Badgley Mischka

(Review of an original extrait) Someone at Badgley Mischka really enjoys the old-school fruity floral woody perfumes of a long ago period. I smell Dior, Guerlain, Chanel, Lanvin, and many others in here not for the least of reasons is that it is an extrait and it is composed the way we find those classic French extraits. It does, fortunately, have quite a modern bend to it. This isn’t derivative... but neither was it a good idea. The opening is very peach forward with flecks of red berries mixed in for a bit more breadth, instantly announcing itself as carefree, happy, fun, and sweetly mannered. Juicy, sweet, fleshy, and with just the right amount of slightly sour and bitter skin. The peach note carries all the way through to the heart and to the base, and it is the central theme of the perfume. In the heart it links-up very naturally to osmanthus and peony accords. It’s a simple yet beautiful heart section: soft tropical fruity, white rosey, heady, creamy, and a touch woody. It is chock-full of joy, sunshine, and giggles. Rather than strictly going down the chypre route as have so many of its predecessors, BM gives musky sandalwood a pleasant benzoin note that leans it very gently in an amber direction. Woody earthiness and touches of vanilla accent what was already a sweet floral woody perfume into a convincing amber and chypre union. I really enjoy wearing this perfume, despite not having much of an affinity for the fruity floral genre. It has all of the characteristics I would like for it to have: great materials, great blending, a clear personality that is also quite infectiously happy, good performance and an interesting development reflective of how a well-built extrait should behave. So why did I say earlier that this was not a good idea? Well, in 2006, nobody seemed to give a damn. Badgley Mischka employed the talents of Richard Herpin to make them a perfume that no one was going to buy. What a shame.

I would not have tried this if I had not been seduced by tales of an Elizabeth Arden outlet store just 8 minutes walk from my office. I cannot believe I might have missed out on this exquisite honey & nectar perfume. I know it doesn't list honey in the notes but I care not! Later the honey is joined by floral nuances, suede soft with a very mild astringent tail kick to give it interest. I call peony on this one. I don't get any boozy notes, unless you are Pooh Bear drunk on honey. I can see him now, his red-clad, short, plump little body, with his hand digging industriously into the hive, tounge reaching joyfully towards his nose. That's me, with Badgley Mischka.

This original Badgley Mischka was a knock-your-socks-off perfume poised perfectly between gorgeous and delicious: a peachy, bosomy, flowery swirl, with even the patchouli drydown delectably balanced between incense and molasses. You had no idea if you wanted to eat it or kiss it. It has long been discontinued, tragically, and in its place Badgley Mischka now sell, as their signature perfume, a sedate tuberose bouquet (why would you want a sedate tuberose? it's like asking Beyonce to sing a nursery rhyme) Nice, but merely nice. On my end, I'll seek out Mauboussin, which apparently is very close to this original scent!

Smells like yummy, boozy fruit. Delicious and the bf complimented it, too. One of my new favorites, smells expensive. Nice sillage and lasts for about 3 hours on me. Edit: This is definitely an Autumn/Winter perfume to me, I wore it yesterday after not wearing it much in the Summer and got an amazing 12+hours with this. I could still smell it the next morning. Amazing. I also wanted to add that although BM starts off boozy and rich, it mellows out to a clean, fresh and musky peach-scent that I really like....which is good, since this stage lasts and lasts on me, apparently.

This was another blind buy based on many favorable reviews here. I found it for a steal at Winners and there are no regrets! It's a lush and boozy fragrance for sure, emphasis on the peach schnapps in the opening which then rounds out to a caramelized middle with a bit of jasmine in the mix. I immediately thought of Varvatos when I first applied this perfume, it feels deeper tho, more sultry. I love Varvatos in the spring and summer, now I have something similar to wear in the colder months. I look forward to wearing this more often, it truly is lovely.