Bal Baroque

The fine dapper man holding a glass of rum and a fine cigar looks across the ball room as his eyes meet the most beautiful woman in the hall wearing an elegant gown and an alluring scent of damask rose, vanilla, and patchouli. As the music starts to play, they approach each other to dance, holding one another their scents become a kaleidoscope journey of paradoxes and possibilities that builds up one intimate fragrance called Bal Baroque. Ladies and gentlemen this is the ultimate fragrance for lovers of the night. Bal Baroque by Olentium is a finalist at the Art and Olfaction Awards 2024, and it certainly deserves its nomination since it hails all the hallmarks of one of the most elegant fragrances I personally have ever experienced. Bal Baroque created by Elizabeth Grech is probably the first fragrance ever from Malta to be nominated for the AAOA. The fragrance is a throwback for those who love vintage fragrances but with a modern twist to it thanks to the expansive notes in it. Bal Baroque takes you on a journey through time upon the first spray. The opening notes of saffron, raspberry and the incredible damask rose give it that real mature feel whilst the rum, tobacco and chocolate note give the fragrance a powerful sexy vibe to it. The fragrance is superbly balanced and can be worn by both sexes. I really love how smooth, yet very persistent the fragrance is. I don’t detect anything synthetic making it feel so natural on your skin. The fragrance isn’t loud and this is what makes it so elegant. People will still smell it and compliment how polite it is. It’s never intrusive but it is still constantly present. My 15ml bottle says that it’s an EDP but given the time it stays on my skin I would say that it is more an extrait concentration. Superb longevity. When I first smelt Bal Baroque, I instantly imagined a ballroom event with finely dressed people smelling so good. The notes in this fragrance are extremely alluring. A fragrance that is mysterious and seductive at the same time with a background of Baroque history that makes it feel completely timeless. Elizabeth seems to have travelled back in time and grasped the whole Baroque era so vividly, capturing not only the scents of that epoch but also giving us an insight of the magnificent buildings that are still present today. If you have ever visited Malta, you will understand even more what Bal Baroque represents. It’s a timeline fragrance starting from the Baroque era up to the 60’s infamous Strait Street in Valletta up to 2024. I am genuinely head over heels in love with Bal Baroque as this is history captured in a bottle that adapts to the mood and environment making it a brand-new experience every time it is worn. Bal Baroque is a true timeless work of art.

At first, it smells a lot like Tom Ford Noir de Noir— intense chocolate rose. But on closer sniff, it’s completely different. Bal Baroque is a mix of sweet and tangy fruity notes, chocolate, and rose, with heavy olibanum and vanilla. The olibanum adds a cool, powdery vibe that surprisingly works well with the chocolate, giving it a feel of cocoa powder. The tangy berry and rum-like sweetness blend with the rose, creating a gourmand twist that’s rich and bold. Imagine Amouage’s Opus XII with added chocolate and tangy fruity notes—it would come close to this perfume.