When I think of the Marquis de Sade, for whom this perfume is an homage to, I think of… exploratory extracurricular activities. And 1740 smells like… exploratory extracurricular activities! However, with one key distinction: when I think of that original sado masochist, I think dirty. And I don’t mean the acts themselves, I mean unhygienic, un-scrubbed bodies, residual fluids, and (I have curious thoughts) about the pre-Charmin days of ablutions. Histoires de Parfums 1740, while smelling of delightfully devious acts, also smells CLEAN. The clashing bodies in 1740 have been well-scrubbed; there is a purity here that makes it easily wearable outside the house— no need to blush.
I declare 1740 skank free!
Now, there are probably those of you who would disagree with me, but for me 1740 is quite clean and appropriate—like the bedroom acts of loving, consenting adults. Try and tell me you’ve never gone to work with that special glow on your face…
Honeyed tobacco*, smokey leather, delicious caramel, maple, and labdanum come together to give Frapin 1697 a run for it’s money. If Frapin was an intimate moment of deja vu between strangers on the street, then 1740 is the intimate thrill of exploring the body of your soul mate after sharing a single malt whiskey.
Available at the Perfume Shoppe in Canada:$30 for 14mL
*Neither honey, tobacco, caramel, or maple are listed as notes, but I smell them, I swear I do!
beauty on the outside 
I must say, this is very intriguing. I love that they sell 14ml bottles, too, that’s amazing!
I am very excited about the 14mL bottles! When my little sample runs out, I will be buying this. It’s so easy to do when they offer small sizes!!! 🙂
Great minds think alike, what more can I say? 🙂
LOL, it’s true, so true!! 🙂
Sign me up, pronto! Somebody, please! 🙂 There’s no such thing as too much…Philosophy in the Bedroom…>/i> 😉
Philosophy in the bedroom… Yes! Haha!
Maple in a perfume? Sounds wonderful!
Well, it’s not listed as a note, and neither is immortelle, but, gosh darn it, I smell it! Very much so, in fact. I find 1740 to be quite gourmand, in the very best sense of the word—particularly from about two hours in. It’s a stunner! 🙂
So, it’s a kind of “your friendly, neigborhood Marquis de Sade”, hm…A bit funny that HdP would choose de Sade as an inspiration, if the fragrance itself is so easily wearable. But perhaps they figured that Secretions Magnifiques was already done, and no need to repeat that exercise. You’ve probably seen Katie Puckrik’s review of SM (!) – absolutely wonderful to watch her facial expressons!
MdS sounds quite wonderful – and would also be great for those times when a whiff of MdS is as close as you get to going to work with that certain glow 😉 And for the dark, cold winter months where notes of honey and caramel will save your day. Or for both of those unfortunate situations.
“your friendly, neigborhood Marquis de Sade”
Yes, LOL, you’ve nailed it! As Birgit pointed out in her review, it could have been done much dirtier, and very easily. I’m actually glad that they didn’t make it so. I’m fond of a dark, sensual fragrance, but there are only so many things that can be “just for home” wear!
I wore it over the past week at work, and I felt quite comfortable, and no one around me was blushing either, haha!
Additionally, there are some wonderful similarities between this and Frapin 1697, and this one is available in an affordable 14mL size—- so, if you are hesitant to spend $250 on the Frapin, you can feel confident that with 1740 you’re getting your fair share of “intimate glow”.
I’ve been curious about Frapin, so this is very useful information, thanks 🙂 14 ml bottles leave room for more curiosity.
Mmm, absolutley yummy description, Dee. You’re right…it is skank-free, but still, as they say, “dead sexy!” 😉
Suzanne, I’m glad that you agree with my determination that it is, indeed, skank free! I was worried when I typed that, because there’s a part of me that wonders if I can’t smell “skanky” notes, LOL!
But it is sexy, isn’t it? My husband wasn’t quite as enthralled with it as I’d like him to be, but I’ll work on the associative aspect… 😉
I just saw Olfactoria’s post on this fragrance – now you two have me anxious to get out MY sample!
Yes! Dig out your sample! And please write about it too, because I’d love to hear your take— how much fun would that be???
Will do!!! Since I’m on a self-imposed no-buying-anything-new-for-awhile venture, sniffing samples I have had for the past year is what I need to do, and this would be fun!!!!
I’m glad I read this review before I ordered a sample. I’ve heard wonderful things about 1740, and you had me keenly interested until “maple”.
I would still love to smell it on someone!
Aha! Well, that’s good to know, for sure—especially since I find the note to be quite strong! 🙂
A friend of mine brought back a sample of this from a New York visit and we both loved it..I get spicy ‘patchoulied’ leather with something slightly floral in the background.. It smelled sexy yet elegant (atleast what i remember of this scent)..I dismissed buying this because of the huge bottles but recently discovered the small bottles at the perfume shoppe- just perfect.. I liked the top notes of the frapin but after that not so much..:(
And I completely agree – skank free! (though my skin generally amps the sweet notes)
I totally agree Lavanya—it’s sexy yet elegant! One of those tiny 14mL bottles has a future home in my house… 🙂