Extatic Tiger Orchid

Fragrance Review For Extatic Tiger Orchid Balmain Top Notes Solar Notes Ginger Pink Pepper Middle Notes Orchid Ylang Ylang Jasmine Base Notes Patchouli Benzoin Cashmere Wood Extatic Tiger Orchid is a fragrance that would sit on the dresser table of Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond. She's a tigress: bold, confident and aggressively fragrant. This sounds like it would be a bad thing for those of us who are perfume intolerant but it's really not that bad. It's a misty fragrance without too much projection and you won't put on a gas mask even if the person wearing it has bathed in it form head to foot. It's a lot of things: sexy, floral, Oriental and smoky/woodsy. Unisex. The opening is unusual with "solar notes" which are rare to find in chemicals but you know what they smell like? Like clothes that have been hung on a line out in the sun, not a detergent sun but warmed up skin or clothing that has been exposed to the sun. There is also just a little bit of a sun tan lotion but it never turns into a beach or sunny tropical sun tan lotion a la Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess. It's sunny and warm or hot/spicy as opposed to fresh when it opens. There's ginger and spices which only seem to indicate that this fragrance is for dames and not little schoolgirls. The floral notes in it's heart are exotic orchids, night blooming jasmine and ylang ylang. The ylang matches up with the sun notes and the orchid is not a shy little thing. She is a jungle orchid, like a wild orchid that grows in a rainforest. The night blooming jasmine is her friend and she too is bold and saucy, spicy, and more fragrant for blooming under stars and moonlight. The dry down is Oriental in nature with patchouli shrub leaves and incense. This dry down is smoky, but not in the same big smoke of Opium, nor too much of an Arabic incense. It's just right. This is one of the most wearable incense and benzoins I've encountered in recent years. I loved everything about the dry down but wondered what it would have been like had they included musk or animalic accords. This scent is still pretty powerful and seductive, despite it's lighter texture. For novices getting into florals, particularly smokier florals, and Orientals, this should be a good introduction, just like Fancy Nights by Jessica Simpson or Decadence by Marc Jacobs. This fragrance is in the same league. Exotic, sultry and spicy, but not overwhelming. Absolutely magnificent. Love the bottle.

Tastes change, I suppose. It's also a fact that some perfumes smell better or at least slightly different if they are given time to develop in the bottle, similar to wine. It is because of this that I upgraded this from a "meh" to a "love". The initial pungent that used to turn me off seems to mellow into creamier mid notes faster, and from then on I find myself really liking it! I'm not a big cashmeran fan, and am truly baffled by the aromachemical mash-ups frequently referred to as Solar Notes or other such nonsense, but it they seem to work well here due to some good blending. The weather is getting cooler, and while I would wear this all year, I am already looking forward to giving it a go once things warm up again next spring or summer. I was hoping to swap this a few days ago. I'm now glad that I didnt! PS - I forgot to mention that this layers really well with Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Ylang & Vanilla.

A very warm and inviting scent, wrapping you in a nice veil of sunny floral and a little oriental smell. It is sweet, soft, subtle, yet distinctive and elegant. Ylang-ylang, orchid, cashmere wood and ginger is what I get on my skin. Benzoin and Jasmin bring some sweetness to its spicy floral character, but its not sticky or over the top sweet. Nice and refined. It doesn't yell out 'tigress' to me, more of a classy sunny scent, more like 'queen'. But I truly enjoy it a lot and I had so many people asking what I wear. Lovely bottle and good lasting power. My second big love with Balmain (first being original extatic edp). Recommend!

I love how smooth and suave this is, it's creamy, not overly sweet and slightly exotic. Ylang isn't always easy for me but I love it in this. The musk is subtle and the benzoin is just perfect. I imagine a pretty lady in beige silk shirt and black pencil skirt and mother of pearl jewelry.. But...either a pink pepper note or ambroxan makes it just a bit more modern that most orientals. Bottle is cool and I honestly can't imagine anyone disliking this...i'm sure someone does but most people will enjoy. For some reason this reminds me of pink, beige and iridescent colors! No idea why. Again thanks to my Buddy on here for the sample!

Very pretty, soft oriental - once the top notes dry down! I'm not sure if it's the pepper or the ginger, though I'm inclined to think it's that latter,that makes this very harsh on me when first applied. It takes a good 30 minutes for this to subside before the yummy ylang and woods take over. The orchid adds some delicate spice. I want to test this in the summer, as I think it will be beautiful under the warmth of the sun! The bottle is fun and feels substantial in my hand, making for an elegant presentation.