Cologne Bigarade
“Cologne Bigarade by Frederic Malle is a Citrus Aromatic fragrance for women and men”
The Quick Read
Well loved by wearers — a citrus, green composition with a fresh undertone. Voted best for spring and summer wear — and genuinely unisex.
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Launched in 2001 and crafted by Jean-Claude Ellena for Frederic Malle, Cologne Bigarade is a fresh aromatic that marries the tartness of bitter orange with the warmth of rose and woody notes. The fragrance opens with a vibrant burst of bitter orange, which cuts through the air like a crisp morning in Provence. As it evolves, the rose adds a subtle floral sweetness, while the base notes of grass, hay, and cedar provide a grounding earthiness that makes this composition feel both lasting and contemporary.
Composition & Character
How It Wears
Application Tips
Apply Cologne Bigarade in light layers to appreciate its evolving notes. The bitter orange top note fades quickly, so a second application midday can refresh its vibrant freshness. It reads best close to skin rather than diffusing widely, making it ideal for daytime wear.
Jean-Claude Ellena
Founding perfumer · 104 fragrances · French
As a disciple and close friend of the legendary Edmond Roudnitska (creator of “Le Parfum de Thérèse”), Jean-Claude Ellena began his career with a minimalistic approach to perfumery. Since then, he has developed this approach into his own distinctive style, which is continually informed by his elegant and quiet way of being, and has been compared by his contemporaries to watercolor sketches and chamber music. Jean-Claude says that a perfume must be like “a soft caress; nothing must shock, nothing must shout”.Jean-Claude Ellena was born in Grasse into a family of perfumers. His training began at age 17, in the most prestigious laboratories – in Grasse, Paris, New York and Geneva – where he always saw himself as self-taught. Roudnitska’s minimalism never left him, however, and his compositions remain focused around a single ingredient, avoiding repetition.
Also created
Designer Frederic Malle
More from Frederic Malle
Edited by Scentsation Editorial
The story behind the bottle.
The first moments after stepping out into an early morning garden, where the air is filled with the scent of freshly cut grass and the faint sweetness of roses.
Fig. 01 — Cologne Bigarade, Frederic Malle
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