The Story
Why it exists.
Au Masculin arrived in 2000, a collaboration between Lolita Lempicka’s playful, story‑driven house and nose Annick Ménardo. The French label, born in 1983 and famed for fairy‑tale gourmand twists, wanted a masculine echo of its iconic licorice‑wood signature. Ménardo answered with a blend that flips the brand’s sweet‑soft DNA into a spicier, aromatic portrait, anchoring the scent in anise, ivy and a rum‑kissed heart.
If this were a song
Community picks
Blue in Green
Miles Davis
The Beginning
Au Masculin arrived in 2000, a collaboration between Lolita Lempicka’s playful, story‑driven house and nose Annick Ménardo. The French label, born in 1983 and famed for fairy‑tale gourmand twists, wanted a masculine echo of its iconic licorice‑wood signature. Ménardo answered with a blend that flips the brand’s sweet‑soft DNA into a spicier, aromatic portrait, anchoring the scent in anise, ivy and a rum‑kissed heart.
Star anise and absinthe give the opening a herbal, licorice‑sharp edge, while ivy adds a green, climbing texture. The heart swaps that bite for rum’s sweet warmth and violet’s powdery softness, with orgeat syrup whispering almond‑kissed caramel. As it dries, vanilla, tonka bean and cedar blend into a creamy, woody base, and labdanum adds a faint resinous echo.
The Evolution
On the first spray, star anise and absinthe flash bright, a crisp, slightly bitter sparkle that catches attention like a mischievous grin. Ivy trails behind, giving the opening a fresh, green lift that softens the licorice edge after about ten minutes. When the initial spark fades, the heart blooms: rum’s caramel warmth spreads, mingling with violet’s soft powder and the sweet, almond‑kissed richness of orgeat syrup. This mid‑phase feels like stepping into a dimly lit lounge where the conversation turns sweet and intimate. As the night deepens, the base settles in. Vanilla and tonka bean create a creamy, sugary foundation, while cedar adds a dry, woody backbone. Labdanum whispers a faint amber‑like resin, giving the dry‑down a lingering, almost tactile finish that clings to the skin for eight to ten hours, enough to be noticed without overwhelming.
Cultural Impact
Since its 2000 debut, Au Masculin has become a cult favorite among fans of gourmand‑oriental blends. Its bold anise‑absinthe opening divides opinion, yet those who embrace it often cite the rum‑sweet heart as a signature that sets it apart from typical vanilla‑heavy men’s scents. It’s frequently mentioned alongside Lempicka Homme as the brand’s masculine counterpart, earning a steady following in niche circles.
The House
France · Est. 1983
Lolita Lempicka is a French fashion house that expanded into perfumery in 1997, founded by designer Josiane Maryse Pividal in Paris. The brand is named after Vladimir Nabokov's novel and Polish Art Deco painter Tamara de Lempicka, reflecting a romantic and literary sensibility that permeates both its fashion and fragrance collections. The house gained international recognition through its signature apple-shaped perfume bottle, introduced with the debut fragrance Lolita Lempicka. Known for whimsical, fairy-tale inspired aesthetics, the brand creates fragrances with a distinctive gourmand character, particularly anchored by notes of anise, licorice, and vanilla. The label has collaborated with multiple notable perfumers including Annick Menardo, Francis Kurkdjian, and Christine Nagel across its collection of over seventy perfumes.
If this were a song
Community picks
The scent feels like a late‑night lounge: smoky jazz tones with a hint of sweet caramel, mirroring the rum‑kissed heart and warm vanilla finish.
Blue in Green
Miles Davis
