiver: Vetiver Extraordinaire

Vetiver Extraordinaire (2002) pairs vetiver, bergamot, pink pepper, cedar and sandalwood. Clean and woody, it's the simplest of the selection. An everyday vetiver that goes with everything. See Vetiver Extraordinaire.

A few notes that come back

Even with such different styles, some notes keep coming back across the house. Sandalwood sits in the base of Portrait of a Lady, Musc Ravageur, Iris Poudre and Vetiver Extraordinaire. Rose appears in Portrait of a Lady, Promise and Iris Poudre. Musk rounds off Musc Ravageur, Carnal Flower, Iris Poudre and French Lover. So if one of these perfumes works on you, the others that share its notes are a good next step.

Which one to start with?

• You love rose: Portrait of a Lady for evenings, Promise for a woodier style.
• You love warm, sensual scents: Musc Ravageur.
• You love white flowers: Carnal Flower.
• You want something soft and powdery: Iris Poudre.
• You prefer woods: Vetiver Extraordinaire, or French Lover for something more unusual.

On every perfume page you'll find the partner shops' offers. Compare them, or set a price alert if you'd rather wait for the right moment.