Balahe

Daniel Moliere, who is also responsible for Eau de Givenchy, Fleur D'Interdit, Givenchy Insense, CSP Eau de Naphe, LaRoche's Clandestine, and Jacomo's Paradox is the mastermind behind Balahe. It has withstood the test of time as it is a softer presentation than the note pyramid suggests. At the time it was not a iconic powerhouse of the day like Poison or Opium which reveled in an overdose of their identifying notes, but a niche like quality that was so well blended with its complexity, it never became vulgar or too much. Balahe was the quiet man-slayer wrapped up in a feminine powdery, vanillic, opulent floral. The clary sage, coriander, anaise, civet purr and aldehydes open Balahe, it comes off foreign as a good oriental reminds you of far away places never seen but dreamed of in the night. The plums, pineapple and fruits sweeten Balahe counterbalanced by the mandarin and bergamot citrus. The magic happens when the heart opens up and the flood of orchids, tuberose and rose are supported by a soft richness of ylang, orris and iris to keep this extravagant, plush and soft upon the fruits receding in the background. Balahe finishes in a powdery vanillic sandalwood, sweet opopponax and animalic warm civet, yet the civet doesnt growl...it purrs seductively.Its best with the cooler temperatures but can perform well in the warmer days of spring. A gem of luxury housed in a black mysterious bottle and red silk Japanese cord holds the stopper intact. Masterful composition and blending by Moliere. Its beautiful. I keep lucking out and getting the huge 6.8oz bottles for next to nothing..Universe is telling me something about this fragrance....Balahe+Opium Parfum is magic.

Now that i have also a huge bottle of EDT version in original formulation and "newer"version i can compare both pure parfum and EDT versions. To me they smell a bit different: EDT is more sharp,but parfum is more softer. But i like them both. Really. Very much. EDT review in original formulation 100ml bottle: At first it is sharp and very much like Ungaro ́s "Desnuda" to me but much more spicier and it might even scare you off. While Desnuda is more sharp and sopay in the opening Balahe is much softer and creamier and powdery. But then it settles down and fruit notes come through with a powder note. It is so pleasantly spicy that i can ́t stop enjoying it and the more you wait it indeed gets better. Just give it a chance to settle down and you will love it even more! I am loving it all the way: top-middle-drydown. The lasting power is very-very good. Try this at colder time of the year and you will feel yourself very outstanding from the rest of the crowd. Truly remarkable and very unique scent. My precious!(indeed) :) I can ́t really tell the difference between original formula nad re-release, i have both of them in different sizes (2x100ml and 50ml), to my nose they smell both amazing and the same. Maybe the later formula is not as much intense as the first one, but still this is a powerful fragrance with great projection. My collection of Balahe bottles is growing and it makes me feel soooo good. It is definitly in my top favorites of all time!! Never want to run out of it.

I love this perfume. It's exotic and sexy and exotic -- the perfect perfume trifecta. I don't want to smell like a pound cake or cookies or tutti-fruiti. I want to smell like a confident woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it. I spent my career wearing expensive suits, silk blouses, high heels and uniforms -- a weird and interesting combination. I want my perfume to be just as unique. I get powdery benzoin, a little sandalwood, distant ylang ylang, and civet. On me, it's a flash through the upper notes and straight to the base notes. Fortunately, the base notes are long-lasting, even on my older, perfume eating skin. I've already got two bottles for back up but I'm going to get a few more to have on hand so I'm never without it. This one is a definite keeper.

Balahe reminds me of both Poison and LouLou. All three feature fleshy, green-ish tuberose and plum. I think where I'm getting the LouLou vibe from is the powdery aspect (orris, iris) of Balahe and the anise. I've always been intrigued by the over the top bottle and ad campaigns, but it hasn't been until recently that I've been able to sample Balahe and I was a bit wary of some of the notes so I didn't want to blind buy. I'm happy to say that I rather like this scent. However, since I own Lou Lou and Balahe seems to be a bit more rare, I don't think I'll be buying it any time soon. No sense in snatching it away from someone else who needs it more than I do.

Balahe used to be the One for five years of my life. I was wearing it, my best friends were wearing it, it was like a seductive protective bulb, or better to say PLUM in civet. Ha! Totally unique it will always stay in my memory since all my favourites now cost a fortune and you just can't chase them all. Being definitely sexy and intriguing it manages to stay very soft and gentle. Opoponax, anise and sage create such unusual spiciness that you would hardly meet in other oriental fragrances, - it has that charming woman's fruity smokiness ..I made myself completely nostalgic now...