Bijou Romantique

I avoided Bijou Romantique after a first test, dismissing it because it seemed so conventional, so safe and likeable. There was no slightly "off" note like in most ELdO's, nothing caught the nose as being remarkable. At least nothing that could justify the high pricetage (compared to other ELdO's). Such a thing might still be lacking to my nose, but after a closer examination I found that I adore this gorgeous fragrance that envelops the wearer in billowing layers of plush vanillic benzoin. Bijou Romantique opens with a bright opening of lime en pink pepper but right at the start the vanilla is present. The heart is dominated by the same unsweetened coconut that is used in Fils de Dieu by the same brand. Some lime laces through the coconut, brightening the fragrance. Then caramelised benzoin appears, with hints of creamy rich ylang-ylang and powdery iris. There's a white chocolate vibe at times, creamy and chewy. Rooty vetiver blends with the benzoin to create a smoky effect, ensuring that the fragrance does not become too sweet. What I like best about this frangrance is the fact that it manages to be both fluffy powdery and rich creamy. It's something that I also admire about Chanel N°5, although N°5 smells nothing like Bijou Romantique. Yes, Bijou Romantique is a very close relative of Shalimar, but there are differences. Shalimar has a gorgeous animalic note, while Bijou is very clean (but not uncomfortably so) and more modern. The darker facets in Bijou are thanks to caramelised sugar and earthy vetiver, while Shalimar boosts a great leather. I love both, but I prefer the more girly, less serious Bijou Romantique. A wonderful homage to a great classic, but full of humor, just like we're used to with Etat Libre d'Orange.

From the Etat Libre d'Orange US Site: Translation: Precious Gem Inspiration: This is a portrait of a real lady, painted in beautiful warm shades of pink pepper, creamy ylang-ylang, and soft powdery iris enveloped in vanilla. She can be seen in the feminine cameo, in the soft, delicate profile, in the dreamy image of an incandescent beauty. She is a jewel. Like the proverbial woman of virtue, her price is far above rubies or pearls. Revelation: We couldn’t have picked a better fragrance to celebrate Mother's Day than this Precious Gem. Queens for all days, this day is just extra special. Whether you have one mom to spoil or multiple generations of Queens to celebrate, give them a gift, that keeps on giving. She is both retro and modern at heart. She is soft and she is strong. She requires a scent with notes that come together in unexpected ways. The opening of bergamot mingles with peppery ylang-ylang dipped in coconut milk; the golden amber with a touch of tangy sage caresses delicate iris petals. After a few hours on skin, the fragrance settles into the familiar texture of leather bag interior, warm and suede-like with a resinous touch of vanilla and earthy patchouli. Treat her well, as She is a Gem, and she is Precious.

I'm not getting the comparison to Shalimar here. Shalimar for me is and always has been a very masculine perfume. I do not care for it. Bijou Romantique on the other hand is quite nice, very feminine and easy going unlike Shalimar. All the elements here blend in perfect harmony to create a very nice vanilla perfume, a vanilla that stays light, fun, and easy to wear year round but doesn't become foody. Warm benzoin grounds this light and fun vanilla coconut perfume and keeps it from becoming tropical. The sage here keeps it from becoming too heavy. Slightly herbal, slightly floral, slightly coconut w/ a lovely vanilla warmth that is quite addictive to this vanilla skeptic. I really like this the more I smell it. This is the type of perfume that is called huggable. People will want to hug you when you wear this. You will project a friendliness and warmhearted nature when wearing this. Just upgraded this to a love and I never do that w/ vanilla perfumes. Love this. If you want people to feel comfortable around you, wear this highly likeable perfume.

I happened upon a sample of this when I ordered samples of the more popular "Like This" and "Putain de Palaces" from the same house. This one ended up being a LOVE, in fact, it was my favorite. Someone below mentioned this being reminiscent of the 80's and I agree. At first application, it immediately transported me back to being a preteen and wearing the original Love's Baby Soft" although it doesn't really share any notes. I think it's more the feeling/vibe I had at that time, which was pure, innocent happiness. Lip smackers, wax lip candy & hope for the future. After the initial "Love's" vibe, the ylang-ylang, vanilla & benzoin stayed at the forefront for me. A coworker passed my office & exclaimed, "OMG, someone smells SO good. This scent made me happy in a nostalgic 80's way. Not loud 80's perfumes, but smells of the 80's and a happy time in my life. I want a FB of this, so I can recapture that feeling anytime. It's fantastic!

OOOOoooh! Yum This is gorgeous. Not exactly like Shalimar or the Kenzo Amour le Parfum but some shared notes. Its sweet but more spicey than the Kenzo and not vanillary or leathery enough to be Shalimar. Im puzzled by anyone seeing a similarity with Memo Manoa. Manoa is an oppopanax beast where as here it's just one component! BR is softer and more powdery than any of these three. Very feminine and pretty. I can see why people call it more of a classic fragrance but its got more than that. I think its the clary sage which makes the difference. Clary sage is used in Aromatherapy for lifting the spirits. Its bright, very aromatic and it can be piercing if not used well. You have the classic combo of benzoin, vanilla. iris, coconut, ylang ylang and then the twist from the clary sage. Clary sage is evident after 30 mins or so and takes this scent out of the predictable. Very ELdO. Moderate sillage and longevity.

No longer on the Eldo website it seems. Perhaps discontinued or being reformulated. Sad because I have a small bottle which comes in the generic design. I was going to purchase a larger size when I was done with the 1oz, which has a more beautiful and fitting label. Now on to the scent. This is not for the faint of heart or those that enjoy light and fresh. This is a beast imo. Long lasting so much so that I will smell it after a full 10 hour day of work. It’s a resinous, sweet, powder bomb. I can smell the citrus and sage, and iris. Those give the perfume it’s “vintage” feel. But even with the vintage elegance, it’s surprisingly modern and youthful. I love to wear this when I’m dressing in a vintage style, or I’m feeling extra ladylike. Overall a beautiful composition that I hope isn’t getting discontinued.

I have the full collection of samples from Etat Libre d'Orange now and this is one of five fragrances I purchased a larger bottle of, as it is truly lovely. (The other scents I bought are Fils de Dieu, Vierges et Toreros, and for men in my family: Tom of Finland as well as Je suis un Homme). Bijou Romantique is warm, rich, comforting in the winter, utterly elegant, and it keeps the rounded feeling and polish throughout its dry-down period. It does have the vanilla, but works for me though I am not usually a fan of gourmand scents. Perhaps it is because the vanilla is well grounded in benzoin, giving it a sandalwood impression, and is elevated by the hint of florals. I wear this (applied lightly) to work and it softens my day.

The clary sage is so prominent in the opening, along with citrus, but these completely fade into the background if not disappear. The dry down, for me, smells like incense and oatmeal soap. Creamy, clean, spiced, kinda mature and comforting, but a lil spooky too. It’s simultaneously dark & dusty and sweet & creamy. Longevity is good, I can spray it in the crook of my arm and wake up the next day and still smell it clearly. I sprayed this in my hair and met up with my mom at the no kings protest, and she said I smelled like root beer (in a good way). But I think I may have also been layering it with African Leather

I see the word "plush" ha been mentioned below - that is Bijou Romantique in a nutshell. If this perfume was a colour - it would be a dusky burgandy pink. If this perfume was a garment it would be a vintage satin ballgown, made of crushed satin with layers of softest tulle petticoats underneath. Glamourous but not restrictive. The opening is slightly rough - with spicy pepper and some citrus, but then the fuzzy roar of sweet vanillic benzoin and ylang ylang takes over. The vetiver and clary sage stops it getting too sweet and sickly. Long lasting, and equally at home as a cozy scent or out on the town. Fabulous.

I still find it hard to believe my luck that I managed to grab this beauty after it was already long discontinued. It's a gem, pure witchcraft. It's sweet without being cloying, heavily floral yet it makes your feet light and you want to dance until sunrise, there's dark poetic vanilla which probably is actually benzoin. I don't know whether it's classic or modern, and I don't care. Bijou Romantique simply makes me go crazy. In case you are unfamiliar with Etat Libre D'Orange, I'd like to encourage you to research its offerings. Great value, I'd say, and interestingly different perfumes. No flankers.

I've been lusting after this fragrance for awhile....finally bought it. Its just BEAUTIFUL. I almost feel like it shouldn't be an ELDO creation because of its timeless beauty...it could be easily mistaken for a Guerlain in my opinion. Rich, powdery, floral. Not challenging in the slightest. Heavy on the Ylang-ylang, iris and benzoin. I'd wear this on a day trip somewhere, possibly a wedding. Slightly formal. Reminiscent of an easier to wear and slightly more modern Shalimar. Probably better in slightly cooler weather. I could see it being overpowering in the heat.

Sexy, sweet, powdery deliciousness! For me, it invokes pictures of a 1920’s burlesque dancer, sitting at her antique dressing mirror, doing her makeup and hair, getting ready for tonight’s big show. It has such a sultry quality about it! I’m usually not out on powdery notes but the iris rounds like out in such an elegant way and lends itself perfectly with the sweetness of the vanilla and warmth of the benzoin. It has such a cozy quality about it! Powerhouse longevity and projection as well! I’m really thinking of adding a FB to my collection!

questa fragranza,come tutte le altre di Etat libre d'orange,mi ha lasciato una senzazione unica sulla pelle,meno animalesca di Putain des palaces,meno dolce di Noel au balcon,ma assolutamente più raffinata e non scontata. Bijou Romantique è un'opera d'arte olfattiva...che valorizza la tua bellezza,ed emana una sicurezza sessuale. La bellissima iris di Firenze,regala al profumo un'aroma retrò. Durata eccellente,sulla pelle,nei capelli,scia incantevole. E'quello che mancava nella mia collezione personale di Etat libre D'Orange.

How fantastic is it when the fragrance delivers spot ON what the name implies!! This is so lovely and sublime. The way this is crafted so seamlessly actually prohibits me from deciphering it properly; at least well enough to suitably describe it here. I still struggle to describe the obvious! All I know is this feels on my skin like an elegant and languid jewel that's been warmed in the sun. I've worn this sample three times now and each occasion solidifies my resolve to make this a part of my collection. I really love this.

I love this fragrance! A kind of modern interpretation of Shalimar, a lovely oriental powdery perfume with some flowery, spicy and musky tones. Very reassuring and confortable to wear, elegant as well as sensual, Bijou Romantique opens on slightly fresh top nots (lavender and bergamot), twisted by a spicy touch (pinkpeppercorn) and becomes very round, with white floral heart notes, on a bed of vanilla, labdanum, and patchouly. Great trail and longlasting on skin.

Mmm, this scent is very sweet and powdery in the best possible way, so feminine and smooth! Reminds me of Diptyque Volutes + distinctive etatlibreade (I mean this characteristic ELdO's set of notes closer to the base). Although there is neither incense nor tobacco listed as parts of the composition, I do feel both. There's leather, too (as an integral ingredient of the etatlibreade). Another great one from ELdO, bravo!

I realy enjoy wearing it... reminds me of a copy-cat perfume made to simulate Dior’s Poison that I actually wore during late 1980’s... may carry the risk of being sentenced to be “generic” or so.. any way, I disliked the connotation that it reminded of Shalimar! the latter to my nose is a pure vanilla.. This perfume must preserve its quality and great ingredients, and it will be a landmark in perfume world.

Definitely Shalimar adjacent, especially at the opening. Powder, resin, and vanilla linger in the dry down. Sage and Iris there but subtle. To me, this is an updated take on fragrances like Emeraude or Shalimar. I absolutely love it - it's beautiful, full of warmth and spice. Has decent sillage and is pretty good for lasting. If you like Shalimar or Musc Ravageur you will probably like this too.

I'm getting both a Shalimar and a L'Instant vibe from this on me. A blend of the two, with a small dash of Anne Pliska sprinkled in. Modern powdery Chypre, with some gourmand yumminess. I adore this scent and it undulates on my skin with all it's nuances. From first spray to dry down, this is all a delightful ride. I'm getting myself a big bottle.

My favourite from those I have sampled from the ELD’O range. Not quite Shalimar, remove the complex benzoin opening and Shalimar’s smokiness and replace it with candied orange rind and you’re almost there. I really like it, it’s syrupy and delicious without being sweet, and it projects and lasts well, recommended. Thanks for reading.

Received my sample yesterday n I really like this. It's everything the description says it is, to me. I finally understand what is meant when people say a Perfume has a "Play-Doh" scent. This has exactly that. With some spice n vanilla. Longevity is horrible though. And it dries down to a creamy, "Play-Doh" vanilla.

To my nose this smells like a gourmand chypre. Utterly bewitching. Got a decant and will be on the hunt for a full bottle. It's just divine. This is the olfactive experience of fecund femininity and could easily be worn year-round, day or night although possibly a bit cloying on super hot summer days.

Love this so much! So warm and the perfect amount of sweetness. Lasts a long time and good sillage. The herbal scent keeps this grounded and well balanced. It's cozy but also keeps that fresh element though not a green freshness. Perfect scent to me.

Benzoin and vanilla, resinous and sweet. Definitely has a resemblance to Shalimar. But, more soft and cozy. Reminds me a lot of vanilla incense sticks. Unburnt, no smokiness, just a resinous vanilla smell.

This beauty is to me a sentiment of past times, I cannot put my finger on what, where or who - just lovely memories ...

Etat Libre D'Orange Bijou Romantique is a fragrance that starts with a burst of bright citrus, then transitions into a powdery vanilla and spiced aromatic amber scent within minutes. Its ability to exude a classic vintage quality while steering clear of any dated or old-fashioned notes is remarkable. The soft, powdery vanilla intertwined with the spiced aromatic amber creates a beautiful scent that carries a hint of vintage charm. The warmth and spiciness of this fragrance evoke a feeling of comfort and sophistication, making it an inviting scent for many occasions. Bijou Romantique strikes a perfect balance between soft, fluffy, and powdery elements, lending it an air of elegance and refinement. It has a feminine maturity with a touch of sensuality, making it appealing to a wide audience. The aromatic elements give the fragrance enough unisex appeal that all genders can enjoy this fragrance. The performance of this scent is stellar. With an impressive longevity of over 10 hours and great projection, it leaves a beautiful trail. The stong performance and vintage feel of this fragrance don't lend it to being particularly office safe. This fragrance is strong enough that using the spritz-the-air-walk-through method can leave the wearer with a light enough scent to be worn in any occasion. In general I find that restraint really isw key to enjoting this fragrance. Just a couple of sprays allow the fragrance to breathe and reveal its full beauty. Perfect for cooler weather, Bijou Romantique becomes a cozy and inviting companion during chilly days, enveloping you in its captivating aroma. Drawing comparisons to the legendary Shalimar EDP, Bijou Romantique stands out with its stronger vanilla and a distinct absence of leather, civet and incense notes, making it a more modern and approachable choice for today's fragrance enthusiasts. Etat Libre D'Orange offers reasonable pricing, even at retail, making it accessible to fragrance connoisseurs. Furthermore, tester bottles from online discounters present an excellent opportunity to buy this fragrance at an amazing deal.

For something billed as overtly feminine, I actually find Bijou Romantique to be almost middle-of-the-road unisex. There's no girly florals, nothing melon-tropical, none of the usual associations with 'feminine' notes. On me, B.R. is all about creamy, burnt-sugar benzoin with a back bone of vanilla and a touch of vague yellow floral, (ylang ylang, I assume). The initial opening blast is boozy and floral, but almost instantly settles into a plush, velvet benzoin monster. There's a slight green citrus/herbal note that struggles to peer through the haze of creaminess during the first 20 minutes or so - but it gives up and goes home pretty quickly. What's left is an opulent, warm, if a little mushy fragrance. Well suited for cooler weather I suspect - in the heat it wilts a bit and without any sharper, herbal notes the nose struggles to pick anything specific out of the miasma of soft, fluffiness. Sillage is moderate IMO, perhaps heavy in comparison to most ELdO frags, but you won't be knocking anyone out. Longevity is firmly in the 'long lasting' category. All in all a beutiful, if somewhat safe offering from a brilliant house. Enjoy on cool evenings with cocktails and mood lighting.

This is another insanely apt and imaginary story-telling creation. To me it screams of a bygone era. The 80ies perhaps? Large shoulder-pads, loud laughs, ladies of a heavier and curvier statue (definitely NOT the Audrey Hepburn type) digging and tucking into opulent buffet style banquets, while their even more opulent jewelery is dazzling in the bright and lustrous chandelier lights. Like a big, chunky and slightly crass Picasso painting (I am not a fan) these ladies choose size over style, not to say their are tasteless, but lenient to the "more is more" ethos of the 80ies. Not a subtle scent and very much in your face. But very confidently and in a feminine kind of way. VERY DIVA. Very Joan Collins. Think DALLAS, Think DYNASTY. Think SHOULDER PADS. Think fashion fads. In the music world, I think Aretha Franklin would smell like this! Again, there is something old-fashioned and bygone about this....but romantic? No, romantic it ain't. It smells of greed, lust and money and essentially captivates everything about the 'RICH zeitgeist' of the 80ies. Memorable. Opulent. Daring. In-your-face. Expensive. 10/10 for an 80ies reference perfume.

So first off, this perfume seems to vary a lot depending on weather and its interaction with individual chemistry. At first, this perfume was almost nothing for an hour or so, to the point that i was afraid that i had gotten a bad sample. If i searched hard, maybe i could detect some citrus or vanilla, but it was almost as if i hadn't even put it on. Then, my partner tested it, and immediately there's this deep smell of incense and spices. I go out into the cold, and I'm hit by a wave of burnt/caramelized sugar and vanilla, which slowly settles down into just smelling like a very high quality vanilla ice cream. So, depending on who you are and the weather, you might either get a spicy incense or a sweet vanilla icecream, somehow. Overall, it is nice, though not quite as interesting or complex as Eldo's other fragrances, especially when compared to for example Fils de Dieu, which also gives off similar gourmand-vibes.

Bijou romantique is an interesting scent since contrary to the majority of frags where you find the citrusy elements in the opening, here in Bijou Romantique they are found after the ambry vanillic opening which turns a tad powdery. The totality of the scent is amber laced with citruses based on elegant woods, I mean vetiver is showing its woody facets here. Despite the opening where vanilla is thick as the scent develops vanilla is pushed to the background to balance out a slight bitterness that also exists in the scent. It's a scent that I associate with a young girl who appears a bit precocious for her age, and whose dress style is conservative. That said, it's great for all ages as long as you love amber.

At first spray, the sugar encrusted citrus fruits mixed with vetiver and pink pepper remind me so much of Angel Muse. But then, slowly Bijou Romantique becomes tamer, softening with coconut, iris, and benzoin. The mix becomes less piquant, but still interesting, as it transforms into a cozy, powdery sweetness. Overall this is a really pleasant and modern take on Shalimar. However, where Shalimar is elegant and mature with its animalic qualities, leather, and incense, Bijou Romantique remains bright and upbeat from start to finish. Although I prefer the former, BR is a nice alternative for someone looking for a less serious, and more playful version of the Guerlain classic.

I suppose that you cannot talk about Bijou Romantique Etat Libre d'Orange without mentioning the iconic Shalimar because there truly are resemblances. So much so that this could have easily been a perfect flanker for Shalimar - one I would certainly have purchased. Bijou is warm and decadent and ever so luxurious. There is an ever so slight note of Play-Doh in here weaving though the lovely vanilla and warm benozin that at times feels chocolaty and very creamy. This is just such a gorgeous, cozy fragrance, I can't stop smelling my hand! PS. I really love this on my husband as well! So for me it's totally unisex.

I've had for quite sometime now. I remember the time I received it as a sample from an order. At the time I was blown away by Bijou Romantique but as time passed it didn't strike me as it once did, it even lost its luster. Going back to this fragrance after it collecting dust on the shelf I watched a YouTube review and I realized again just how gorgeous it is. The opening is youthful,vibrant and then it starts to smooth out to the mid and base notes like taking a joy ride in a brand new Buick or Cadillac. I'm so glad I revisited this and I know this will be in full rotation when it's starts to cool down.

Lush, warm, sweet, comforting. I don’t usually gravitate to scents like this, so I’ve been trying to understand why this one appeals to me. I think it's because there’s a faint savoury, almost medicinal thread (likely the sage and vetiver) that gives the sweetness balance and even a bit of bite. I wear it in the fall and winter, and it drapes around me like a protective blanket. And I love that subtle hint of foreboding that cuts through, giving the fragrance an edge.

For woman ? Nevermind, I'm a "fake girl". I LOVE this one ! Perfect benzoin scent in a gourmand way ! With that, a little sharp iris, pretty the same as Dior Homme Intense, and a sweet vanilla which calm and balances the all thing so-well. Warm, gourmand, half-sharp / half-sweet with a fruity-floral background. What more, seriously ? I would find my perfect women fragrance for enhance my feminine side, I think I don't neet to search anymore. Wow.

عطر نسائي شرقي ربما بسبب وجود اللبان فيه التي توحي بذلك الشعور .. الفانيليا واضحة جداً و لذيذة هنا !! رغم كرهي الشديد لها بشكل عام وعدم تقبلي لها .. الممثير بهذا العطر و سر جماله هو الايرس و التي تسمى زهرة السوسن تظهر هنا صريحة و بشكل اغوائي باودرية تشبه رائحة مساحيق التجميل او الحمرة .. عطر للشتاء والامسيات الخاصة الثبات والفوحان كعطر نسائي بغاية الرضا .. بوجهة نظري العطر اجمل من شاليمار ويناسب الجنسين لكنه يميل للناعم اكثر ٧.٥/١٠

Romantique is a ladies fragrance. Well dressed, perfectly manicured, full on old style perfume. It has the opulent old school, Guerlain-ish elements. Catnip is spot on. I got a lot of ylang-ylang on the opening, no clary sage or coconut, just straight into the deep vetiver/vanilla/benzoin. Not delicate at all in my view, more ostentatiously rich and lavish. A good special occasion scent.. but not one I could do daily.

My first foray into the Etat Libre d'Orange line; while I was not disappointed, I was not wowed. Warm, even during the citrus opening notes, developing into a warm base - obviously, warm it the descriptive word for me on this one. That, however, is not enough to make it either truly interesting, or to elicit the desire to keep sniffing one's wrist. I will add that it has excellent longevity - 6 hours or so on skin

I think this should definitely be tested on skin before buying. I sniffed Bijou and Fils de Dieu on paper and for a long time they smelled very similar and citrusy. But while Fils de Dieu keeps up the citruses, they evaporate quickly with Bijou and becomes a full-blown amberlike scent. Likeable but does not represent anything new compared to amber scents, closest similarity would be with Etro's Ambra to me.

This is absolutely lovely! Exactly how I like orientals. At first sniff it reminded me of many other perfumes and I actually thought that it is not special, but when it developed on my skin I started to enjoy it and couldnt stop sniffing my wrist. It is a rich oriental and somehow I get much more notes than listed. Warm, ambery comfort scent and very romantic as the name promises. A modern Shalimar..

Instead of describing the notes, which others have done so well, I'll describe how this makes me feel. Its a seductive fragrance, it may be familiar but you can't deny liking it. The scent memory makes me think of southern Italy, walking into the town square on a warm spring day. I can imagine being alone drinking a glass of wine el fresco. This fragrance is all about reflection.

فوران رایحه شیرین و صمغی با ته مایه بالزامیک در شروع کاملا چسبناک و شربت گون هست و به مرور حالت پودری می گیره وانیلی و رزینی چیزی شبیه به پچولی با اون فضای گزنده و آروماتیک هم توش حس میشه و همه در نهایت به سمت تشکیل یک آکورد آمبری حرکت می کنند خاص نیست اما پوشیدنی و شیکه **************** scent:7.5/10 longevity:8.5/10 sillage:8/10 purchase value:5/10 ******* overall:7.2/10

oh my! I received my ELDO sampler today and tried the one with the least scary name first- Bijou Romantique. I am a newbie to describing scents- so forgive my terminology. Mostly on me this smells of ?sandalwood. Very beautiful, almost completely unisex. Very oriental and exotic. I would wear this!

A fun (not pure) amber! It has certain perfumy (aromatic & powdery) aspects that remind me of Shalimar, but without feeling feminine, dated, and that nasty opening (Sorry Shalimar fans) lol One of the best from the brand alongside Jasmin et Cigarette.

This is my 'Shalimar Initial' without the intense sourness. Also a little reminiscent of L'Artisan Parfumeur Vanille Absolument. I like to layer it with (Al Rehab) Cobra oil.

I could write a long review about this delightfully chewy benzoin, vanilla and bergamot scent, but I will simply say this: It's "Shalimar", sans the leather.

This is a benzoin dominant fragrance and reminds me of Le Baiser du Dragon, just without the lovely amaretto. It's a very good perfume and lasts forever.

I'll say here that I might be tipped off to have a negative opinion on this one, because the first time I wore it I got a negative comment from a coworker. I got this as a sample and I agree with one of the reviews below me- the more I wear it, the less I like it. I think the vanilla and amber combination just doesn't do it for me in this perfume, but if that's a combination you love I'd say maybe try this one. I was hoping it would be a stronger powdery vanilla with a spicy amber undertone. But to me the amber, vetiver, and ylang ylang accords give it a nuance that it's gone off, and it just smells like the vanilla has spoiled until it's dried down completely. That sounds really negative, but I still would say that this is a pleasant perfume. It's very feminine and pretty, powdery and sweet. Opening is very acidic to my nose, almost sour to me. I get a strong lemony amber on the initial spray that I really don't love. It does dry down to reveal a nice, spicy vanilla that sits close to the skin and smells naturally bright and friendly. This might be a good office perfume (if you don't have a rude coworker like I do, lol), but maybe just a bit too bright-smelling for my tastes. This is a warm, extroverted scent to me. One more thing. The consensus here that this is a fall and winter perfume is baffling to me, because as I've worn it I've noticed that it really only smells good to me when the weather is warmer. I actually really love how this perfume layers over my sunscreen, as odd as that sounds.

Revisiting this one. This was a gift with purchase when ELDO was running a Mother's Day special where you buy one 100ML and get Bijou Romantique for free, and it's not a perfume I would have purchased otherwise, but I really wanted to purchase La Fin du Monde anyway, so I thought, why not? It's sweet and powdery and not really my usual style, but I liked this one initially. Still gives me Shalimar vibes, but much more pleasant. However, it started reminding me of those fancy hand wipes they give out at upscale restaurants so that you can wipe your hands, and now I can't unsmell it. I'm glad it's just a small bottle. There are definitely other fragrances from this house that I love much more (La Fin, Remarkable People, Noel au Balcon, etc.), but it's certainly not the worst either, IMO.

Bijou Romantique is warm, powdery, a little spicy. The powder in this is not a baby powder, it is more refined and gives a more vintage feel. It's also a more subtle powder than Putain des Palaces. It is like a modernized Shalimar but with a much more enjoyable opening. The opening in BR is smooth, slightly spicy, floral, and elegant, unlike Shalimar's opening which felt to me like an olfactory assault. This invokes the feeling I wanted to have with Shalimar. The drydown is warm, cozy, and really does feel romantic. This seems like a great fragrance for colder months, but will be curious to try it on a warmer day, since it doesn't seem like the type of fragrance that would be overbearing in heat especially with the coconut and ylang ylang notes.