Its a provocative fragrance that first comes out strong but dries down very nicely. This pefume is characterized as a chypre fragrance because of its woodsy, mossy, castoreum composition ( which smells like ambroxan to me) This perfume is sexy, animalistic, feminine with a slight masculine edge, if that makes any sense. You can smell the rose and black currant which makes it slightly sweet, the moss is faint. It has patchouli musk and vanilla absolute that comes out nicely at the end. It lasts awhile. Its like its whisperng naughty things to me.It has a certain charm. This fragrance drives my boyfrend crazy. It lives up to its name, Mad Madame.