FREDERIC MALLE EN PASSANT
Volume
10ml, 50ml, 100ml
Perfume Story
Walking in a spring dress under the warm sunshine. A gentle breeze carries the scent of lilacs. A perfume that captures the nostalgic lilac fragrance of an old country road.
Fragrance Notes
Based on the official Frederic Malle website
Top Notes: Lilac, Cucumber
Middle Notes: None
Base Notes: White Musk, Cedarwood
Scent & Wear Review
Simple, modern bottle with a black label.
The design is simple yet unique, and the scent itself is definitely more distinct than most other perfumes.
In my personal opinion, En Passant is one of the more mass-appealing scents from the Frederic Malle lineup. The scent of raw, fresh lilacs naturally turns heads. It’s an incredibly attractive fragrance—like the scent of a first love. Lilac truly captivates people, which is why this perfume leans more toward the mainstream side of the brand.
Honestly, it feels less like a literal lilac flower and more like the memory of a lilac flower, but it’s still beautiful.
When you first spray En Passant, you immediately get that lilac floral hit. It has a slight “crayon” vibe, very similar to the fresh floral feel of Byredo La Tulipe.
Along with the florals, a strong aquatic/water note emerges. Is it the cucumber in the top notes creating this? The catch is that this isn’t your typical, light “aqua” scent. It’s an incredibly heavy, deep-water aquatic.
If this doesn’t agree with you: It can make your stomach churn and cause genuine nausea.
If it works for you: This water note is exactly what makes En Passant so much more mysterious and profound than other lilac perfumes.
This aquatic note is the ultimate make-or-break factor for En Passant.
Setting the dewy, wet note aside, it captures the essence of raw lilac beautifully. You might smell it on a tester strip, fall in love, and think it’s perfect. But I highly recommend testing it on your skin, because you have to be prepared for the base notes.
As time passes, the white musk and cedarwood step in to heavily support the fragile, wet floral, adding a significant amount of weight. Following the lilac scent into the deep water leads you not to a field of flowers, but underneath a cozy, woody tree. If you can handle that transition, it is a remarkably alluring fragrance.
Images That Come to Mind
You’ve pulled out a brand-new dress to wear today, but of course, it starts raining. You’re annoyed by the timing, but the sound of the drizzling rain is soothing.
Giving in, you grab an umbrella. Right before you step out the door, the rain stops, and the warm sunlight timidly peeks through the clouds. Carrying your umbrella just in case, you walk out in your new dress, heading happily to your destination.
As you step on the wet earth, a floral scent drifts in on a gentle breeze. It’s a dewy, wet lilac scent that feels like it’s still holding onto the morning raindrops.
Celebrities That Come to Mind
*Rather than the celebrity herself, it matches the specific vibe of the images below
Actress Im Soo-jung
Because the scent has weight and a wistful, melancholic feel, I looked for actors with that specific aura.
If we were talking about a pure, straightforward lilac scent, I’d think of IU, Suzy, or Oh My Girl’s Arin. However, those lean more toward a light Yves Rocher Lilac vibe. I excluded them because En Passant is a much more mature, grown-up lilac.
It requires a mature, wistful image that can effortlessly pull off the musky, woody base. It feels like a pure, delicate first love who has now grown into a mature, dependable adult.
Like a rain-soaked flower, they might look fragile, wistful, or even sad on the outside—but on the inside, they are as steadfast, serious, and grounded as a sturdy tree, walking their own path with unwavering strength. Perfect for someone who is pure, nostalgic, and mature.
Recommended Seasons
Rainy Days
When mixed with the natural smell of rain, this perfume becomes truly mystical. It’s a nostalgic, moist scent. You absolutely have to wear En Passant on a rainy day to unlock its true magic.
Why I Recommend It (Pros)
Beautiful Bottle: The simple, chic design is top-tier (right up there with Diptyque).
A Must-Have for Lilac Lovers: If you collect lilac scents or love raw floral scents like La Tulipe, you will love this.
Unique & Rare: The outrageous price tag naturally acts as a barrier, meaning you won’t smell this on everyone.
Approachable Niche: If you want a signature scent but find hardcore niche perfumes off-putting, En Passant is a great choice. It’s special, rare, and dreamy, yet the main lilac note is almost universally loved.
Who Should Wear It: Highly recommended for someone who wants to embody the gentle breeze that carries the scent of lilacs over a dewy lawn to a giant cedar tree after a rainstorm.
Points of Caution (Cons)
When it’s not macerated, doesn’t match my body chemistry, I’m in a bad condition, or I sprayed it wrong.
It’s Expensive: Sure, it’s not the most expensive Frederic Malle perfume, but the brand itself is notoriously pricey. It sits in the upper echelon of niche perfume pricing.
The “Crayon” Note: Yes, it’s lilac, but it smells like crayons. The top notes share a very similar DNA to La Tulipe or Bvlgari Omnia Amethyste (the purple one).
The Overwhelming Water Note: This aquatic note makes me want to lose my mind. It borders on a fishy, stagnant water smell. A white-floral headache is one thing, but this causes full-on stomach-churning dizziness. You go looking for something “dreamy and mysterious” and end up wanting to throw up.
The Catch-22: If you spray it lightly, the projection and longevity are absolute trash (especially for the price). But if you spray heavily to make it last, you give yourself olfactory motion sickness.
