Byzance

This is literally the embodiment of a cream colored cashmere sweater and a walk through white woods. It’s not heavy woods... not a wooden chest, but a light birch forest (and not birch for the smell of the actual perfume note, but birch for the imagery). Fresh suede boots right out of the box. This is quality fabric in a natural, outdoor setting. I admittedly attempted this fragrance last year and returned it because it was just a little off to me, but my nose has since changed and I feel that I understand it well now. It’s inoffensive, buttery, and a very easy reach. I agree that it has the Ormonde Jayne signature opening that’s a bit of a metallic pink pepper, but I find that this dies quickly and the fragrance goes through quite the transformation. The dry down is my favorite part. I get sheets that have come straight from the dryer... so warm and cozy! The fruit note others are picking up (some say cherry) comes out as a very juicy black currant to my nose, but fades gorgeously into the background as the fragrance wears. This is my autumn purchase. Update: killed 3/4 of the bottle in like a week and a half. HEAVY compliments.

This is a gentle, powdery and milky gourmand. It's *just* about a gourmand, though probably fits in the comforting skin-scent category better. I don't find it overly sweet - more like semi-sweet. Perhaps a pre-dessert rather than a dessert. For me, the cassis smells more like cherries, which is very pleasing. This is a sweet and gentle fragrance. I find the white woods and vanilla the most obvious. I get that it's creamy, but I don't find it particularly lactic, like some milk-note fragrances are (i.e. Matin Calin, Musc Maori). This was almost a blind buy for me, but in the end I got a sample first. I think it could be a safe blind buy, though, as it's a very easy-going fragrance. I actually can't think of a fragrance like this. Somewhat close in type might be Kenzo Amour - a slightly woody, cozy vanilla skin-scent, with an impression of cherries. I can see this as a unisex fragrance, mainly because of the woody undertones which are somewhat spicy if you're really looking for it. Also, iris is of course beautiful on everyone.

It opens with the brand's signature pink pepper (which leaves a short metallic taste on your palate). Then I discovered that milk, grapes, resins, iris and suet are clearly felt, which I find quite original. Perhaps my most beautiful blind buy🧡 As I use it, I realized that iris and suet are felt as distinctly as milk and grapes. It does quite last but I guess the projection isn't good, as much as lasting. But still, I can smell it on me, there is no problem people around me cannot smell it 😊✌🏻 In short, my milky grape sugar 🍇 🥛 🪵

Watched a youtube influencer saying this reminded him of Fleur du Mal, a scent I have tested and l really liked but became noseblind to shortly after applying to skin. I found Byzance at a bargain price and blind bought it, crossing my fingers this one would work better for me. And it did. It is lovely. Very light, a little tart but still round and warm. I bought this with layering in mind, as I have some beauties that I hope to use more with the right layering combo.

I really think this one should be more popular, such a delightful sweet- shop fragrance! I get straight powdery vimto/ jelly baby (probably the cassis) in the beginning, which is wonderful and nostalgic but somehow not childish, and a lovely woodiness in the drydown. I just wish the performance was slightly better for the price, despite enjoying it I am hesitant to invest in a full bottle because of that.

This is the perfect lactonic scent I have been searching for. It is luxurious and rich, but not heavy. It is also super original, I have never smelled anything like it before, and I am truly surprised this isn't more well known or liked. Actually I'm happy there will be no one else wearing it in my vicinity. It's fantastic.

I've been going through my fragrances and plan on keeping only the ones that bring me joy. Byzance brings me joy. A woody gourmand that has the most incredible sillage. The Route de Soie line uses a lot of synthetic aroma chemicals (which I don't normally like), but here it is done the right way.

I think there's an ingredient in baccarat rouge that I'm very sensitive to (ethyl maltol?) and which takes over the entire fragrance. Byzance has the same ingredient so this smells very much like baccarat to me, just a bit creamier in the dry down. I like it more.

Byzance is one of the absolute best scents I have put under my nose. I am at awe of how different we all perceive scents - this is a dream of a perfume to me. Enveloping, warm, evocative, like a comforting hug. So well executed and unique.

This reminds me of Blessed Baraka. The sweet creamy vanilla strikes a close resemblance, but in this, the milk note distincts them, I prefer this to BB.

Orange creamsicle with cashmere wood and dry oak moss. 10/10

Warm, milky, almost candyish. I was expecting more spice and woody dryness yet this is kind of appealing. I dislike heavy dessert scents but I think I like this, despite a fair dose of gourmand sweetness. There is just enough wood and powder and milk notes to balance it out. I plan to use up my sample and order another. Even samples are expensive these days! Edit: I’ve worn this a few times now and it seems to get sweeter every time. I think this would be great for me if the resins had been left out, because the milk and cassis and cashmeran feel like they’ve been sweetened with sugar which suits the fluffy “vibe” of the perfume better than the heavier resins. With both sugar and resins it’s too much, imo. I still like it ok, but maybe only for really cold days or the rare day that I want something very sweet.

Fragrantica lists cassis as an opening note, but leads you to believe it’s the leaves. It’s actually blackcurrant berries. Byzance opens with a strong fruity/berry note that doesn’t fade. The strongest notes are the blackcurrant, suede, and pink pepper. It’s jammy at first, then evolves into something more complex, resinous and smooth- a little syrupy but not super sweet. It smells very much like inside a winery when they’re pressing fruit. I find it lasts pretty much 8 hours on my clothes and hair. Not as long on my skin. It has better performance in warmer weather. I do often get compliments, though a coworker complained that I smelled like room freshener and I don’t disagree.

It’s not pink pepper, it’s pink berries what is on the top of the olfactory pyramid, according to the brand. And I can smell it all the way through, and is so good!. Unlike many comments here, that talk about a woodsy, spicy and resinous scent, what I get out of Byzance is a fruity, young and a little musky perfume, surrounded by a cloud of cream. It opens to me like a delicious creamy strawberry dessert (the strawberry is tart, not sweet) and then settles into something that reminds me a little of Levant, with that musky undertone. Honestly, I don’t know how can be so much different what I get and what other people get, but what I get I love it!

After several tests, I've really fallen in love with Byzance. It has a lovely lactonic gourmand-ish element but isn't overly sweet. The suede and cashmere notes come through (which surprised me because I sometimes have trouble picking out subtler notes like those) and balance nicely with the vanilla. The drydown gets a bit muskier over time and develops into a sort of "skin but better" scent -- clean, natural, but still sweet and creamy. I think I'm going to have to get a full bottle!

It is not often I am able to make out every single one of the listed notes in a fragrance, but with this, I certainly can. I agree this has the essence of a softer creamier BR540 but in a good way as it doesn't "insist upon itself" the way BR does. The thing to tie it all together for me is the cassis surprisingly which paired with the vanilla, light woods and resins all make it feel like a wrapped candy... emphasis on the wrapping. Laura Keene from On The Rocks wears this.

I sprayed my sample and felt the cassis, a lactonic subdued accord and indistintic woods with a veil of powdery iris. A bit sweet but not gourmand at all. My father passed next to me and said he smelt leather and he didn't perceive it feminine at all. Now I get the suede but I don't feel any leather. I am confused! This is a chamalenoic scent. It stays close to the skin and has moderate longevity. I can't compare it to anything I have tried.

Welcoming the 1st day of autumn with this beauty! I first discovered Byzance in Ormonde Jayne's SOHO boutique. A very captivating & different perfume. At times I get an aroma reminiscent of ironing your best cotton shirt. Other times I'm reminded of a slightly gourmand woody scent. A close to skin chameleon. Definitely the type of perfumery I enjoy wearing. Patiently waiting for cooler days. 🍁

This is a nicely executed milky-wood scent. There’s definitely a strong lactonic vibe running though it. To me this goes quite clean and creamy rather than being gourmand. The milk sits alongside really soft, fluffy woods. There’s a slight powderiness but it’s minimal. Overall it’s a very comforting scent, perfect for cold weather.

A sweet, woody soft perfume that will definitely suit Autumn days and a cashmere scarf. Nice, but not very compelling or unique. Not too spicy, easy to wear.