Bleu

I have just blind purchased this. I tried and attempted to like Shalimar but couldn't, there was something in it which broke my nose a bit and it stayed throughout the experience. Due to the comparisons to Shalimar on this fragrance I decided to take a punt and buy it. (Also it was on sale so I wasnt significantly investing) Well it smells as I had hoped it would. It is beautiful. Warm and spicy and a bit vanillery (but not overly. Opens with the spices like a high end incense. Maybe some of that heliotrope.. then come some florals. My somewhat unsophisticated nose doesn't differentiate the individual flowers rather their soothing and graceful bouquet. (the middle deffinately reminds me of Donna Karan Chaos and Black Cashmere and they are significantly more expensive) late in the middle at the beginning of the drydown visits vanilla just a touch of sweetness and it is here I draw similarity of Shalimar Initial. Deep into the drydown I am left with the resinous warm woods and throughout every step of this fragrance we have the Patchouli and the Labdanum This scent makes me think of warm silky skin a man could wear it also. I am extremely impressed by this gorgeous gem of a scent. The Donna Karans and Shalimar Initial are 3 of my favourites in this category and Bleu encompasses all of their beautiful qualities. I am going to invest in Blanc by the same makers perhaps lightning can strike twice? I hope so. Pierina ps re longevity.. I sampled with a tiny 1/4 squirt on my inner arm, I was still easily able to detect the base notes for 3-4 hours. It was at this stage I reprayed to revisit and write this review. So pretty good I would say..

Extremely powdery and extremely musky, but in a clean sort of way, the initial blast of sillage from applying a tiny dab of this EdT is like huffing straight from a jar of baby powder infiltrated with musk. It’s so strong that I can almost feel the gritty powder in my nose. There’s a powerful vanilla base along with the powder. After 20-30 minutes, it settles down for the duration, becoming a beautiful powdery, ambery, musky, slightly spicy vanilla that reminds me of Musc Ravageur. Sillage remains strong to moderate, and the scent sticks around all day, at least 8-10 hours. After the powdery cloud of sillage dies down a little, I like it a lot.

Upon spraying it on my wrist, I couldn't stop wondering what the top notes reminded me of. YSL M7! The much lighter, eau legere version of M7. Soon, after some 10 minutes, the Shalimar vibe arises. Also, the lighter version of Shalimar (post 3rd or 4th hour of the EDT). However, between M7 and Shalimar, I think Paul & Joe Bleu is closer to the former. About 60:40 or 55:45. Pretty much a wonderful blend of both worlds. It is absolutely unisex. Smoky, mild-edgy, dark-but-polished, bold and cool type of guy or girl. 4.6-4.8 out of 5. -AB-

First off, I immediately know I love this scent. I can see the similarity to Shalimar, but it’s more wearable and lighter. Strangely in the first 10 minutes I got a chocolate note, and I didn’t read anyone else picking that up so it must be my nose. It’s a heavenly concoction of vanilla, woods, myrrh and patchouli. Looks like Bleu has been discontinued, and I’m about 15 years too late. Will keep my eye out for a used bottle because a quick search reveals it’s no longer available.

Bought it the moment i first sniffed it and did not regret it at all. The staying power of it on my skin is great, almost a whole day, the best time of it is the drydown, musky sweet vanilla,, lovely, could be my signature scent as i find it nice for all seasons (maybe too much for summer hot days though!) ...some months later i ordered my second bottle...super!!!!!