ETAT LIBRE D’ORANGE
Dangerous Complicity

2012

PERFUMER
Violaine Collas

rum
ginger
coconut

osmanthus absolute
jasmine absolute
ylang-ylang

lorenox
patchouli
sandalwood

‘Once the aphrodisiac rush of ginger and rum burns through, Dangerous Complicity unveils this passionate pact between fruit, flower and flesh. The apricot, tea and violet facets of the tiny osmanthus blossom morph into delicate suede. The coconut-white petals of jasmine betray a whiff of the Beast lurking within the Beauty. The tropical lushness of ylang-ylang conjures salty, sun-kissed skin. The smoky creaminess of sandalwood hints at secret musky places in the chocolate-dark undergrowth of patchouli. This is the scent of skin on skin — or should that be sin on skin? — intimate and sexy, edgy but smooth as a swans-down powder puff. The scent of leather and powder, or rather: the softly scented trace a bad boy’s leather jacket would leave on the powdered skin of a femme fatale. The masculine yielding to the feminine in a fragrant folie à deux — or is it the other way round?’ – Etat Libre D’Orange

I’ve really been digging ginger notes in fragrances, jumpstarted by an absolute favorite Summer 2020 Day by Prescent (which is unfortunately no longer available).

You get a nice, juicy, slightly tart acidity from the ginger in the opening of Dangerous Complicity. There’s coconut, jasmine and ylang-ylang, but it doesn’t go straight to white floral or sun tan lotion territory. Overall, it’s way more of an oily texture, in the same way olive of fig fragrances often feel. You get a nice boozy touch and a suede-like nuance, but don’t go in expecting anything dark (or dangerous)

It loses some of the brightness in the drydown, but listed notes like patchouli and sandalwood don’t come out to play to my nose too much. It’s not listed at all, but I get a hint of something akin to a rose water in here as well.

I was really surprised by this one. Etat Libre D’Orange doesn’t shy away from eccentric fragrances, but this one is pretty safe, yet elegant. It would fit right in with the lighter Maison Christian Dior fragrances like Gris Dior or Balade Sauvage and I also think that people who enjoy fragrances like Hermes Un Jardin En Méditerranee will appreciate this one. It’s up there with Remarkable People and Tom Of Finland for me as favorite Etat Libre D’Orange releases at the time of writing.