Les Frivolites (2017)

Frivolités by Jacques Fath, launched in 2017, is a fragrance that wears its name like a silk ribbon: playful, elegant, and deliberately indulgent. The word Frivolités (pronounced free-vo-lo-tey) is French for “frivolities”—a term suggesting lightness, ornamentation, pleasure for its own sake. In a fashion context, it recalls dainty accessories, charming details, and the joy of dressing up simply because one wants to. The name itself is a direct reference to Les Frivolités de Fath, a whimsical collection of accessories Jacques Fath designed to delight the senses and flatter the feminine spirit. The word evokes laughter, softness, and a flirtatious wink—images of satin gloves, feathered hats, and rose-tinted powder compacts.

The perfume was released during the late 2010s, a time marked by a resurgence of niche and artisanal fragrances. In contrast to the minimalism dominating fashion and interior design, perfumery began embracing richness again—gourmand notes, leather, florals with depth, and a renewed interest in craftsmanship and storytelling. “Frivolités” entered the scene as both a nostalgic nod and a bold statement: a scent that appears delicate, but wears with confidence and complexity.

Created by perfumer Luca Maffei, this fragrance is described as a leather floral, but its character is far more layered. At its heart is an unusual and utterly modern rose-flavored macaron accord—a blend inspired by Parisian patisserie. This imaginative note combines raspberry cream with heliotrope and a synthetic molecule called Givescone, which mimics the sweet, airy texture of a macaron’s shell. The result is not sugary or juvenile, but luxurious, creamy, and just decadent enough. This is the perfume of a woman who enjoys the finer things, but wears them with irreverent charm.

The floral heart, rich with rose but buoyed by gourmand nuances, is softened and rounded with a suede accord—a supple, powdery-leathery effect that lingers on skin like the caress of fine gloves. Animalic facets lend depth and warmth, but never overwhelm; instead, they amplify the scent’s skin-like intimacy. What begins as a joyful cascade of light, floral sweetness deepens into something unexpectedly sensual.

In the context of the 2017 fragrance landscape, Frivolités stood apart. While the market leaned heavily into clean musks or syrupy gourmands, this fragrance found a delicate balance—neither overly saccharine nor purely minimalist. Instead, it celebrated the idea that femininity could be indulgent and intellectual, charming and serious at once. Women drawn to Frivolités would likely see it not as a frivolous pleasure, but a personal signature: playful, luxurious, and unapologetically themselves.

From Jacques Fath:

"A cascade of joyful, gourmet and sensual impressions. ‘Les Frivolités de Fath’, is a collection of accessories created by Jacques Fath. The name inspired to the perfumer a unique Rose flavored Macaron accord (Givescone, Raspberry cream, Heliotrope). Les Frivolités is a voluptuous skin fragrance expertly dosed with flowery and animal notes. What appears to be light is in fact a powerful scent, very feminine with a different and new approach of Rose flavored Macaron accord, then wrapped with a soft and sensual Suede accord."

 

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? Les Frivolites by Jacques Fath is classified as a leather floral fragrance for women.

• Top notes: Paradisamide, bergamot, osmanthus, pink pepper
• Middle notes: raspberry, heliotrope, Rosa Centifolia absolute, Rose flavored Macaron accord (Givescone, Raspberry cream, Heliotrope)
• Base notes: amber accord, musk, sandalwood, suede, orris butter

Scent Profile:

Les Frivolités by Jacques Fath opens like a whisper of sun-drenched silk brushing across skin—a fragrance that balances mischievous delight with poised elegance. The very first breath reveals a radiant top note laced with Paradisamide, a modern aroma chemical known for its crystalline, slightly tropical freshness, suggesting clean sun-warmed skin and luminous air. It gives the scent lift and transparency, gently ushering in brighter elements. Calabrian bergamot, with its refined citrus brightness, offers a crisp, tart zest—a sparkle that flickers at the edges of the composition without overwhelming. Alongside this, osmanthus, often sourced from China, contributes a luxuriously textured note of apricot and leather, its fruity facets deepened by an earthy undercurrent. Pink pepper, harvested from Peruvian berries, lends its rosy, effervescent bite—a slightly piquant shimmer that dances atop the sweeter floral notes to come.

As the perfume settles into its heart, it unfolds like a dessert plate designed in a Parisian pâtisserie—playful yet refined. The raspberry is bright, juicy, and tart, but tempered by the powdery, almond-like presence of heliotrope, which lends a soft, almost marshmallow air. At the core is a sumptuous Rosa Centifolia absolute—rose from Grasse, France, famed for its soft, dewy petals and green honeyed undertones. This particular variety of rose is intensely rich and textured, adding body and refinement. The scent’s signature flourish comes from its Rose Macaron Accord—a feat of perfume architecture that combines Givescone, a gourmand molecule that replicates the airy crunch of a meringue shell, with raspberry cream and heliotrope to create a creamy, mouthwatering illusion. The result is neither syrupy nor saccharine but rather airy, elegant, and quietly indulgent—a fragrant wink at the idea of luxury.

In the dry down, amber accord and musk lay the groundwork for warmth and sensuality. The amber here is modern, translucent, glowing—less dense than traditional amber, yet still inviting and magnetic. Musk notes, both synthetic and natural-inspired, provide skin-like softness and amplify the floral and suede accords, adding persistence and warmth. Sandalwood, ideally from the Mysore region, if used, would bring a creamy, slightly smoky woodiness; but even if a sustainable Australian source is used, its milky softness adds depth. The suede accord is central to the perfume’s tactile finish—powdery, velvety, and sophisticated. It evokes the interior of a vintage clutch bag or the softness of gloved fingertips. Orris butter, distilled from aged rhizomes of the iris flower (often sourced from Tuscany), gives the base an ultra-luxurious, buttery-powder texture with faint suggestions of violets and earth. It grounds the composition in quiet elegance and elevates every other note that lingers on skin.

Together, the ingredients in Les Frivolités form a richly layered scent that reads as light-hearted but never lacking depth—like a woman who wears pink silk with a knowing smile. It is playful but composed, luminous yet grounded, modern but steeped in craftsmanship. A fragrance for a woman who revels in the art of pleasure, not as indulgence but as expression.