Baikal Gris

Despite being an avid oud freak, I must say that in the 4th collection, Baikal Gris is the winner of my admiration. Don't get me wrong - I don't mean that it is the best in the collection, but at least in my preference, I felt that Baikal Gris is what I would label as a true artistic creation. Scent: 9/10 Terrific There have been some attempted reviews online, but I felt they could not fully capture what is so picturesque about this work. It is correct to say that Baikal Gris is an "atmospheric" fragrance that invokes a fascinating aura around the wearer than hitting certain distinct olfactory notes. Now, I don't mean to devalue the other works in the 4th collection; they are all equally phenomenal in terms of accessibility and olfactory experience. However, I felt that Areej has, at the expense of making its works more accessible, sacrificed some of the depth and intensity that you'd expect. Proud owners of the 1st collection will know what I am implying. Baikal Gris, amongst the four, is the only one that is untapped in the act of balancing accessibility and depth. Notes-wise, Baikal Gris has no distinct notes that you could pick up (e.g. Oud Luwak has Indian Oud and Luwak coffee, Malik de Taif has Royal Taif Rose, Koh-i-Noor has jasmine and ylang-ylang). The opening has a clear flush of violet leaf, but it soon blends seamlessly into the composition into a moist, salty, oceanic aura that permeates in unity. It does not hit me as characteristically ambergris-ish; the blend is just mixed so well that it moves as a whole, and you can smell nothing but the whole. Versatility: 4/10 Not for you, you, or you... To wear Baikal Gris, you must have a certain composture fitting of the aura that it exudes. I don't see a confident executive wearing this, neither do I see it fitting for a member of the royal family. To wear Baikal Gris, you must have a certain disposition to even like it in the first place. Mind you; this is an artistic creation, and works of art do not please the senses intently(consult Jeremy for that). Artistic creations express! Baikal Gris reflects a deep capacity for introspection that distances the wearer from the distracted world we live in. A detached, lone individual alienated from external affairs to make room for his/her thoughts. As such, it does not suit a whole majority of the population who are constantly engaged with the world. But individuals eccentric at heart like me will rejoice at the prospect of finding a fragrance that finally expresses what they are. Longevity: 9/10 Tenacious It's from Areej, has real ambergris and oakmoss as the main fixative. Say no more. Projection: 8/10 Excellent Similar to Maison Dior's fragrances, this has a soft and embracing projection that is never overpowering but makes its presence known to the passing stranger. It expresses an aura of the wearer, as I have mentioned above several times. It can be annoyingly strong when freshly sprayed, so I'd advise moderation in the application. Overall: 7/10 Very good The reason this isn't scored highly is due to the need to be objective in considering fragrances. While I would give a subjective 10/10 for this work, I have to take into consideration how it would work for the majority of the population, and in that sense, Baikal Gris loses out to most fragrances in terms of versatility. As iconically said, this is a polarising piece of art - it either speaks to your soul or repulses you to unbridled convulsions (I'm exaggerating of course). If there's anything to take away from this humble review: this is a very specific fragrance that intends to express and not impress. Unless it speaks to you, don't buy it. If it does, it'll be one of the best decisions you'd ever make.

Update: This is actually better in Summer. Im wearing it in June, and it pops. I'm wearing this in Winter of 2026 now, and it's a great cold weather fragrance. I've come to appreciate Atlantic Ambergris more. It has a more distinct salty ambergris with myrrh resin. So it's darker. Baikal is great as well, but greener and brighter. The amber gives it some warmth as a base note. I waited for a partial bottle to come up for sale on eBay, and snagged it. I like it a lot. It's not mind blowing like War and Peace or Ottoman Empire. On my second day wearing Baikal Gris: The nagarmotha/ cypriol is fresh, green, and slightly medecinal. This is the first cypriol oil note that I like and smells natural. There's a nice cypress with violet leaf that adds to the woodsy lake vib. There seems to be a warm spice here like clove, but none listed. Perhaps something else giving that impression. The ambergris is a main player. It smells creamy, salty and animalic; not dirty or sensual. The labdanum amber in the base gives it some warm richness. The tonka and vanilla give it a little sweet balance. It is a beautiful earthy brown and green fragrance. I can't stop sniffing my hand. I love woody, earthy, natural fragrances, and conifers. So this checked all the boxes for me. I was surprised on first spray. First 10 minutes in was soft on projection, then surprisingly became more intense over time. Only really great high quality fragrances do that. You have to really concentrate hard for this one, as it's so subtle. You will be rewarded though. The fir balsam is perhaps darker than others I know, Roja Apex, etc. I thought the violet would be like in Guerlain Lupin Dandy, but it's more green than floral, unique. It just takes some wearings to get to know the depth and complexity. This doesn't get weird like some Prin or Zoogogist fragrances, but allmost. It's slightly sweet, and is grounded with solid woody notes of cedar and sandalwood. It stays beautifully simple. It's a unique one from Russian Adam. Very natural and pleasant. PS: This may be my last review for quite a while. Areej le Dore Antiquity is the only fragrance I'm missing to make my collection complete, after 10 years of collecting. May I leave you with some good news: (Acts 4:12) "There is only one name given under heaven, by which we must be saved." Jesus Christ loves you, and will save you, if you come to Him as the sinner we all are. Rating 9.25/10 God bless.

Baikal Gris: Bottom Line up Front: Baikal Gris is one of the best fougeres I have ever smelled. This is truly transportive stuff...Sweet, crisp, mountain air breezes over fresh waters, lapping against blonde wooden docks as fir and cedar trees sway over wild violets. In the opening, Baikal starts out with a slightly "bark-like" smoky green woodiness provided by fir balsam teamed with THE most beautiful, juicy, almost-floral violet leaf. A distant vanilla and mysore sandalwood provide just a slight sweet creaminess, restricting the beginning notes from any abruptness. Out of nowhere, the fossil amber creeps in and creates this smoky leatheriness, especially when paired with the violet leaf that can veer into the leather territory itself. I've noticed fossil amber creates this "industrial leather" type accord, which is also showcased in Sultan Pasha's Ambrecuir. Really interesting stuff, and definitely not your labdanum-vanilla-benzoin combo you're used to with most oriental ambers. The Sandal and Vanilla really emerge from the background and start weaving in and out of dominance with the opening notes. All the while, tonka is warming everything up, gaining intensity. This sweetness between the vanilla and tonka never get to be too much; Actually, just enough to make things really enjoyable! The grey ambergris creates a slightly musky, "ocean spray" effect giving the notes an nice effervescence and 3D effect. I understand that some types of ambergris also impart a "violet-like" floral quality, which may be why the violet leaf note in this composition is so darn good! If you smell this on paper/dipstick vs. skin, it will always smell muskier and potentially a bit much for some folks. Again, these must be worn on skin for the musks to do their magic with your skin chemistry. My skin definitely mellows the muskiness, balancing the composition in that regard. On the drydown all of the notes soften together and are warmed by a slight touch of cedar. I also get a particularly "brown" oakmoss alongside the cedar. There is a bit of lively, almost citrusy greenness to the drydown as well that really keeps things interesting. IMO this is a must-try fragrance for anyone that is a fan of fougeres.

Unfortunately, I haven't been lucky enough to get my hands on a spray bottle of the elusive Baikal Gris, but if the EDP is anything like the Attar, it's something great. The attar is the first fragrance I've tried that successfully pulls off "green amber". Admittedly not the most populous subgenre from the offset, usually green ambers seem hampered by a lack of balance to me, as they either give into the phenolic quality of the green notes or they slide into doughy amber aromachem territory and become quickly grating. This is dynamically, somehow mouth-wateringly green. Crisp, but devoid of any obviously identifiable edible fruit, sitting somewhere between granny smith apple and christmas fir. The ambergris (which I'd be lying if I said I immediately picked up on despite the name of the fragrance) and sandalwood provide a much deeper and more complex greyish amber accord than the confectionary qualities I'm used to with other ambers. Both of these accords are successful, but of course the real magic is in the interplay between the two, where the milkiest, fuzziest edges of the amber accord smooth off the sharper grass-like elements of the green notes. The overall feel is certainly greyish, but theres also a foresty cold-air sort of effect that subverts the usual more industrial or urban grey mental-scent associations something like Narciso Rodriquez Pour Homme or Baudelaire might bring up. The attar is a sure fire winner, It's the first time I've caught myself resisting the urge to wear a fragrance on account of how little I have left in quite a while.

I have always been interested in trying all of Areej le Doré's creations, lured in by the use of real musk, as I was so curious to smell the difference. Apart from a couple of decants of Siberian Musk, that I kept because they smell amazing on my SO, the other decants have moved on to more appreciative people. His perfumes are to me very well made, using the highest quality ingredients, but very traditional and not making me fall in love. I've never before felt compelled to even consider buying a bottle at these prices. But with Baikal Gris, I sniffed my wrist and knew that I had to order it right away, before it ran out. Now that a bottle is safely in my hands, I can post a review ;) I have been searching for a fragrance like this for a long time. It's a sweet breath of fresh air, a forest with a fresh lake (like the name). This is what I, in my naivety thought Tom Ford's Italian Cypress would smell like. All other perfumes that are claiming to smell of forest and/or water (big exception: my favorite, Anna Zworykina) just assault me with shrieking synthetic notes that pierce the lining of my nose. (and why do they insist on filling their "forests" with detergent grade citrus?) Baikal Gris is so soft and calming, with, as always, great longevity. It's a real feat to make something so mellow and still extremely interesting, like the subtle changes of scents in a real forest.