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!!!!!

This is absolutely divine, so different from the bulk of nondescript perfumes in the market nowadays. I love the oriental incense smoke feel of it. It's elegant, mature, warm and so comfortable. I bought this one today, and I just sprayed it on as I was getting to bed, and I'm already starting to have good dreams... :)

Essentially, "the poor wo/man's Shalimar". Perhaps a bit more synthetic and lesser ingredients. Nevertheless a great "copy" of a legendary perfume. I own and love it! (I only bought it for it was 50% off at a department store)

This is my signature fragrance and nothing can really replace it. If anyone has a bottle or decant please let me know! I would be interested in buying it.

I have just tried layering this with a Lush Vanillary solid stick. the plot thickens and my love for this deepens. So mysterious and comforting.

Sadly now discontinued. I have a bottle of this beauty available, PM for details,

This is a lovely soft oriental woody. Fluffy and light, yet cozy and grounding at the same time. I see this being the most appropriate for fall days. Sweet myrrh is the dominant note to me, anchoring in place the other facets of the composition: piquant spicy notes, creamy powdery sandalwood, forest floor patchouli. I recommend this for people who enjoy a church-y incense, a grounding woodsy amber, and a light dusting of sweet powder without veering too far into the honeyed syrupy territory. Bleu is compared to Shalimar quite a bit, and I personally do not think they smell similar. For one thing, there's no citrus, opoponax, or leathery notes here. But I do agree that Bleu and Shalimar share a similar vibe -- a similar weight, genre, occasion, oriental woody coziness.

Have just received a bottle of this divine mistress of orientals - I love, love, LOVE it! Sexy, mysterious, alluring, warm, spicy, aromatic, grr, yum. Thats all I have to say - oh, except that I definitely agree that is is similar to both Strip and Shalimar - and I will try layering with Vanillary solid perfume by Lush as well, I could see how that would intensify the base note hint of vanilla in a very lovely way....purr....

Everyone says that "Bleu" looks like the Shalimar and I confirm! It still looks like "Le Temps des Reines" (Isabel Derroisne). Retro.

Just got a bottle for me and what a surprise... It's a 'Shalimar' in a different bottle! We are talking about the SAME scent here! If i had to close my eyes and tell the difference between these two, i wouldn't be able to... They are very much the same, only this one is a little lighter maybe... Well it's nice, but nothing new! The oriental lovers should check this one out!

I agree with Pierina's review. Is a lovely perfume. I will also add that I find it to be in comparison with Oro, Opium and Cafe, but P&J has a way more mellow powdery scent, accompanied with the initial spray and follows the drydown which lasts on my skin for a good 4 hours. Is a tiny bit soapy, but it get's away with it subtly, as I do not like soapy fragrances. Since I do not own Shalimar, I can't comment about any similarities, even though I tried it once and is truly a divine fragrance from memory. I wish I owned it, but it costs a fortune. P&J is truly a little star in the heavens, like when you see Mars flickering in the hemisphere, especially during the colder months is a snuggly perfume and will warm your senses. P&J is inexpensive for me to buy, but is a true quality "oriental" perfume. I highly recommend this one for oriental lovers....x

My first review on Fragrantica although i have been reading reviews for years. I like Shalimar although for work or close quarters especially in summer months humidity it's just too strong, sooo this is perfection. I am obsessed with this one and with Paul & Joe's other scent, Blanc. This one, Bleu, is a softer slightly less sweet more airy version of Shalimar. I can sniff it on myself all day but i dont think anyone around me smells it unless they get very very close. LOVE it, my new favorite perfume and i try tons of scents each year.

I wanted to love this one as it is well done and not expensive, but most of the time I all I get is a thick and cloyingly sweet vanilla. Occasionally that clears enough for me to get a hint of some other notes, but mostly it is vanilla all the way. My skin (or scent brain) seem to amplify vanilla though, so do give this one a try if you like the idea of it.

If you like perfumes that smell similar to Shalimar this will work for you. It's very powdery w/ an oriental feel, and the dry down is sweetly spicey. It doesn't last a long time w/ my chemistry maybe an hour or two, that may be why I'm slightly ho-hum about this one. I really crave these kinds of scents in the winter so it's definietly a keeper.

Yes, Yes, Yes. I have or have owned a geat many classic fragrances and I love this in winter. Everyone should have one! It's rich and unctuous, unselfconscious and winsome, undeniably a homage to Shalimar, but what a homage. Imitation, it is said, is the sincerest form of flattery. At some stage I will try 'Blanc' also. Send the balloons up.

I love Blanc so much almost to the point of obsession so I thought Bleu should be magical too. Gosh I was almost suffocated at the first sniff. It was so strong and too much of coriander, more than in my kitchen. Not my cuppa at all :(