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.

There is something a little sour here, but pleasant, that I haven't seen any of the other reviews mention. Usually when considering a perfume I can reference other reviews to help me articulate my thoughts. And certainly there are tidbits here that help, including many people referring to this as atmospheric, salty, expansive with the ocean meeting a humid forest. Also: "smells of lakes you can find in fairy tales" (Q80). But that doesn't tell the whole story here. One of my favorite fragrances is Megaleion by Dawn Spencer Hurwitz (DSH) which has an explosion of cinnamon with red wine, cassia and myrtle which gives a bit of a sour/medicinal vibe which some people find challenging. It's very "of the desert" - a sibling to Sahara Noir. And each time I've smelled Baikal, my first thought is always "wet Megaleion." I'm glad the review two below mine mentioned cinnamon, because I thought I was crazy. The fragrances don't share any listed notes, and hardly any accords, but I can't shake that vibe. All together, Baikal does bring to mind a mystical lake in a twisted fairytale, in which the wrong seeker might find herself poisoned, but the right heroine will find herself deeply rewarded. Not to suggest it's feminine - I find it truly unisex, but hey I'm the heroine in this story after all. Please more people try this and write reviews!

Wow! This is one intense and stunning scent. So potent to. I smell the sea. It runs along a coastline of dense forest that is largely coniferous. The Amber gris is bold but the violet leaf is very evident as well. These two notes ease a little and now the papyrus, Tonka and sandalwood are detected. Papyrus has such a unique smell. The effect now is soft, a little green/earthy and quite lovely. A very unisex scent. The Amber gris still holds its own against the other aromatic notes. It's like blanket of leaves keeping you warm as you curl up at the foot of a tree trying to sleep through a noisy and lively night. There is almost a magical quality. It makes me think of the brothers Grimm fairy tales although this does not smell dark at all. The sillage retracts back to arm length after an hour but the longevity goes on for a good few hours. Beautiful stuff

AMBER-GREEN..... This smells very natural and kind of "old fashion", in a really good way. You can feel straight off the bat an slightly sweet ambergris, the greenness of some conifers balsam and the violet. I can not explain it, but to me this does not smell outdoorsy, as one could imagine with the scent profile of this perfume, but not to me. The image in my mind is an old, well preserved country house, by a lake surrounded by pines. But you are in the inside. Wooden floors, herbal aromas coming from some potpourri pots... sitting on the library, windows opened, having a tea with milk, sugar and a pinch of cinnamon. Do not ask me why... this is my brain painting... Uniqueness: High Scent: 8.5/10 Performance: Moderate Would I buy it: Yes (part of my collection)

A murky green-gray; cloudy, salty, and lightly sweet. Tonka, violet, sandalwood, and ambergris woven together, all smooth and round like an ocean-churned pebble. There’s a hint of vanilla that slides into the softness, though its role is thankfully complementary, barely noticeable as its own. The pine here is not like I think of the sharp conifer or sweet balsam, but rather the impression of the cold air around a tree—all the sort of green nuances mixed into the atmosphere. I like wearing this when it’s a little drizzly outside—chilly, but not so cold. It wears softly, sort of pitter pattering against window panes, there but not.

Baikal is magical smelling, the oakmoss is present throughout, the fir balsam, the greenery, mossy feel about the scent, it gives an aroma that reads as humid forest on skin but the ambergris wraps it around bringing a piece of the ocean into the forest, this one is a wild creature of beautiful proportions. Also very long lasting and always present, I don’t get nose fatigued with Baikal Gris, also I can’t forget to mention that I also perceive a noticeable sweetness throughout, but sweet in a very unconventional and exotic way.

Incredibly pleasant! Baikal has a mysterious perfume; oakmoss, fir balsam, greenery, and mossy notes are all present. On the skin, the aroma reads as a humid forest, but the ambergris wraps it up and brings a bit of the ocean into the forest; this one is a wild monster of magnificent proportions. Additionally, very durable with great silage and projection Throughout, there is sweetness, but it's in a very unusual and strange way.

Totally unique and offbeat, but still wearable scent if worn discreetly. This definitely conjures up a strong sense of place--I feel like I'm walking around a coniferous forest near the ocean. The piney woodiness is an unexpected pairing with the salty/briny ambergris, but they really do go together well! The tonka, vanilla sweetness is a nice support to that central woody-ambergris accord.

This is an incredible fragrance that is unique in my collection. The Ambergris is well done here. The vanilla and violet leaf add a leather suede smell that is nice. This is not too animalic and extremely wearable. I pick up similarities of Aqua Fahrenheit with the vanilla and violet leaf. They are very different but have similarities. I hope Russian Adam remakes this one on 2026.

I only have 2 Areej in my collection- Baikal Gris and Ottoman Empire 4- both amazing. The hipster Bros on Basenotes don't seem to like this one, they're all in agreement... My bottle is nearly 100%- only used a few times but one of the best in my collection.

I don’t know why but I love this one. I don’t usually like some of the ingredients in this one but wow he did such a nice job blending . It’s very very nice . I just finished my 3ml decant and would love to find a bottle. It’s almost impossible.

Smells so amazing and so different. Like a forest next to a beach. I just wish it was a bit stronger as its a soft scent. Its a grey and green color to me. This one should be experienced by every one. Beautiful

Not a beast by any means...but that doesn't make this less desireable. This has a nice balsam fir, green, ambergris combo that is very nice. Subtle but high quality. Blind bought with no regrets. Bravo Adam!

My favorite from the new collection. IMO very masculine, outdoorsy, and quite animalic really.

even though i am sitting here at home on a sunny morning, wearing bg, i am immersed in another space of intense woodiness. it is an environment onto itself. when i received the fb bottle a while back, i was not so impressed on a cold damp day. but now windy, sunny, it explodes on me, bathing me. i have fallen into a large pile of evergreen needles and twigs, the cloud-speckled azure sky peeking out of the tree tops as i look up. bg enhances a dreamy sense, reflective. memories of flowers, amber, spice meld with the green. peaceful. 8 hours into the day, sweet flowers wreath my head. intense and pleasing. this is not "office safe." if others sense what i sense, it would disrupt the business world, useless suits, expensive watches, cell phones. bg insists on its own wide open outdoors. high summer in the forested mountains a true joy especially without pesky gnats, flies and mosquitoes. 04/08/21 I am 1/3 bottle through. today the scent is all about violet. violet di parma. of course there are other notes but i am carried back to parma in the 80's where i first discovered the heady fragrance of napoleon's favorite flower. i am not sure what happened to the outdoor woody mood, but it has been replaced by candied violet in a velvet case.

I thought I already wrote a review detailing the differences between this & Atlantic Ambergris, but I guess I never did? Oh well, I feel like the moment has passed and all I want to say is that this is hands down WAY better. It no longer has that shockingly mentholated opening, and the rest is rounder, richer, more bottom-heavy, and as a whole more balanced & refined, not to mention the prominent sandalwood in the drydown! This might not bring to mind the word "oceanic" that's often associated with ambergris, but if you have the good fortune of smelling the actual white/gray material, you'd find this iteration to bear more resemblance. The only reason(s) I didn't get this is because the entire 4th Collection is TOO outstanding—It's hard to compete with one of the BEST rose fragrances ever created, rare & perfect use of coffee Luwak, and the crown jewel of a musky floral—and also because I chose JoAnne Bassett's Sacred Elixir 777 over this in the end (They are similar in feel).