French Bouquet

Respectfully, are people swiftly comparing this to No 5 strictly based on ALDEHYDES!? NEGATIVE... other than the aldehydes, they really aren't that similar.... No 5 is quite heavy on the Ylang while this has NONE... And this has notable tobacco and tonka where no 5 has none... I dunno, I'm not seeing a strong resemblance outside of some ALDEHYDES... It's a bit more similar to Calèche in my opinion but COMPARISONS ASIDE... I'm so so so in love with this Fragrance... I bought two bottles together at once which I've NEVER done (I've gone back and bought a second bottle the very next day, to be fair, but never two at once lol)... because I seriously never want to be out of this... Is it modern? A bit... Dated? Yeah a bit... GORGEOUS? absolutely... I am really impressed that a modern fragrance can encapsulate both vintage and modern sensibilities without losing its own sense of originality and beauty... 9/10... Definitely give it a full wearing or two before deciding how you feel about it. EDIT: So it's now June 2025 and I'm glad I got the 2 bottles.. the store in my city that carries BDK no longer has this one and I noticed it's not on Luckyscent any longer either.... I am highly suspecting this one is being discontinued.... It happens, shift away the old to make way for the new but... I still think this is ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT DOUBT one of the best perfumes released in these last ten years... Grab it while you can, folks.. at LEAST try to get a decant and see if you LOVE it like I do... It's just stunning.

This perfume is for Chanel N°5 and aldehydes lovers. It is the modern and (just a bit) better-executed kinda twisted version of the famous masterpiece by Chanel. I would put it between the EDP and the EDT of Chanel N°5, but closer to the EDP and a bit far from the EDT. Not close to Eau Premiere, as this one is not creamy at all. More versatile and lighter, it is definitely a more airy, floral, and much less rich and profound version. The (almost non existant) disadvantages of the Chanel N°5 are erased, and we witness a bouquet of dried and powdered but very fragrant yellows flowers and roses. Aldehydes bomb tho. A very good performance and projection and holds all day long and can be worn at any time of the year. Any occasion? I doubt it, as it has the same vibes as Chanel N°5, which is def not a perfume I could wear every day and everywhere...Ideally, I would recommend to, and I wear this perfume during the day if I know that in the evening or afternoon, I will be going out and wearing Chanel N°5/Eau Premiere :) For those who are not fans of Chanel N°5, try to smell it if you have the opportunity; you never know. It could be a good first step to adapting to Chanel N°5?

If you are a Chanel oriented person, you will adore this BDK. It is definitely NOT the nr.5 for me but the Chanel DNA is very recognizable. Its very good, but I think it will be discontinued any day now .... (Just a note: I tend to dislike heavy woody scents so don't understand that note being on top in the fragantica piramid.) This is a first class scent. Gorgeous, classic, elegant and lasted until next day. Bought a FB. EDIT: if you wish to compare it to a Chanel scent, I think it would be Bois des Iles (2007) - the Les Exclusifs (originally created by Ernest Beaux). Sprayed it yesterday and they sit very close though different dry-down.

Chanel n°5 but more into nich quality with better performance. N°5 is more designer like in comparison to FB. FB has more depth

French Bouquet is a radiant aldehydic floral scent in the manner of classics like Chanel No. 5 and Amouage Gold, but with a chypre base - a match made in heaven as far as I'm concerned! Aptly-named, it is a rich, baroque scent, in the manner of classic French perfumery, featuring a rich floral bouquet at its heart. It is lifted and brightened by the aldehydes of the opening, underscored to perfection by its earthy base. FB opens (predictably) with the aforementioned aldehydic florals, more luminous than soapy, alongside a hint of peppery spice. There is some citric freshness up top, melding well with the aldehydes. The florals unfold as it develops, rich and lush, clean and sweet and becoming increasingly powdery as this scent develops. Rose and jasmine are most evident, a classic combination. Alongside the aldehydes, it is both opulent and elegant, made with high-quality ingredients. As it develops, the woody chypre base emerges, complementing the florals to perfection. Here, it resembles fancy soap - aldehydic florals with a chypre base always give a soap-like effect in the very best way. It becomes mossy and musky as it dries down. The patchouli note is put to good use here - mossy, earthy, dry and slightly herbal, it acts as the perfect counterpoint to the amber base, as is the case with modern chypres. There is a smooth, dry woodiness that complements the other notes beautifully. It fades to a musky, earthy skin scent with remnants of the powdery florals remaining. Sillage and longevity are moderate, and, as I find with scents of this profile, it is a feminine scent in my opinion. It is very versatile - a year-round day-to-night scent. FB is very classic in style, bearing a striking resemblance to Chanel No. 5 (except with more patchouli and amber). Old-world glamour in a bottle, FB is classic in style but nothing groundbreaking. A modern alternative to No. 5, it will appeal to a mature audience, but is undeniably timeless. 4/5.

This is a powdery aldehylic floral that smells vintage and indeed evokes years past. It isn’t original. It's a little screechier and louder than Chanel No 5, turning cloying at points, but still super feminine and a slightly more modern with better performance. It's also intentionally formulated to smell of the same vintage. [edited after I took my time with a bunch of Chanels lately and while their current performance is abysmal has much to be desired, they're just better than this at the core] When I first sprayed this, I immediately thought of an old slightly musty walk in closet stuffed with lingerie, lacey dresses, pointy bras, stockings, slips, and the occasional bloomer. Makeup and lipstick also. Heels, powder, being perfectly coiffed and put in place. A fantastic mood booster. A comforting, warm, nostalgic scent. There are a lot of fragrances that smell old and vintage like this but this is very assertive and it is oddly one of the most positively commented on in my household —from all ages — as I wear it occasionally around the house. This isn’t for everyone and it’s definitely not for every occasion or casual wear. I have not worn it outside and I cannot wear it more than one evening in a row. It stays on sheets and in outerwear, etc., for DAYS. It's very special in the sense that you don't want to smell it more than you have to. Yes, it's heavenly, but not "bathing in" juice. I don’t know if I’ll ever wear it out. It’s not that kind of scent. it’s a hug and a bedtime scent. It’s a curling up with a book scent. Or maybe running errands in the deepest part of winter. But I’m 100% fine wearing it inside only. Everything has its place. Not a safe blind buy. There are more wearable aldehylic scents out there. But worth trying.

I went through an unusual experience on French Boquet. When I tried it mid-winter in Europe, the aldehydes near smothered everyone around me (myself included). It was violently overpowering, even in the chypre drydown which I had expected to taper out smoothly. I was fully prepared to discard the rest of the sample but it somehow ended up in my baggage to a tropical holiday. My mother tried it at 30 degrees celsius + humidity and hey presto, French Boquet turned into a powerful sweet floral with a vintage drydown remniscent of old Chanel and old Dior fragrances. The chypre stabilised well in the heat and humidity, it's balancing nature piercing through a heavy atmosphere full of tropical smells. It's still not for me, but colour me impressed.

The opening scent reminds me is an explosion of florals and sandalwood, in a good way! It evokes elegance and class of a bygone era and it takes a strong feminine presence to pull it off (think big hair and shoulder pads). The blend is beautiful and the soapiness is just right. No headaches here. And it does dry down to smell like a mix of Dove and Imperial Leather soap bar (albeit a higher quality version). Having said that, the scent doesn’t suit me. But sniffing it transports me right to that era and surely evokes a lot of nostalgia!

I would say it's very woody like the sandalwoods in l'air du temps, Cuir de russie, samsara etc.; all of which I love... however, to me it's like those bar of soaps like Dove, Johnson's baby, Doy etc. In comparison to Chanel No.5 edp I prefer Chanel No.5 edp because it's much more effervescent. No.5 edt is closer to this. It's good but not worth the gargantuan retail price really.Otherwise if you are crazy go crazy The bottle is something to look at.

At first spray it is Chanel 5. After a while it morphs more into Arpege. It settles down beautifully. Very feminine old school perfume. A safe blind buy for more mature tastes that love the Chanel 5 DNA. I am 54 and can wear this with confidence. It is not a huge projector, more of a skin scent with 3 sprays. I didn't love it at first sniff, but it is convincing me that we belong together.

A tribute to Chanel. Sparkly opening, powdery and rich middle stage. Unfortunately, the vetiver in the base spoils it for me. A nice one to try for everybody enjoying aldehydes. I have been testing it alongside my Chanel No.22 and I am sure, this isn't going to replace it. For me No.22 is more luminous with a dry-down I enjoy every single wear.

Something about this is very old-fashioned. For some reason this brings to my mind my grandparents' summer cottage? There is something which resembles a combination of mosquito spray, mosquito-repelling candles and some sort of cheap soap. Maybe a hint of drying fishing nets. It's not bad but I can smell absolutely no flowers whatsoever. Really weird.

French Bouquet by BDK Parfums is a classic French aldehydic floral. The sparkling aldehydic opening, boosted by the spiciness of coriander, feels vivacious and bright. It transitions to an opulent floral bouquet at the heart and settles into a mature, slightly old-fashioned drydown.

A thick and a bit stale aldehydic floral with a woody base. Reminds me of Baghari or Arpege. Quite moody. I wear a lot of aldehydic fragrances but this one does not present any new facets that would tempt me to add this to my collection.

It smells floral and aldehydic, quite vintage and dated. It is definitely a bit too heavy for my taste. Not listed in the notes, but I smell Mimosa flower.

Very very powdery and rose heavy. Not sure I can even wear it for the day. Very sweet after a while too. Nope.

Chanel no 5 is all I can smell with this one. I love BDK but it’s a miss from me 😢

This is the version of rose perfume that nauseates me and makes me hate most of the rose perfumes. It’s the combination with aldehydes and sandalwood, which smells incredibly vintage, outdated and there is nothing original about it at all. The sharp nauseating scent gets softer over a few hours, but in general this is not something I’m tempted to smell ever again.

Chanel N5 replica, is this you? ____ Sillage & Longevity : 6/10 Originality : 0/10 Quality & Value : 2/10 2.5/10

This is my fourth BDK perfume I’ve sampled and I just think the cojones on this perfume house! Each and every perfume I’ve tried of theirs has been a straight up dupe of something else - this time it’s Chanel No 5. The role of fragrance dupes in the market is to copy a designer fragrance to sell at a lower price and yet BDK offers their knock off fragrances at considerably higher prices that the scents they’re duplicating. Not bad work if you can get it, I guess, but I’m 100% over BDK and their complete lack of originality.