Lalique Le Parfum

In the older A-Z guide, Tania Sanchez dismisses this as a "terribly frumpy" "peony-oriental," and as much as I admire her (and Turin too), I must disagree with her. (My standards are nowhere near as high, which makes it easier.) To my nose this is not particularly peony forward (although I love peony, so I might just think of that as "ooh, something here smells gooooood!"). Neither is it what I would call an oriental, exactly, although the West Indian bay and pink pepper add a little glamorous, globe-trottin' something-something. I mostly get vanilla, but as others have noted, it's not especially sweet--nowhere near as sweet as the vanilla in Mon Guerlain or Guess Seductive Noir. With the ebullient citrus on top, Lalique Le Parfum feels lighter than a gourmand, lighter than most vanilla fragrances these days (although it does remind me here and there of earlier vanilla frags--maybe a little bit Vanilla Fieldsish at moments?). It also reminds me the tiniest bit of pine oil floor soap, but that's a smell I really like, so I'm not complaining. I do not find it hysterical or screechy in the slightest; my nose might be less developed than Ms. Sanchez's, or I might have a weaker batch, or tastes vary, or some combination of the above. I would not be at all surprised if this had been reformulated a time or two since that guide came out. Give it a chance, and sniff it for yourself, even if you do worship at the altar of Turin/Sanchez (as I mostly do). If nothing else, the bottle is very heavy and nice for what is now a cheapie, and you can remove that silly silk tassel if it gets you down. (I don't really care for the Delina tassel either, or the Delila one, which is what I have.) Update: As this dries down, I'm smelling more of the vanilla, but the citrussy and aromatic top notes are still discernible. I'm not sure how I would categorize this fragrance. It's almost like a vanilla freshie, which seems like a weird concept, but it just doesn't feel dense and ambery enough to fit my definition of an oriental. Domique Ropion certainly is an interesting nose--this doesn't smell anything like the other Ropion creations I have smelled, certainly not Alien. I sign on to alphairone's excellent review from 10/23--this is a great gateway into vanilla fandom. Update: hours after I put it on, my husband turned on the heat on our first floor and said, "Why does it smell like the Pillsbury Dough Boy lives down here?" I had him smell my neck, and yep: it's Le Parfum. I still smell the bay leaf quite strongly, but to him it is mostly vanilla--and he likes it, although I doubt I could get him to wear it, even though I think this is just about perfectly unisex. As is the Pillsbury Doughperson, technically. Update: Still going strong. The sillage must be intense because my husband insists that he can smell it all over the house now, and I swear I didn't overspray. I'm starting to get the Shalimar comparisons now, but that is only a good thing as far as I am concerned because I love Shalimar. In fact, I would go so far as to say that I prefer Lalique Le Parfum to the Shalimar Iris Milléssime flanker, or, as I call it "Homer Simpson Shalimar" owing to its uncanny donut impersonation.

I'm super impressed because Lalique Le Parfum has that DNA I always look for in perfumes; however, since I love a good medicinal-sweet, dark, and opulent scent profile, it's a bit repetitive in my collection and smells like two of my favorite fragrances (but we'll talk about that later). LLP smells aromatic upon spray. It smells like a lovely combination of salty pepper and a fresh, minty, green, herbaceously bitter leaf that you soaked in a cold glass of cola. As it develops, it starts smelling mildly makeup powder-y, then dries down to a sweet creamy vanilla. I've seen people say that the vanilla LLP has is a non-gourmand vanilla but I beg to differ. The vanilla in this is gourmand-leaning and reminds me of a cake batter, and weirdly enough, a buttered vanilla cake batter with cola... I kinda... dig that? Well, aren't you unique !! It has that cola smell that most old-school or may I politely say classic and iconic perfumes have, such as: Obsession, Youth Dew, Opium, Shalimar, Joop! Homme, and other fragrances I haven't mentioned, which is why people might think it's mature but imo anyone can make it work bc it's versatile and it has quite the appeal to a younger audience bc it has that ever-so-slightly juvenile sweetness. BY THE WAY I’M NOT EVEN KIDDING WHEN I SAY THIS. THIS SMELLS LIKE JOLLIBEE’S COKE FLOAT 😭 STRAIGHT UP I wouldn't say I'm upset because this is a beautiful fragrance but in my collection, it's a super repetitive scent profile and I'm currently not in need of more additions to my roster of "dark-rich-medicinal-sweet" fragrances because what's the point of owning hundreds of bottles that smell like they're all in the same ballpark? Especially bc I already found my perfect baby for that (ofc, my signature, Mugler Aura !! When I catch more back up bottles, when I catch you Aura) Like I said earlier, it does smell similar to two fragrances I own which are JPG Classique EDP 2017 and Mugler Aura. LLP smells suppperrr close to these two perfumes it's as if LLP is their baby. Layering these two = LLP. Dead Ringer. LLP smells like JPG Classique EDP 2017 without the indolic florals, especially on the initial spray like PLEASE they are 90% similar. LLP smells like an unperfected draft of Mugler Aura. It's like Aura's less interesting and less complex version. Both super sweet-mint, green vanilla, and leaning towards play-doh territory. Aura develops way better, LLP almost stays linear and basic vanilla-ish. Aura is vanilla in an "ice cream" way and LLP is vanilla in a "cake" way. On the late dry down tho when the perfume is about to wear off in an hour, LLP is an Aura dead ringer. love love loveeeeee LLP but seriously, when I buy a new perfume I should prioritize scent profiles that I don't have in my collection so I don't smell like a slightly tweaked version of my perfume from yesterday. Please, imagine smelling 5% different when rotating between 6 perfumes in a week? That's not fun. UPDATE: No, it no longer reminds me of Aura but VERY MUCH still a super similar perfume to JPG Classique EDP 2017 !! Both have lovely sweet cola qualities !!

I really do believe that in later formulations the BayLeaf was toned down a bit bc Ive smelled this on some folks im the past and that Bay Leaf note was super strong and made this smell quite a bit more "Mature" and ya could just tell that it was, well... 🍃!BAYLEAF!🍃, lol! My newer bottle still has the BayLeaf but its not nearly as prominent or distinguishable and doesn't necessarily come accross as "BayLeaf", it just smells like something herbal/aromatic and ts just enough to cut through the sweet, almost bright Vanilla and also helps Lalique Le Parfume smell more "Unisex." Le Parfum is one of those very rare cases where atleast IMO, the reformulation has actually IMPROVED and modernized the DNA/Scent profile, especially since the fragrance does seem to retain its potency! As a man when Id first tried this I thought maybe it smelled too Feminine, but after wearing it out and about and for work, its actually pretty genderless especially for today's pallette. Also a little bit goes a very long way! Im a bit of an Over-Sprayer, but with Le Parfum I only need 2 spritzes on my neck and 2 on my shirt and I can smell it on myself for nearly 12 hours with good projection for around 4 hours! This is probably my favorite Vanilla forward fragrance bc its not a "Gourmand Vanilla" Its really bright and almost "effervescent". Its really GORGEOUS and truley smells like it costs so much more than the 40-ish bucks it goes for at discounters. A 10 outta 10 Non-Gourmand Vanilla for sure! And the compliments are a daily thing Iemme tell ya'll! I choose a "Fragrance of the week" for work, today makes my 3rd straight day wearing it to work and Ive recieved complimemts each day Ive worn it. I even asked one of my co-workers who'd complimented me if she thought it was a Feminine scent and she said "I don't know, I dont think so?" So fellas, if ya like your Vanilla scents, don't be Scurred & Confised! Give this intoxicating scent a try! Eaaasy on the trigger tho bc Lalique Le Parfum is POTENT and I do feel that if over done it may just come accross much more feminine. CHEERS and thanks to whomever took time to read my review!

Lalique by Lalique opens with a strikingly fresh-spicy accord, where bay leaf takes center stage—confident, aromatic, and unmistakably green. It is delicately lifted by pink pepper and bergamot, creating a composition that feels both crisp and faintly smoked. This opening alone signals a masterclass in classical perfumery: bold, distinctive, and impeccably composed. The transition is seamless. Bay leaf softens into heliotrope, shifting from aromatic sharpness into a diffused floral haze. Almond and jasmine soon emerge, elevating the fragrance into a more textured, luminous realm. The almond is not sweetened or heavy but green and almost pulp-like, as if its milky sap were still flowing. Jasmine follows in a distinctly late twentieth-century style—bright, crystalline, and edged with a golden clarity that recalls the grandeur of its 80s and 90s heyday. The base deepens the narrative with remarkable sophistication. Vanilla appears fully matured—spiced rather than sugared—interwoven with sandalwood and green patchouli. Together they suggest a new exotic and oriental dimension shaped with precision and elegance by a perfumer unafraid to expand the boundaries of his craft. Tonka bean embraces this direction, amplifying its warmth and extending its reach. Throughout, the bay and bergamot pairing remains a constant thread—fresh, lucid, and never intrusive. It neither competes nor fades, but rather sustains the fragrance’s core structure with effortless poise. The composition is versatile, well-balanced in projection and intensity, and comfortably unisex in a modern context. What is most remarkable is the clarity of each note. Every element is fully realized, distinct, and expressive, yet disciplined enough to serve the whole. It is akin to a gathering of great tenors—each voice powerful and unique, yet unified in purpose—resulting in a performance of unmatched harmony and immortal impact.

UnfrigginBELIEVABLE!!! This vanilla is perfection! I...am kicking...myself....SO HARD right now!!! I spent close to $800 on "Jimmy Choo - Vanilla Love" bottles last year just to have backups (and one bottle for a close friend) and "Lalique - Le Parfum" is like two steps above that!!! It lasts longer, has better sillage, has that nice powdery mid, and no fruitiness. ARGH!! I could have bought enough "Le Parfum" to last me a lifetime with that "Vanilla Love" money!!!!!! I'll still use up my backup bottles of "Vanilla Love" but !@#$!@# am I mad that I'm just now finding out about "Lalique - Le Parfum" I honestly didn't expect that much from "Le Parfum" when I saw it over a year ago...probably why I didn't buy it immediately. I thought the "Bay leaf" would give it a grassy green tinge like "Alexandria Fragrances - Moonstruck" and I didn't want to shell out $$ for that experience again. So I didn't even bother getting a sample of "Le Parfum"...just added it to my list of "Vanillas to acquire...eventually". Boy oh boy did I mess up BIG TIME by not getting this IMMEDIATELY!!! >=[ I've been going through my entire vanilla fragrance collection trying to find out what vanilla I can layer/wear with my custom bottle of "AF - Funtastic" and now I FINALLY have it. Perfect powderiness, perfect vanilla, perfect sweetness, perfect strength and projection, just overall perfection! I know it's a great one when my wife AND mother are trying to steal it from me. This is going to be sooooo perfect for the workplace in the spring and I know it's going to layer with ALL of my spring/summer fragrances PERFECTLY! I've already ordered a backup bottle and I'll probably be ordering at least 3-4 more for close family and friends. This is just....amazing. Literally, perfect!