Traversee du Bosphore

Duchafour has created a unique gourmand with a new and unusual combination of notes in Traversee du Bosphore. Its opening is familiar; a leathery lipstick infused iris reminiscent of Dior Homme with a red, tangy fruitiness gradually creeping toward the forefront. By the half hour mark the iris has taken a back seat, overcome by the tart fruitiness which has grown in both intensity and sweetness. Now a jammy red rose enters the picture as well, coated in a rich, sugary syrup, and we are presented with Bertrand's interpretation of Turkish delight, a dessert I'm all the more eager to try now that I've smelled this. This is the heart of the fragrance, a soft, pale suede note graces the background just noticeable, while on top of it a distinct candy-like sweetness, slightly tart like a red apple, but sugary and delectable, has taken hold blending in with and accenting a rich, honey-rose syrup drizzled over chunky nougat. It is sweet, it is tart, it is very much red, and it is unlike anything I've smelled before in the world of perfumery. The heart persists for some time, and just when you're beginning to feel stuffed, as if you can't take anymore of the rich, treacly, candied-rose, it all starts to settle down and warm elements of tobacco and a nutty pistachio bring a sobering, neutralizing reassurance to the base, grounding Traversee in a warm, savory finish. What an olfactory ride! Du Bosphore may not be loved by everyone, but if you connect with it you will indeed love it. It is completely unique, and the creative, deft hand of Bertrand Duchafour is on prime display in this complex gourmand extravaganza. I've been lucky this year to discover both this and Noir Exquis (another Duchafour creation). Both are among my best discoveries of the year, but more importantly, both are undoubtedly the best gourmand fragrances I've sniffed in at least three years (I haven't been this impressed with a gourmand since Pierre Guillaume released Tabac Rouge). However, while I can wholeheartedly recommend blind buying Noir Exquis, I have to recommend sampling Traversee du Boshpore. It is so unlike anything around I have no reference point to orient potential buyers. In that case, it's probably best to sample this in the unfortunate case that you find Turkish Delight just doesn't sit right with you. Gladly, I don't have this issue, so I'll be wearing this quite a bit in the future with great pleasure. T The feel of Traversee du Bosphore is casual, though it could probably be dressed up a little too. It leans more toward night than day in my opinion, but seems well-suited for almost any season. I imagine the sweetness could become too much in really hot, humid weather, but other than that I don't see many seasonal limits for this one. Projection on my skin is very good and longevity is impressive. Please note that there seem to be altering, inconsistent accounts of its performance, though I find for a L'Artisan this is extremely well-performing and I've have had no issues with it. Thumbs up all the way. It's not every day something like this comes along and for that reason Traversee du Bosphore is a truly special scent. 8 out of 10. EDIT: After wearing this for several weeks, I have one issue with it: The sweetness can sometimes become overpowering, especially in its initial stages. While this is a very interesting scent, and beautiful at times, this sweetness grates on me after some time. For this reason I would change my final rating to 7/10.

In one word: Exotically Divine! Istanbul is an exciting place and embodies so many paradox aspects of nature, being half European Mediterranean, the other (bigger) half being Asian, or "Near East" to be more precise. Islamic but very Euro-friendly, resulting in modern new found freedom, constantly rope-tying with the old-world of tradition and confinements of religion. Everything of those aspects are in this juice, juxtaposed, that I think should be seen as a celebration of the modern Turkish woman: Feminine, modern yet in touch with her past and respectfully so, sweet and delicate, and just so breath-takingly beautiful. I also wish to say at this point that I am a huge fan of the Turkish language that flows so elegantly and is so harmonic and melodic, usually rare for a typical Islamic language. This scent flows like this language. It's a song. This juice opens up very medicinal and it catapults me back to my childhood days, when mom took me to the "Reformhaus", German for an apothecary that sells organic products, remedies and all sorts of tinctures and chemical compounds, that seep into the environment, creating this marvellous sharp beginning. Soon after most of the floral notes come through, in particular, I love the tulip note, that is very unusual and not to be found in many fragrances. The sugar and apple seem very dominant on my skin, and cover the rose like the typical Turkish Delight, rolled in additional honey and broken wafer chips. At this point this creation is not dissimilar to BOND #9's "West Side" but while the latter goes more towards vanilla, wet juicy rose, this one here remains sharper, spicier and has the nutty nougat meets pistacchio gourmand note. Yes it smells of ice cream but it is not sickly sweet thanks to the leather and saffron accord, that keep your nose longing for more. It's almost like a carrot in front of donkey, you never reach it, but you reach out for it. It is always there, dangling in front of you, creating an allure of being close enough to reach; similar to the beauty of these modern, proud, beautiful women. It is not a sillage monster but it lingers and envelopes you into a wonderful skin scent that won't let go for hours, like a reliable and loyal companion. To me this is instant "feel good" happy go lucky scent therapy and should work for someone looking for a truly delightful, modern Mediterranean leather-rose gourmand. Bertrand Duchaufour is a master and this is another masterpiece of abstract perfumery in my book. Verdict: 10/10.

Traversee du Bosphore... So many thoughts on this scent. My first niche experience. I somehow stumbled into the Artisan shop in Covent Garden, London and knew very little about niche and this line as I normally wear gourmand, very sweet designer fragrances. The gorgeous saleslady greeted me with a huge smile, she was very skilled and happy to have a chat with me about perfumes, she let me take my time and sniff all the goodies they had. I explained to her that I liked gourmand, vanillaish, sweet scents. She showed me Vanille Absolument which I thought was OK and some others and then she introduced me to Traversee du Bosphore. A little bit different, she said as she sprayed it on my wrist. Turkish delight? Sounded good. Leather and tobacco? Not so sure about it, it was new to my nose. I was definitely being pushed out of my comfort zone with this fragrance and it just felt so damn right! This stuff is gorgeous! Starts off very leathery with prominent tobacco, to my nose at least. As it softens it gets a bit sweeter, but it is not that sugar-overload I am usually used to, Traversee du Bosphore is not actually sweet to my nose at all. I do detect honey, I guess it is supposed to be the Turkish delight accord and I could swear that I smell almond as well, although it is not listed , but almond is very close to Turkish delight, right? If I could make up a whole new olfactory group for just one single fragrance, it would be Traversee du Bosphore and I would classify it as an oriental - leather - gourmand, such an amazingly interesting and complex scent. It is like trip to an exotic land indeed. Longevity is amazing, it lasts all day on my skin! Sillage is not monstrous but pleasant and I think this perfume is actually thick enough to make a good nighttime scent, I find it extremely sensual with all it`s warm unisex qualities. When I visited the shop I ended up buying Nuit de Tubereuse and I got a sample of Traversee du Bosphore which I enjoy wearing and sniffing every now and then. When my sample is gone, and it is gone soon, I am going back to that fabulous Covent Garden shop to buy a big bottle so I can be a happy owner of this extravagant, exotic perfume which basically introduced me to the world of niche perfumery and got me fascinated by L'Artisan Parfumeur. Thank you ever so much.

My husband travels a few times each year to Istanbul for business and when he comes home, he always brings a package of Turkish Delights. This fragrance reminds to me of opening the box and that sweet, powdered sugar reaching my nostrils. IMO, the actual delights have more prominent rose notes than Traversee and a caramel note that's completely absent here. Traversee also reminds me of baby powder, but only after the initial suropy taste has faded. I find that I like it very, very much and it's a very comforting but also elegant scent for winter. There's little to no projection, but I don't mind since it lasts and lasts on my skin for hours and I get whiffs of it constantly. It may not be a sexy scent, but it's not girly, or fruity either; it's a skin scent that even grown ups can enjoy and wear with ease all day. Just don't let the initial sweetness scare you away because it doesn't last too much. Oh, and the drydown, after 5 or 6 hours that is, reminds me of a softer and less sweet Louve, as the almonds become much more pronounced. I do own Louve as well, but find it somewhat overwhelming when the temperature's not completely frigid; I think Traversee is more intimate and also easier to wear even in warmer weather due to its soft nature. In fact it's one of very few sweet scents and/or gourmands I own, that can be worn all year round. Beautiful and distinctive, if it's a skin scent different from the usual musks and sandalwoods that you're seeking, this one is worth a try. Update: The number of compliments this one has brought me is more than any other fragrance I own! Even after a full day at work, people still smell it on me, but it's never offensive, always soft and tender, like a baby's breath. And though I don't see it as such myself, almost everyone who comments on it, identifies it as an oriental, even before I tell them its name. Can't say I see it as an oriental myself, but I guess it has a mysterious aura besides the sweetness after all :)

Verdict first: It's a YES PLEASE from me! There is so much I'd like to comment on with Traversee Bosphore, that I'm going to break into bullet points! *What power the name holds! This scent is a sophisticated journey to the treasures that belie a Turkish souk. Yet.... "Marshmallow dream" would probably have been a totally plausible alternative, was it not for the top quality of the product. The PERFECT name has been chosen. WHAT an enjoyable journey! (Honestly, go and sniff the drydown! It's amazing how similar nougat / pistachio can smell to marshmallow!!) *Having been enticed by smouldering reviews, I've eyed up this one for a while. Blind buy time! (I live far away from cities and fancy perfume shops.) There was the usual anticipation.... WOULD I LIKE IT?! *The opening: a brash "I'm not your USUAL perfume!" Totally original! I sense a preserved lemon note - as used in Middle Eastern cuisine. Not listed among the notes, but that's what it smells like to me... * The drydown arrives soon after: the lemon gives way to a most glorious nougat and pistachio. *On me, this sublime drydown remains fairly linear right to the end (and boy, am I thankful for that?! I just can't get enough of it!) * Longevity: 7-8 hours on my skin - I usually struggle to cling onto any scent for more than 4 hours. Yay! * I think this scent would be a winner whether I smell it on a lady or man, in laundry powder or a candle... even in cooking! *IN FACT! I bet you could sniff this when you have dessert cravings, and be left fully satisfied without needing anything to pass over your lips! (It's THAT good!) *YES, it's a gourmand - and it's a GREAT one! (Not particularly leathery on me.) *I'm not usually a fan of unisex perfumes, and couldn't believe how feminine this is on me.... while at the same time masculine on my husband! Crazy science! * I imagine one day, when I'm in heaven, THIS celestial drydown will be the fragrance that gently floats past! Heavenly, oh yes!

I did not need to spend time with Traversee du Bosphore to know that this perfume is for me. It was a love from the first sniff. Where do I start? This perfume has so many different themes wonderfully put together. There is a lovely gourmand notes with delicious loukhom and honey. There is a romantic flower garden with dark iris and romantic rose. There is a fruit orchard. There is a sophisticated leather note, soft and smooth. There is a heat generated by warm saffron. All these notes are intertwined in the tapestry that Bertrand Duchaufour masterfully weaves to create his vision of the mysterious Traversee du Bosphore. And the result is a lavish, delicious and multifaceted perfume. The composition is beautiful from the top to the base notes. I smell the sophisticated leather note right from the start. It has this gorgeous suede like quality, which is so luxurious. There is also a beautiful layer of ginger and warm saffron, which makes the composition smooth and sensual. The scent unveils beautifully on my skin when it finally reveals its gourmand heart with dusty loukhom note and powdery iris. I have tried both, Keiko Mecheri and Serge Lutens interpretations of loukhom but Traversee du Bosphore is different from them. It is definitely not as sugary sweet. The loukom interpretation here is extremely sophisticated. The supporting layers of leather and saffron keep the fragrance from going into sugar overload. It is more like driving pass loukhom shop and inhaling the aroma without actually eating any. The base notes are comforting and delicious with benzoin and vanilla but there is no strong sweetness. The sillage is medium but the lasting power is quite good. Overall score is 9/10. I love wearing this scent. And it is one of those rare scents that not only satisfy my needs for complex and unusual compositions but it is also loved by my family. I get compliments when I wear it. I got a full bottle after the testing.

This is a very female friendly leather and you get a pretty hefty dose of leather initially but the apple and pomegranate keep it from being too dude like. When you first spray it, it is definitely "mmmmm" worthy due to the fruit, then the leather quickly takes over to counter the fruity sweetness. The floral notes (tulip and rose) join in and continue to help offset the leather, keeping it unisex. I usually find heavy leather fragrances to be too masculine for my comfort level but not with this. But...later the Turkish delight, sugar and almond give it a creamy and sweet honey-like feel...so it may become too sweet for a lot of men. I was friends with a girl from Turkey years ago and I swear her apartment kind of smelled like this (and so did she) so the Istanbul vibe is pretty accurate. This smells seriously good and is "almost" a dream fragrance...especially the dry down...but it just misses the mark by a hair for me. While Traversee du Bosphore is by no means one of my favorites from L'Artisan, I find it to be interesting and very enjoyable to smell. One thing I like about their fragrances is that they settle down fairly quickly and you don't have to wait an hour or two for something pleasant. I blind buy all of my L'Artisan fragrances because I am rarely disappointed enough to regret the purchase. That kind of says a lot. I feel that this stays fairly close to the body. I actually prefer minimal sillage because I don't want anyone to smell me until they are standing right next to me. Or even better...hugging me. I don't want to go around announcing my fragrance to everyone. I equate that with loud music from a stereo. While I may enjoy it, others may not and I do not want to force it on them. L'Artisan is generally polite olfactory "music" and that is just one of the reasons why I prefer their fragrances. Lasts forever on me, 10-12 hours. I would give Traversee du Bosphore a 4/5.

Here is another of Duchaufour’s compositions which has character, personality, uniqueness. Almost a must for this artist’s creations. With this one, though, I have a specific relationship, as I balance between love and disgust. I will try to dismiss my bad memories and to focus on those times I felt the good side of this scent while giving an evaluation, especially because I had troubles with it by my own mistake. The idea was to make a composition reminding on loukhoum and it was delivered almost too realistically. After a synthetic apple opening which really could have been better, the scent becomes a bomb of sweet rose and almond, lasting for quite a bit before toning down into a sweet leather note. It’s a rather warm, powdery fragrance with a heck of a lot of sweetness throughout its top, heart and base notes. Now, if you apply it lightly, it can really be a pleasure to your senses, with its sugariness that is still subtle enough. But, be very careful not to overapply it, please. I did once, and, if it wasn’t enough, I sprayed some on my scarf too, just for precaution. After hours and hours and hours of sickening sweetness I couldn’t even think about retrying this perfume for a long period of time, as this was the first perfume ever that literally made me sick. So, avoid applying this with heavy hand for the sake of your own health. Traversée du Bosphore has a solid longevity, above average for L’Artisan. The trace it leaves is close to you, but heavy – those who get closer to you will feel it in a good measure. It is really a good investment if you are into sweet smells and sweets in general – these two almost always go together. This will be a compliment getter, almost certainly. I see it as a slightly more feminine perfume, but it’s really unisex, as labeled here. Avoid any kind of blind buy though, this is unique and heavy and sweet. 8.5/10

When I first smelled it on my skin, I instantly thought "Whoa, this is going to be my new signature, I am going to get a 100 ml bottle, go through it in no time and get another one". On the opening stage it is stunningly beautiful and unusual, that's why I fell in love with this scent. Unfortunately, and I say it with profound chagrin, after the initial stage it goes kind of downhill. What took me initially, is the unique satin feel of this perfume; it smells like a piece of thick gilded satin; I imagine some Byzantine queen in her sumptuous brocade attire when I smell "Traversee". Saying this, the fragrance is neither overtly 'oriental', nor is it thick/heavy. It seems to me that I get more iris than the majority of Fragranticans who voted here: for me, it is the most prominent note. I actually regard TdB as an iris perfume. Yes, for me it is another take on iris, and a very unusual one. This perfume is complex and multifaceted in the beginning, it is a shiny mosaic of iris-loukhoum-leather-honey-rose. My nose was glued to my wrists when I tested it; TdB is such a stunner during the first half an hour! The loukhoum note here is rather fresh-sweetish than sugary. Moreover, it is somehow transparent. There's no gourmand vibe in TdB, at least to my tastes. The leather note is just perfect, quite strong on the initial stage, but, unfortunately, it fades very quickly. 20 minutes and it's gone. Here's the problem. When leather leaves the composition, it turns into just another pleasant and warm powdery scent. If there wasn't such a glorious opening, I would not be so disappointed. Let's put it like this: Traversee du Bosphore is a perfume which opens outstandingly, but dries down to something ordinarily pleasant very quickly.

Traversee du Bosphore is, in my humble opinion, the best perfume L'Artisan Parfumeur has ever put out, one of the best perfumes by Duchaufour, and one of the best gormand compositions ever, alongside something like Ambre Narguile. What makes this perfume such a triumphant success in my book, is how unique it smells, and how every single part of it is perfectly dosed in order to play its role in the bigger picture. I think the name is aptly chosen, as the scent profile would have you longing for the city of Istanbul with its beautiful aromas and for the Bosphorus breeze. Opens up with a beautiful crisp, red, apple accord, blending with pistachio, honey, spices, and nougat. The heart reveals a powdery-creamy orris accord and a soft leather aroma. The dry down becomes more golden hued and ambery. Very clever and smooth development, exceptional blending and choice of accords. The orris accord in the heart almost creates a rice pudding sort of smell, so to me, it almost creates this rice pudding image, adorned with apple flakes, cinnamon, pistachio and nougat. It's incredibly beautiful and complex, and totally unique. Fear not, this is sweet, but never too much, it is gourmand, but never too jovial. It really walks that fine line that a sweet gourmand like Ambre Narguile does. It gives me a very similar vibe, although they smell nothing alike. Perfectly unisex, and could be worn all year round. This is what happens when you have a brilliant nose la Duchaufour, or Jean Claude Ellena work on a sweet-gourmand composition. You get something trully exceptional. For people who appreciate Ambre Narguile, this should be a must try.

This is a strange little perfume. On me it's a bit like the story of the Ugly Duckling. This starts out a lot like dust to me. At first I was thinking~??? How can anyone think this is soft and sweet?? This stuff is soooo dry I think it actaully just blew off of my skin! Awhile later I was moving around (as you do ) and I kept getting wafts of this soft, sweetish, wait a minute.......is that rose? smell. It took me a minute to realize that it was Traversee. I was enchanted.....to say the least. And then I couldn't resist. For 3 days in a row which is ground breaking for me I wore this beauty, craved her. Then I bought her. Now I love her all the way through and spritz quite often compared to the others in my collection (for now of course). This is a transformer. She starts out cloaked in a dry dusty veil. About 5 minutes in things start to change. I can smell the presence of suede quite prominently w/a bit of rose rising in the background. 5 min. later I start to smell the sweet beginning of a far off Turkish delight. Then she really starts to go there and you can start to pick apart the different delicacies(sp?) that create this rich dessert. Then she stops. Before you get to Louhkoum.....she mercifully stops. You're left w/a soft, gorgeous veil of sweetish, rosey Turkish Delight. More of a suggestion really than an invasion. It wafts so beautifully for hours w/out creating a thick, sweet, noxious cloud around you. She rides the air rather than capturing and weighing it down. This is a comfort scent for spring/summer. Light as the breeze and absolutely charming.

Oriental, fruity (not berry like though), spicy notes composed around the leather. There was also some coconut and vanilla that do not appear listed above. The Turkish delight note in this creation takes a different twist from Loukhoum's and uncle Serge's syrupy confections; it's complicated, and well blended with all the other flavours, being rich but also sheer, as if the East meets the West in a passage,just like the name suggests,merging opulent eastern tradition with western perceptions on beauty. The name of the perfume is of historical significance, and I happen to know it since it's traced back to my Greek heritage. Bosphorus is a Greek word meaning "passage of the cow" (βους = αγελάδα-cow, and πόρος = πέρασμα-passage), deriving from the legend of Io who was one of the many lovers of Zeus. When Hera, Zeus ́s wife, suspected her husband being involved in a love affair with Io, Zeus transformed Io into a beautiful cow, and tried to send her away from Hera ́s rage. Io, in the form of a cow, swam across the strait but Hera discovered her and she sent big flies after the cow, to bite and disturb her all the time, ending Io in the Ionian Sea (thus named Ionian sea). Most of the time I love perfumes purely on their smell, defying bottles, and big names. This time, I will have this fragrance mainly because of the underlying story (but I also love its scent); it is of particular importance to me, and it is my sweetest little secret! Attraversiamo!

An absolute treat for the nostrils. Sometimes I find the profile a bit stuffy because of the heavy nuttiness and powdery sweet leather accent. But in general I find this one behaves quite well on my skin in most conditions only on occasion do I find a wearing of it a bit heavy. At first for the longest time I imagined Serge Lutens' Rahat Loukhoum must have been Prin Lomros' inspiration for his Turkish Leather from his now discontinued line Pryn Parfum only to find out this Traversee du Bosphore is probably the original concept that informed Prin's 2016 creation. In Traversee du Bosphore the profile is extremely waxy with a mild ebb and flow of sweet syrup and thick tobacco smoke that could smell like flavored cigarettes in some respects. A smokey leather with a sweet incense quality that conjures thoughts of the middle east is the perpetual base here that compliments some nutty qualities from a nougat accord and a waxy slightly bitter pistachio. The heart is meant to recreate the fantasy smell of a tulip which are generally odorless in nature. However most of the notes like tobacco, saffron, honey, spices are considered to be some of the scent qualities odor having tulips can potentially emit. All in all a very inspired and original fragrance from a slightly overlooked niche house. Well made with all its associations to the region of Anatolia and the Bosporus river that runs through separating the European side from the Asian side.

Nutty, milky caramel, a slight whiff of florals (roses?), an unlikely ribbon of soft suede, all grounded by cedar, the diva of woodiness. (My nose picks up not even the merest hint of orchid.) All together a sweet dreams sleepy quality that has my wrists and forearms attached to my nose as if fastened with Velcro. Traversee du Bosphore always seemed to me like the name of a fragrance that would evoke water, swiftly moving and a bit muddy but absolutely aquatic in focus and nature. Reviews turned that expectation on its head but in no way prepared me for such a sugary, gourmand treat. I'm a bit disappointed that I don't get the sea-faring feeling of being on a ferry taking me from one shore to another but I can't help being pleased that the voyage includes a visit to the best snack bar/bakery ever found on a ship! Only a couple of hours have passed since my bottle arrived and I'm a bit surprised to find myself smelling like a freshly fried and glazed donut but... I'm really loving this super sweet concoction. Recommended for all lovers of sweet gourmand fragrances but especially for those who love a warm, sticky Krispy Kreme! (Note: I guess I'm a latecomer to the Bertrand Duchaufour fan club, but my lordy, his ability to translate gorgeous mental imagery into an olfactory experience that's almost touchable is nothing short of absolute brilliance!)

Traversée du Bosphore is the first perfume I've tried that has a three dimensional feel. It is indeed pretty strong but in a delicious way. If you've ever tried turkish delight this is a PERFECT rendition of it. Every time you smell this gourmand it invites you to a journey, you enter that place full of pistachio, apple and sugar (lots of sugar) plus a deliciously elegant leather. You feel there are different layers and they work all together, so you can't escape getting immersed into that world. It lasts for many many hours and I'm delighted when I realise that checking my wrist just for the sake of it, without doing it consciously, means I get such a trip to Turkey, you can't simply smell it and go away, you "enter" this fragrance, and so it always amazes me for the experience. My only complaint is that the drydown sometimes gets too flat into plain sugar plus a hint of vanilla that is 10000 km away from its initial phases... it has no interesting edges and smells like many other boring cocoa basenotes. You fall from marvellous Istambul into disturbing sugarland. Unbelievably, but it is this disappointing end which prevents me from buying a full bottle (yet). Also, I think that after the mouthwatering top notes, TdB leans more towards the feminine side. Great great addition to your wardrobe anyhow so just test it yourselves!!

I have literally waited years to review this fascinating perfume. It's an odd one, much like their own Dzing!. It smells like apples, nuts, pink rose petals, saffron, and vanilla bean cooking in sugar water. All of these beautiful scents on top of a layer of silky soft black leather. I have never had the pleasure of seeing the Bosphorus River. The closest I have come to Turkish Delight is whatever they sell at the Armenian market here. But when I look at pictures, this perfume seems to fit. It is heavenly and otherworldly; comforting and distant at the same time. The scent of watery sweetness makes the corners of the mouth turn up in a broad smile, the way they would when taking in views of the waterway where East meets West. It's hard for an American girl like me--a daydreamer and lollygagger--to not get carried away with my imagination when smelling this perfume. Architecture, music, markets, pipe tobacco, ferries shuttling up and down the river...there is so much happening inside this modest little bottle, yet it is completely cohesive at the same time. It all evokes the Turkey of my imagination. Sillage is beautiful, with soft whisps of a world of fantasies drifting up to my nose all day long. Such an enjoyable perfume to wear. What a work of art.

I already own this fluffy, calming cloud of a fragrance for several years, and I have no idea why I haven't shared my love for it in a review yet. This is a soft, sweet and lovely take on leather. Some other reviews mentioned it's more like suede, and I agree. There are many delicious gourmand notes in this, but it's not a sticky or cloying fragrances. It's rather powdery in texture and has plenty of saffron and other spices that shine through the sweetness in unity with the leather. The nougat in this smells like white nougat with pieces of nuts, not the darker stuff that is used in chocolates. Torrone, not gianduja or pralinés. There might be some honey in it, too, but it's rather subdued on my skin. Besides that I get rose lokum and red fruits, balanced by smooth tulip petals. Yes, some tulips have a scent and it definitely contributes to this perfume. I find this blend of leather, spices, sweet notes and tulips quite original. To me this is more in line with traditionally feminine scents than a classic unisex, but men who aren't afraid of sweet notes and a little powder can easily wear it too. It's a refined, tender scent that isn't loud, but lasts all day, just close to the skin. A perfect scent to dream and relax to.

I regard it as the best way to warm your winter! I did not want to add any review being it quite unuseful as so many interesting things have already been said and better expressed but I love Traversee too. Despite my complete ignorance about Bosphore or being also not so interested in Mr. B.D. travelling's experience, I enjoy wearing this fragrance all the same. I appreciate the good measure that the creator has shown, while rightly controlling so many ingredients (many among them rather strong) without losing his command. After reading the "pyramid" one could expect some probably "disgusting" fragrance because of too many spices or sugary and fruity ( I normally prefer leaving fruit on the table instead of taking around with me!) in the same liquid; but never mind what he chose: that's his job and responsability after all. I find that the result is remarkable! Good sillage, brilliant sensation and at the same time you get the impression that the fragrance keeps on whispering to you and it does it for along. It's an E. d. P. so with a consistent longevity. Again I regard it as the best way to warm my winter..... (....and also that of those who come around me!)

Lo ho sempre rimandato fino a quando è stato interrotto. Ero indeciso,un giorno mi piaceva e il giorno dopo,no... Insomma dopo tanti anni di tira e molla alla fine cel'ho. E sono soddisfatto. Questo profumo mi piace quando ho voglia di un odore sciropposo di albicocche mature,anice e miele mescolati a un ricordo di torrone e pistacchi che fondamentalmente mi ricorda anche Arabie di lutens, anche questo fuori produzione. Traversee du bosphore e gli altri creati da bertand per l'artisan mi piacciono tutti o quasi. Si sente la sua fantasia e creatività. i ricordi di viaggio (reali o immaginari) e le scenografie di posti esotici e particolari, come l'Havana vanille, Seville, Timbuktu, Poivre piquant, piment brulant, al oudh.. Pur non essendo dei concentrati molto forti e troppo densi, riescono a stare sulla pelle e fare il loro lavoro senza stomacare. Traversee ha un sentore iniziale di ciliegia che avvolgente tutto in una glassa lucida con anice fresco,l'odore voluttuoso incontra sentori di mirra e la scia finale di benzoino ma il bouquet è così ricco e delizioso che porta con la mente dappertutto.

What a masterpiece! One of my favourite perfumes ever. Imagine smoking a hookah with a tulip and nuga flavor. I know it is supposed to be a leather fragrance, but tulips and honeyed nuga strike me the most here. It has bitter slightly herbal touches, it is very honeyed and a little nutty. It is definitely a red colour smell. Those who have smelled the ripe center of an open tulip flower surely can recognize the dry polen sweetness and mysterious vibe. I love how the spiciness is treated in an unexpected way and the whole composition is so original and moving. The smokiness makes it a little stuffy, like a carpets shop in Istanbul, where they also serve their famous unsweetened tea, to attract customers. So it does evoke a bazar but not through spices, but through a scenic representation of an actual atmosphere and a complexity of smells. Intriguing and transportative interpretation of a famous destination, without falling into a spicy cliche. I feel that it is quite a serious, faraonic, old kingdom type of scent. I love it more and more with each wear, a gem.

A crisp, red, honeyed, sweet apple served sliced on a bed of a chunked pistachio-nougat, wrapped in fine iris coloured leather, resting on an oriental style octagonal tray-table in a smoking cafe that opened a long time ago on a busy street market that is selling mainly tulips nowadays... that about summons it up for me. Like with most of Duscahaufour's creations for L'Artisan, this uplifting juice is bordering on an echo of a scent memory, evocative and undefined yet still full of colours, character, and presence IMHO. I'm never quite sure if I want to sniff or bite into it and eat my own arm when I wear this. Almost impossible to define how long it lasts having a rare quality of persistence rather then longevity, if that makes any sense, as it will appear to tease when I am almost convinced it has vanished. I am often unaware if it projects at all while many people around me report they can smell some pleasing confectionery conditorium and apples...so, I guess it must be having some notable sillage. For me, this is a definite keeper😍

Holy smokes Batman, this perfume is a crazy one. Super difficult to pin down. Imagine going through a Turkish Bazaar, all of the noises, scents and images flashing through your eyes and nose; but in fast forward. "TURKISH DELIGHTS OVER HERE! FRESH APPLES! TRY ON SOME NEW LEATHER GLOVES TODAY, THE FINEST QUALITY! COME AND BUY YOUR PISTACHIOS AND HONEY COVERED ALMONDS AT CRAZY HAKIM'S NUTS! THE NICEST SPICES IN ALL OF ISTANBUL RIGHT OVER HERE!" It's like being thrown in a whirlwind of nuts, sugar, candies, spices, leather and smoke. All at once. With no emergency brake. Like Alice in Wonderland, down the hole. You can, and will, smell it all - at once. And ......... it's LOVELY. Absolutely adorable! It's so powdery sweet, fun and syrupy, that the bottle is almost sticky to the touch. But strangely enough, it's not overwhelming or cloying. Why? - Absolutely no idea. Crazy. It's wearable though, and the dry-down is a nice honey-floral kinda fresh mix with warm vanilla. But definitely unique.

I love this beautiful fruity creamy leather. I had initially overlooked it due to the “nougat” and sugar notes listed, but came across a bottle for sale and since I make a point of trying every L’Artisan I can, I bought it. Oh gosh I’m glad I did it is just beautiful. Anyone who fears those gourmand notes being too literal- fear not! I would say the saffron and iris combine to create a subtle nougat-like pillowy effect but overall it smells more like fresh pressed apple cider and leather. It is not overly sweet, just beautifully so- only as sweet as fresh pure pressed apple juice can be. The fresh apple smells so realistic, and only registers as literal apple juice 20-30 mins before settling in to the rest of the composition as a subtly sweet, fresh and bright aspect. There is also no density or syrupy quality to the honey note, it is just a whisper. The leather is very similar to skin on skin, and the apple makes it utterly delectable. It’s just lovely.

I congratulate L'Artisan for staying relevant in a world bombarded by a horde of niche firms - some exploring all kinds of marketing tricks just to garner attention. I understand those methods are truly needed in this crowded lane, but in the end it's all about the quality of the fragrances, what memory it will create. L'Artisan don't need fancy bottles (though theirs are not bad either), over the top prices, provocative posters or fragrance names to make memorable fragrances and sell their stuff - they just focus on the creativity and quality of the fragrance. TdB is an excellent example made of top ingredients - the saffron is complemented by sweet fruity notes that smell delicious but not overly so, balance here is key. It's all very yummy, but i can tell i'm wearing a fragrance, and not sniffing some food i've spilled on my hand. The entire composition is magical - not sticky syrupy, but dry, sweet, but not cloying. Worth of L'Artisan's legacy. *****

What a fantastic smell! My olfactory fairy tale. This is my second review on TdB. I was disappointed with the longevity and the development of it while writing the first comment on this perfume half a year ago. Since then I have tried probably about a hundred of other perfumes, my tastes have changed, and I also suppose that my nose has become more sensitive :) This is the only explanation to the fact that now I enjoy TdB immensely! And I am also quite satisfied by the longevity, especially now, in cold and snowy weather. I mainly get iris, very soft suede note, light honey, pistachio ice cream, saffron, and sweet apple. I think it's a love or hate perfume. In my opinion, it is somehow... unforgettable. It's truly unusual. Once you tried it you will always remember how it smells. And to me personally, it smells lovely. A fairy-tale bottled it is! One of my favorites and certainly a must try in the soft gourmand department.

I have been waiting for a long time to make this review, since I have ups and downs with my perfumes especially when it comes to gourmands. They make me sick after awhile which fortunately didnt happen with Traversee du Bosphore. Honestly, I was a little bit scared when I purchased it cause of the intensive sugar and red apple note that were directly in my face. My nose is very sensitive about any apple note and if it is there in a perfume I cant detect any other single note except for the apple. Thanks to Bertrand Duchaufour's masterful piece of art here I love the red apple in TdB. It transforms into a lovely sweet and soft leather with sugar, honey, saffron and still red apple in the background. Folks, this is not loukhoum/turkish delight, this is sweet syrupy Baklava from Turkey. Are you looking for a fairy tale in a perfume? It is definitely Traversee du Bosphore!

Bought last winter, it arrived during those worst smog days in Beijing - I hadn't seen clear sky or the sun for a few days. It's pretty a gloomy winter mood, makes people feel don't have passion and don't want to do anything. I thought Traversee du Bosphore was something very mid-east style of exotic. It's not like any leather scent I know, it actually is not really like a leather scent. On me, the dry and honeyed fruit notes dominate the whole body and base notes. There are a blink when I get wierd gas note, but other then this, it's almost a perfect scent: tasty, honey sweet, vanila, these all make it warm. cosy and in a brief time I thought I saw the sun shining above. It's strang that a rather gourmand scent reminds me of sun. It's not literary sunlight as lots aldehyde scents present, but evokes the feeling when people bath in the sunlight. Very impressive!

I'm reviewing the juice in the second generation packaging (Flat topped gold cap with seven? edges and colorful label). My goodness, I'm obsessed. The most delectable, fluffy, sweet, skin-like gourmand I've ever experienced. I picture a candied red apple covered in nuts and powder dripping in honey, held by a hand wearing a leather glove with rose petals surrounding. This image makes it sound cloying, heavily sugared and very busy but that's what makes it particularly special... It's subtle yet noticeable. I adore this unusual concoction! It has a wintery feel, making it perfect for a snowy day like today. Longevity is better than most L'Artisans and sillage is mild. I do hope they don't mess with this formula ever. It's perfect the way it is and any tweak I feel would throw it off balance. Traversee Du Bosphore needs no "upgrades."

Total love at first sniff!! I saw the bottle at a niche shop while on holiday in istanbul so it immediately caught my attention. I took a sniff from the nozzle and my jaw dropped while staring wide eyed at the sales guy helping me. It smelled... unique! a blast of middle-eastern sensuality, fruits, freshness yet lushness, sweet smoke raising from the bazaars, fragrant tea, sparkling pomegrenate... i immediately bought it and now it's my ticket to the bosphorus shores when i'm away. It's not heavy, not balmy and not cloying. Very different from most orientals. The dry-down though looses some of the apple tea vibe for more vanilla.. It can be quite long lasting( sometimes 10 hours) and has polite, intimate sillage. Then again its ok, this perfume is a personal experience. Loove it. scent: 8+/10 longevity: 6/10 sillage: 5/10

I am not sure if I have ever been as impressed with a perfume as I am with this. I've never been to Turkey, but if it really smells like this I want to go! Astonishingly creamy and sweet, but still clean smelling, this is gourmand at its best. The first 10 minutes I smelled a crisp and tart apple and....cardboard. like the cardboard smell I get in Apres L'ondee, only more distinct. The Apple I love, the cardboard not so much. But then the cardboard is gone and it's Apple and a sugar so specific I can smell the individual grains of sugar. The rose comes in strong, and it's, from that point on, what Serge's Louve wanted to be. I don't get even a hint of leather, but but I don't miss it. This perfume had me smiling for hours and hours. I am as in love as a girl can be....yum. Just yum.

On opening it I get a green and dry aroma that slowly brings me to bitter almonds , it's funny because not on almonds in his notes, perhaps the pistachio and the iris combined, but not sure . After a few minutes , the bitter tone is giving time to a dusty and slightly sweet vibe, almost like lipstick smell that stays on the skin for about 30 minutes and then it evolves again getting sweet liqueur , juicy, thus taking its essence gourmand on skin that lasts for 1 hour. Finally , I feel the honey , flowers and spices that join this aroma that is already delicious, and add sensuality and a mysterious touch. Lasts a good 8-10 hours on the skin. The sillage is moderate, but I confess that I like this, will only feel it, those who deserve to get closer to you .

I loved this fragrance years ago and it was a regret that I didn't purchase. Then it discontinued. I never forgot about this fragrance. Recently I went to a fragrance swap at the local shop I go to. This fragrance popped up there last week and my pulse was racing to see it there. Fortunately I was able to trade this for Noir Exquis also by Bertrand. I love it just as much as I did years ago. I was nervous that my tastes had changed and I would be disappointed, but I was not. I have tried other Turkish delights fragrances and never found one I liked as well as this, the others have just been too powdery and sweet. I have even emailed L'Artisan Parfum and asked them to bring it back. I still wouldn't mind if they bring it back so I never run out.

What an amazing perfume!!! I received my bottle today and I am really exited. From the time I put in on my skin I just can't stop sniffing myself. To me it is a very sweet leathery fragrance with a pinch of fruitiness. At the beggining it has a slight powedy note that disappears after 10 minutes. From then it is a sweet gourmand leathery perfume till the time it fades away. It stays close to the skin and unfortunately it doesn't last long on skin. Perhaps its staying power can been improved with a few sprays on clothes. In any case, Traversee du Bosphore is one of the most appealing leathery fragrances, sweet and gourmand, easily wearable and totally unisex. The best creation offered by the house of L`Artisan Parfumeur IMHO.

I have a little test tube of this one and I just put one drop of it behind each ear. Oh my! What can I say. I want to go to bed with this fragrance. Warm, alittle flower, alittle powder, but at the same time very creamy. What makes the creamy scent, is it the white honey? The fragrance makes me think of shining gold jewelry and diamonds. If I could paint this fragrance in a colour, it would defenitely be gold. That's how my brain interprets the scent. Someone said it is a perfect winter scent to keep you warm. I agree. It is a very warm scent, one I imagine one has when sitting infront of a fireplace, watching the flames, with a warm blanket wrapped around your shoulders. I must buy a bottle of this perfume!

Sweet chaos and deliberate gourmand mess with breezy notes of ocean, ship with thin leather sails, trading pistachio and nougat, perhaps, haha, with dragons flying in the sky and tulip baskets been seen from the shore afar. I would say by character and composition it rather reminds me of Parfumerie Generale, - Aomassai and stuff. But just like being in a loud bazaars everyone feels at home straight away - same happens with Traversee du Bosphore - this mishmash of notes appeals to you and you don't judge - just enjoy. If you are conservative type of person, you perhaps will not understand the purpose of it fully, but if you comfortable with some unexpected miracles - you will love it!

Traversee du Bosphore is an elegant, sweet, different fragrance. It opens with a fresh and juicy fruity sweetness (probably the apple?), then it changes into some kind of candy smell which becomes lighter and lighter. It is a sweet, vanilla fragrance, I detect no sign of leather, nor woodsiness, but it remains a remarkable fragrance, because every note is in harmony with the others, it is very well balanced, nothing sticks out screaming, it is a well rounded scent and although I don't think it will ever become something I use all the time I take pleasure in sniffing it when I am wearing it, and since I wear perfume for myself, I see Traversee du Bosphore as a lovely selfindulgence.

If you're familiar with Dzing!, this fragrance opens similar with a warm "barnyard" animalic note. You'd need to be familiar with both Dzing! And the aroma of a barnyard or petting zoo to understand. This note does not continue to dominate the scent for long, the dusty, goat smell gives way to a very pretty candied rose and vanilla and the animalic is now clean suede instead of barnyard. It's not a heavy gourmand and it's not a toothachingly sweet, powdery, pink thing like Loukhoum by KM. It's soft and pretty and remains complex and interesting for most of its life. The final drydown is creamy, soft caramel. I never do notice much apple on my skin.

Saffron and honey work together magnificently in this fragrance. I can't stop sniffing my wrists when I put this on. It is sweet and creamy. If I had to define it in just 3 words I'd say "caramel with sense", because yes: it is sugary/caramel sweet, but it never, ever, ever comes out as nauseating. The saffron gives it a fragrant, surprising, spicy, dry turn. This one succeeds where others (Candy by Prada for instance) fail dismally. La Traversee du Bosphore covers you in sweetness but does not make you feel as if you've eaten a whole cake in 10 minutes and you're now wondering why you did it... And it stays with you for hours, a plus.

I do not understand L'Artisan's strategy to murder their most amazing fragrances - Havane Vanille, Dzing, Tea for Two, Drole de Rose. And now that I got acquainted with this masterpiece, I learned that it is also gone. I seriously need to stop sampling discontinued perfumes all together because those are the only ones I tend to go crazy for. This is such a magnificent and unique perfume that somehow manages to lean into both a gourmand and cosmetic categories, and does so masterfully and effortlessly. Candied apple, pistachios, sweet honey, all framed by pillowy, powdery iris with a hint of soft, old leather. An absolute masterpiece!

My childhood was really happy, and one of my best memories is of my grandmother's house. When I arrived, the first thing I felt was the warm smell of apple peels sprinkled sugar, burning in the embers of the fire.That was the first feeling, first sensation, when I smelled this wonderful masterpiece.Then, dropping the first notes I remembered my first leather jacket, where there was always some candy or confit in pocket ... To share it with my first love.In short, delicious happiness in a bottle. Indeed, very lucky to have found this gem and have it in my collection, natural flavor, high quality. Do not hesitate to have it.

I am very late to this party, i blind bought a 15 ml bottle off eBay of this fragrance and I wish I knew about it before, I’d stock up on this fragrance until my end days. What can I say about the fragrance, it smells familiar yet unique, gourmand yet not an edible, sweet yet sophisticated, all season, day or night. Out of my collection of nearly 200 niche frags this does stand out, and I will cherish it so. Edit: if anyone wants to sell their bottle to me, PM me, I’m in the UK Edit2: I finally found a bottle for £275 and bought it. Whoever offered to sell their bottle to me here on Fran for 490, literally go funk yourself

This fragrance makes me want to nibble on my own arm. In public. But that would just be inappropriate. I adorrrrre this! It was perfect for me because I wanted something gourmand-y sweet with an attitude. This was exactly what I was looking for to fill that slot, and I am so happy I bought the FB. Be warned though, if you turn your nose up at anything remotely delectable, then walk on by this sweet shop. However if, like myself, you drool at the thought of a confectioner's sugar-dusted rose-pistachio-spicy-musky-vanilla bonbon then I suggest adding this one to your shelf. Yum.

Interesting, reviews here are really going in different directions... and it may be strange to some, but the first time I sprayed this, all I could smell was rose! Just a sugary rose. Not one I would like. But i am a fan of trying again, and this time, here's the sugar, the nougat, the powder, and all the gourmand side of Traversee. I'm not usually a gourmand lover, but I wanted to try a gourmand fragrance that doesn't smell like industrial food additive (like La vie est belle - something that would never make me think of eating!). My need has been fulfilled ;-)

I don't have many red apple perfume, but from the ones that I own I find one similarity, all of them are sweet perfumes. This one is also a sweet scent with just a hint of leather, in the dry down I don't get the leather anymore, for me it's there only in the beginning, the dry down is sweet scent dominated by fruity notes, nougat,and sugar... not that it's a bad thing though. It reminds me of evening cake with a tea in the garden. The silage is just moderate but it has a good longevity. I think it's a safe blind buy.

I’m not sure if this fragrance is discontinued?? I first fell in love with this back in 2010-2011. This fragrance is supposed to emulate the smells and experience of Istanbul. This is a beautifully sweet fragrance that largely smells like Turkish delight, red apples, smooth soft leather, and honey. There are other notes in the background that add to it, but this is largely what I get. I love this one for cooler weather!❤️ I know that Fragrantica is classifying this as a leather, but I consider this a unisex gourmand.

In the opening I get the powder from the iris and a soft and delicate leather. I don't get much spices, maybe a little bit of saffron but it's not clearly distinctive. In the middle there's this notes that reminds me of a scented green pen I had at school when I was a kid. It's apple and sugar. Delicious. I've never been to Istanbul but I've always imagined a fragrance about this city to be spicier and smokier. Maybe the beauty of this fragrance is that it's not what you expected. A sweet surprise. Pure. Innocent.

this was one of the first scents from l'artisan that i tried on my skin. i was quite drawn to the leathery smell backed up with a sweet but subtle vanilla. not the usual scents i would go for, but i definitely would like it in the winter, so it's quite seasonal and not an all year rounder. it does remind me of one of my other favorite, dior homme but sweeter and more oriental. it does remind me of istanbul and freshly made leather satchel. might consider it in the future when i want a winter scent.

I just received my 15 mL bottle yesterday. The jury is still out: Do I like it? I'm not sure yet. It smells nice... apple and leather are all I get, before a sugar-sweet drydown perhaps 30 minutes later. It all smells very synthetic to me, through every state of its development. It's not bad and I don't dislike it. But, based on the two times I've worn it thus far, it hasn't met my expectations. (Interestingly, I am reminded of a less-tart "Play it Rock" from Playboy!)

Absolutely charming,mousseline-"like" fragrance-i can smell very distinctively apple,few seconds later wonderful saffron notes,all this rounded with very light honey-pistachio fume....I don`t get any leathe notes-except they are such velvety soft,they "underline" the whole "composition". Apple an honeyed saffron go along with all day i wear this wonderful,magic frag-for me is this a skinscent,but with very good longevity-amazing for such a light scent... I love it !!!!

I used to work for L'Artisan a decade ago and it was one of my favorite perfumes from the collection. To me it smelled like an apple-pie with a silky oudhy cream on top. The fragrance was literally delicious - not in a food-wise way tho. It was like a travel to Turkey on a warm sunny day where the smell of juicy fruits is mixed up with spices and all the oriental fragrances in the air. Gorgeous and unforgettable. I can't believe it's discontinued. What a shame.