Slow Dance

Byredo often doesn’t get the respect it deserves from fragrance aficionados, perhaps because this house doesn’t target the expectations of those partial to French perfumery. Byredo is a niche house with a hard to pigeonhole line up from barely perceptible fragrances to true room filling beasts, from simple one or two note affairs to complex, overwhelmingly dense formulations. There’s a plethora of fragrance profiles that should have one or two tickling most anyone’s nose while the rest . . . perhaps not. Being niche, they take chances. Slow Dance is opoponax mainly, followed by cognac and vanilla. It’s mostly linear with violet and geranium giving some sparkle in the opening—but you can read the note list for yourself. When I first sprayed it, I thought “This reminds me of Amouage Interlude Man, but better.” As a whole, it’s more approachable than Interlude Man, as if IM went to a finishing school that turned it from being the class bully into a well-mannered star quarterback. Compared to Interlude, Slow Dance has less incense bite, a bit less vanilla, all tied together a bit better by the cognac. Like Interlude, it lasts all day. Unlike Interlude, its manageable sillage won’t clear the room or induce headaches. To me, it smells a bit like the hundred-year-old violin I played as a kid, full of rosin, aging shellack, and a bit of blood, sweat and tears shed after hours struggling to make difficult passages sound virtuosic. I highly recommend you sample some now! (BTW, my factory filled sample of Slow Dance was labeled and boxed as Bal d’Afrique. After sampling a few times, I bought a bottle of Bal d’Afrique, sprayed it a home and said, “Something's not right!” I took the Bal d’Afrique to the store the next day, taking my sample, explaining they didn’t smell the same. The SA said, “That’s because your sample is Slow Dance, but mislabeled.” He sprayed from his on-floor sample bottles to demonstrate the differences, then showed some other SAs the mis-labeled sample and said, “I wonder how many others bought Bal d’Afrique thinking they were getting Slow Dance.”)

This one is really interesting, I was exploring the Byredo line for the first time but I was specifically looking for a floral perfume, so I kept smelling the florals they have, none of which truly stood out to me, but I was having an enjoyable conversation about perfume with the salesperson and was there for over an hour. I liked La Tulipe, it wasn’t anything mind blowing but I figured it could be a nice everyday scent and I was half thinking I’ll get it, until the salesperson suggested something completely different from what I was looking for and sprayed slow dance on a blotter, and it was an INSTANT LOVE and I was certain that’s what I’ll get within just a few seconds from smelling it lol. It is definitely unique, and evokes a certain feeling of warmth within me that I cannot put into words. The notes are relatively minimal yet they speak volumes with such beautiful harmonious complexity: the sweetness of the oppoponax greets you and is there to stay, almost mouthwatering, balanced with the resinous warmth of the labdanum and a faint green nuance of the geranium, earthy backbone of patchouli, and creamy vanilla singing in the background waiting for its turn to sing louder as the wear time goes on, while a soft kiss of violet gives just the right vintage touch that evokes a feeling of familiarity and longing for another time. A beautifully and uniquely composed scent profile that always gets me taking long deep breaths when I wear it, grounding and warming for the soul. It is very rare for me to so deeply fall in love with a scent upon the first sniff and I’m so grateful for that salesperson for spraying it on that blotter! A couple lessons to learn from this experience: don't settle for a scent you’re not completely in love with, keep looking, and don’t limit yourself to a certain expected outcome, simply enjoying the process and keeping an open mind to trying something completely different could lead you to what you didn’t even know you needed 😇

When I read the reviews, it seems to be a polarising bottle. I really love it, because the start is deliciously boozy from cognac and opoponax without beeing too much at all. It is a pleasant opening. When it settles down, the opening notes calm down but do not dissapear. All the top, middle and base notes are very well blended into a smooth, gentle, violet coloured ensemble (in the sense of giving this scent a colour), which for me leans on the feminine side. Normally I don ́t like geranium alone, but here it balances out the sweetness and makes it interesting by becoming a sweet flowery note itself. It can be worn at work, in day and night time. Perfekt for going out in the night. More for cooler or cold days. No need to take more than 2 or max. 3 sprays, it is long lasting on my skin, is noticable around me, still smelling it on the skin after a day and a night. It ́s sweet, but not fully gourmand. It is not cloying, if applied with moderation (!), but if you overspray, the geranium will suffocate you and others. I smell a dry boozy sweetness from cognac, no vanilla in a typical dessert way at all. I can ́t smell earthy patchouli or straight vanilla nor strong incense in a separated way. Everything is mixed together and makes the whole composition very special, delicious and absolutely unique.

This is a genius, understated, and unpretentious fragrance that--for me--is hard to categorize. It has what we would identify as traditionally feminine and masculine elements, but it does not ever linger on one or the other for too long. It is a fragrance that requires patience and time to appreciate. Slow Dance's opening is paradoxically FAST in making itself felt: a big shot of cognac-drowned fruits, and a menthol cigarette lingering in the background. This lasts for 15 minutes at most, and while the top notes come out very quickly they do not ever fully fade away--a sure sign of a well-blended perfume and truly representative of a slow dance. Within the first hour the cognac melts into a powdery vanilla (dry and creamy) and the floral heart carries the opoponax forward with it creating something reminiscent of a bowl of fruit (or is it a vase of flowers) left out for a day or two too long. The incense and patchouli emerge fully after 3-4 hours and seem to remain at the very edge of the scent, like a very woody, very earthy frame to this powdery, floral, boozy picture. I get an impression of oakmoss and cedar, but that is likely just my own memory trying to make this perfume more familiar.

This is my first Byredo fragrance - I've been to the stores to test the fragrances multiple times but I've never really found any that really stood out to me. I'd blind bought this on a massive clearance discount because I was being impulsive and have a soft spot for discontinued fragrances. I also figured that I'd probably like the opoponax/labdanum/patchouli combination and was right on the money with that. The opening was very similar to Olibanum's Opoponax but about an hour in, warmed up with body heat, the lactonic violet and incense started coming through and it went from a, "huh, this smells alright" to "woah, this is gorgeous!" In its dry down, there's a warm booziness that is actually really reminiscent of engaging in a slow dance with someone you're interested in. It's a moment where you're giddy about being embraced but are also full of uncertainties as to how the rest of the night is about to unfold. I think the most interesting part for me is that it also reminds me of the smoke machine that they use in events. It's a strange, specific nostalgia but I definitely enjoy this fragrance!

I "can" and do detect violet as it is easily detectable and it is heavy throughout the whole composition, as a matter of fact when we tested this before the release we actually discussed it having too much violet. Evidently some cannot detect this note or might not know what steam distilled violet petals smell like. Violet is a slightly sweet and woody midnote and has hints of powder somewhat similar to iris but softer, most Byredo perfumes have this as a signature accord and gives Byredo its signature backbone when added to vanilla, it also has a patchouli base giving it a very weathered and vintage feel. If anybody is ever on Wooster in Manhattan, you should definitely stop by and give it a try, ask for Chaz, you'll be very pleased you did. I like it alot, the Byredo it reminds me most of is the great 'Seven Veils' there are what smells like a carrot note in both. This is the perfect fragrance to wear in the fall as it's not bright but not brooding either, it lies somewhere in the middle. Perfectly unisex maybe a little masculine but so what, it's very nice but definitely not a safe bb.

I think this perfume is one of the best one's from Byredo. I never smelled anything like it and it is absolutely fabulous. The balsamic and sweet smell reminds me a little of rasberry, which I love because it has so much more to it than just sweetness. With time, this perfume just developes into this deep vanilla/patchuli which is so comforting. This was my first nisch parfume and I immediately understood the difference between the commercial brands vs nisch brands. The price obviously is the first you stumble upon, which is quite pricey. But considering slow dance's sillage, performance and developing smell during the day, it is art and worth the money. You also don't need to spray more than one or two sprays maximum because it's so strong. If you are sensitive to parfumes in general, maybe this is not for you. Byredo has lighter perfumes also which are great, but the sillage och performance can't compare to Slow dance, Oud immortell or Accord oud. If you want something special, give this a go. I'm pretty sure this will be my signature smell for now on.

Ever since my go-to perfume (Tome 1 for her) was discontinued, I've been on the hunt for a new signature scent. This search has lead me into my obsession with perfumes, and the joyous rabbit hole that is niche fragrances. That being said; I was constantly looking for a fragrance that was similar in notes to my old fav. To no avail. It wasn't until I started looking a bit further for similar vibes that I really found what I was looking for. Slow Dance is not at all similar on paper, but ticks all of the same boxes for me. It's unisex but still sweet, is versatile enough to wear year-round, feels a little sexy/mysterious but without being heavy (it still has a certain freshness to it without smelling like soap), and performance wise really does pack a punch. I really am in love with it. Truly a unisex fragrance as I love it for myself (30F), but have also smelled it on male friends and enjoyed it for them as well. Big sillage for the first hours, then it dries down to something a bit softer. I still get whiffs of it some hours later though.

I have a real problem with describing a fragrance I love. I think getting all analytical about the notes and blend takes away from how it actually makes me feel. Slow Dance is one I discovered quite by chance - the universe somehow conspired in my favour. I have been so underwhelmed by this House, but a sample was included with a purchase from Skins Cosmetics. Instant love! The very next day I went back to the store and bought Slow Dance. Believe me, the full retail price of this mesmerizing fragrance is a bargain. It is unlike any other fragrance I have ever smelled. Cool and a little boozy; then sweet, warm and creamy in the dry-down. Forever in my top 5 fragrances. All I'm going to add here is that I could very easily see myself wearing this Byredo on my wedding day. It is one of the sexiest and most regal of scents. I can see me in my wedding suit, standing there before my beautiful bride, saying my vows, melting her with a kiss and Slow Dance💖

I really love this! I have been sampling Slow Dance with decants for about a year and I finally bit the bullet and bought a fb. I realized I was spending enough on decants to justify a real purchase. It arrived today. Granted, I am fairly new to my perfume obsession, sampling through the mail many independent and niche scents for about two years. If I had to name a favorite so far, this is the one! I find it sweet, cuddly and thick. It just works really well on my skin/chemistry. Every stage of Slow Dance just smells roll-my-eyes-back-in-my-head amazing to me. I am someone who gets really tired of the same fragrance. I don't see myself getting tired of this one, although I will probably have to put it down during the heat of the summer here. 10/10 for me.

I read a comment below saying it’s a perfect fragrance for Capricorn women and as a Capricorn woman, I could not agree more. This has been my signature for the past five years since release, and I always get compliments. It’s a boozy, sexy scent with an unassuming, down-to-earth quality. It’s complex and mysterious but not too loud. The opening is sharp, spicy and assertive, but it dries down to this creamy, woody vanilla moderated by a slight bitterness of patchouli. It definitely has a grungy, dirty vibe reminiscent of a late-night street in the 80s, but not the flashy main streets but a dark alley leading to a speakeasy bar. 10/10 will wear this forever (hope Byredo never discontinues)

my signature scent...romantic, fit to wear to an intimate party in the victorian era. i love the way the opoponax lingers through to the release of violet and then, about twenty minutes later, the patchouli and vanilla come to the forefront, supported by the slight smokiness of incense and still tinged with that gorgeous, resinous violet. this scent is very emotional to me, it is deeply romantic, vintage, smells a bit like the lipstick i would find in my mother's drawer as a child, a slightly dusty room furnished with beautiful upholstered furniture and filled with beautiful women...it is elegant, enigmatic, and serene. truly exquisite, my favourite that i have tried from byredo.

Such a captivating smell! I love it! Slow Dance is an ooey purple rolled in grass. The bottle I have is presenting a more hay-forward smell for some reason. Anyone else also notice that its become more earthy? I certainly don't mind because this is already so unique. When I first got it, the fragrance reminded me a bit of an old favorite Escada Magnetism. Its still in there a bit, but Slow Dance is more barn than soda shop. Both are the best B movies you'll ever see. I love having fragrances that are mysterious and that seem to evolve over time. When there is just a touch of something I dont like, I know it is complex and will travel with me well through space and time.

This is very pretty. An ambery, warm, vanilla, patchouli. There is nothing earth shattering about this composition, as it smells similar to other ambers I have been sampling, but it is very well done. For a Byredo, I am getting decent longevity and about a foot of projection. It’s too expensive for me to want a fb of this when there’s so many similar offerings out there, but I will finish my sample and possibly get a travel size decant for during cooler months. Update: I bought a 5 ml decant and then a full bottle. I love this fragrance, it wears so well on my skin. A definite favorite for fall.

This is a comfort scent with an edge - it keeps you on your toes. The amber is warm and spicy, the violet brings through some sweetness, there’s a vanilla in there to bring through some softness. It starts out with almost-medicinal spicy booziness and then it cycles round to vanilla-y incense soft warmth. I love it. One to smell if you love warm and spicy numbers like By The Fireplace, Jazz Club, Angels’ Share, Khamrah, Libre, etc. Performance is strong for the first 3 hours then it starts to tail off. However, worth a respray to kick off the cycle again.

My daughter smelled this in a shop and sent me this message: "This smells like you." Of course this meant I had to buy a bottle. I have no idea what combination of notes is causing this, but when Slow Dance dries down, it smells like raspberry incense on my skin. Stunning fragrance and the first Byredo I've tried. NB I've read reviews which say this has poor longevity; I believe these reviewers are going nose-blind. I can smell this the next day on clothing - lasts well over twelve hours. Performance on my (dry) skin is over 8 hours.

This is definitely my personal favorite fragrance. I dont like incense in perfume, however the blend of notes play so well with it it doesnt bother me at all. I love wearing this so much. Its so beautifully warm and sweet without being gourmand. I love the cognac in this it really brings it over the edge. It so unique flattering. Definitely a unisex scent. I got several people to try this and they all love it. I highly recommend you try this scent. Its my go-to perfume.

I received a sample of Byredo Slow Dance and it blew my socks off! There were bursts of violet, raisin, incense and cognac upon the initial spray. Although it is unisex, the deep Opoponax scent leans slightly more feminine and seductive while adding to its overall quality and uniqueness. It is not a safe blind buy but if you like MMM By the Fireplace or Kilian Angel Share, then you will definitely enjoy this! 9/10!!!

Best Byredo in years! One of my Byredo top favorits is 1996 Inez & Vinoodh, and if you love that one you will probably love this to. They are not at all similar, but with the same feeling. And maybe take the opportunity to buy the Slow Dance hair fragrance, that is available as limited edition now. In my hair I can smell it all day, and almost as long on my skin. Will definetely buy a full bottle. Love it!!!

This is one of my signature scents. I love how unisex this seems to me and even a friend commented that this seemed like a perfect unisex fragrance which is probably their goal due to the marketing. I do agree maybe the opoponax gives it a bit or Dr Pepper or cola scent but I honestly love it combined with the violet, incense, and vanilla... I truly love this. It’s easily my favorite Byredo fragrance.