Balmain de Balmain

Have you ever gone poking around in your wardrobe looking for something "different" and found something wonderful that you'd forgotten you had? This what happened to me this morning. Cold weather reignited my love of spices, leathers and gourmand sweets and I've been indulging myself lavishly over the last few weeks. But this morning's sudden drop in temps to below zero coupled with bright, blinding sunshine on a few inches accumulation of fine, dry snow and suddenly I found my nose positively itching for something clear, fresh, biting and green but not sour. What to do? Enter Balmain de Balmain. I've had a bottle & a back-up seemingly forever and was gifted another bottle recently but had ignored it in favor of my thicker/richer cold weather favorites. Mistake! BdB is simply perfect today - a hint of springtime's sparkling clarity on a very cold day. Balmain de Balmain is a friendly chypre with a comfortable warmth that's absent in most other chypres I own & have sniffed. I'll compare this fragrance to a party, one hosted by the very down-to-earth and amiable Mr. Patchouli, who really knows the art of inviting guests who complement one another. There's just enough powdery sweetness from lovely Miss Rose and charming Miss Violet to temper the bite of Mr. Galbanum, Mr. Oakmoss and Mr. Vetiver, who can be rather cold and formal gentlemen when not in mixed company. Miss Jasmine and Miss Iris are wallflowers - we're glad they were invited but they're not really adding much to the conversation. But this is one grand and lively party! The main players move about and keep the conversation stimulating and going for hours and hours. I don't remember noticing Balmain de Balmain's warmth or sweetness when I've worn it in warm & hot weather - those temps seemed to bring out more of a green chill and I found it refreshing. But I'm telling you, cold temps bring out an almost cozy sensation that's hitting all the right buttons today. Here's to rediscovering the neglected beauties in our wardrobes!

Light black pepper bondage and a bracing bite of galbanum open up Balmain de Balmain as if Grace Jones all dressed in angular purple came just a short of grabbing you by the dumplings with steely eyes and a flash of a grin. This, ladies and gentlemen and everyone else on the spectrum, the culmination of the green chypre as it meets its match: the duo of violet and cassis. Just a tad bitter, somewhat sour, grassy, wildflowers, stems, leaves and all, this has a vibrance and lilt that hovers over its edges and hedges. Violets are underlined by iris in the heart, and the floral quality isn't heady but rather glimmering. Glow little glow worm, glimmer glimmer, along those leaves and tendrils while your shield bug companions much on berries. Balmain de Balmain is vivacious but not necessarily feminine in its heart: it could be sensible pumps or handsome loafers with a striking color. It is simultaneously old-fashioned and modern, treading between reverie and being very much right in the moment. As it continues to dry down, it is reminiscent of the fabled Givenchy Insensé, albeit more violet-hued and with a backdrop of a dry glade surrounded by sun-warmed trees. The body of Balmain de Balmain speaks my language, but it speaks in a cadence that has me lost within its words. It's impeccable. Manly men, you would love it, don't be afraid of taking a dip in the fragrance lady pond.

پس از اینکه 2 شیشه از این عطر را مصرف کردم تازه متوجه شدم این عطر یک عطر زنانه است. البته برای نخستین بار آقای فروشنده آنرا بعنوان یک عطر مردانه بمن معرفی کرد و بوی آن آنچنان مرا تحت تاثیر قرار دادکه بلافاصله آنرا خریدم. بر روی شیشه هیچگونه علامتی مبنی بر زنانه بودن این عطر وجود ندارد. یکروز به یک فروشگاه معتبر عطر رفتم و این عطر را سفارش دادم و در کمال تعجب فروشنده بمن گفت که این عطر زنانه می باشد. بنظر من کاملا میتوان از آن بعنوان یک عطر یونیسکس نام برد. یادم می آید پسرم را زمانیکه 5 ساله بود برای معالجه دندانهایش نزد یک خانم دندانپزشک میبردم. پس از دو سه باری که به مطب رفتیم آن خانم بمن گفت ببخشید میتوانم بپرسم از چه عطری استفاده میکنید؟ هر موقع که به مطب من می آئید بوی خوب آن مرا سرمست میکند البته خیلی برایم دشوار بود که این سوال را بپرسم ولی بالاخره امروز آنرا مطرح کردم. یک عطر معرکه که از 10 به آن نمره 10 میدهم

This is one of my very favorite perfumes and is one of my two "Get on with it!" scents. When the errand list is long or I just don't want to go to work, I can always rely on it. Somewhere I read that it "opens with a crack of the whip of black pepper".Yes indeed and I always rely on galbanum to work its energizing magic. My other necessary scent in the magical duo of invigorating frags is vintage Aliage. I have lots of favorites in various categories, but today I needed a big push and so I knew it was one of these two. And as a woman I really like mixing it up with unisex to masculine scents one day and then feminine ones the next. Keeps the co-workers confused - my own personalized benefits package.

I loved this perfume from start to end. Instant adoration for me, but I simply can't get enough of Balmain perfumes. Thanks once again to the gorgeous Diamonds! This opens with a dry, crisp lemon blast which comes from the bergamot and the bitterness of the galbarnum . It then settles into a heavenly heart of flowers, which then dries down to a sweet woodsy mossy patchouli. This perfume runs along the same lines as Diorella and Cristalle Chanel and even has a shade or two of Chanel 19. Balmain de Balmain is a sharp, cool, green, bone dry fragrance, which is utterly ravishing, stunningly classy, beautifully crafted, has great longevity and good silage. A classic masterpiece!

It starts with handful of greens, leaves and stems of nettle, dandelion, and various others you can find on a field, with noticeable sourness of black currant leaves. Very fresh, very green, natural and pleasant. Then vetiver and oakmoss get noticeable, maybe soft iris as well. What I love is that Balmain de Balmain still keeps that green grassy sharp notes within all development - it doesn't get soapy, or flowery, or sweet. Unlike Vent vert, for example, which goes into that flower soap direction... It's a modern, young and very wearable for green chypres lovers, great for spring and summer. And definitely not even close to Sisley Eau du Soir, absolutely different vibe.

Balmain de Balmain is not so much a forgotten masterpiece as a triumph never known to the crowd at all. In Parfum form, this brave latter day chypre, immediately errects an expansive architecture of oakmoss, vetiver, blackcurrant leaf and black pepper. Between these great steal vaults of scent creep slow swathes of green glass galbanum: filtering the sun's light and lending a slight bitter hue to fleshy iris, feint rose and just visible jasmine. It is a structure built to last. The overall effect at once luxurious and imperiously restrained. A youthful, mournful, beautiful dowager lamenting her dead and gone beloved. The King is dead. Long live the lost Queen.

This is very positive, elegant and beautiful. I first bought a 5 ml mini bottle and thought first that it was absolutely too green and sharp for me. Usually I`m not into chypres and at first I hated this too. After several times of using it I got hooked. This is like a crisp autumn or spring day. The sun is shining and birds are singing. yes, it`s green, but I can feel the powdery iris note there on the background too. Extremely feminine and rare. Truly a signature, because you won`t find anyone else using this.I often end up using this on special occasions. Lasting power is marvellous, you just need a tiny spritz and it last all day.

I love this stuff, it's the best new Balmain among their chypres, since they have ruined Miss Balmain and dumbed down Jolie Madame with reformulation; it is also a wonderful green scent to replace what they have done to Vent Vert. The question is why not just keep Vent Vert, once one of the world's great Green Florals, instead of changing it so drastically and then coming out with something really nice like Balmain de Balmain? I would love to be a fly on the wall at the PB Marketing and Product Development department meetings.

I cant imagine how this one could pass for a unisex fragrance, it is thoroughly feminine. I get strong bergamot and rose, dont know about currant buds, havent smelled those. Overall, a very high quality fragrance. 9/10 Update: Now, after having this on my arm for about six hours, I can say that this smells as good as any Chanel, it is really incredible. The price is ridiculous, so I agree with sherapop that there is a major discrepancy in the cost/performance relation in the case of BdB. This smells way more than it costs.

Very beautiful dry chypre. Not linear at the least,a complicated, and perfectly orchestrated symphony of notes. I get a visual in my mind of the mediterranean countryside during a dry spell in summer, down to what's left of the dry meadow flowers. On me there is a very soft projection. I am very sad that this gentle beauty is detectable for but a half hour on my skin. I would love to find something just like this that lasts!!

You are so right Kterhark! Price does not indicate quality or complexity of perfumes! I do see an indication of price and higher concentration of natural oils, but it is no guarantee for a complex creation. The nose behind the fragrance most of the time does give a good indication of the quality however. For example, The Elizabeth Taylor line is all or mostly all Grosjman and that you can smell totally! Good luck! Action

This one is a true stunner. Much has been made of the "masculine" touch to this one but I assure you it is woman all the way. I tried it on my husband and it turned floral on him. On me, it feels very womanly in a no nonsense way. The pepper is delicious and the other elements blend in such a wonderful way. From what I understand Balmain for women has been discontinued. Happy Perfuming! ♥

Balmain perfumes btw are masterpieces, starting from Vent Vert to Ambre Gris. Ivoire, Jolie Madame and Miss Balmain are obligatory perfumes for expert collectors like ourselfs here. Ambre Gris is sheer heaven, it hurts too much to actually use that one. This perfume, Balmain de Balmain, is a masterpiece too. So, in terms of quality, Balmain is a cannot go wrong.

EDT - Don't really get 'chypre' from this: there's a certain density that's missing. This has a more citrus cologne vibe. Wears for me like a woody green almost fougere but with black pepper instead of lavender. The vetiver goes a bit dank as it fades. Bought several backups tho - it's an elegant alternative to floral, especially in summer.

I agree it's not unisex but deeply feminine. I love it, love it a lot. It's chypre but green, flowery but not sweet with a strong personality. I would compare it to YSL Rive Gauche not for the composition but for the character. It's perfect everyday and even more perfect in autumn. Lovely, elegant; a must indeed.

Gorgeous cool, green chypre that reminds me of Caron's Troisième Homme. Could easily be worn by a man, as it's not very floral. Smooth, not sharp, and very long lasting. Thank heavens, I don't get the blackcurrant note, as I hate this in fragrance. I only have a mini and would definitely consider a FB.

We bought this for my mother around 10 years ago after lot of deliberation. This one edged out Dolce Vita (YSL). It has a very fresh smell, unlike the usual floral perfumes, that stays in your memory long after it has got over and you switched to another fragrance. Its one of our favorites.

Absolutely love it and will now have to go and buy myself a bigger bottle. The perfect perfume for a late autumn Canberra day - cool, crisp, and sunny. A very elegant scent which has lasted well on my skin and attracted a lot of very favourable comments.

I'd like to say: it's elegant, green chypre. First time I bought it in 2001 and it became my favorit so far.

On my skin this is very feminine and smooth, no unisex at all. Fresh without sharpness. Love it!

In an effort to determine why a 100ml bottle of BALMAIN costs less than a button on a Pierre Balmain blouse (their tshirts start at $3K...), I went to the venerable house's website and found BALMAIN featured there with the following info: "La séduction, l’élégance d’une silhouette... L’éclat, la lumière, la sensualité d’un regard... Le raffinement, la sophistication d’un geste... Un certain mélange de classicisme et de modernité dans le style...Il existe un jeu permanent entre élégance et féminité, qui entretient tout le mystère, et qui fait qu’une femme soit si complice des notes de « son » parfum. Parfum Chypré Notes de Tête: Bergamote de Calabre, Galbanum du Moyen Orient, Poivre Noir, Cassis de Bourgogne Notes de Cœur: Clair de Jasmin, Violette de Tourette sur Loup, Rose de Mai, Iris de Florence Notes de Fond: Patchouli d’Indonésie, Mousse de Chêne, Santal de Mysore, Vétiver d’Indonésie" ************************* Pretty impressive for less than $20! I still can't figure this out. Pierre Balmain is strictly haute couture--they have not jumped on the bandwagon of designers who run low-brow lines at Target, Wallmart, H&M, or whatever. There must be some sort of major décalage [disconnect] between the various departments at PB, because this just doesn't make any sense. Now for my review: BALMAIN opens fairly sharply, with a serious bergamot note that holds on and maintains a citrus demeanor for several minutes. The galbanum is also pronounced. All the way throughout, the florals are very low key (nb: PB calls this a chypre, not a chypre floral...) and the chypre elements come in fairly quickly, moving straight to a vetiver-heavy drydown. As others have observed, this is a very masculine feminine fragrance. I love this. But I love Guerlain CORIOLAN, ostensibly for men. In fact, I think that BALMAIN is more masculine than CORIOLAN. Seriously. But that's not a demerit in my book, because I love savory scents such as this. To put this chypre in a bit of perspective, BALMAIN is much less foggy than many of the more famous feminine chypres. The oakmoss receives a very light hand in this composition, which will be good news for those who suffocate in oakmoss-suffused frags. It's pretty clear that the only prêt-a-porter that I'll ever be owning from the house of Pierre Balmain is their perfume. But it's great, and their entire collection is on my wish list.

Balmain de Balmain is categorically a chypre, chronologically out of time. No, it doesn’t really smell like a classic fragrance, but it doesn’t smell modern (or contemporary, if you consider its release year of 1998). Something must be said of the top notes. It opens with a cocktail of aldehydes, green notes, and an overdose of natural blackcurrant bud absolute, with all its off notes quite unembellished. It smells like Kir, a very French apéritif that is a bit of blackcurrant liqueur topped off with white wine, traditionally a white from Burgundy. The greenness comes out full-force, enveloping everything in a sort of calm, dry green freshness. If black pepper is present, it is only to give it a bit of extra funk. The heart is a big, ugly rose against the background of this galbanum-cassis accord that is charming in Chamade but a bit... off here. The rose is rubbery, fusty, monolithic, and heavy. A piercing, nasty iris and some synthetic jasmine hint towards the calamitous Cabotine, though it’s not nearly that bad. Up to this point, I really like this perfume. Then there is the drydown... The blackcurrant-galbanum accord remains throughout the entire composition. As the floral notes begin to fade, the thick, heavy patchouli and galbanum-laden oakmoss base a la Polo Green begins to show up. It is chypre in the style of masculine fragrances of the 1980s; overdosing everything dry and manly to hide the similarities between it and feminine classics like Miss Dior and Aromatics Elixir. Despite smelling fairly natural at first, it is relentlessly cloying. It’s something like an office-friendly version of Magie Noire, sans the florals, animalics, and that hot pepper note.

Balmain de Balmain is a classic, vintage-style summertime chypre - not quite a cologne, but much lighter and airier than classic chypres like Mitsouko for example. Aromatic and green with a nice zesty citrus accord up top, it is utterly unisex. It is an easy-to-wear, good quality fresh scent for warm weather but with more body and artistry than a simple citrus cologne. I have a vintage miniature from the 1990s, housed in a Vent Vert-style square bottle. BdB opens with a grassy green accord, foliage-like and dewy. The galbanum is restrained, resulting in a less dense green opening, and sneeze-inducing black pepper adds an edge. I get a tart cassis edge, and bergamot adds tart freshness. As it develops, light yet powdery florals emerge, set off to perfection on the green backdrop of the opening. The stems and leaves are beautifully rendered as a result, making for a springtime wildflower garden in a bottle. There is a slight herbal edge too. Green-tinged violet is the most prominent floral note to my nose, a soft, powdery counterpoint to the tart, slightly sour green notes. The chypre drydown emerges after a little while, mossy and earthy with patchouli most evident. It is a light, transparent chypre base, with a clean musky accord blurring the edges. The remnants of the florals are pleasantly soapy here. The aromatic greenness remains until final fade. Sillage and longevity are moderate. A beautiful, high-quality alternative to the likes of Ô de Lancôme (to which I'm partial), BdB is an understated yet sophisticated warm weather scent. A distant cousin of Vent Vert. 4/5.

I was clumsy on my left arm again and spilled all 1 ml sample in one moment, my left wrist was covered in Balmain de Balmain. The openining is somehow masculine, but I decided not to judge the scent on that. As I have understoond more and more Chypres get in my heart. Balmain de Balmain soon after the masculine opening starts to change and show's it's more feminine side. The scent still has some masculine qualities, but it starts to get more and more fresh/spicy and green. I must mention, that I did hope for more feminine scent, but, well ok. The flowers here are not visible. I do get some sparkly rose which is covered in citruses, but there is no sweetness of Jasmin or dryness of Iris. Weirdly at the heart phase I start to get some smoky, woodsy notes which in some strange fuss reminds me of coffee (?) or something of that kind. Warm, yet spicy and bittersweet. I'm so not sure about this scent. Do I like it? Yes. Do I love it? Do i find it feminine enough? This all makes it very addictive and I'm stuck with my nose upon my wrist trying to decide what do I get from Balmain de Balmain. I love the heart phase. That's sure. It is little bit too masculine in my opinion. Ah, what to do. I love the smoky, bitersweet part very much. I will leave this as it is. Too masculine for me, but with the heart phase to die for. Oh. Better test before buy, but for masculine chypre lovers this could be a real gem.

I'm not the one for chypres... I respect them, but I don't wear them. 'Me' is not a chypre. Like the other member, I knew nothing about Balmain before I tried it, I thought it was another classic chypre that I'll try and leave behind, or put on the list 'try in 10 years'. Wrong! The second it touched my skin, I knew it was different. I also had a association with sun - sun dapples. So positive and happy! I don't really get separate notes, I just know it's a chypre, and it's a different one. Lighter than most of the ones I've tried, a green variation on a classic and timeless accord... I think it's a right one for chypre beginners. It's classy but not too difficult. The only drawback is that it doesn't last long ... totally evaporated from my skin in 2 hours. My man likes it! He didn't care when I told him it's targeted to women. I think it could easily be a unisex. I'm wearing it today and I feel great! 15C degrees, cloudless sky, autumn sun warming my face - and a beautiful, light, green, herbal chypre. Maybe it's a beginng of a new romance... Thank you for a sample, F.! :) P.S. This is actually the 3rd chypre I really enjoy. The others are Aromatics Elixir and Eau de Campagne. Update: I don't lke Eau de Campagne anymore. Balmain is so much better! And the price ...

Chypre in it's purest form. I've been searching for a truly dry snooty chypre for a while, this is it. It pays no head to safe popularity and projects green with zero sweetness, a polar opposite to my equally beloved fiery oriental spice bombs. Maybe that's why it didn't last very long before discontinuation? It's extremely niche.. It opens with a soapy galbanum blast which lasts quite a while, underneath a warmer herbal vetiver seeps through and softens the feeling. I smell no blackcurrant whatsoever, just a very clear green mossy vetiver purity. It's what companies like Miller Harris and Diptyque would do if they dared. Oddly it reminds me of a black coloured soap that used to be in hotels on Spanish holidays as a kid, does anybody know what that was? It was always wrapped in bullfighter printed paper, delicious stuff. So who is the scent for? Daring women and any man - it's really quite masculine all the way through. I see Mitsouko lovers and aficionados of historic Diors giving it a blast. I also imagine very rich, very successful octogenarian ex vogue editors wearing it - the type that despite being covered in wrinkles, wear a harsh cut bob, deep red lipstick and a YSL smoking suit. The ones that look stunning in a terrifying way.

@Matux I don't think your conclusion is pretentious at all. I used to be all about chypres starting in my teens until about a decade ago (though for most of that time I had no idea that's what they were called). I've probably tried 20 or 30 over the years, and what I'll say about Balmain de Balmain is that I don't think I could tolerate anything more chypre than this. On some level I love it, and yet I cannot wear it all day (a few hours max at home and then wash it off) because it is just too astringent for me. Even layered with something sweet, ambery and woody, that sharp, astringent element (the currant leaves mixed with the lime, I suppose) cannot be tamed, and is just short of fingernails on a chalkboard. I am willing to suffer for beauty, but only a couple hours at a time, apparently. I love the bottle, though.

It is interesting and elegant, but not for the average woman. I you are familiar to chypres and have a great collection of such fragrances, you can like this also. But if you are not, you may easily be dissapointed from a possible blind buy. Speaking personally, I was not dissapointed as chypres is one of my favourite group. I detect its masculine character, but I can pleasantly wear it. Iris and vetiver are very strong and rule the smell until the end. Patcouli and oakmoss are softer while rose, jasmine and bergamont are the weakest in the composition. I will try to combine/lay it under another fragrance (I don't know which, for the time being...) to see what it happens. The other fragrance will be something more sweet, oriental or leathery, so as to make Balmain warmer.

Balmain de Balmain may be rather sharp at the opening, but even those first notes are already intruiging. And after the first notes have dissolved, it is in fact a very agreable scent. One that keeps you company all day long. I think it can measure Eau du Soir from Sisley and Wrappings from Clinique (although these are very different scents, they are equivalent earthy, green and prominent). Today I ordered a big bottle, because I fear this will be unavailable soon. Balmain de Balmain is already difficult to obtain. I think it can indeed be unisex and I am curious how it smells on different persons, as I have never smelled it on anybody else yet. Certainly worth trying if you like green, earthy, a bit masculine fragrances. It is quite unique.

This EdT starts out sharp and aldehydic, with citrus, galbanum, and lavender. It’s green-green-green, but a fresh herbal green, not a grassy green. In the background is a skunky sandalwood note and a vetiver base. The herbal greenness persists throughout the entire drydown, which is fairly linear. It was a warm, sunny day when I wore this, and its cool geen character was perfect. I’m not big on green perfumes, but have to say that this is one is excellent. Sillage is just right and the scent lasts a full day, 8-12 hours on skin. If you’re looking for a non-sweet green perfume that doesn’t have any annoying leafy or grassy notes, you probably won’t find a better bargain than Balmain de Balmain.

What I love is about this is the dryness. It absolutely brings to my mind a bright, sunbleached field, where the moss and greenery are warm and crisp, the earth is dry, and nothing has seen rain in weeks. There is the suggestion of some faint blossom very far off in the distance. I bought this in the winter and not surprisingly, could not detect very many of the floral notes. It was dry greens and moss all the way. But in the warmer weather, more of the top and middle notes emerge, albeit still very shyly, but they are there, almost as more of a suggestion. Any hint of citrus is of the more bitter kind, there really is no sweetness in this, which I love. This has a very classic feel to it.

Wow, I've never been so confused about a perfume. It starts in a roaring Chypre manner (beautiful), then settles into the most achingly beautiful fragrance: smooth, comforting. Full disclosure: it actually makes me salivate while I am in this completely primal bubble of ecstasy. I'm serious. But then... Then it turns into this masculine eau de toilette. It is soft and wonderful and yummy -- as in I want to nibble your skin with kisses and bites.... It smells like a man I want to get close and personal with. As in very close and personal. So, obviously I like it. A lot. But not as my own personal scent. This is the scent of a lover.

When I sprayed it first time,I was horrified by the men-cheap-aftershave-effect on my skin! And smelled lemons,lots of lemons (not existing in composition) and something unidentified old-dusty-rotten-harsh-awful ! After some time,I decided to give a second chance-now I have smelled lots of chypre/woody/green aromas and I think my nose isn't that negative.Well,I liked it easily. Yes is a difficult in a way perfume,but dry and fresh and I like it for that masculine effect almost all woody/chypre/green fragrances have on my skin. This summer in the very hot days I will spray it carefully and walk with confidence.

I forgot I even had this until I went to the back of my perfume drawer looking for lighter scents to wear for the summer. To start with, I love my Balmain's, they produce memorable quality fragrances. As for Balmain de Balmain, this starts with a blast of galbanum that has a peppery tartness. It dries down to a moist vetiver with iris, but the vetiver ends up dominating at the end. If you like chypres then you will appreciate this one, and that includes women since this is unisex. Two thumbs up for Balmain de Balmain!

I love this! A true chypre. Everything blended so well as to make individual notes unrecognizable to me, the whole being definitely greater than the sum of the parts. The opening is chypre-sharp and the floral is definitely green (I would call it a green chypre, myself) but after several minutes it softens a bit and gives way to a very subtly sweet floral on top of that chypre base. To me it smells elegant and sophisticated.

If you truly miss this and don't mind spending a little $$, you honestly might want to try Maison Alhambra THE TUX. I just got it (TUX), put it on my wrist and down my shirt, and all I can think of is Balmain de Balmain. TUX is supposedly a dupe for TUXEDO, and that I haven't tried - but while not an exact replica for BdB, it's oh so close! (TUX isn't as green smelling as BdB)

You cannot go wrong with quality. This is one of the loveliest perfumes in my ever-expanding collection. I was blessed to work and live on the Mediterranean in the late 80's to mid 90's. For some reason, this conjures up hilltowns of Provence up above Cannes and Nice...sun and bright blue water below... Balmain, again I thank you.

Be cautious, if you are into rose scents, this is not one of them! Not a lot of flowers are added to the composition. The apple and black currant leaf notes should be indicated in the base note section. After 5 hours of application they are still around.

It starts out dry & green with pungent black current note mix with strong galbanum. The vetiver only murmurs through the intense mixture of black current & galbanum. Long after that iris & rose kick in to give a noble & feminine feeling.

Very pleasant old fashion chypre. I smell little leathery notes on top, very lasting and classy perfume. I have a bottle like shown on the pic, not sure what year production, but not old one. Very recommended for mature audience)))

It would be my perfect scent if it did not contain the black pepper note. Very galbanum and violet heavy, and it is not as much of a chypre as Eau de Sour or my all time favourite Miss Dior vtg.

My privat nose (I mean my cat) loves it, and as usual I trust her opinion!

I'm testing a group of Balmain scents at the moment, and Chypre Floral is one of my favorite scent categories, so any fragrance from this group deserves a good try. Sadly, this was the only Balmain I've tried so far that didn't work for me. Balmain de Balmain smelled lovely in the bottle, but ended up being very sharp and sour on my skin, with a touch of something that irritated my nose. I noticed the scent evolving over time and revealing its layers, but even the heart and base notes continued to smell unpleasant on me. I'm sure it's just not compatible with my chemistry and would be lovely on the right man or woman. (I agree with the previous reviews that suggest it is unisex.) This is a good one to sample before purchasing a bottle.

This is decidedly masculine smelling to me. I ordered it over the internet without having smelled it first because I read good reviews about it and it was a bargain price. Although I find the scent quite pleasant it starts out quite masculine smelling and doesn't evolve (on me anyway) into anything more feminine, yet based on reviews I had read I thought the more feminine notes would start to come through after awhile. I don't smell any iris, jasmine or rose in it at all, just the heavier, smokier notes, although they're not harsh but quite soft notes. In my view this scent would work much better on a man than a woman, so I can recommend it for a man or for a woman who doesn't mind wearing masculine smelling scents!!

bergamot, oak moss and vetiver with some rosy notes at the dry down (currant buds are not my favorite at all but they are composed here very well). Very nice, impressive and not sharp as some chypres are. It is like a stronger and more confident version of RP "Futur" on my skin. Classy, french and wonderful but underrated fragrance. Superb longevity! 12 hours + on my skin.

I wanted to love Balmain so badly. Unfortunately I find the green notes too bitter and sour to enjoy. I have the same problem with Calvin Klein Eternity, Coty L'Effleur, and Laura Ashley #1. I'm thinking I should avoid the 90s chypres, they share this same aromachemical.

Gives me a headache and the feeling that I don ́t know where to go to avoid the smell. Very irritating. I am sorry.

Balmain de Balmain was one of four 1ml dabber samples i’ve been gifted, alongside Police The King, Coty’s Aspen and Estee Lauder’s Pleasures for Men. Out of the four, i had a rough ideea only about Aspen. My intuition said that Balmain de Balmain will be an aromatic and i was correct. I admit, in the back of my mind i wished that i would get surprised on first spray and prooven wrong. That didn’t happen initially, however, this story doesn’t end where it begins. Things take a turn when i didn’t expect an aromatic that is marketed for women. “Get out of here! Whats up with all these oakmossy green aromatics marketed towards women when they seem masculine? First it was L’air de Rien and now this one. Is it my skin “masculinising” them or is my nose simply defect? Im dying on this hill eighter way!” is what i told myself. Well, actually, i’ll have to hold my horses on this one. Indeed the oakmossy spicy green opening tricks my nose that its taking off in a masculine direction but the softer notes that emerge tell a different story. First there’s a soapy layer and nothing seems out of the ordinary with that eighter. Many masculine aromatics go for soapy nouances and its tied to the barbershop genre. What steers away the scent are the florals and thats when the “surprised ahhh” moment kicked in. These florals not only sit in the background but take over and when that happens, i can see why its a lady’s perfume. The green aspect remains in the background but does not loose its significance, on contrary. Altho the florals move forward, the green side provides the decor and the atmosphere in which the florals operate. The reason why i don't associate aromatics with women's perfumery is because of my predefined profile of what women’s perfumes smell like. Pretty florals, gourmands and sweet vanillas are what come to my mind when i think of Pour Femme scents. Woody, green, aromatics tilts towards masculine territory in my books but why should that be the case? Come to think of it, why can’t a lady’s perfume smell woody or green? Infact, smelling such a scent on a lady would intrigue me because it signals that im in the presence of a woman with personality. Im glad to be able to experience Balmain de Balmain and that is because it helps “dislodge” and change some preconceived notions that i’ve had throughout the years. Altho im still a firm believer that perfumes have genres, the stiffness of my beliefs is getting challenged and slowly eased up. The fact that this year i’ve added some “feminine leaning” perfumes to my collection supports that evolution.

Stumbled across a NIB 3.3oz sealed EDT today at my local perfume shop. $40 out the door!!! I have been wanting this one for a long time. It is fore sure a Chypre, but like other reviewers, yes, this is a dryer chypre. As I have found with "most" chypres, one need to allow the scent to evolve on your skin, before making the final judgement. The first spritz....I thought.." Oh,No !!" Then about 10-15 minutes in....I was mesmerized....thankfully. It is a "classic" type smell, like a few we all have tested in our fragrance journeys...yes...but it is still compelling. I get a good dose of "green", back-lit by florals....with the oakmoss and vetiver vibe weaving in and out. It s NOT a sillage monster, or projecting monster, it lingers around you just enough to remind you of it's greatness. Unisex??? Yes..for sure,IMHO...( I am a guy,btw ) Another mystery about this is....I have seen the 2 color variations regarding the cap, label, and front of the box. Mine....Navy blue. I have seen another version where cap,label, and box have black...???? Wonder (if at all) which is the older version, which is the newer version. I would guess that the Navy blue is older....??? Anyone who knows...please advise. BTW....I LOVE the scent !!!!! Lastly, I do not get the comparison to Cerruti 1881 for men...at all.....just saying.