Initial

It's a funny thing with Boucheron fragrances. No matter the composition, you can almost always tell it's a Boucheron. Just like you can almost always tell a fragrance is a Chanel or a Guerlain, this house is no different. Regardless of the note profile and structure almost all older perfumes from this house have the Boucheron DNA all over them. (I've yet to smell the more modern ones so I won't consider them in this comparison.) It's really surprising with this one, since the note profile is so unlike other Boucherons - almost stripped down compared to the others which are chock full of ingredients. Yet, you can still tell. I won't dissect the notes since so many have already done it; but despite the unusual composition of spicy honey drenched florals, it's still recognizable as a Boucheron. And like almost all the Boucheron's I've smelled to date, it is beautiful. Though the snow white bottle reminds me of winter, and it does smell wonderful then, it's really fantastic in the warmer weather. Still, this is too lovely a fragrance not to wear year round. Just wanted to add that I have the edt and it is plenty strong. Boucheron fragrances are so strong that I prefer the edt strength for most of their perfumes. The silage and longevity of their edts is every bit as good as the edps without overwhelming; as the edps can sometimes do especially if you get careless with the trigger. I am wearing it today and am loving it. It is a nice, sunny cool day and this scent is really shinning - peppery, creamy, honeyed florals. I know some have complained about the strength, or the spiciness, but I am not having that problem. This is a beautiful soft floral with a little kick from the pepper. Silage is nice and it is long lasting on me. I put this on this morning, and it is the late afternoon and still going strong. I love it.

Initial is an odd little perfume. I only have a mini - and it is so adorable, like a little pearl pendant - that I got off ebay, so there's a chance I may not be smelling it in it's freshest form. I am fairly certain though, that it is not a fake, per some other fragrantica members' input. Top notes are very watery and vaguely honey-ish. On first application, I was thinking it must be fake or old. Then it goes through a little patchouli phase, which smells a tad musty, so again, I'm thinking it's got to be old. But after being patient for a bit, (bout 30 minutes or so), it blooms into a very smooth and sweet honey-almond dry down, At this stage, it is absolutley gorgeous, even though it still seems light - and this review is for the EDP. The one thing that surprised me about this little gem is the above-average sillage. Like her bolder sister, Trouble, this fragrance has some serious projection. It's mild for the wearer but can still gain compliments from a few feet away. Totally inoffensive, too. I can't see anyone gagging or getting a migraine over this. So I agree with the "lion dressed as a turtle" statement. It starts off so slow you think you must have a bad bottle, or you've lost your sense of smell. Oh, the horror! But then it does kick in and redeem itself with surprisingly good sillage and acceptable longevity - about 4-5 hours with good sillage and the faintest honey-almond dry down is still with you even 10-12 hours later. All in all, I like it but I think I would LOVE it if it were a little stronger. Edited 1-23-11: I do love this and it is becoming my go-to fragrance. A very soft, feminine and easy to wear fragrance.

I have this fragrance in parfum concentration and use it sparingly due to it's rarity & discontinuation, never tried the other offerings (eau's) so I will carry on with this pearly spray flacon until it is no more, I'm a diehard patchouli lover so this floral heavy, honey laden, musky patch bomb potpourri is for me heaven in a bottle. I also detect powder + the odor of spent incense ash in the sumptuous drydown along with spices and rich flowers comprising rose, jasmine, black currant and tuberose to name but a few of the main contenders although the tuberose is not listed in the above pyramid? For me this is so unlike Boucheron's other offerings, and I am glad of it, a powerhouse tour de force from this esteemed Parisian Jeweller & created by Jacques Cavallier, again this is one more that I guard zealously, and categorize as vintage even though it's just over 20 years old. Hopefully this will keep for many more years as the raw materials used are of the highest quality

I scored a nearly full 3.4oz tester bottle from an online estate auction for just $5 plus shipping, and it turned out to be one of the most exciting and satisfying blind buys I’ve ever made. I hadn’t even heard of the scent before, but the bottle was captivating, and since no one else seemed interested, I placed my bid. Later, I discovered on Fragrantica that it’s practically a legendary fragrance. Now, wearing it to work on a cold winter day, it feels like it was meant to be in my collection. It’s perfect for chilly weather—peppery, warm, a bit powdery, and sensual. My husband loves it, saying I smell “expensive.” While I’m not usually drawn to honey notes, I adore patchouli, and the combination of patchouli, florals, and honey completely won me over. It feels timeless, never like an “old lady” perfume, and it adapts beautifully to my chemistry. This fragrance makes me feel luxurious, and I’ll treasure every last drop.

At first you get the scent of orange wrapped with spices and warm amber Cozy fragrant Imaginings of a Old Victorian Fireplace on christmas eve a rocking chair rocks back and forth comly listioning to the sound fire Crakling Misoltoe on top of the archway faint sounds of tinkling music boxes playing. or in the scene from The Age of Innocence when Madame Olenska and Newland Archer suble erotic chemisty or russia Before the revolution when Tsars ruled with Ambered walls decked with fine paintings of great masters Leo Tolstory with his Anna Karenina Onegin wondered though St Peter's Squaire Like a Person without a soul after his Doomed love for Tatyana. the sweet Soft sounds of the balakas playing. this was a world before Lenin Stalin and Communist Regime Distroyed it Forever. these are the thing i imagine when i wear this. a bittersweet Sojourn in a bottle.

How do I recreate the experience of this fragrance in the winter? I have a sample of this one (Don't know how many sprays left CRY) and love it so much but since it is discontinued, I ordered a full size from a seller; when I received it the juice had already gone bad. So be weary and don't order this unless it's from a Fraghead who kept it in a dark place. With this stunner, I don't sniff up close--I just let it waft off my arm or clothes, and I only wear it in cold weather. I get a liquored plum-grape-honey combo, barreled to perfection. Please, if anyone can suggest another perfume that I can get this same experience with, advise me. Thus far, Nothing compares to this one in winter. Edit: It's 2 years later now, and I found one that reminds me of it: Hanami Phlur

Mmm so deep, complex and satisfying, a winter wonder. Starts spicy - pepper, patchouli with a drop of honey and a touch of currant's green parts. It has depth that is evident from the start. Boucheron should bring it back. Their current crowd pleasers are something they should be ashamed of. Once the top notes blend with the skin it hits a wild, deep, evergreen-spicy edge. Patchouli mixed with incense is what I can feel. When this stage disappears, then a soft, sweet and warm base with a deep, bitter tinge appears. The scent is creating a mysterious, sensual, warm and rich atmosphere. High heels, pearls, black tuxedo or at least a little black dress immediately appear in my mind. A scent that stimulates you to dress up and be the best version of yourself :)

first spread I feel like a magic Myrrh and soft elegant incense smoke covering my soul with honey jasmine rose blanket, yes its heavy for the first smell, but after blend with my body with in 15 minutes it is just confident fragrance and wealth and sacred. I love it. After 15 minutes comes rose, jasmine, almond and patchouli. Last're pepper, a little mandarin orange, lot of wild flower and feminine musk. Love it. And might cassis or red currant leafs is what I thought myrrh and soft incense, I never smell cassis nor red currant leaf.

Masterful. A new quality out of the parts, I truly can't tell them apart. Very elegant, enveloping, warm but not overly so. Slightly powdery yet with evergreen tinge. Chic, grown up, feminine. Perfect signature. I usually wear it in winter and it requires formal clothes but it is so beautiful this early spring evening. Perfect for big galas. Is it truly lost? It is incredibly beautiful and I only have half of my 50ml bottle left. This versatility and charm makes me raise it from like to love.

I wore this when I was 25. It is - til today - the most beautiful perfume I've ever smelled. All stages and especially the dry down. My boyfriend at the time walked into the mall, told me to wait in the car, and walked back and put the new box of Initial by Boucheron into my hands and my eyes perked up, he must have been tired of me pining for it. I wish I had this again. I finished the bottle and bought a second. And then it was gone. Forever. Much to my dismay.

still, it has been discontinued... what a pitty ! such an elegant, charming perfume ! at first is too oriental - probably the pepper gives me this impression - but after it dries down, it becomes so sweet and pleasant... so unique and highly recognisable... a true signature. discontinued, though...

This perfume is GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS!! It is indeed creamy fresh and very 'intellectual'. It is one of my Boucheron favorites! LOVE IT!

This scent is somewhere between a Golden Age actress (think Lauren Bacall, Elizabeth Taylor) and a warm mother, a safe haven.

Few drops of Sira des Indes beneath patchouli? Strange and intriguing. This is the kind of fragrance you get addicted to.

flowers dipped in a honey pot I sublime!!!

I agree with asilverfire614 about the notes blending once past the tangerine opening. There's some dusky rose brightened by the jasmine, but I get no pepper, and -happily!- can't pick out the patchouli (to which I'm normally hypersensitive). I find it hard to believe there's no violet listed in the notes because I pick up a strong undercurrent of violet here, which I like very, very much. What comes through most prominently for me are the almond and honey notes that linger in a rather rich, syrupy way. I can't wear this in hot weather but in cool/cold temps it's mesmerizing. For perspective, let me say that I love more than a couple in the Boucheron line! Jaipur Saphir is my favorite, with the classic coming in 2nd, Miss coming in 3rd and the original men's in 4th spot. Each of these is distinctive in its own way and each seems a much deeper overall bouquet & has excellent lasting power. (Initial does not last on my skin in warm weather, only cold.)

Boucheron is a bijoutier (jeweler). Most of his flacons are inspired by pieces of his jewelry; rings (original Boucheron collection and Quatre), bracelets (Jaipur collection), or pendants as in Initial. Sometimes by the palace where those only people who can afford the jewelry live (Place Vendome collection) 😂. Luckily more people can afford the perfumes. Now for the actual scent. It initially has a glorious kick of tangerines and black pepper; warm, spicy & intriguing. I get no cassis. It, however, calms down quite quickly to a feminine floral in the middle. It reveals soft roses and a gentle jasmine. The base is a honeyed, woody musk; sensual & elegant. What I’m disappointed about is that after the initial spray, it is almost a skin scent on me, but I have the eau de toilet concentration. It is very chic and sophisticated, but not worth the crazy prices online, now at least not for the edt.

Please Pass the Honey Dust, Sweetheart I'm testing this from an old test spray vial. I think the top notes are shot, but I get the gist. Plus, I remember it from when I first got the sample. Once the launch festivities subside, I find myself in a luscious, cozy, winter's night scene in which I am laying on a beautiful bed, admiring a room full of cut flowers while being sprinkled with honey dust by a very hot guy who happens to be wearing a sexy, peppery, spicy fragrance. To love Initial takes a little bit of patience, but I promise that you'll be rewarded for sticking around for a bit. Initial, as others have written, just becomes sweeter and softer as it settles in. It is long-wearing, and the silage is quite good. I used two sprays on my chest under my top (and took a quick dab from the sprays for each of my wrists).

I didn't get the honey either which is sad because I was hoping this would cure my honey scent fix. This is delicately sweet soft florals on me that stays really close. It lasted through the night staying on clothes but very faintly after six hours. I got this for free so I can't complain but although a lovely floral I won't purchase as I prefer slightly louder florals than this soft spoken beauty. EDIT: my bottle must be trying to prove me wrong or else the tropical weather has altered this beauty on my skin. All of a sudden, only in the drydown though, I'm getting yellow honey, not the dark rich ones but the syrupy golden ones. I must say I'm quite pleased and will spend more time with it in the hope of discovering more secrets.

Absolutely love this one! Soft but at the same time intensive, not loud but there all around me. Fresh and crisp in topnote - I can also detect mint. wonderful, maybe not a sexy scent but an adult woman-scent. I bought a sample today 5ml - I want the larges bottle there is.. but nowhere to be found...If someone in Sweden have one - please let me know. Bara älskar denna doften. Mjuk men ändå tydlig, inte högljudd men den finns här runt mig. Fräsch och krispig med mint i toppnoten. helt makalöst underbar. Kanske inte råsexig doft men absolut en doft för kvinnan mitt i livet. köpte 5ml prov idag - och vill ha en större flaska. om någon i sverige har det och vill sälja/byta mejla mig.