An exceptionally creamy sandalwood, spices straight from a batch of freshly baked biscuits, and that touch of cold nostalgia that makes the embrace bittersweet. With Northern Love, master perfumer Bruno Jovanovic writes Frédéric Malle a love letter to modern romanticism — and it has just arrived at Olara.
1Frédéric Malle, the perfume publisher
Founded in 2000 by Frédéric Malle — grandson of the founder of Parfums Christian Dior — Éditions de Parfums Frédéric Malle invented a model unique in luxury: treating perfumers as authors. No marketing brief here — the world's greatest noses get carte blanche, and their name appears on the bottle alongside the publisher's. That is how masterpieces such as Portrait of a Lady by Dominique Ropion and Musc Ravageur by Maurice Roucel were born. The whole house is gathered in our Éditions de Parfums Frédéric Malle collection, a jewel of our niche fragrances.
2Northern Love: romanticism in a bottle
For this new edition, carte blanche goes to Bruno Jovanovic, the master perfumer the house already owes Monsieur, its monument to patchouli. Guided by a desire for emotional sincerity, Jovanovic describes Northern Love as “a bittersweet hug, warm and comforting, contrasted by a cold, nostalgic sensation”. In practice: an ambery-woody composition built on an exceptional sandalwood essence, its naturally creamy, milky facets pushed to the fore and lifted by cinnamon — a wink at the spiced biscuits of the North. The courage to feel, in a bottle.
3The pyramid: speculoos, vanilla, sandalwood
The opening is unashamedly gourmand: a speculoos accord dusted with cinnamon and nutmeg and lifted by a touch of saffron — the exact smell of a Scandinavian coffee break. The heart softens the story: vanilla wraps everything in warmth while jasmine introduces an unexpected floral tension that keeps the fragrance from tipping into candy. Then the base reveals its purpose: a masterfully creamy sandalwood, extended by Peru balsam, patchouli and a leathery, resinous styrax facet that leaves an intimate, warm, cocoon-like trail on the skin.
Did you know?
Sandalwood is a hemiparasitic tree: to grow, it connects its roots to those of neighbouring trees and draws part of its water and nutrients from them. And only its core — the heartwood, which takes decades to form — develops the milky, creamy scent perfumers prize. That slowness is what makes sandalwood one of perfumery's most precious materials.
4How to wear it — and what to explore next
Northern Love is a skin scent for the cold season: it blooms on pulse points, under a jumper or on a scarf, and its intimate trail makes it as right for the office as for an evening by the fire. Like most Éditions de Parfums, it is worn without gender. If its spice-and-sandalwood duo speaks to you, continue the journey with Heaven Can Wait, Jean-Claude Ellena's itinerary of warm spices, or let the musky sensuality of Musc Ravageur take over after dark — two references from our unisex fragrances.
Your questions, answered
What does Northern Love by Frédéric Malle smell like?
A warm, intimate ambery-woody: a gourmand opening of speculoos, cinnamon, nutmeg and saffron, a heart of vanilla and jasmine, then a base of creamy sandalwood, Peru balsam and leather. A bittersweet hug — comforting without being sugary.
Who created Northern Love?
Master perfumer Bruno Jovanovic, who already gave Éditions de Parfums Frédéric Malle its Monsieur. True to the house model, his name appears on the bottle: at Frédéric Malle, perfumers are published like authors.
Is Northern Love a men's or a women's fragrance?
Both — it is a unisex composition. Its speculoos-vanilla facet will win over gourmand lovers, its sandalwood-leather base those who prefer woody scents. Make it your own signature.
When should I wear Northern Love?
It is an autumn and winter fragrance par excellence: cool temperatures magnify its creamy sandalwood and spices. Its intimate trail, which stays close to the skin, makes it wearable by day as well as in the evening.
Is Northern Love available at Olara?
Yes — the eau de parfum has just arrived at Olara in 50 ml and 100 ml, in limited stock, alongside the whole Éditions de Parfums Frédéric Malle collection.
