Frederic Malle Promise (2017) Desert Gem Fragrance Review

[@beyonder1918]

I am on my 5th bottle of Promise since its release in 2017. What a lovely creation!💚🍏🍎

[@RamseytheRam]

@@beyonder1918 damn that's impressive 👏🏻

[@anahowana]

Damn !! You sure ? I'm almost on my first bottle since 2020

[@beebot]

Ramsay, this is my most worn of the series. I own them all, but this and the Moon get the most wear. Promise is special to me. I love it.

[@RamseytheRam]

Likewise! Promise was always my favorite but the moon may have over taken it in the last few months... I love it more and more everytime I wear it 🌛

[@ramzifsulieman4225]

Promise will always be in my collection. It's truly a gem!

[@RamseytheRam]

Agreed 💎

[@pandafragrance]

A sales rep convinced me to try this mid summer in London a few years ago. It’s so damned big. And I bought it instantly. An immediate love!

[@RamseytheRam]

I love BIG fragrances ❤️🐏🐼

[@cristovargas6798]

I was able to scoop this one up brand new for 300$. One of my favorites in my collection.

[@RamseytheRam]

For 100ml 300 bucks is a great deal Thanks for watching & commenting 🍻

Fragrancenet had it in a 100ml for a bit under USD300 for months!! Awesome stuff! (EDIT: Not USD100, 300, my bad 😄)

[@bianiokungbowa8288]

I bought a bottle of Promise last week…. I don’t know what took me so long. I have sprayed nothing else since - thank you for your in depth analysis…love this channel. ❤

[@RamseytheRam]

Congrats on the bottle & thank you for the support 🙏🙏🙏

[@andreawilson6887]

I just bought my bottle last week too, homey-it’s amazing. High five.

[@andreawilson6887]

Thanks for the learnt session, I was nervous to watch this. Innnnterestingly, it’s not as beastly on my skin as on (everyone) else’s? This is the case for everything, as my skin is a goddamned inferno….but was hoping this one would show erybody else what’s up. Still so so so amazing.

[@RamseytheRam]

Inferno skin ehhhhh 🔥

[@EdsProlixe]

@andreawilson6887 Could be anosmia maybe? Promise rendered my olfactory process comatose within a couple of hours the first few times I tried it.

[@saabreplay7553]

This is really awesome. So exciting to hear your take on these excellent perfumes from Malle I can’t really afford many of them. But the few that I do have like portrait of a lady I think are absolutely wonderful and irreplaceable.

[@RamseytheRam]

Yes Malle is one of the best Niche brands IMHO

[@charlottethompson594]

Genius comment on the slight of hand used by perfumers and how that can be a creative and positive thing ❤

[@RamseytheRam]

Thank you Charlotte, appreciate you watching & commenting 😊

[@davidhunternyc1]

Ramsey! How have you been? I bought my third full bottle of perfume. I now have Areej Le Dore The History of Indonesian Oud (can't get used to it), Clandestine Laboratories Assam (it's growing on me), and I waiting to get in the mail Les Abstraits Des Cendre (immediately loved the sample). This journey began with you, and now, Eugen also. Thank you. Ramsey, I have an odd question that I believe only you can answer. Do you know of an essential oil perfume, an attar, that is made with the following essential oils: _Sandalwood, Bergamot, Ylang Yang, Frankincense, Myrrh, Jasmine, and Rose_ I'm still a newbie and it seems attars don't usually have this many essential oils in them, but I could be wrong. Maybe you know of house that I don't know of. What I'm looking for would be pure essential oils, not a spray on, but a dab on perfume oil. Any thoughts? 🙏🏼

[@RamseytheRam]

I would go to sultanpashaattars website and look through the offerings and see if any Attars come close to your note listing Better yet, buy the sample set... it's the best $128.56 you can spend ... you will be entertained for months and smell things and open horizons in the perfume world you never thought possible 🔑

[@davidhunternyc1]

@@RamseytheRam Thanks Ramsey. Yes, I have the Sultan Pasha sample set. Not sure what I'm smelling though. The samples are so small too. I'm afraid to open them. I just checked the website. I'm sure they're the best in the world but his attars are definitely cost prohibitive for me. Ugh...

[@RamseytheRam]

@@davidhunternyc1 just get a paperclip or clothespin & put a drop of one every night on your wrist a few hours before bed.... don't be scared you should get 3 to 5 wearings out of each sample...there is more there than You think

[@davidhunternyc1]

@@RamseytheRam Ramsey, that's a great idea. Yes, those little plastic vials. I had no idea what to do with them. Now I know. Thanks.

[@EdsProlixe]

Ah, Promise!I live in a 17th floor apartment, and I know full well when putting it on that I'll be going down the stairs as a matter of basic courtesy 🙂 Getting to grips with this one has been interesting and rewarding. The first couple of times I tried it, pretty much all I got was amrboxan/synthwood amped cypriol and metallic rosemary with an apple tinge before going anosmic from the weapons grade synthetics 😂. Portrait of a Lady and Carnal Flower are both favourites though, so persistence seemed warranted, and indeed it was. I find describing the whole thing tricky, but will give it a go. To start I get a distinctly sweet and nicely stylised, but largely freefloating green apple note (the flesh rather than the skin) on a background of earthiness with a sharp metallic aura. From there it seems like the apple starts to become a sort of skin, or container, which is filled with the other notes as they emerge. The metallic aspect seems to radiate off the surface like solar filaments while the complexity inside develops with cypriol being gradually joined by the leathery aspects (labdanum, castoreum) as well as the other woody aspects (clove/eugenol, patchouli, etc) and an increasing earthiness. The whole process feels dense and energetic from the ambroxan/synthwoods. To my nose, or brain, the rose emerging gradually replaces the synthetic sweetness aspect of the apple. It all adds up in my head to the growth of a weird sort of star. The apple is the surface, but also runs through it, and the development fills it and also radiates outward as a background. The metallic aspect (ambroxan and cypriol usually give me a metllic feel as well, which may not be normal) flares off the surface (what you rather more aptly described as a foil surface). As it goes on, the impression I get is of the container gradually coming apart. The interior unwinds from this, carrying off parts of the apple. At this point, my perception of it is a geometric/synaesthetic thing which I've not quite figured out how to put into words. The closest I can manage as yet is that it all seems to gradually flatten into plane which scintillates with the various accords. Perhaps I'll have words for it eventually. Those are my rather lengthy and disorganised thoughts on Promise. It is beautiful, terrifying, and strangely meditative. I suspect this 50ml bottle will last me many many years!

[@RamseytheRam]

What a great break down 👍🏻

[@scentanity2280]

My only experience of Malle is with Portrait of A Lady! I liked it, but didn't blew my mind, like say, REFLECTION MAN, NOIR DE NOIR, TOBACCO OUD, ANI or ALQURASHI BLEND, etc. Thanks for the spray on camera, Ramsey, I'm also a fan! 😅

[@RamseytheRam]

Definitely one to put on your to sniff list 🐽

[@mpukas]

Great review, Ramsey. You're continually putting out the best fragrance content on YT. I bought Promise almost one year ago from this vid date, based on your comments on it in other vids. I've worn it many times. I had high hopes for it, and wish I liked it as much as you do. It just doesn't land on my nose the same way as yours. To me, it's primarily a blast of rose and apple, backed up my some cypriol and a little pepperiness, and synthetic woods to give it push and longevity. I get nothing that resembles oud. Not even a synthetic oud accord. And that's fine. I'm just saying it doesn't occur to me in the same way that it does to you. I wish I got the heaviness that you get. I certainly do like it, happy to have it in my collection, but not a favorite.

[@RamseytheRam]

That's okay everyone's nose is different...thanks for watching & commenting & for the support 🍻

[@riccardoneirotti]

Impeccable review as everyone expected!! A few days ago I smelled Promise again after years in the shop and I must say that it has been brutally reformulated, forget the beautiful roses in the heart and the crunchy apple on the head, welcome ethyl maltol and amber woods. Too bad because it was my favorite of the desert gems, now I think it's The Moon, which strangely seems not to have been reformulated or at least in a less obvious way.

[@RamseytheRam]

Very very interesting... if that's true that is very Sad 😒

[@riccardoneirotti]

@@RamseytheRam I really hope it's just my nose and tastes that have changed. Now I feel it's really chemical.

[@luis1985]

Loving these Frederic Malle reviews! I love this house so much (even though I don’t think I’ll ever own Night or Dawn). Sad it won’t be the same after the founder has left the company. Thanks for the great reviews as always!

[@RamseytheRam]

That's a great point about Frédéric leaving ... thanks for watching & commenting 🍻

[@bartoltolic]

When I bought my first niche fragrance the SA gave me sample of Promise and I didn’t even opened it and I could smell it from the small box. I’ve tested it on my skin and oh BOY was I not ready. So my first niche was “Terroni” by Orto Parisi and that day I’ve smelled Oud for the first time (The Night) and then SA gave me this like I was some niche expert😅 . Unapologetic, raw, powerfull, zero F’s given, animalic but as I smelled it more and more I was drawn to it and if Terroni wasn’t enough to convince me to start my niche journey then Promise made sure of it. I wore that sample on my cousin’s wedding and I got some looks my way alright😂 couldn’t tell if they were looks of joy of how good I smell or looks of disgust of how awful I smell but I loved every minute of if. I hope I will own a bottle of this sooner rather than later before Este Lauder starts to mess with it.

[@RamseytheRam]

Very well said! Hope you get to own a bottle of Promise one day my friend 🙂

[@simonsays9031]

This is your first review I agree every single word with. Also my favourite FM, Geranium Pour Monsieur is close second. Ropion knows something. Back to Promise I can see a tight relation with Overture Woman which no one talks about. They share the same scent profile although the Amouage is more exotic.

[@RamseytheRam]

Interesting...now that you say it I could maybe see it if I really stretched my brain.. but Overture Woman is much classier and promise is just 0 F's given sledgehammer

[@ShamssuhaibArch]

This is the prime example that price is cannot determine quality. It kept its promise.

[@RamseytheRam]

Yes it's still expensive but no where near what the night or Dawn are going for Thanks for watching & commenting 🍻

[@Rome.Will.]

Ram! The comparison with the cypriol in the drydown of Amouage Journey Man is a no brainer, to my nose a big similarity (i get what youre saying about the fermented gem thing, theres a real kind of.. woozy aspect to it. Almost makes me want to hiccup) BUT i am trying Overture Woman for the first time today and its really striking a comparison to Promise to me with the leathery boozy apple. Im really digging it. All this is to say THANK YOU. I likely wouldn't have found my way to dipping my toes in "woman" marketed fragrances if it weren't for your channel, and have caught some gems (Overture, Jubilation and Epic woman to name a few)

[@RamseytheRam]

Thanks so much for the kind words 🙂

[@FragranceGlitch]

I have all 4 fragrances from the Desert Gems collection. Promise is my favorite as well. I got the deal of the century on the coffret. They are all good, but Promisebis my favorite.

[@RamseytheRam]

Deal of the century sounds good to me lol

[@glansbilder]

Thanks Ramsey. Do you get any similarities with Myths Man?

[@RamseytheRam]

From promise? Nahhh but i could see a similarity with B683 Extrait... I will review that one soon... thanks for watching 👀

[@joshsawyerstreamvods]

i wonder if oud aquilaria is the economic option. seems to sadly have the animalics removed

[@RamseytheRam]

Thanks for watching & commenting 🍻

[@Lamulaa]

Did promise got reformulated by any chance? I know it is still strong, but in a way the smell would be different

[@RamseytheRam]

I doubt it but if anyone knows leave it below

[@CarelessMurmur]

I haven't been able to get my nose to it, but I do have the old variant of Oud Aquilaria by Oman Luxury which was also made by Dominique Ropion. People say it's very similar to Promise. Hopefully, I can get a decant to try them out and see if it would be redundant for me to own it. Great review as usual.

[@RamseytheRam]

Thanks for watching & commenting... never smelled anything from that house yet btw

[@CarelessMurmur]

@@RamseytheRam very underrated house. Do try the royal incense and wonderlust from the house. Royal incense has a beautiful concoction of Omani incense with honey. I haven't smelled anything similar to it.

[@eliomcastillo8285]

Awesome video by the RAM as usual! I got lucky to get a bottle of PROMISE before the EDP FRANCE HOLDINGS SAS DIST. Its just fantastic. Your dissection of promise was spot on Question for the RAM KNOWLEDGE AND LOGIC SENSE: fo you think the desert gems are been reformulated like the other fragrances of Frederick malle? Because like for example how vigilant are some of us about the amount of oud in the night and how strong is I'm pretty sure the conousouirs like you would be find out or heard anything related to a reformulation specially in this kind of top tier fragrances WHAT DO YOU THINK? YOU THINK THEY WOULD RISKING A REFORMULATION IN THIS TOP FRAGRANCES? DO YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT? DO YOU THINK THEY REFORMULATED ALL EXCEPT THE DESERT GEMS BECAUSE IT WOULD DAMAGE THE BRAND OR THEY REFORMULATED EVERYTHING anyway Please share your keen logics whit us Thank you

[@RamseytheRam]

That I honestly don't know as I have never smelled the newest stuff .... but something that just got releases hopefully won't be reformulated already 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@eliomcastillo8285]

@@RamseytheRam Yes I was thinking the same plus those are almost a flagship fragances for Frederick malle don't you think Just recently I been basically obsessed by the Bortnikoff TABAC DORE my goodness what a fragrance! Long live the RAM!!!

[@eliomcastillo8285]

@@RamseytheRam Yes I get a lot of oud in promise especially if I smell the lid anf tge atomizer to the point I got to check the ingredients for oud

[@eliomcastillo8285]

@@RamseytheRam the Night 50ml $680 AT HARRODS

[@justaddlight]

Glad you finally mentioned the woody amber at the end, cause.....yeah. 😆 Used to love this baby, but I have to credit it for being one of the first fragrances responsible for my disillusionment. I'll hold back on my unpopular opinion, but let's just say that I don't own it anymore. 😉 For those looking to try it, don't even bother with paper, go right on skin. Shame about the Stars, but as a Canadian....🤞😁

[@RamseytheRam]

You maybe a Canadian but are you an Edmonton fan? The Flames, Canucks, Leafs & Jets all hate the Oilers lol

[@justaddlight]

@@RamseytheRam It was my first ever favourite team as a kid. Gretzky...you know. Never liked the Leafs or Jets. The rest are...acceptable. 😆

[@RamseytheRam]

@@justaddlight can't be mad at you loving the Great one

[@IanFleming808]

Try Shem by NIshane. It's a smoother fruitier variant of Promise.

[@RamseytheRam]

It's on the never ending to sniff list 🐽

[@boboosh6217]

Metallic, yes! If this was a song it'd be Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel. Two sprays are plenty. Thanks mate.

[@RamseytheRam]

Not to mention the Malle atomizers just dump juice on you... one of the best in the game 🎸

[@rupesigogo]

Great one! Thinking on getting a bottle of this.😊

[@RamseytheRam]

I love it but beware its a beast 🐻‍❄

[@rupesigogo]

@@RamseytheRam I know, I’ve tested it in Liberty, a shop mall here in London. I’m in love…

[@ndhaon91]

Ram, just FYI, I'm not seeing a "ranked" Cypriol video, just an unranked one.

[@RamseytheRam]

Damn .... you are right That must be corrected ASAP lol

[@ndhaon91]

​@@RamseytheRam I didn't want to make the recommendation, but since you brought it up... 🤣

[@philipcapraro4467]

I just got a bottle of this yesterday in the mail 50 ml !

[@RamseytheRam]

Congrats! You are in for a treat... it's one of my favorite Frédéric Malle frags...but I must warn you, it's HUGE

[@rabiulawal876]

Most budget friendly desert 💎

[@RamseytheRam]

Yes that's right. Thanks for watching 👀

[@realscentreview]

Great review and awesome jersey!

[@RamseytheRam]

Sad we won't see this Jersey again until next year 🥲

[@realscentreview]

@@RamseytheRam Meh, they put up a hell of a fight against Edmonton. Might be nice to see a Canadian cup victory for the first time in 31 years though!

[@RichMitch]

Desert gems ahoy! 🐏🦆

[@RamseytheRam]

Desert Gem marathon ....a Pay Per View event 🐏🦆

[@RichMitch]

​@@RamseytheRam ppv godzilla! 🦖

[@RamseytheRam]

@@RichMitch 😂😂😂

[@ToddEB]

Are there any reformulations?

[@RamseytheRam]

I honestly don't know... but I don't think so

[@sharique12873]

Hey ramsey pls do the review on opus 8

[@RamseytheRam]

Funny you should say that.. I have decants being sent to me now by the lovely Allie

[@ajw_3153]

how many sprays do u apply with this?

[@RamseytheRam]

I usually do one on each side of the next and one on top of my hand

[@ajw_3153]

@@RamseytheRam none on arms?

[@RamseytheRam]

Nope

[@seanp7871]

I need a bottle of this 😈

[@RamseytheRam]

I think it's full bottle worthy ...but you have to like HUGE Perfumes lol

[@scent_jeannie]

Deep fried pizza! 🍕 😂😂😂

[@RamseytheRam]

Let's go!

[@Bexter.]

Good to see you, brother. I've been watching all the frederic malle reviews. Good luck with your stars!

[@RamseytheRam]

Thank you Bekhzod ... much obliged brother

[@brenlynch4811]

Cheers Rams ,this is my favorite Desert Gem , I wanna say I have Rare Fidelis and get a similar vibe from Promise, and the Moon is said to be similar to Rare Fidelis,ergo there’s a possible Oud/ Oud accord, with Amberwoods in all 3 which makes the connection to me in their profiles , anyways enjoy the game and appreciate the review ✌️🙏👍

I also have Fidelis, Promise and The Moon. I think Fidelis is more similar to The Moon, but both are gorgeous!! Rasquinet knows his stuff!!

[@RamseytheRam]

Ahhhh yes Rare Fidelis and the Moon reviews to come....but there is definitely an oud accord thrown across some of these Gems 🍻

[@brenlynch4811]

@@RamseytheRam definitely an accord Rams I simply cannot pull Oud from them and I really like those 3 ,oh the shame I feel I’ve cheated on my beloved Ouds hahaha 😝

[@RamseytheRam]

inFIDELISty?

🥁

[@WonUvWon]

📝

[@RamseytheRam]

Thanks for watching & commenting 🍻