Prelude

Although it was released the year that I turned 21, I never knowingly smelled this until recently. Good thing, too, because I would have wanted it and I could barely afford to keep myself in Opium, Mitsouko and Shalimar at the time. I picked up a parfum and a parfum de toilette spray both new in their boxes on the big auction site, just because I could. I often buy things, try them and pass them to the next buyer but I am keeping Prelude. Certainly it's similar to Opium (which I would give as my favorite ever perfume if I have to choose one) but it's not the same and it stands nicely on it's own. I think it's much more wearable than Opium in 2015, and it's still probably too much for a huge portion of the current perfumephobic population. The aldehydic bergamot opening settles into a warm, balsamic cloud of clove, carnation, ylang ylang and spice on a base of amber, benzoin and civet. Like a lot of orientals it's base heavy and like a lot of orientals I love it that way. The parfum is long lasting, 8 hours or so. The parfum de toilette gives more like 6 hours and is a very small bit sharper. If you like 70s/80s orientals and don't faint when exposed to aldehydes or civet this is definitely worth a try.

Prelude to Opium...but Opium predated it. To say it's a shadow of the towering predecessor would do this perfume an injustice, because it's just as sophisticated and sexy, but at the same time, that's sort of what it is. If you don't want to knock people out with the epic proportions of musk, spice, and incense-patchouli exotica that Opium presents, you can do no wrong with this classy chypre-oriental, courtesy of Balenciaga; unfortunately, now discontinued. I lucked out on a vintage bottle on eBay and sampling the fragrance was unearthing a treasure from a more dignified but extinct place. It definitely resembles Opium, but where Opium develops down into a cherry fruit, carnation, incense-patchouli bomb baroque symphony, Prelude boasts more of a civet, ozonic, green quartet. If Opium is a richly lacquered Chinese table, Prelude is the jade sculpture that sits atop. Perfect for all seasons and for daytime, too. I wish it would make a comeback. But synthetics will do this quality blast from the past no good at all.

I'm wearing the parfum today and it struck me that this smells like a lighter and less complex version of Asja by Fendi. Overall, I think Asja is a much stronger fragrance with better silage and longevity, even in edt strength, but not at the Opium level. It also has that sheer yet deep quality that I like so much in Prelude. Since I have a big bottle of Asja I think I'll forgo replacing Prelude in the future. Makes no sense to have two fragrances that are so much alike. Still, this is a beautiful scent and one that should delight any lover of floral Orientals. Edit - Typical of a fraghead, I've since changed my mind and purchased a bottle with the red cap (more out of curiosity) and find it is much the same as the original mini parfum I have, though the silage is closer to the skin and the longevity not as long lasting as before. Still, it won't break the bank if I have to do a mid-day touch up with this version. Overall, very nice scent perfect for cooler temps.

This category of fragrance is a favorite with me, and since I love everything vintage that I've purchased from Balenciaga,I had to try this. What a beauty! It's sexy, warm, multidimensional like a great fragrance should be. Rich and full bodied, spicy and resinous. The opening notes are fresh and peppery. The next notes that come to the forefront are the spicy scents of carnation and cinnamon, a wonderful combination. The florals that unfold next are sweet but not cloying. The drydown is spectacular, strong on the resins and musk. Great sillage, long lasting (8 hours on me). A great nighttime scent. Go easy on the application; very strong sillage.

I love this fragrance and find it very well rounded with the spices done just right. Not overpowering in the least. I haven't used it in years because I used up my edt in the 90s and never thought to repurchase at that time. All I have left is a mini parfum that came with my edt (a gift set), that is almost finished. I would like to purchase another bottle but was wondering if anyone knows if this was reformulated? What I see on the market now (not offered as vintage) is a much cheaper bottle design (cheap red cap), and was wondering if that change was reflected in the scent?