— fragrance —

Malle Lipstick Rose EDP Perfume Review

February 14, 2013

Malle Lipstick Rose perfume

Rose Week 2013

I admit that I disregarded Malle Lipstick Rose as another fine fragrance trying to smell like a functional fragrance to cash in on some people’s nostalgia: This smells like my mother circa 1961. This smells like how I imagine an Old Hollywood starlet in her dressing room smells like, etc. This was before I wore it. I rarely say this, but Lipstick Rose is genius. Yes, this is a hyper-realistic take on vintage French cosmetics, so it is another fine fragrance inspired by a functional fragrance. Lipstick Rose is so realistic as a cosmetic rose that I would compare it to pop art – taking something out of its general context and presenting it as a fine art, in the case a very well-done perfume.

Lipstick Rose opens with a fizzy grapefruit and tart, juicy raspberry over sweet violet. Lipstick Rose has sillage. It leaves a trail of powdery violets and waxy, metallic rose. Lipstick Rose has a presence, sillage. Yes, Lipstick Rose is powdery and waxy and “synthetic” but this is the point. It’s supposed to smell like makeup – tube and all. And if you are familiar with French cosmetics, a few brands will come to mind when you smell Lipstick Rose.

Other vintage cosmetic inspired perfumes come across as frou-frou and campy to me. This is not bad at all. I love camp. Lipstick Rose can be perceived as “fun” but it isn’t all fluff. It makes a statement. I think it says something about the matriarch. But, you know, I’m probably looking for something. In true Warhol fashion, Lipstick Rose is probably artistically affectless. It’s probably just a “silk screen” of vintage French cosmetics. What you smell is what you get!

Andy Warhol Campbell's Soup Cans

Notes listed include violet, rose, musk, vanilla, amber and grapefruit. Launch date 2000. PERFUMER– Ralf Schwieger

Give Lipstick Rose a try if you love rose. Or if you like perfumes that smell like vintage cosmetics.

Like I said, Lipstick Rose has mega sillage and projection. It has above average longevity. But, when I wear it, I go all out. I spray at least 4 sprays.

Malle Lipstick Rose comes in 2 sizes (1.7 & 3.4 oz) with prices ranging from $165-$240 at Barneys. 

Victoria’s Final EauPINION – A pop art interpretation of vintage French cosmetics. Genius.

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 *Bottle is from my collection. Product pic from Barneys. Andy Warhol “Campbell’s Soup Cans” 1962 from MoMA.

15 thoughts on “Malle Lipstick Rose EDP Perfume Review”

  1. I appreciate this one, but cannot wear it – brings me right back to Mass on Sunday and my mother. Not that either were a bad thing – but I was always hungry. You were supposed to fast before Mass (having communion), and I was always lightheaded and grumpy.
    bloody frida recently posted..Negative Reviews

    1. I can understand how you could have bad memories because of this! As a kid and as an adult, I turn into a monster when I’m hungry. I can’t help it. I could never fast unless I was locked away in a dungeon somewhere…

  2. This was my Valentine fragrance today. It seemed like a good one to wear and has moved up on my full bottle list several steps. Good review!

  3. Great review, Victoria – I think your analogy of it being an olfactory silkscreen of vintage cosmetics a la Andy Warhol-style is spot on.

    I’ve come to regard this as a classic fragrance, even though it’s hardly one by age. Love it!

    1. It’s been around for over 5 years and in the perfume world that’s saying something 😉 I think it’s a classic too.

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