The house and its idea
Martine Micallef and Geoffrey Nejman started the house in the 1990s, after meeting on the French Riviera, when she ran two beauty salons in Cannes and he worked in finance for a Grasse laboratory. Their roles have stayed divided as they were at the start. Martine conceives the idea and the object, from bottle to packaging, while Geoffrey develops the formula with the house's perfumer. That's why the bottle is considered part of the fragrance, as the jewel-like bottle of Desir Toxic L'Intense shows.
The families we carry
Desir Toxic: woods, spice and cannabis
Desir Toxic is a woody, spicy eau de parfum designed for both men and women and built around a cannabis note, a rare material in perfumery. The house calls Desir Toxic L'Intense a version of unprecedented intensity, with cannabis, bergamot and black currant over a base of amber and patchouli, in an embossed bottle adorned with a blue-black halo.
GnTonic: aromatic freshness
GnTonic takes its cue from the cocktail, with a tonic, fresh, sensual trail that the house describes as "a shot of rare aromatic vivacity" to enjoy "anytime, anywhere." GnTonic Virgin Edition is its alcohol-free version, formulated with LUQUAPURE technology, which leaves a delicate veil on the skin, and presented by the house as a distinctly summery take. It has lime, bergamot and ginger in the opening, a heart of peppermint and a base of vetiver, and its bottle is hand-painted in the Grasse workshops.
The Royal line
For lovers of fine men's perfumery there's Royal Vintage, an elegant woody scent. Royal Muska is built on white musk, with woods and flowers, and has a distinctly feminine version, Royal Muska Nectar, a concentrated extrait with peach and rose up top, musk and precious woods in the heart and white musk in the base. The line also includes Royal Blue, a unisex scent inspired by the Secrets of Love collection that pairs fig, coconut and aquatic notes with oud and sandalwood.
The Nectars: extraits and concentrated versions
In the house's descriptions, the Nectars are extraits de parfum or concentrated versions of an original fragrance. Ylang in Gold, for example, is a sunny floral with ylang-ylang, rose and magnolia over a base of vanilla and musk, and it has its own Ylang in Gold Nectar, an extrait the house describes as a powerful version of oriental and floral accords. Likewise, Note Vanillée, ambery and gourmand, comes as Note Vanillée Nectar, a high-concentration extrait with mandarin, jasmine, vanilla, rum and cognac. Then there's Pure Extreme Nectar, a musky, floral extrait with smoky accents.
Other fragrances
Among the citrus scents are Osaito, with citrus and sea fennel over a woody base, and Edenfalls, aromatic, between woods and citrus. If you're looking for a men's fragrance, there's Redcolorado, woody, leathery and spicy, or Notorious XO, which the house based on fine cognacs, with cognac, pepper and marine notes in the opening, leather and oak in the heart and a base of vanilla and praline. Among the florals, Ô Féminin pairs bergamot and pink pepper with neroli, rose and jasmine; Hypnotic Musk brings together iris, raspberry and violet with a touch of caramel over musk. Finally, Secret of Love is a woody, ambery, musky oriental built around patchouli.
How to choose an M. Micallef fragrance
For something fresh and aromatic, start with GnTonic, or with Osaito and Edenfalls. For a spicy woody scent there's Desir Toxic and its L'Intense version, or Redcolorado and Notorious XO. Musk lovers will find Royal Muska, and Hypnotic Musk for musk with a touch of caramel. Among the florals, Ô Féminin combines citrus and orange blossom, and Ylang in Gold is a sunny floral. Finally, for a vanilla scent there's Note Vanillée, also in its Nectar version.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Royal Muska and Royal Muska Nectar?
Royal Muska is an eau de parfum built on white musk, with musky, woody and floral notes. Royal Muska Nectar, on the other hand, is a concentrated extrait centered on musk, with deep musky accords and a delicate touch, and according to the house it balances intensity and delicacy.
Who founded M. Micallef?
M. Micallef was founded in the late 1990s by Martine Micallef, born in Nice, and her husband Geoffrey Nejman. She handles the creative idea and the design of bottles and packaging, while he develops the fragrances in the lab with the house's perfumer. Today the couple lives in Grasse, in Provence.
What's the difference between Desir Toxic and Desir Toxic L'Intense?
Desir Toxic L'Intense is a version of Desir Toxic that the house calls one of unprecedented intensity. It stays woody and spicy, with cannabis, bergamot and black currant over a base of amber and patchouli, and gets a new bottle, an embossed jewel adorned with a blue-black halo.
What is GnTonic Virgin Edition?
GnTonic Virgin Edition is the alcohol-free version of GnTonic. The house formulates it with LUQUAPURE technology, which leaves a delicate veil on the skin and keeps the aromatic, tonic freshness of the original. It's presented as an alcohol-free, distinctly summery interpretation, with lime, bergamot, grapefruit and peppermint.
What does Nectar mean in M. Micallef fragrances?
In the house's descriptions, Nectar indicates an extrait or concentrated version of an M. Micallef fragrance. Ylang in Gold Nectar and Pure Extreme Nectar are extraits de parfum; Royal Muska Nectar is described as a concentrated extrait centered on musk, and Note Vanillée Nectar as a high-concentration extrait centered on vanilla.
Which M. Micallef fragrance is best for men?
For men, the house points to Royal Vintage, an elegant woody scent for lovers of fine men's perfumery, and Redcolorado, a woody, leathery, spicy men's elixir. There's also Notorious XO, inspired by fine cognacs, with cognac, pepper and marine notes in the opening, then leather and oak in the heart.
Which M. Micallef fragrance is best for women?
The fragrance the house describes as distinctly feminine is Royal Muska Nectar, a concentrated extrait built on musky accords. It has peach and rose in the opening, a heart of musk and precious woods and a base of white musk, with a trail the house calls captivating.
Does M. Micallef make unisex fragrances?
Yes, several M. Micallef fragrances are designed for both men and women. Desir Toxic, woody and spicy with a cannabis note, is described as suited to both male and female skin; Royal Blue is a fresh unisex oriental with fig, coconut and aquatic notes over a base of oud and sandalwood.
