https://www.proz.com/kudoz/french-to-english/cosmetics-beauty/5773246-au-parfum-dinterdit.html

Glossary entry

français term or phrase:

au parfum d'interdit

anglais translation:

a hint of the forbidden

Added to glossary by Helene Tammik
Feb 6, 2015 10:37
9 yrs ago
2 viewers *
français term

au parfum d'interdit

français vers anglais Marketing Cosmétiques / produits de beauté eau de toilette
From a description of an eau de toilette for men with extract of absinthe as its main ingredient;

'Un hommage à cette plante mythique, muse des artistes, au parfum d’interdit et aux propriétés aphrodisiaques.'

My try is 'with a hint of forbidden pleasures', but I'm wondering if this is a bit over the top for an eau de toilette. Has anyone got a better idea? Thanks in advance!
Change log

Feb 11, 2015 07:26: Helene Tammik Created KOG entry

Discussion

Colin Morley (X) Feb 6, 2015:
But does it work? is what I want to know!
Helene Tammik Feb 6, 2015:
@ Charles - yes, it's very difficult to know where to stop, isn't it? I had one the other day which I translated as "make him yearn for a taste of you" :-D
It was for perfume/Valentine's Day & a very provocative text, but I'm dying to know if they left it in or whether it got a bit "softened"...
Charles Davis Feb 6, 2015:
@Jane Having just recently endured the Christmas avalanche of perfume ads on TV I would say that nothing is over the top for an eau de toilette.

Proposed translations

+8
3 minutes
Selected

a hint of the forbidden

how about this - slightly less suggestive :-)
Note from asker:
Thanks Helene, I prefer that to my own suggestion!
Peer comment(s):

agree Noni Gilbert Riley : Or the "scent" of the forbidden?
4 minutes
agree writeaway : hint, definitely. parfum is not meant literally here.
29 minutes
agree Charles Davis
32 minutes
agree Rachel Braff
1 heure
agree Sonia Geerlings
2 heures
agree James A. Walsh
3 heures
agree Alison Sabedoria (X)
4 heures
agree philgoddard
4 heures
I love your 'frisson' Phil, but I guess one would have to rework the whole sentence more in order to slip that in in a way that sounds natural :-)
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks Helene!"
6 heures

with a frisson of the forbidden

I agree with Helene's answer, but you may prefer this slightly more colourful and alliterative suggestion.

Frisson
A brief moment of emotional excitement: shudder, thrill. "Produce a genuine frisson of disquiet."
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