Cristobal

I was really young, on my first real job, the year was 2000. There was a thing we did back then called "reading glossy magazines". The amount of crappy articles and ridiculous advice one could get from those things was equaled only to the delight of going through hundreds of thousands of colorful pictures about fashion, beauty, style and perfumes. The old version of scrolling, you might say. I still remember it was an evening after a long day at work, just home with the latest issue of Cosmopolitan. Got to an article (very deep stuff...) about "what kind of perfume each of the stars of Coyote Ugly would wear". For Piper Perabo, they were going with Cristobal. The notes and the bottle made me very curious, I've never thought about perfumes in terms of anything but three kinds of flowers and that's about it. To have fig leaf and carnation and sandalwood and in such an incredible bottle, I was transfixed. I got the perfume within the week, and the smell was everything I had hoped it would be and then some. The high of that exquisite pleasure has been the thing I've been looking for with every new scent I've smelled, never to be found again. I've had just two bottles over the years, it was expensive for me even back when it was in production and was hard to source in my country in the later part of the 2000s. It was my signature and my most prized perfume, it was mine in a way in which no other perfume ever was, and I was secretly happy that nobody else I've ever met ever wore it. I still have the last bottle with the last drop of brown juice in a corner. The last time I've worn it was the New Year's of 2020. I knew then that it was the end of an era for me, finishing up my last drops of Cristobal. Oh, so little did I know, really. There is NOTHING out there like it. Nine simple notes, an incredible experience. It will be forever missed.

I bought Cristobal on impulse on a very dark December day in Copenhagen while roaming the xmas-fuelled stalls of ILLUM BOLIGHUS searching for a scent to envelope myself into. This fragrance has captured for me the essence of Xmas magic: the butterflies in the stomach from that feeling that everything is possible at this time of the year, that most secret wishes are just about to come true and a miracle is just around the corner.The flickering of milliards of decoration lights all over town, the currant aftertaste of gluehwein lingering for hours on the pallet, the anticipation - it's all bottled in there under the ornate golden cap. It has indeed a "fizzy" note in it, which for me is a direct association with champagne, and the drydown settles into a complex vanilla-based slightly powdery aura that makes the scent sound solemn, almost pompous, slightly conservative ( there's an unmistakeable grownup note in there somewhere ) and lnto -the-late-hour-festive. Perhaps, since my memory of the settings of my first sniff is so strong, I can hardly imagine wearing it at any time of the year: will be repurchasing exclusively for wearing it in the last 2 weeks of December for as long as the bottle lasts: and it really does, in spite of me being a rather generous sprayer. Hope to find a parfum extrait that is under 400 EUR ( currently the only existing Ebay offer ) -that*ll be on my Xmas wishllist this year!:)

Cristobal is a sweet floriental, not a scent profile I'm partial to, but it is a cut above other similar offerings that were in fashion at the time of its release. Perhaps it is the fig note in the opening -then an unusual inclusion in perfume - that sets it apart, but Cristobal is pleasant throughout and nicely composed. Cristobal opens with the aforementioned fig note. Green and fresh, it provides a nice counterpoint to the vanilla that permeates this scent. The vanilla is not syrupy - instead it is somehow airy, giving a light, whipped sweetness to Cristobal. Floral notes follow, sweet and clean, getting increasingly powdery as this scent develops. It is mostly peony with a clove-like edge thanks to the carnation. The drydown is woody, complementing the vanilla beautifully. The soft florals remain as it fades, becoming a powdery, dry vanilla skin scent with remnants of carnation and peony. Sillage and longevity are moderate. A really decent, slightly unusual vanilla-floral scent, Cristobal is another underrated gem from Balenciaga (I recently was blown away by Cialenga). A transeasonal, breezy feminine scent, this is an easy reach for everyday use. Effortlessly excellent. 4/5.

Oh Gillie, thank you! You gave me Cristobal with your review! I always liked the smell, but than I never could figure out, when to wear it. It was bold, elegant, feminine, rich and mature. I thought the opera might be the right occasion? But than I see myself always wearing something different. It was strange. When I read Gilies review, I thought: Bollocks, comfort scent, pah, that is a big expensive night out frag. Cashmere, no, never, pure silk night gown. But for sure, Gillie was right! I sniffed it with her review in mind and it all felt in the right place. Cristobal is a perfect comfort scent! Since I know that and got it's purpose, I love it dearly. Now I need to stock up, I fear. The perfume itself is mostly fig and lots of patchouli to me. Creamy vanilla. Smells very expensive. Doesn't develop much.

The opening of Cristobal is one of the most beautiful I have ever come across-bergamot and carnation and fig? I'm not real familiar with fig but if this is it, I am hooked! Cristobal has a spiciness to it that must come from that spicy little flower, carnation. It is deliciously smooth with a really classy vanilla base-in other words, it's vanilla but it doesn't scream VANILLA. The patchouli is almost non-existent on my skin, showing up only faintly in the tail end, which is fine by me since we don't always get along. Here it adds an earthy dimension to the sweetness in the drydown. All in all, this is a very sophisticated and classy autumn scent. A real wrist-sniffer. The sillage is moderate and longevity is good, lasting about 4-5 hours. Although I wish that beautiful opening could last forever!

I have been in love with Cristobal for a long time now. I am pulling my hair out as I cannot find the EDP version anymore :-( It is one of the most wonderfully created perfume I have ever smelled! The notes tickle my nose and wake my imagination up from the very first spritz! It is one of the fragrances that are not easy to describe... I think that the photograph of the model (the one on the top of the page) wrapped in silky, cool, royal fabric is just what Cristobal makes you feel when you wear it... Greeny-oriental-floral-smooth, the fragrance leads you through all olfactory experiences as it beautifully dries down... There are not many fragrances that make me go mmmmmmmmmmm while I close my eyes... Cristobal is one of them :-) Highly recommended whatever your olfactory preference is!

Tonight as I was reading reviews of Vince Camuto I realized I was longing for a scent, but I couldn't place what it was. I began searching through notes, launches, and my own reviews, but I still couldn't place the scent I was craving. Sherapop's review came into my sight, and Bingo! Cristobal is that very scent. Why on EARTH was this discontinued? How could the fragrance world, our own piece of the possibilities of heaven, be devoid of this beautiful, sensual fragrance? To me its a scent all its own; it doesn't smell like fig, or vanilla, or woods as much as it smells like "itself". Cristobal is so fascinating, unusual, and strangely sweet, it's the ultimate seductive fragrance.

Cristobal is definitely a beauty, also my olfactory-bank straight away gave as similarities vintage version of Laura Biagiotti Venezia and Alchimie of Rochas as closest relatives. Its that special touch of resinous happy woodiness, polished by good thick vanilla, that unites them three. All three are elegant, timeless and jammy-woodsy mood-lifters, all three are mega feminine on slightly gourmand side and your partner probably will hesitate - to undress this woman or to eat her alive “just like that”. I didn't know that Cristóbal is a port on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal. Sounds just like an eccentric unisex name for a tomboy. Lovely name for a fragrance anyway.

I wasn't struck on this when I was handed the sprayed card at first, I put it into my bag and forgot about it. Later when I opened my bag, this magical perfume woke me up and made me very happy. I went straight back to the shop and bought myself a bottle and since then (1999) it's become my signature scent. It's such a smooth fragrance that it's difficult to know where one component begins and another one ends. An almost creamy vanilla is present throughout. It's so different to every other perfume I've ever encountered and for me, it's perfect. I'm going very slowly on my bottle now, it's been discontinued and I never want to run out.

Cristobal is one of the best made perfumes I have experienced. It is quite loud with its heavy patchouli and fig notes mixed with sweet vanilla. But because the quality of the ingredients - (wonder if it is not all natural) this perfume smells just divine. Gold is surely the right color - just as seen in the ads. It is so classy and wonderful. It is also my signature fragrance. Sassy1 I am sure what you have tried is a fake - I hope you get to try the real one and make a new reveiw. And then name comes of course from the founder of Balenciaga - the spanish - basque designer : Cristobal Balenciaga Eizaguirre.

This perfume is so hard to find for a reasonable price. It is my unicorn as I was on a quest to find a bottle after sampling it a few years back. Finally manage to find a 30ml bottle for a reasonable, sane price. Well, what can I say; this is really, really nice as I remembered it. The scent to me is like ice cold, airy, fizzy peach tea. Kinda weird since there is only carnation, bergamot and fig leaf in its top notes.I am in love with the opening. The drydown is light vanilla. The packaging of my bottle looks worn with bottle code 6D05. I am a happy camper.

I am utterly addicted to this juice but cannot find it anywhere in my country. Always look for it when I travel, never succeed in finding this masterpiece. It is such a gem of a perfume! Please, does anyone know of a perfume that smells quite similar to Cristobal? I tried YSL's Cinema but it was just way too sweet with vanilla, although I can detect something in there that reminds me of the heavenly Balenciaga. So, if anyone comes across a similar scent, please please please let me know! Thank you fellow fragrance junkies XX

I had a devil of a time finding Cristobal. The harder it got the more determined I was to find it, like a hidden treasure. Zilch success on the internet, but a small perfume vendor in the middle of the mall had one bottle. He swears it is very popular in Europe, but if Macy's doesn't sell a frag. it doesn't move. See SANDRAS's review, says it all. It is autumny as I hoped, perfect for what it is, an oriental with some mellowing vanilla underneath.

What can i write about it? I knew this fragrance by description and reviews. A friend of mine gave a decant of it because it's discontinued. Finally by chance i found the last bottle in a shop and i bought it immediately! I ask you why now it's so difficult to find a commercial fragrance so elegant, so sensual, so intoxicating and so special? I love vintages at all!

Beautiful from beginning to end! Cristobal smells like good sweet vanilla pipe tobacco to me, rich and delicious. Strong but not overwhelming, C. is warm and comforting. It's a womens fragrance that would be lovely on men as well. I see from the ads above that C. has become rare and expensive. It's too bad this perfume isn't better known, it should be more popular.

I'm so sad it's been discontinued! The opening is unique, refined, elegant and inviting. Creamy sandalwood and sensual vanille, well-blended fig leaf and carnation, soft floral touch woody scent. I understand why people called its classy. When i wear this, i feel like unique, timeless and worthful gem (lol). What a shame it's been discontinued.

I am fully and completely IN LOVE with this perfume!I love the bottle,it's so elegant and the scent it's just perfect! I received it as a gift years ago and since then it's my favourite perfume of all times. I want to have it again,but unfortunetly I can't find it anywhere. Actually I can't seem to find any Balenciaga product in my country. :(

True love at first sight. This one is a classic, sweet and a little bit masculine at the same time. Unfortunately it has been discontinued but i have found 1 store who still has this delicious scent in their stock. So i will purchase me another very quick before it totally disappear.

I so wish this perfume would make a comeback! I never had it; I only smelled a sample of it... and I was hooked! It smelled so, so good!! Like you wanna eat it! I don't know what made it smell so great, but whatever that was, it was a success, in my opinion.

My go-to scent for cold evenings, dressing up, going to the opera. When I need the luxe of the old world this gem is all sophistication and class. Music and perfume entwined. So many memories in a bottle.