1996 Inez & Vinoodh

I had actually blind purchased this fragrance after reading the reviews on here and loved the notes pyramid. And for disclaimer, my skin tends to eat up frangrance really quickly. This fragrance is truly a stunner from the beginning til the end. The other reviewers are very accurate in that the fragrance opens with a boudouir/lipstick type of fragrance profile, I would say on me this part lasts roughly 2 hours on me. After the 2 hour mark, the patchouli, but not a hippy green patchouli but rather a coy and vanilla swirled patchouli rests for another 2 hours. Finally after the 4 hour mark, the amber/patchouli/vanilla base notes come in, while I still smell Patchouli and Vanilla, the hint of black amber in here completely changes the scent profile. And while reading many of the other reviewered, it seemed to gear towards a more masculine audience. But maybe my skin chemistry makes this fragrance smell especially feminine as I am a woman in my mid-late 20's. I actually have a difficult time seeing a man wear this, but maybe this is a fragrance that blooms completely different on a man. Similar to how @hippiechick13 described it as the perfect fragrance for a bohemian lady, I definitely agree. Though I feel like this is a fragrance that even a individual that has a normal 9-5, basic lifestyle can rock. How I would describe the fragrance transitions is that in the opening, the notes reflect an attractive woman that's classy, but slightly intimidating because she's not traditional in her manner. The combination of black pepper definitely gives it a slight bad ass feel to that of the iris. Once the vanilla and patchouli comes through in the heart and base notes, the personality of this fragrance reflects someone who's rather creative and artsy, and definitely has a flirty personality. In terms of longetivity, perhaps one of the best part about this perfume is that, I can smell it on my clothes 24 hours later, but it's never overwhelming or old smelling. I think on my skin, it only lasts roughly 6 hours max. *On another note, this fragrance's base notes sticks to my bedsheets like nobody's business....which I adore, I would say I wash my sheets once a week, and by the end of the week, my sheets smell so cozy and delicious, like the vanilla frosting from carrot cake specifically. This fragrance is truly not a linear scent....definitely quite a journey from the colder juniper/Gin like smell to hippy chic mid-day to luxurious amber later on and finally everlasting carrot cake....

I have tried a few Byredo perfumes, and while they are intelligent compositions, their performance-price ratio tends to be abysmal. 1996 is the exception. A powerful violet-leather-amber concoction, there are shades of Proust's madeleine about it. While it is not 90s in style (radiant minimal freshies like CK One or L'Eau d'Issey spring to mind for me), it reminds me of aspects of my childhood - some of which, for me, was aptly set in the 1990s. I couldn't put my finger on it until I scanned the reviews below, but it smells like an amalgamation of the following: licking a stamp/envelope; Refreshers (tangy, flat rectangular sweets available in Ireland/UK; the medicinal scent of acupuncturist's office complete with musty, polished wooden furniture (thank you for pinpointing this one, @solarpunk!). Regarding the breakdown of the scent itself, it is a leathery violet-iris scent that is at times fruity, powdery, patchouli-heavy, woody, ambery - making for a compelling, darkly dense concoction that somehow achieves cohesion. 1996 opens with Parma violets, sweet and powdery, given a lift by radiantly fresh juniper and perhaps some aldehydes. There is a fruitiness to it here, reminding me of the Refreshers. I also get the abstract envelope glue effect at the early stages. As it develops, I get a vermouth-like artemisia note, medicinal and herbal. It marries nicely with the violet, powdery and velvet-like. A suede-like leather note develops in the background, reminding me a little of Piguet Jolie Madame. Buttery smooth and dense, there is a slight smokiness in the background, and a curious waxiness too. Patchouli emerges as it develops further, balsamic and dark in this instance. I get some soft woody notes in there too. The amber drydown is balsamic, given a slight sweetness thanks to the addition of a dry vanilla note. It ties everything together nicely, fading to a mossy, leathery skin scent with some sweetness. Sillage is strong and longevity is long-lasting. A complex, brilliant piece of olfactory art, 1996 is a thing of beauty in my opinion. Avant-garde, evocative and artistic, it also manages to be wearable. A unisex autumn/winter scent, 1996 is best applied sparingly. Intriguing and compelling - I loved this. 4.5/5.

Since this has been my most recent obsession I figured I'd take the time to actually write my first (ever on this site) review on it. First spotted this bottle sitting on a dresser of one of my best longtime friends. I had heard about Byredo before but never actually sampled one of their scents, nor had I been interested tbqh. But by virtue of me being a 90's kid, the name appealed to me and I asked if I could try it on. I was already wearing a light splash of Chanel Chance edp at the time so admittedly this "tainted" my first expression somewhat. Not in a bad way at all but the experience of 1996 alone is alot more dressed down. At first I thought it was WAY too sweet smelling, almost candy-like. But once it dried down I was enveloped in this hazy warm leather. I kept smelling my wrist all night, and the morning after it still lingred on my skin. Couldn't stop thinking about it for weeks after, so when I got finally had the leftover funds to buy it one month I did. At first, I was severely dissappointed. There was nothing of that almost masculine leather that I had adored so much, only overwhelming, sugary vanilla (i guess that's the amber?) and fire smoke(??!). I hated it haha, and didn't bother touching the bottle for weeks after that initial encounter. Then I figured, I spent the money so I should at least give it a fair shot before giving it away. Sprayed some down my shirt just to get a more muted scent. And boy. The smoke is still there, strangely? It smells a little like... Candied almonds by a camp fire? And there are defintely some earthy wood tones. If I really inhale it all the way, I get the juniper notes as well. I love spraying it on my clothes to get just the vanilla/fire feeling, it's very warm and cozy. On my skin, it has a subtle undertone of fresh laundry. The actual leather notes also comes through better that way. Also get hints of a dry pine forest. It's still a very sweet smell on me though. I might try pairing it with my Chance again to see if I can replicate that first impression. I do adore it now, that I've given it some time, but I don't know that I would repurchase it. I feel like it's a scent that you can really get your fill of quite quickly. Time will tell!

i absolutely love this fragrance for so many reasons. first of all inez and vinoodh are iconic high fashion photographers that have done amazing work in the industry for years. i highly recommend you check out their editorial and campaign work because they are creative geniuses. i remember getting a sample of this from the byredo store in san francisco and wearing it on a rainy day in november last year and it absolutely rocked my world. i immediately had to get a bottle and it has been a staple in my collection since. right off the bat its this potent sexy powdery juniper. the iris combined with the amber and patchouli add this powdery modern texture with a somewhat vintage feel that doesn’t feel outdated but rather more luxurious in a retro glamour kind of way. the juniper is super dry and woody. you would think that the amber would make this sort of sweet and resinous but i dont find it sweet at all. the amber is very subtle and really rounds everything out. i get no leather in this at all, its mainly just a dry and heavily woody scent with this patchouli undertone to give it alot of depth. i would almost call it a rather simple scent with alot of chic complexity (ironically). i think byredo gets a bad rep for making fragrances that dont last at all, but this is a beast. you dont need to spray much cuz it will radiate off your skin with a few sprays. i wore this out today grocery shopping in the late afternoon on a cloudy sunday cuz i was feeling rather complicated and in a fall mood. as i was walking out i accidentally cut off this lady while we were both walking out the store and i apologized to her cuz that wasn’t my intention and she responded with “you are totally fine, by the way, you smell amazing” so that should tell you everything you need to know. its very chic and unisex with the tiniest amount of femininity that any confident man will pull off. some of byredo’s best work

Byredo is a brand that I feel is at its best when it’s at its weirdest, and this is pretty awesome, but also very polarizing, and extremely potent. The opening smells like walking into a time capsule of a building. It smells like old furniture, dust, yellowing walls, dry flowers, and books, and it becomes more ambery and leathery as it dries down. It’s very dry, warm, and bittersweet. Like many other Byredo scents, this has a strange chemical coldness that underpins it, but it’s not austere, rather, it’s very cozy and lived in, perhaps overbearingly so. I actually got some negative comments on it from 2 of my coworkers, with one them complaining that it reminds her of musty wet wipes. I obviously disagree, but I understand where she’s coming from, and that definitely made me think twice about wearing it to work ever again. Others have mentioned that it smells minty, and have actually complimented me on it. If you smell it up close, you can actually break it down into notes like juniper, patchouli and vanilla, but in the air it’s just turns into this fascinating amalgamation that smells more like an actual place rather than a perfume, and if you get it, you’ll love it. Edit: I’ve had this for a couple of weeks now, and I just wanted to mention that this is my current favorite scent to wear at home, it’s very addictive. Also, I actually like how it smells on clothes better than on skin. It’s dryer and more convincing this way. You actually get the sense that your garment has been stored inside of a wooden chest for a really long time, and it lasts FOREVER.

I had no idea what to except from this perfume, when I got a small 2ml sample. 1996 never gets any attention on social media - in contrast with the Byredo best sellers like Gypsy Water or Bal D'Afrique - to be quite honest its existance wasn't even known to me. 1996 is an amazing perfume which melts my heart every time I wear it. I fell in love with it from the very first moment I sampled it and I was really trying to understand its smell, then suddenly I read a review here that it is quite close to the base of A*Men by Mugler. Suddenly everything felt familiar and I understood why I loved it so much - I really really love A*Men and 1996 feels like a more polite and niche version of it. The funny thing is that A*Men was released in 1996 - officially the name of the Byredo creation is inspired by a photo Inez & Vinoodh took, not sure if it is indeed a coincidence or some unconscious sub plot hidden in its name. The inspiration photo is supposed to be on the box of the perfume - weirdly enough it's not on the box of my bottle (yes I bought a full bottle) and it can't be a fake one, I bought it directly from Byredo site. Whatever the case may be 1996 is an amazing perfume that should get more attention. It fully deserve it. I read that it was supposed to be a limited edition (the original version was a bescope perfume for Inez & Vinoodh in order to gift it to their friends during the Christmas session of 2012), so give it a try and if you fell in love with it, get a bottle as soon as you can. Solid love from me.

I met you in autumn a year ago, I remember this scent so well, the only one you had. You had me smell you, I asked what fragrance. ‚Byredo‘, ‚But which one‘, ‚Byredo‘. You smell me, ‚What fragrance‘, ‚Serge Lutens‘, ‚But which one‘, ‚Serge Lutens‘. We are still entangled, for better or for worse, the entangling became deeper, despite protests (however erroneous). I get ready, after going back to sleep you roused me from (you hadn’t slept yet), I brush my teeth, no sign of your temporary roommate, the smell of coffee still lingers from the kitchen. I put the clothes you picked for my shoot in my bag, I put on the shirt of yours I wore last night, still smelling of spilt gin, and the water you splashed on me in the club bathroom. I only wore the pants you chose, I tried the shirt after I left and I felt like I needed to crawl out of my skin. I still have 15 minutes till I need to leave, I crawl back into bed, you roll over and pull me closer, I think about no-showing, I don’t want to leave your arms. I book an uber after saying I never want to leave, I have no perfume, they’re in my other bags. I look up at your vanity, I pick the one of your year of birth, it’s down to its last drops but I manage my usual routine, one left, one right, front and back, one left, one right, no friction to to minimise thermic effect. I pick up your shirt two weeks later, the club stamp is imprinted on the back from your arm around my waist, I smell the collar, your still there.

Byredo 1996 feels less like a fragrance and more like stepping into a photograph that already has a story attached to it. It opens with a cool shimmer of black pepper and juniper, giving it an almost metallic crispness before the heart begins to soften into violet and powdery orris. What makes this scent so compelling is the way the leather is handled. It is not rough, smoky biker-jacket leather, and it is not overtly animalic. Instead, it wears like aged suede, soft, elegant, and slightly shadowed. There’s a beautiful tension between the polished iris-violet powder and the darker base of amber, patchouli, and vanilla, which creates the feeling of old books, worn gloves, and skin warmed by cashmere. On my skin, 1996 reads as deeply atmospheric: intellectual, moody, and quietly sensual. It has that “someone unforgettable walked through the room” quality without ever becoming loud. The leather gives it structure, while the powder and amber keep it intimate. I would not classify this as a true animalic fragrance, but it does have a human warmth that can feel intimate and lived-in. Think vintage library, suede coat, cool weather, and a hint of lipstick powder on a scarf. For anyone who loves fragrances that feel cinematic, melancholic, and beautifully composed, 1996 remains one of Byredo’s most evocative creations.

The beginning spritz is very much a peppery, woodsy green scent that holds onto the juniper berries, black pepper, and patchouli before steadily revealing the creamy, flowery, powdery heart. For me, the juniper berries and black pepper fade the quickest within a few minutes of spraying. The patchouli is definitely present throughout the entirety, as well as this powdery, creamy, almost gourmand scent which I can only attribute to the combination of the leather, amber, vanilla, and iris. The violet has a small moment in the middle where it shines and brings a sweet floral element. The ending reminds me so much of blonde woods, almost like pine or birch wood. I think this is mainly due to the vanilla, leather, and patchouli mixing together but I am always surprised that there is no actual wood note present in the perfume composition. The end scent does feel akin to opening up an old chest or box made of these creamier, sweeter woods. If you don't enjoy this ending scent you will not enjoy the perfume as it takes up most of the perfume's life. This leans more masculine to my nose. The projection is very wide within the first 3 or so hours, but then it fades to around arm reach on me. I can smell it from morning to night if I am smelling my wrists (which I usually am with this).

I'm insanely in love with this perfume. It's super spicy, peppery & scrumptious. It's unique and for some reason it settles incredibly well onto my light skin without projecting heaviness. SCENT: First spray the black pepper & juniper berries are STRONG. Sure they're the top notes, but man they last on the skin forever, the violet, orris and leather accord develop slowly but are QUICKLY overpowered by the vanilla, patchouli & amber base notes. Definitely turns heads as you pass by (although I don't recommend this in hot weather as it can be too much) LASTING POWER: My gosh this lasts a long time on my skin...it completely fades away after 7 hours. It's the strongest perfume I have! PACKAGING: Byredo definitely scores a 5/5 for sleek, attractive & modern packaging, down to its BOX. Very photo-friendly & suits tabletops. PRICE: For mainstream perfumes it's got a hefty pricetag, beating big players like Chanel, Guerlain, Bvlgari in price per ml. But for me it's completely worth it. A fantastically special perfume that improves/brings something new to the spicy, peppery scent genre. A lifetime repurchase for me & one of my true love scents

I'm not a big Byredo fan, I find some of them quite ok, likeable, but nothing groundbreaking. But this is so good, so likeable, it does everything I love in a fragrance. It opens up with a powdery iris, almost too powdery and going into the old-lady direction, but blends so well with a slight touch of juniper berries and a beautiful leather, slightly dark and animalic, the opening can be off-putting to some but is really catchy and daring. The mid is beautiful, I get a plum vibe from it, a touch of amber and a great sweet Patchouli note. It is really a relaxing scent despite its sweetness and woodiness, and it indeed smells like some ancien place, the Sherlock Holmes office is really a great way to describe this place. I also really like the drydown, which lingers and lingers, where the leather-amber duo shines and gives me this beautiful sweet and powdery smell. It reminds me a bit of a niche version of A*men by Thierry Mugler, side by side they are quite close, this one is less eccentric and sweet, but it's almost as if Byredo took A*men and brought it into the Victorian era of London in the 19th century.

FULL BOTTLE WORTHY. Calvin Klein Obsession for women is the first fragrance I remember reacting negatively to in my youth. I imagine it’s what Pepé Le Pew’s stink-cloud smells like. My least favorite fragrance to date. 1996 smells as if Obsession was reformulated into a scent I love. A creamier, smokier, patchouli-forward version. Like an offspring of Obsession and Tom Ford Ébène Fumé. Byredo gets a lot of flack for poor longevity, but a couple spritzes of 1996 on my inner elbow before bed last night is still impressively detectable 10+ hours later. Masculine-leaning, I’d say, but I love it on me. Complex. Heavily resinous - yet wearable. Slightly green, perfectly sweet. There’s a pinch of powder. Smoke, leather, violet, and amber are most prominent on my skin. It’s a smooth and inoffensive leather. The black amber brings Grand Soir to mind. 1996 is earthy, sultry, resinous, warm, dark, sophisticated, and stunning. Distractingly addictive. *Obsessed!

1996 Inez & Vinoodh by Byredo smells of the finest vintage leather handbags lightly dusted in iris powder, an earthy patchouli sweetened up with the most syrupy-sweet amber, and a tart zingy twist of juniper berries. This fragrance is like a memory. It’s a cloudy grey day in November as you walk through a beautiful pine tree forest with the wind whispering across your skin in a chilly breeze. You wrap your sweater tighter around your body as you inhale the crisp air and look up at the grey sky. You catch the subtle smell of the tree bark and the sweet resins while you walk along listening to the twigs snap beneath your leather boots. It is the best time of year just as the weather turns cold. Every morning holds the promising warmth of the sun and every night the dark icy depths of what lurks beyond your cozy little cabin. I’ve never been so excited to be so scared. Love this fragrance!

This smells like powder, old books, and lipstick. I usually hate things that are powdery, but this just hits the spot for a sexy librarian vibe. It's addictive. Also, this tends to stick around (rare on me) that I get pleasant whiffs of it through out the day. Byredo is hit or miss with staying power on me (Rouge Chaotique, Eleventh Hour, Open Sky, Slow Dance stick to me, Gypsy Water, Mojave Ghost , and most other popular ones don't). I will say I bought a decant last year and hated it. My decant has sat for about a year, and I recently gave it another try. I have been wearing this quite over the past three weeks as the weather is in that silly stage between summer, not quite fall. This is worth the whiff if you like something a little unusual and love hanging around libraries or used bookstores. 🤩 I was happy to track down a reasonably priced bottle on JS. I'm excited to get that in.

1996 reminded me of how subjective fragrances are. A mere two sprays on me elicited comments from co-workers about something smelling like "industrial cleaner" and "church incense." I like the incense comment, just not the industrial cleaner part. Oh well. One thing for certain is that it has staying power. I love it. The initial opening reminds me of cosmetics; powdery, waxy, and a bit sweet - not saccharine. I don't get the juniper- but maybe that's what's triggering the "industrial cleaner" comments. It darkens into a "leathery" amber base that reminds me of Prada Amber at about a shade or two lighter. I initially dismissed it because of the dry down since I already own Prada, but eventually gave in because I'm a sucker for those kind of scents anyways. Not office friendly, so I use it recreationally. Not a crowd pleaser, so I wear it for myself.

I absolutely adore this fragrance! It's truly one-of-a-kind and doesn’t remind me of other amber scents. I didn't detect much juniper, or maybe it blended with the leather to create a slightly earthy and off-putting opening. Dirt and carrots? However, after about 30 minutes to an hour, it transforms beautifully into a warm, earthy mix of patchouli and amber. At this stage, the fragrance really comes alive, with a dusty iris and creamy vanilla that were initially hidden behind the top notes. The result is a wonderfully bold scent bubble. The silage exceeds what I typically expect from other well-known Byredo fragrances. Plus, it has impressive longevity. In my opinion, it’s worth every penny for being so unique, strong, and stunning. As someone else aptly described, this is "elegant dirt, for the bohemian."

It calls to mind leather coats, old books and sunny autumn days. It is an enchanting scent. There's something about it that's comforting, I enjoy wearing it around the house just for me, and something about it that is nostalgic-- just as the name would suggest. It's sensual in a detached, bookish sort of way which on the right person makes it a great signature scent. I'm a nerd who loves all things brainy, old-fashioned and beautiful, so for me, it is just right. I think this requires the right personality and chemistry to work. It's niche for a reason. I love that it's grounded, due to the amber/leather/patchouli at the base, but also effervescent due to that juniper "gin" top. It's heavy and light-- nothing like your classic oriental. Nothing smells quite like it.

I'm surprised that fruit is not listed in the notes for this one. 1996 has a distinct, overly-ripe berry opening on my skin. It then morphs into a musty, leathery, amber scent that reminds me of old library books. 1996 is unisex, whereas I find many leathery scents to feel more masculine. A hint of florals and citrus provide a little lightness and contrast to the heavy sweet opening and patchouli-leather-wood notes. The effect is odd, comforting and contemplative. Probably not a safe blind buy. Wears close but has great lasting power. I've read that this perfume was designed to smell like the home of Dutch photographers Inez & Vinoodh. It does trigger a sense of environment and memory. Paveh's observation that it smells like Sherlock Holmes' office seems spot-on!

I was told by a Nordstrom sales rep that the reference for the scent was lipsticks from the 90's, including the plastic. I feel like they almost nailed it. Definitely luxurious and rich. At first the scent brings images of a woman wearing merlot lipstick, matching nail polish and a power suit with strong shoulder pads going in to her office on the 30th floor of a high rise in Manhattan lets say in the 80's and then once it dries down and gets earthier something much fresher and cooler. It is very balsamic on me which I love. A little goes a long way. I do maybe three spritzes and it lasts all day and stays on my clothes for a week if I don't wash them. I love to mix it with patchouli oil to really freshen it up and make it more wearable for day or summertime.

Oh my word, this is just divine! I was at a wedding 2 weeks ago and could smell something delectable in the air. Let me tell you, I hunted that person DOWN!! The hunt was made all the more difficult because it is so unisex. So I was lurking around men and women, smiling politely as I mooched about. I soon found HER! The amber is stunning in this. A woody, leathery Amber, with dirty patchouli. When I take a deep inhale I am transported back to the late 80s, I just can't put my finger on what it reminds me of, but it is on the tip of my tongue. AAAHH what is it!!? Anyway, this leans a little masculine, but its definitely unisex. It's heavy, so you only need about one good spritz. But it leaves such a beautiful sweet ambery trail. I absolutely love it!!

I debated on this one and eleventh hour. Two totally different scents yet two that I’ve had my eye on. The reason I didn’t go with 1996 is because it’s discontinued and the price has been jacked up because of that. Hopefully they don’t discontinue eleventh hour. As for the scent, it’s definitely weird. I don’t think you’ll smell it anywhere else. There’s definitely juniper there, but there’s also something else that I can’t put my finger on. Almost has a plastic note, but in a really good way. I wouldn’t blind buy this. It’s one of those acquired taste scents. If I could find a small tester bottle, I would. This is one of those scents that I’d wear on a night out. I have slight regret not buying it, but it’s discontinued so what a shame.

Ahhhh the underrated GEM from Byredo. 1996 is in the vein of something like Tempo (earthy patchouli) but wears drier, more ambery and much longer lasting. There is juniper up top giving it a little piney dry fruit but it only sticks around for the opening. It has also has this intriguing glossy magazine paper smell. I find a lot of the fragrances from this house have a plastic quality. Back to 1996...This is an art space patchouli bomb, but with dusty iris/orris and a subtle worn leather accord that is more fitting for an antique book shop or vintage furniture store. I have some ambers and patch scents but this one is super unique. *Not a blind buy scent unless you really love a big patchouli/amber! I also heard it's been discontinued.

my mother went to an acupuncturist regularly when i was small (2000s, so before this perfume came out). our families were the only two in the whole city that spoke our particular dialect. the memory of her waiting room is fuzzy, but i remember dark waxed wood, incense, herbs, traditional tapestries, mood lighting, and the exact scent of 1996 Inez & Vinoodh. don't know how this perfume replicates it perfectly. acupuncturist's office, vinyl store, vintage clothing shop. to date, this is the only leather perfume i've tolerated. it's balanced by sweet florals & juniper, and a slight warmth from the amber. currently on the hunt for a full bottle. update: they discontinued this :((( luckily i got a bottle!

The moment it dried down one thought came to my mind: "This smells exactly like Ambre Fetiche"! Well, it has less sweaty/dirty vibes than AF, it's in fact its well behaved younger sibling, but the similarity is overwhelming. Since AF is one of my favorite perfumes, I ended up loving 1996 too. To me the amber and leather are the most prominent notes by far, with just a bit of patchouli. The lasting power was very good, around 8-10 hours, but AF lasts a day and then some. If you can handle the dirty vibe of AF go for that one, but if you want something more refined, 1996 is the way to go. If you don't like sweet amber though or you're a fan of clean scents, neither of these is for you.

Straight iris and violet heavily sitting on top of a patchouli base with the powdery iris made semisweet, vegetal and dry with an ambergis accord. When I first sprayed this I didn't care for it at all. The second time I sprayed this I liked it a bit more. The third time I sprayed this I liked it even more and so on and so on, you get my drift. Now when I smell this, it comforts me, like a familiar old friend would or say a good book or my favorite painting. I love it, it's easily recognizable to me and can enhance and uplift my mood immediately. If you get it and don't like it at first just give it a week or two and trust me it'll grow on you.

Coming back for a second review. I broke down and bought a full size because I couldn’t live without it. Even though it’s apparently discontinued, making hard to find, it’s too unique to not get. Out of all the Byredo scents, this one lasts the longest. I hope the discontinuation is just hype because this is the only one that actually worth money, imo. Edit (30/4/23): I’m told it’s not discontinued. I hope not! Since writing my first two reviews (I have no life), this is my signature scent. Like other have suggested, it’s not really a safe blind buy. You either love or hate it. I’m obsessed with it.

Antique shops, old rugs, thrift stores, used books. This site changed the note breakdown for some reason-- did Byredo reformulate it? My several year old bottle of 1996 is all amber and patchouli. I'm getting zero iris, make up, leather, smoke, powder, etc. This is sticky amber & dirty patchouli, and I love it for that. Very heady and intoxicating. I don't wear it often because it is SO tenacious and sticks to absolutely everything, and the richness & decadence starts to get cloying after a while. It's a little too sweet during the dry down for consistent wear, but I adore the opening.

It's really hard for me to say any fragrance is bad. Just because I may not like something doesn't mean it's not good but this one definitely became an acquired taste. I'll admit, 1996 was a devastating year for me... Motivation for me to not want to like this one but I just can't. This is special... Hated it upon first application but after 15 minutes... Magic happens. The juniper berries and iris fade into the background and the amber, leather and patchouli take over... I know this has been reformulated and I haven't tried the new version.... YET!!!

Damp basement at summer camp of my childhood in the 90s, mixed with powdery plastic baby doll heads....with Maison Margiela’s Autumn Vibes (one of my favorite scents) layered on top. It’s an instant love for me. I am sad to hear this is being discontinued. Going to savor the half bottle I recently got. I should also note that the leather note in this is very smooth and well blended, and does not scream at you. I also am not a huge Iris/powdery fragrance and I was worried this would smell too old lady on me but it’s absolutely sexy and warm and divine

Close race for my favorite Byredo fragrance along with Oud Immortalle. Super warm and dark. The patchouli, amber and leather are all well balanced at the low end, with the iris giving the fragrance some creaminess and the juniper giving it a bit of a spikey sweetness at the top. Projection off of my skin is dynamite. My coworker got a whiff of this as they were at the top of an escalator and I was halfway down. Kept a serious 12-6ft projection from about 10:45 am to 7pm, then began to fade inward. Still have a noticeable skin scent the next morning.

very decadent and very creamy. Nutella comes to mind and i haven't seen anyone else here mention it, i searched with F+CMD - no one is thinking of it. but im visualising nutella dripping out of my hot double sided toast liquefying the butter and toasting it a little bit. some fruity juniper aspects. i love iris, i love amber, i love vanilla, i love smooth leathers... people say booze but im not sure where from. one spray is more than enough (2 was a mistake) - this really keeps me coming back for more and talking to people about it. try it please!

This is one of the best and slept on perfumes in the Byredo line. Orris, violet, and vanilla is a beautiful combination. The suede gives an edge and air of sophistication. A lot of ppl seem to have a problem with suede notes, so this scent is probably not for everyone. In fact, that might be another reason to like it. If you regularly shop for perfume at Sephora, this one is not for you. If you read literature, favor listening to vinyl over Spotify, wear niche designer shoes, and prefer knits made from natural fibers, you might give this a try.

Strong juniper blast upon first spray, but don't let that scare you away! Once it settles it's this incredibly creamy, powdery, and woody smell that is just so incredibly comforting. It actually reminds me of a perfume oil called Winter Kitty (by indie brand For Strange Women) that I came across on Etsy some 7 years ago - I might be fooled by my scent memory, since the listed notes are way different, but it really does have that same coziness and vibe to it. I will 100% purchase a full bottle once I am not, uh, in between jobs anymore.

dunno how to start... First of all, if the year 1996 would've been a perfume, it would've been this. It exactly smells like how I dream about 1996. The name matches the personality 100%. Normally leather note makes me wanna throw up, but in this one... it blended so well, you dont even feel it. I liked it a lot! But it is a bit mature. Im 29 (yep this is my birth year) and I think I will be using this when Im about 35-40. But this is so elegant, strong, really nice. Might be too much for summer, better to use in autumn or winter.

A Beautiful, powerful scent. I can't get my head around why I like this so much as i normally can't stand amber but I love this.. Totally unisex and a very unique smell and my favorite of the Byredo line that I've tried so far. Fast becoming my signature scent. Really differs depending on the wearer. Tried this on my girlfriend and it was a different scent. Lasts for hours and sillage is great. It's a strong one though and definitely use sparingly and apply 10 minutes before you head out to engage in human contact.

Wow! This scent being named the year I was born (1996) is so fitting for the smell! It reminds me of my childhood wearing Paw Paw Ointment all the time. Definitely a unique scent! Smells like: Paw Paw Ointment (in a really really good way), a hint of Vapor Rub, and hint of spices..perhaps pepper?? It's a pleasant and quite nostalgic scent for those born around this time.. quite lovely. It gives me creamy buttery vibes with some spice.. if that makes sense. Recommend sampling before you buy :)

I love this! There's a stuffy, claustrophobic vibe to it which I'm really into. I get a lot of Amber and vanilla which are two notes I can normally take or leave but there's something about the way this is put together that's so appealing. It's an absolute best in terms of longevity too. Lasts for hours and hours at full pelt! I can imagine it's not for everyone because it really is a powerful scent but I get an amazing comforting vibe from it. to me it's perfect for a Cold Sunday.

This captures all of the scents of my life in the mid 90s. I had amber incense burning all the time, which I bought from an Indian family who made it to support themselves. I wore amber oil, because I couldn't afford any "real" perfume. I was working two jobs and going to school part time, but sill managed to go out to the underground clubs every weekend. I was dirt poor, but single, free, and so happy! This fragrance has the booze and books and amber

This is my go to signature scent. Loving the niche perfumes for decades, when I stumbled upon 1996 it felt as if I was in the High Street in London at an old Map shoppe. The leather stands out most to me, very little floral and a hint of powdered amber. Without exception, when I wear this, I always get complimented and I never tell, it is my secret weapon! The best place to dab is in the hair line, it simply trails along with me.

Damn you Byredo....You are going to break me! First came Mojave Ghost, then Oud Immortel and then Gypsy Water...And NOW, NOW you tempt me with 1996 Innez&Vindooh....Curses be unto you...In a good way...You know when you find a house that just works for you? This is mine..I have tried other Byredo's but these 4 are show stoppers in my book and worth the money...I will just see what my oldest kid will fetch on the open market...

More masculine side of unisex imho. Longevity 10/10 - I enjoyed this wonderful smell for 12+ hours and it was still pretty clear much later. Sillage is 7/10... I get a spicy warm amber richness, I was unsure at first, but after 4 hours, I love this perfume and I want to wear it more often... Overall, this perfume is beautiful art and it is quality too, I can easily award an overall 8/10. I recommend 1996.

Per me questo e' l'odore di una stanza con una grande libreria colma di libri antichi . E' un profumo intenso polveroso con una nota di fondo vanigliata che conferisce un'anima quasi vellutata. Mi ricorda un misto tra biblioteche in legno vecchio , pagine di giornale e moquette . Per me e' un profumo indispensabile nelle mie ore di lettura. Una spruzzata e ne sono assuefatta, lo adoro!!

Captivated by this unique scent. Interesting development throughout the wear. It gets noticed quickly. A really good rich Amber, meant to be dressed up! Very surprised that other Byredo fragrances get more publicity than this one. IMHO, this is the best from their unique house. I am heavy handed when it comes to spraying, but I have to watch the trigger on this one, BEAST MODE! LoL

It starts as a bright cocktail of juniper, pepper and a hint of citrus and quickly develops into a beautiful leathery iris, so warm, earthy and rooty. It ticks all my boxes. This is how a 70 ́s rock star apartment would smell like. I am a huge Byredo fan and this one quicky became one of my top 3 in the whole range.

This fragrance is like heaven to me. It's so complex and luxe. Sweet and sultry. I usually don't finish full bottles because I am fickle, but this has become my signature, and I am on bottle no. 2. I reserve this for only thw most special occasions or when I need a little extra boost of confidence.

THIS is the best Byredo by a landslide. it's unique, aromatic, it's something I have never smelt in my entire life. I can't put my finger on one singular note but it is woody, aromatic and leathery. It kinda gives off the vibes of BR540 in a good way, where everything is so well-blended.

I blind bought 1996 Byredo last month only to discover that the scent was well Known to me. It took me a day to discover among my bottle collection ... but success came when I opened the bottle of Oud Armaf Niche perfume. There is a very strong resemblance between this two fragrances.

Smells Awesome during cold rainy winter nights... I can imagine someone wearing this one while hanging out with close friends (pub owner being one of them) on cold wintry night in a pub located in quite part of the town way after closing time... Shares some DNA of Davidoff Amber Blend

Give it some time to develop and the real magic begins, it really does transport you back to 1996 and simple times. It’s a Dark resinous, mysterious, powdery, leathery concoction that is odd but very sexy, you can’t stop sniffing it and the scent trail is insane

I read a comment on YouTube saying, “it smells like making out with a 90s grunge-era Keanu Reeves against a brick wall in the back corner of a dark club while wearing his leather jacket.” Now that comment is the reason I bought this fragrance. It’s beautiful!