Micallef

The story

M. Micallef was born in 1996 in Grasse, the city of perfume, from the meeting of two very different paths: Martine Micallef, an artist, and Geoffrey Nejman, who came from the world of finance. She designs bottles and packaging, and together they follow the creation of the fragrances: for almost thirty years the maison has worked in this double register, which it sums up in its motto, Art & Perfumes. Each perfume is conceived as a work of art to wear, born from the meeting of tradition and innovation.

Here, art is seen even before it is smelled. The bottles are designed by Martine Micallef and decorated by hand in the Grasse ateliers: crystals applied one by one, gold and platinum decoration, even firing in the house's own ceramic kiln. Inside are haute parfumerie compositions which, the maison says, can contain up to two hundred natural ingredients. In its early days M. Micallef was among the pioneers of warm, spicy perfumes of Middle Eastern inspiration and one of the first houses to bring oud to the European public; over time its palette has widened to the flowers of the Pays de Grasse, to citrus and woods. Many historic fragrances are signed by Jean-Claude Astier, the house's senior nose, together with Geoffrey Nejman.

Today the catalogue revolves around two collections. The Jewel Collection, born with Jewel for Her and Jewel for Him, gathers the best-known fragrances in contemporary bottles with pure, graphic lines: DesirToxic, which the maison calls “un best-seller au pouvoir magnétique”, GnTonic, Ylang in Gold, Note Vanillée. Secrets of Love, launched in 2016, dresses its eaux de parfum in bottles inspired by moucharabiehs, between transparency and metallic reflections. Alongside them are Ananda, the Nectars in extrait concentration and the gourmand Collection Desserts. Since 2023 the house has been led by a new generation, with Charbel Asmar as CEO and Claudia Micallef as artistic director; the maison states a presence in 75 countries and about 900 points of sale.

At OUD Profumeria Artistica you will find eighteen 100 ml M. Micallef fragrances, made in France: seventeen Eau de Parfum and one Extrait de Parfum, DesirToxic L'Intense. The three to start with are DesirToxic, GnTonic and Hypnotic Musk. DesirToxic is the house's most famous woody spicy scent, with cardamom, cinnamon, blackcurrant, cannabis and patchouli. GnTonic turns the freshness of a gin and tonic into perfume: bitter orange, lime, ginger, peppermint and vetiver. Hypnotic Musk is the fruity musky scent of 2025, soft and sensual, with iris, raspberry, lychee, violet and vanilla.

The collections

At OUD Profumeria Artistica you will find eighteen 100 ml M. Micallef fragrances, in Eau de Parfum (DesirToxic L'Intense in Extrait de Parfum).

• Jewel Collection: DesirToxic (2019, the bestseller: cardamom, cinnamon, blackcurrant, cannabis, tonka bean and patchouli), DesirToxic L'Intense (2024, Extrait de Parfum, the more intense version: saffron, cardamom, mint, cinnamon, tonka bean and patchouli), GnTonic (2023, the gin and tonic: bitter orange, lime, ginger, peppermint, cedarwood and vetiver), Notorious XO (2025, the great cognacs: cognac, pepper, leather, cinnamon, tonka bean and praline), Hypnotic Musk (2025, iris, raspberry, lychee, violet, caramel, musk and vanilla), RedColorado (2023, the American West: pine, cypress, burnt wood, sandalwood, vanilla and leather), Royal Vintage (2013, pink pepper, cypress, patchouli and musk), EdenFalls (2021, dedicated to nature: bergamot, mandarin, neroli, jasmine and patchouli), Osaïto (2016, grapefruit, marine notes, myrtle, sea fennel and sandalwood), Jewel for Him (2011, bergamot, grapefruit, cardamom, vetiver and incense), Ylang in Gold (2012, ylang ylang, coconut, orange blossom, jasmine and vanilla), Note Vanillée (mandarin, jasmine, vanilla, rum, cognac and amber), Pure Extrême (2015, rose, gardenia, jasmine, white flowers and white musk).
• Secrets of Love: Sensual (2016, caramel, apple, rose, saffron, cloves and vanilla), Spiritual (bergamot, pink pepper, incense, blackcurrant, benzoin and vanilla), Soleil Passion (2022, pomegranate, wild strawberry, water lily, rose and musk), Ô Féminin (2024, bergamot, petitgrain, neroli, rose, jasmine and orange blossom).
• And also: Oud Provocant (2023, saffron, incense, rose, labdanum, Indian oud and ambergris).

OUD Profumeria Artistica is an authorised M. Micallef retailer, online and at the store in Nettuno (Rome).

Frequently asked questions

Which M. Micallef perfumes are the best loved?
The three to start with are DesirToxic, GnTonic and Hypnotic Musk: all three are among the best sellers the maison lists on its own website, and the first two are also among the most voted by enthusiasts on Fragrantica. Ylang in Gold, the most voted among those you will find here, DesirToxic L'Intense and Notorious XO are much loved too.

What kind of perfume is GnTonic by M. Micallef?
GnTonic is an aromatic citrus Eau de Parfum from the Jewel Collection, launched in 2023 and inspired by the freshness of a gin and tonic. It opens with bitter orange, lime, ginger and peppermint; in the heart are cedarwood, nutmeg, lily of the valley and orange blossom; in the base vetiver, sandalwood and amber. The maison lists it among its best sellers.

What is the difference between DesirToxic and DesirToxic L'Intense?
DesirToxic, from 2019, is the woody spicy scent that made the Jewel Collection famous: cardamom, cinnamon, blackcurrant, cannabis and patchouli. DesirToxic L'Intense, from 2024, is its Extrait de Parfum version, more concentrated, warmer and more ambery, with saffron, mint, tonka bean and ambergris. Both are unisex.

What kind of perfume is Ylang in Gold?
Ylang in Gold is a floral amber Eau de Parfum from the Jewel Collection, launched in 2012. Sunny and sensual, it revolves around ylang ylang, with coconut, orange blossom and jasmine in the heart, bergamot, caramel and rose in the opening, sandalwood, vanilla and musk in the base. The formula contains a golden pearly veil that illuminates the skin.

What kind of perfume is Note Vanillée?
Note Vanillée is the amber gourmand Eau de Parfum of the Jewel Collection devoted to vanilla. It opens with mandarin and citrus, has a heart of jasmine and a rich base of vanilla, rum, cognac, amber and sandalwood. Warm and enveloping, the maison recommends it for her as much as for him.

What is the difference between the Jewel Collection and Secrets of Love?
The Jewel Collection gathers M. Micallef's best-known fragrances in contemporary bottles with pure lines: here you will find, among others, DesirToxic, GnTonic, Notorious XO and Hypnotic Musk. Secrets of Love, born in 2016, has bottles inspired by moucharabiehs and a more intimate, sensual character: Sensual, Spiritual, Soleil Passion and Ô Féminin.

Are M. Micallef perfumes for men or for women?
Many are unisex, such as DesirToxic, EdenFalls and Note Vanillée. The maison offers GnTonic, Notorious XO, RedColorado, Royal Vintage and Osaïto for him; Hypnotic Musk, Ylang in Gold, Pure Extrême and Ô Féminin for her. These are style suggestions: every fragrance is chosen by taste, not by gender.

Where can I buy M. Micallef perfumes in Italy?
OUD Profumeria Artistica is an authorised M. Micallef retailer: you will find the fragrances online and at our store in Nettuno, in the province of Rome. Shipping is free in Italy on orders over €60, and over €100 we add 10 complimentary samples.