Destin

I received a free sample of this perfume. I always love trying the free samples, but I have never actually purchased the perfume after trying the free sample until now. The sample card only listed the notes of strawberry, peony, and sandalwood. I was expecting a sweet, candy-like strawberry, so I didn't smell that right on the first try. What I did smell was the peony with a hint of lily, and then this amazing sandalwood drydown. When I tell you I couldn't stop smelling this amazing sandalwood smell all day, I was wondering what set this apart from other sets. After checking out the notes, I see Quentin Bisch is the perfumer, who does a lot of good stuff. Then I see that this also has patchouli in the base, which I love. So, I think the uniqueness of this is that patchouli/sandalwood mix in the base. As I continued to try this, I realized the strawberry is not a sweet, candy-like strawberry - it's a cool, fresh strawberry. That little fresh fruitiness, mixed with the fresh peony, mixed with the slightly dry, woody, earthy sandalwood/patchouli mix, I love this! The longevity is 10+ hours on skin, moderate sillage, this is one where your body heat will help with sillage throughout the day. I bought a 10 mL travel-size and will save up for a full size if I continue to love it as much as I do now. To tell you how much I like this - I have only ever bought perfume from discount stores (TJ Maxx, Burlington, Ross, Bealls, Target). But I actually went to the Balmain Beauty site and paid full price for this. I will say if you order on this site, they wrap it up super pretty in a really nice box, and you get 2 sample size perfumes. I would highly recommend trying this!

How am I not surprised that it’s a Bisch creation. This is lovely! I just picked it up to sniff at Ulta while waiting to be helped and I had to get the travel size to try it for a while. It smells sophisticated, mature yet not vintage, luxurious. It does remind me a bit of LVEB but without the intoxicating sweetness and vanilla notes. This one to me is much more rounded and it has a certain uniqueness or distinction. Will try this travel size. It doesn’t project like beast, I would say it’s perfect for a date night and get a whim up close Edit: it lasts longer than I initially thought, I love to spray my perfumes on the back of my neck close to my hair, and even after several hours I kept getting these whiffs of absolutely heavenly fruity, musky woodiness and I kept going insane trying to figure out if it was my hair products. It was Destin that I had sprayed in the morning 😂 I’m definitely going for a full bottle, this is gorgeous and I never thought I’d say this from a perfume with a strawberry note, it’s just perfect. Boss level perfume, I’d wear this on conferences where you’d want everyone to remember who you were

I wasn’t even shopping for a fragrance. I was casually testing scents at Ulta when I spotted Balmain Beauty Destin. One spray on my arm, one on my clothes, and I couldn’t stop smelling it. I picked up the travel size and headed home. About 20 minutes later, I was still smelling my arm nonstop. That’s when I knew I was in trouble. I literally changed directions, drove to Macy’s, and bought a full bottle. From the first spray, I noticed creamy florals, smooth sandalwood, and a sparkling fruity quality that felt almost champagne-like. It’s bright, luminous, and incredibly addictive. What captivated me most wasn’t a specific note. It was the feeling. Destin gave me the same excitement I remember from the iconic fragrance launches of the ’90s. Not because it smells like them, but because it has that same magnetic presence that keeps drawing you back for another sniff. At the same time, this feels completely modern. It’s youthful, sophisticated, and effortlessly wearable. Every time I thought I was done smelling my wrist, I found myself going right back for another breath. It was love at first sniff.

I was actually taken by this one. Quentin did it again (at least for me). Destin lands in similar territory of Hermès Barenia, or Cartier La Panthere. Big, bold patchouli surrounded by slightly funky-fruity notes. The beginning is sparkly, as if it bared bubbly aldehydes. The strawberry isn’t as apparent (much like in Cartier’s La Panthere), but there’s a fruity note that reminded me of the supposed “miracle berry” note in Hermès Barenia. There are slightly leathery undertones with this one, typical of the Bisch signature (probably osmanthus?)... nevertheless, I found this extremely interesting and beautiful to wear; so much so that I ended up buying a bottle. I’d be interested in seeing how this one wears in summer; feels like it’s versatile enough to use all year round. The scent is empowering, mature, joyful and hopeful. A breath of fresh air amongst the insistent and overwhelming gourmands that have been releasing over the last few years.

Stunning warm sandalwood. I honestly don’t get the “generic designer DNA” criticism. I think this one is being judged a bit unfairly because of the price point. Speaking of which, this release feels like a bold move from Balmain. It shows that designer lines can absolutely compete with niche when they want to. The sandalwood is smooth and enveloping, and the strawberry note adds a subtle brightness without ever becoming overly sweet, jammy, or cloying. The first time I wore this, I was flooded with compliments. It smells polished, warm, and projects like crazy (so go easy on the sprays). I’ll probably grab a backup bottle especially considering the house’s history of discontinuing some of their best work, like Ambre Gris.

I’d sworn I would not buy another strawberry perfume. However, after hearing all the internet noise, I went in to sample it. First, I was taken by the price point - less than most designer fragrances of lesser quality. Next, the strawberry 🍓 and peony notes were perfectly balanced after about 30 minutes of wearing. After several hours, my scent bubble kept surprising me with hints of a fruity floral experience. The bottle is beautiful. The perfume is high quality. The price is great. Longevity is 10/10. Sillage is 7/10 with a scent bubble for hours. I know everyone’s nose & body chemistry are different but some of the “smells like” are off the mark in my opinion. My best advice is smell it first yourself.

This is GORGEOUS! I am not a fan of Mon Paris or Miss Dior, and after hearing some people say it smells like those, I didn’t have high hopes. This is so much creamier, sweeter, and more well balanced than those fragrances, and it’s absolutely beautiful. The patchouli isn’t very strong to my nose either which is good because I am not a fan of patchouli. In my opinion, this scent is very classy and sexy (my husband loves it and immediately complimented me when I wore it). I could see this being a signature scent. It’s also strong and long lasting but not overbearing. Im not sure if this will be good to wear in warm weather or not, but it’s perfect for the colder weather right now.

I personally love this perfume. It lasts a long time and I love every stage and smell of this perfume. The opening being strawberry just screams spring. Then it is so light and feminine with the lily flower. The floral scent lasts a couple hours then it fry’s down to the most seductive sandalwood and musk that just feels perfect for evening time. I like that I can smell this on my clothes all day without having to put my wrist to my nose. This scent didn’t give me a headache (I am super sensitive to strong scents) and my fiance could smell me the second I walked into a room. This will be my signature scent for the foreseeable future.

First: Not a safe blind buy. How this plays on your skin is everything. It is available at Ulta so a lot of people will be able to try it & see how it develops. Second: To me, this is delicious. Sweet, fruity floral at the open. On the dry down it did something on my skin I just can't quite put my finger on. The sandalwood is playing with the musk & this lingering sweetness & spice. Thank god the blend on the patchouli is so smooth, i didn't get any of it! Overall - I really like her. Very reminiscent of scents of the late 80's & early 90's but without needing to be overwhelming to overcome everyone's cigarette smoke.

I’m in love with this scent. It opens with a juicy fruity burst of deliciousness that is just absolutely yummy. It boasts of notes of strawberry, pink pepper, lily, patchouli, sandalwood, peony, musk and ambrettolide. I can’t say that I smell every single note but together they form a warm and tantalizing concoction. Destin is the type of scent I’d wanna smell like all night long. It’s the kind of scent that just lays on your skin for hours and hours. I think it would be good for intimate moments and special occasions. This one is a 10 out of 10 and should be in every woman’s collection.

Like another review said, I sprayed this on paper at Ulta and holy crap, I was blown away. Not to sound like Willy Wonka but the strawberries smelled like REAL STRAWBERRIES. I'm not going to pretend I'm an expert at scents, but the sandalwood balances it and prevents this from being girly. It absolutely is not. This is alluring and makes you take a second sniff. The dry down is creamy but light and not overpowering. When I got home I immediately bought the big bottle. Highly recommend. This is the best new perfume I've come across in years.

It smells expensive and confident without being loud. It opens with warm amber and wood, then gets creamy and soft with vanilla and musk. Not sweet like dessert, more like rich cashmere and skin warmed by sun. It’s that “old money quiet luxury” vibe in a bottle. Lasts 8+ hours easy and the sillage is close but people notice. If you like classy, woody, skin-hugging scents that work day or night, Destin feels like wearing a tailored blazer that fits perfect.

—P. E. R. F. E. C. T. I. O. N— This is perfume is stunning. It is fresh, floral and sweet. I have been extremely disappointed in all of the new releases lately but THIS—is magnificent. Quentin Bisch’s masterpiece. I purchased a travel size to try and went back the next day and purchased the largest size I could. It is blind buy safe, office appropriate and can be worn day or night! I highly recommend it. Don’t let the negative reviews deter you.

I saw this at a perfume counter and have spent time some with it on my skin. It's scorching hot outside, but this is standing up the temperature like a champ. On my skin, this fruity floral is not overly sweet or young, but exquisitely well blended and chic. I like this just as much as YSL's blouse or Ex Nihilo's Fleur de Narcotique. QB has my number, for sure. This is a personal classic and I'm excited to add it to my collection.

I just sprayed my skin a little while ago and my first impression has me speechless... this is so addictive and at first spray I was like meh... but as it’s dried... it’s got a note that reminds me of vanilla powder (like a subtle waxy scent, that I actually don’t love in vanilla powder) but it’s also giving me elements of printemps blanc (which I LOVE). So far, this has surpassed my expectations and I can’t stop smelling myself

I love, love, love this. Reminds me of a 90s bombshell baddie. The sillage is just fabulous. Gives me the same feeling of feminine power as Cartier La Panthere, though the scents are not particularly similar. The bottle is quality and the price is not bad considering designer fragrance prices these days. This is one worth checking out... Especially if you like a little bit of a '90s vibe without smelling dated.

Nice to see a Balmain perfume back again. Years and years I missed Balmain. Can't wait to purchase it. Still observing how it is developing on my wrist and I can say the great start is followed by a great development. Can't point a separate note, frout or flower, just staing compact as a real perfume and give an happy, adventurers vybe, like all Balmains.

very creamy on me, fresh strawberry and a bit boozy. It reminds me of a strawberry daquiri with whip cream but in perfume form. Definitely, perfume, and not photorealistic. I wore it 6 days in a row once i got it and got endless compliments. My bestie text me the next day and said her car still smelled like me and she went out and got it.

Maybe I'm old, but I can't believe more people have not made the connection between this and original Fendi. I smell it yesterday for the first time in Ulta and I immediately thought of the original Fendi. Obviously, I immediately purchased it and the longevity is also fantastic. Please tell me someone else had this same association.

This one was first at first sniff. It screams quality and good taste! Very easy to wear, florals mix very well with the musky base that keeps coming back and makes you feel cozy, however elegant to the bone. Lovely creation, in my opinion a safe blind buy too. 7 for the sillage, 5 on the boldness, but a 10 for the gorgeousness!