Bali H'ai

You find yourself in a beach resort, driven by the promise of a Shangri-la-like experience. The orange-blossom sunset is disappearing into the pink-rose yonder. You explore the resort, meeting people you think you’ve met before. You find a seat in a restaurant you know you’ve dined in before. Before you, you can see the waves going to sleep under the trance of a darkening starry sky. A person in cream linen finds a seat across you, the enchanting smell of jasmine and coconut captures your attention, once again tightening the spell of this dream-like moment, this Bali Hai’i, over you. You feel like you’ve met before, like this entire journey’s purpose was for this rendezvous. You share a glance, then a smile. Maison de L’Asie’s Bali Ha’i is named after a mystical island, representing something beyond reach, beyond reality. This scent evokes exactly those feelings of longing, mystery, adventure, and charm. It does not scream but rather, invites and enchants. The first notes of jasmine are strong and lasts for at least 2 hours; this jasmine has a spiritual, warm experience. Afterwards, the dry down is a creamy vanilla and coconut without being sweet; a fragrance with a lot of similar notes is Giardini di Toscana’s Borabora which opens with a friendlier jasmine and dries down with a sweet, sugared coconut milk. Bali Ha’i is not that; this masterpiece dries down with the same coconut and vanilla but less sweet and more mature. This scent lasts at least 10-12 hours and longer on clothes, great during the day and perfect for romantic evenings.

As a tropical floral lover, this has been on my radar for a while and I finally got my hands on it! It was worth the wait! Bali Hai opens up strong! Don’t over spray or spray near your face. The coconut and jasmine are intense. The jasmine is a touch sharp, it has a bit of a piercing quality like salt. Thick vanilla and ylang ylang come in shortly after. The mid is rich, heavy and opulent. It thins out a little in the dry down with the tobacco and cedar. I don’t detect patchouli as a note, just a bit of scratchiness around the early mid that goes away quickly. I’m very sensitive to patchouli and that kept me from trying this for over a year. I get amazing longevity and a fairly large sillage. This is a powerhouse! Correct notes: Top Notes: Coconut, Rose and Jasmine Middle Notes: Vanilla, Patchouli and Ylang-Ylang Base Notes: Tobacco Leaf, Musk and Cedar Compared to other tropical florals: Bali Hai: sultry date night, best longevity TF Soleil Blanc EDP: casual afternoons, more white floral Etoile de Bali: more mature florals, no coconut Cherigan Or des Iles: easy reach, day time, sweet, airy GDT Bora Bora: date night, heavy, very sweet Chambre52 Soleil Tonka: daytime, drier, less sweet

I just got a sample of this and gosh, it’s gorgeous. I’m surprised no one else has mentioned the similarity to TF’s Soleil Blanc (one of my great favorites). I’m hoping this has better longevity! If it does, I’ll simply have no choice but to buy a bottle! I love the white floral and coconut.the stuff that I just mentioned is just a couple of reasons why I love this sent.

To me, this reads more as frangipani (plumeria) than jasmine, and it’s such a gorgeous tropical vanilla floral. To me this smells a lot like Musicology Sun Goddess, but that’s the only beachy scent it smells like. Beach Walk is much more woody, and Terracotta has an animalic/indolic quality that you won’t find here. Beautiful work, Maison de l’Asie!

Coconut, jasmine, frangipani, and vanilla. Reminds me of Centenario Bois 1920 but much more vibrant and white floral