Babylon

Oh yeah, I really like this stuff. I thought I would from the time I first read, probably here, that it was going to come out and I read the list of the notes. So I've been sitting like a buzzard on a branch waiting for its arrival. Alas, it arrived in the UK at least a year ago, but no one was selling decants then and I wasn't going to drop $258 plus whatever god-awful shipping rates they're charging for UK-US packages right now on juice I haven't smelled. So it's been online at full retail in the US maybe a 3 weeks and several eBay sellers are offering samples and decants. All hail them! Babylon is everything you're hoping. I'm an easy mark for anything bearing nutmeg, and it comes on strong right away. It's definitely a Middle Eastern woodsy scent, but not bombastic. Acceptable....well maybe at the outer reaches of acceptable; rosequeen has a notorious range of what passes for acceptable. But I don't think you'll be shunned if you wear this in a public place among strangers. I'm headed to the grocery store at high noon in a few minutes, so I'll be testing this theory. It's warm and spicy but not overwhelming. Distinct from Penhaligon's other Trade Routes scents too. Nowhere near as sharp as original Halfeti or As Sawria (love that one, but it does reek). Most people will consider this a fall and winter scent, so it's unfortunate that it's arriving in the US in April. Of course because of Covid a lot of people may not feel safe heading to the department stores until fall anyway. And since all the big ones in the US anyway that will carry Penhaligon are in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, if they don't reorganize their debt they may not be open by September. (And won't we be in trouble, those of us who test perfumes in department stores by spraying fast and running away quickly). Ugh, but I think Babylon will still be wearable on a warm day up to maybe 80 degrees. But I have a notorious wide range on what to wear on a hot day too, so maybe not. Babylon died down at about 3 hours last night, but I could still smell it at about 7 hours. So it's not one of those expensive scents that only lasts 90 minutes. Don't be concerned about that. Not a blind buy, but if you've sprung for a big decant and are now enthralled, you'll maybe wish you'd just blown it on the full bottle (until you remember how often you've done that and been disappointed and kicking yourself).

I have heard Demi Rawling recently talking highly of how great Babylon smells. Her description seems exactly what I am into momentarily, so I had to go and try Babylon. As usual, she’s right, this is a sophisticated vanilla gourmand scent. Babylon is such an intoxicating warm, spicy, aromatic intense vanilla. I realised last fall that I really adore the following combination of notes in fragrances: lots of sweet, creamy vanilla, sprinkled with nutmeg, cardamom or cinnamon and spiced up with coriander or pink pepper! This combo has conquered my heart and all I want to smell is this! This is that combo with added Cyprol oil, saffron and two types of smooth woods: cedar and sandalwood. It’s perfection in the bottle and it’s performing beautifully. Which is fantastic since it’s going past 200 euros per bottle. I am not completely sold on Babylon yet because last fall I fell in love and bought a big bottle of Carlisle. At first sniff they don’t seem to be very alike, until you get to the dry down. But trust me, I have tested Babylon today both on skin and on blotter and I have sprayed from my Carlisle bottle on the other hand. In the deep dry down, after about the five hour mark, these two beauties are 80%similar, with Babylon smelling more feminine since it doesn’t have patchouli or davana. Carlisle smells a bit more aromatic, fresh spicy, a bit fruity. Babylon more like a smooth creamy, spicy vanilla! Both smell delicious, luxurious and expensive. I prefer Babylon’s bottle better, since it’s more feminine and pretty looking. I think Carlisle is technically a masculine scent, but it’s freaking fantastic smelling!! I see this compared heavily with Bouquet Ideale from Xerjoff, another scent I own, but not worn in a while. I have to grab my Xerjoff bottle to sniff these two side by side. If these two prove to be very similar like with Carlisle, I might not need to buy a third bottle of the same exact same juice. I should be rational enough not to do so...

Three months later I'm finally done trying my Trade Routes discovery set (I don't know why it took so long) Babylon is a gorgeous and extremely smooth woody-vanilla fragrance with just the right amount of spices. The spice that stands out to me the most is saffron, a touch of it over a base of vanilla and creamy sandalwood that's not even the slightest bit pickle-y. As the fragrance dries down the spice disappears and leaves only a powdery vanilla and sandalwood skin scent, somewhat similar (to my nose) to Clive Christian's Amberwood's dry down and Prada's Luna Rossa Black, but a million times better. Excluding Empressa, Babylon does vaguely remind me of the rest of the Trade Routes collection, but I'd say this is the safest and most mass appealing of them all. Unlike what the votes say, I think this could work year round, obviously going lighter on the sprays during the warmer months. It's also a perfectly unisex scent in my opinion. It really bothers me that Penhaligon's doesn't offer 30 ml bottles for many of the Trade Routes fragrances, I'd love to own a smaller bottle of a lot of these but as of right now they only have Halfeti and Cairo. I'm really interested in trying out AlUla now, as it's the only fragrance from the collection I have yet to sample and its notes sound really interesting. Performance is really good, as is the case with the rest of the collection. No issues with my sample's atomizer this time, so I could get the full performance out of Babylon. Moderate projection but really strong sillage that you'll smell for hours. Even now, about 8 hours later, I can still catch whiffs of this while moving around. Longevity could probably stretch to the 12 hour mark with ease.

Such a beautiful fragrance. This is a woody, clean and slightly spicy, slightly herbaceous vanilla fragrance. It's not syrupy sweet, but rather on the dry side, which I like. Although I believe it leans a bit feminine, a man could pull this off I think. I would say of all the vanilla fragrances I've smelled this year, this one has to be the best so far. It is rich, opulent, while at the same time being very relaxed, cozy and comforting. You could wear this for yourself at home just for some self-care, or you could dress this up and go out to an event. It's very versatile, but more suited to colder weather. Like all Penhaligon's fragrances, the presentation is beautiful and there's a nice story behind the fragrance. I really enjoy this house and look forward to acquiring more fbs from them. This frag is AMAZING when layered with Diptyque's Tam Dao. Since both have sandalwood in the base, they blend very beautifully. The Tam Dao gives it that really solid creamy sandalwood base that is dry and a bit vegetal, while the Babylon on top lends its beautiful vanilla note with the spicy and woody undertones. Really a premium combo if you have both frags. They combine to form an accord that is unisex, very sexy and appealing, radiant, while comforting and refined at the same time. Highly recommend you try this combo. 10/10 Snifftacular! I'm now looking for a full bottle the next time I'm at the discounters.

A simple but sophisticated perfume, not necessarily unique but absolutely warm and beautiful. Vanilla is no doubt the main character here, but it does not make the perfume overly sweet and turn it into a gourmand perfume. You can already get the sweet and delicious vanilla in the opening, well mixed with nutmeg and saffron. It is sweet, spicy and slightly boozy. Normally I find nutmeg gives this kind of dry and dusty spiciness, but here in the opening I don't get the dryness; instead, it is mainly warm spicy. Saffron adds warmth too, but also brings this leathery scent. Both the leathery and spicy notes well balance the sweetness. At this stage I would simply describe it as a warm spicy leather vanilla perfume. Then it gets more and more woody and earthy on my skin, while the sweetness remains. I also find the leathery scent gets stronger and stronger. To me it is leaning more and more towards the masculine side. At certain point it gives me this vintage wooden furniture vibe. The drydown is simply beautiful and delicious. I would call it sweet leather with milky sandalwood in the background. It is warm but no heavy, which makes it a perfect choice for cold weather. The performance is also great. It lasts easily on my skin for the whole day.

Penhaligon’s is known for its well-crafted, traditional men’s fragrances, many of which I rate very highly, but in recent years the house has introduced some modern options that I’ve found to be a bit hit and miss. One of these more modern offerings is Babylon and from the moment it hits my skin I know I’m going to be experiencing something special. It opens with a deep, rich, warm nutmeg note, that is perfectly balanced with saffron and coriander. There is a natural sweetness and gentle smokiness to it right from the start, and that continues throughout the life of the fragrance on my skin. In fact, other than fading, Babylon hardly changes at all from start to finish, making it one of the most linear scents I’ve experienced. It truly is a masterpiece in my opinion. Tested: 1ml decant. Seasons / Occasions: Mainly winter. Perfect for special occasions. Key thoughts: Rich, luxurious and warm. Masterpiece. Overall rating: 9.5/10. Buy full bottle: Yes.

Ugh this fragrance is so beautiful it almost hurts my heart. The cozy, comforting scent of Babylon has uplifted my spirits on this bitterly cold blizzard day in Iowa; radiating up from the collar of my t-shirt & hoodie, giving me the warmest feelings with its rich, cozy, lightly spiced aromatic scent. Babylon is a bottled up hug! The vanilla does not dominate -- it is so well blended and balanced. Not as much of a spice-bomb as the notes might imply. I find The Bewitching Yasmine to be more spice forward than Babylon. This is THE perfect unisex winter scent. Save it for the coldest, bleakest days, apply liberally (4-6 sprays) all over the bare decolletage/chest, and thank me later. I'm so relieved that Babylon is not overhyped on social media nor is it available in Sephora; because gen z-ers don't deserve to be graced with this luxurious beauty. Let them eat Baccarat rouge clones 😏.

This fragrance smells like luxury travels. It's one that every time I apply, I'm surprised again how great it is. I feel rich. I feel well-traveled. I most notice the cypriol, which is complex and resembles many other ingredients that are woody, dry, aromatic, and deep earthy. You get this depth without it being an overwhelming or challenging scent. I think this is a complex niche fragrance that the masses could easily enjoy. It's balanced by spices and vanilla. It's a beautiful combination that rounds this out without letting it go gourmand. Both sandalwood and cedar are clear and can be distinctly picked out. One thing I don't notice is saffron. If the almost latex/sterile scent of saffron can take on bothers you, you will not detect that here. This is best for cold weather. I'd say winter only if you live in a warmer place and into fall if you're in a colder climate.

This is my 15th bottle from Penhaligon, I mostly own British Tales frags because they so easy to wear, and the variety for summer frags in that collection is immense. This however has got to be my No1 Penhaligon's fragrance, I think it holds up against my favourite which is Sartorial, and blows Cairo (again was a favourite) out of the water, takes over. It reminds me of another frag, and I can't put my finger on it, I think it might have some resemblance to a Xerjoff frag, but I've kinda gone off Xerjoff after amassing a good 15 bottles as well. I'm not really good at painting the lovely pictures so many of you wonderfully do, and even if I could, I'm sure there are far better descriptions that would better mine, I can simply that this is *gorgeous* I blind bought, and no regrets, but I blind buy most of my frags, part of the excitement .

this is easily one of my top 2 vanilla perfumes of all time. babylon smells as if christmas up in a massachusetts lake house was in a bottle. upon first spray the notes of a spicy woody vanilla are very evident due to how strong it is, and once it dies down you can also sense the hints of nutmeg mixed in with the woody and vanilla notes alongside still having that spicy smell that makes the perfume an absolute winner. it smells so good that i literally wear it in the summer— despite the fact that babylon is more so suitable as a fall/winter perfume. this perfume also will have you smelling like that one rich aunt that comes around once a year yet is still so mysterious to you and your cousins. while it is quite pricey, i think babylon is def worth the price and everyone should absolutely own this perfume at least once in their life.

Treated myself to some sprays after a long stressful day (work); and was comforted by a leathery (saffron), slightly medicinal/herbal (cypriol), spicy (nutmeg+coriander), yet lightly sweet (amber) (((hug))). Instantly my blood pressure and cortisol drop to non-existent levels. The vanilla here is natural -- like the slightly boozy, distilled, pure vanilla pod extract used for patisserie (definitely not your powdery, cheap artificial, tooth-achingly sweet vanilla frosting smell). Sometimes I layer a bit of Zum Mist in Frankincense-Lavender over this for extra de-stressing benefits, the lavender and frankincense pair so wonderfully with the cypriol/cedar/santal base of Babylon. I cannot recommend this unique and lovely smell enough for your collection. It's perfumed gold 🪙🪎.

I can say that this is one of the scents I could not forget since I tried it. Never have I ever met such rich and spicy woody vanilla scent that is so refined at the same time. Very well executed. Nothing is sharp or screechy. Nothing smells synthetic. Looking at the notes, so many things could go wrong - nutmeg or coriander could overpower everything, saffron can smell like iodine and outshine everything else again, sandalwood can be screechy, the whole composition might get cloying, but no. Here we have a perfect and smooth concoction. It is an olfactory journey, which takes you to far away lands and long ago times, not a male/female scent. Amazing in the autumn and winter. Scent: 10/10 Longevity: 6/10 Sillage: 4/10

Oh this is a really relaxing perfume. The sweet woody vanilla resting on my arm is reminiscent like others have suggested, of a vanilla spiced latte or chai. This became the first fragrance to unlock an old memory for me, of waking up very early on a morning to make cereal while the rest of the family was still fast asleep. We stayed at an old farm cabin during the winter holidays and the wooden beams and staircase filled the air with this cosy aroma and the previous day's fire was merely ash by this point. I'd pour myself some cornflakes and sit in excitement just happy and gullible as kids are, filled with excitement for the Christmas season. I am absolutely thrilled that this memory lives on.

I have way too many vanillas. When I was given a sample of this, I never thought it would end up in my top 3. I don't really like coriander, and I'm glad I don't notice it here. It's a slightly spicy vanilla that's very well blended. It has moderate projection but very good longevity. It's best suited to the colder months, but I wear it all year round. I especially love wearing it to bed because I find it very comforting. I can smell the similarities with Bouquet Ideale, but that one opens with a blast of something weird that I don't really like. The magic of Bouquet Ideale is in the dry down which smells like Babylon.

I really like this. Surprised it doesn't have leather in as I picked that up immediately, thought it smelt like an old shoe shop in a good way. Then a bit of vanilla behind it. My take was it was the most accurate leather smell I've seen in any fragrance so shows what I know that it isn't in there! Doesn't smell like it will project as widely as other scents but it will likely sit quietly with a high quality sense to it. Late edit: a couple of hours in the dry down is excellent. Really high quality vanilla and actually projects quite well. Keep getting wafts of it while I'm working. Very impressive.

One of my favourites from Penhaligons. I’m a lover of Vanilla and this again is another brilliant take on a spiced Vanilla with Saffron, Cypriol, Nargamotha. This adds a greener, woody, spicy feel to it. This is a Vanilla version of Cairo. I love what they have done here. It’s not original or unique, it has some Kalemat, Raghba vibes but completely different quality. This is a very cosy and comforting spiced Vanilla. No sugary sweetness here. In terms of longevity this is great. Beautiful silage and lasts all day. Next up on the list Halfeti Cedar.

Babylon is a fragrance which perfectly blends vanilla notes with wood notes and is arguably one of my favourite winter/autumn scents. Akin to Naxos by Xerjoff, the vanilla note is smooth and inoffensive, but as a creation in it's entirety it's not overly sweet or gourmand. The wood notes are not as pronounced as some many think it to be. It perfectly compliments the vanilla notes giving some complexity to the fragrance. Upon spraying, the saffron and nutmeg evoke this sense of warmth and coupled with the vanilla makes for a great creation. 9.5/10

I smelt a great many Penhaligons perfumes in the store and have been working through their two scent libraries since. Babylon was, and still is, a clear winner for me. It's become my signature scent. This is beautifully warm and spicy and makes me feel like I'm being wrapped in a soothing hug as soon as I spray it. Lovely vanilla base with almost plum notes. Perfect for autumn and winter. Slightly reminiscent of a boozy plum pudding but nothing so sharp and crass as that. The woody notes add depth. Perfectly blended, warm and classy.

A warm, unique and comforting vanilla with an amber undertone. Truly a favorite from first sniff, and I have many vanilla scents, and many amber scents. The performance is impressive. Happy I own a bottle. This becomes my favorite Penhaligon’s scent, dethroning Cairo, who now earns the silver medal. And that is no small feat, because that is a memorable fragrance as well. I have worn it on two different days, and each day received a compliment. That is notable, particularly since each day it was hours after I applied the scent.

GORG!! Never thought I would describe a woody scent as "decadent" but here we are. The combo of sandalwood, vanilla, saffron, and nutmug is so luscious, the sweet-earthy-spicy facet from the saffron almost causes a tickle in the back of my throat in the best way. Cedar is now a new favorite note of mine, particularly combined with the warmth of sandalwood. Reminds me of a winter's night spent sipping hot spiced cider and baking cinnamon cookies.

Absolutely gorgeous. I can’t get enough of it. I get the base notes almost immediately after opening. The rich vanilla is definitely the star of the show here. I get the saffron but it’s not like some other popular saffron scents. It’s softer and slightly fleeting. I wish it lasted a little longer but it’s a reasonable performer. The richness of this fragrance, and the aesthetic of the bottle, make this a holiday/Christmas season contender.

Lovely fragrance. Warm and spicy with lovely vanilla and loads of cedar. Reminded me of something I used to own... kept bugging me for a little while and then I remembered - it has similarities to Arabian Oud Kalemat or scent story 24 - Babylon to my nose has more cedar and is sweeter with vanilla and has a lovely cinnamon in the background (must be nutmeg as there is no cinnamon listed) It’s beautiful and worth a bottle.

I went in thinking I would hate this house and it was love love love at first spray. This and Gentle Fluidity Gold by MFK are the best vanilla fragrances I've ever smelled. The saffron gives it a gentle leathery feel, the wood gives it a bit of a tanginess, and the is done just right. This may be popular in the Middle East, but to me this is very Western especially if you consider fragrances like let's say Oajan.

Beautiful scent! It boasts a delectable, delicate blend of smokey cypriol, cedarwood, and boozy, rich vanilla to sweeten and balance. Babylon evokes nostalgic feelings in me. Warm and spicy, with notes of vanilla and cedar. Longevity and projection are both above-average. This spiced Vanilla is really comfortable and soothing. There's no cloying sweetness here. Beautiful silage that lasts the entire day.

Babylon is the best Penhaligon’s fragrance in my opinion, such a warm & luxurious scent. The notes speak for themselves but the vanilla is a stand out for me. It definitely hits the brief, I can imagine this coming from the ancient city of Babylon. I disagree with the comparisons to Raghba. I absolutely hate that fragrance, it gave me a headache every time I smelt it.

I LOVE IT! i didn't have very high hopes for this considering all i got of the intent was nice vanilla scent.. to me this is more than that... it has a darkness and a sweetness that is really well-balanced, i've been looking for a perfume like this for a long time... it kind of gives me middle-eastern vibes without the citrusy notes most of the perfumes have.

This is a beautiful scent. Warm, spicy, complex. So full of promise when first sprayed on the skin, and then it disappears in about an hour. Very disappointed with the tenacity, the scent itself is lovely though not as unique as Opium. I got a discovery set and was so excited to try them. This was my favorite but still disappointing for the outrageous price.

The perfect Winter fragrance. I'm not usually a fan of woody scents (By the Fireplace, I'm looking at you), but this is something special. It's woody, spicy, and slightly boozy. Smooth and decadent yet never cloying. The vanilla dry down is so lovely, like you're sipping on a warm cup of chai by an open fire. Longevity and sillage are great too. I'm in love!

Great for fall/winter when you wanna spice things up. This has got to be the sexiest warm unisex fragrance that I’ve discovered to date. I can see a man or woman wearing this in the evening time for a date or a meeting. It’s dressy.. very dressy. Classy. Imagine being in a high class restaurant by the fire place as they serve hot cocoa with cinnamon.

My go-to fall and winter scent. It’s compared to Angles share and other gourmands a lot - but to me it’s very different. It’s a cozy, sophisticated scent with a nice hit of spice - possibly from the cardamom - and not overly sweet. I do get the comparison to Xerjoff‘s Bouquet Ideale, I had samples of both but liked Babylon on dry down more.

Wearing again in a blizzard, a year later. Still smells incredible. I love the smell of aromatics + nutmeg, all wrapped up in a warm gourmand vanilla. Yes, the cypriol + cedar + spices combination reads like new tires. That's part of it's appeal! Seriously an interesting fragrance. Babylon gives me a reason to look forward to winter. ☃️🎀🌲🧁

I agree with the comparisons to Raghba and Bouquet Ideal. Take the vanilla from from the former and the spice from the latter and Babylon is like their beautiful baby. Very comforting, soft and warm for winter. I own the other two so this would be a bit redundant for me but it’s lovely if you don’t have either of these.

I love that it's unlike any other vanilla fragrance I own. It's a warm, woody, smoky sweet, ambery resinous vanilla. Perfect for cooler and cold weather -- for when the leaves just start to turn, and on through to the new year. Not too complicated, a comforting and inoffensive scent. The bottle is so adorable.

Babylon is a total stunner. I'm not sure why it's not in my top 5 tbh (might have to change that). This is such a rich blend of vanilla that packs a punch of cypriol oil + saffron. It's similar to Bouquet Ideale but I find BI to be a much weaker and less complex juice. Babylon for the win.

Wonderful spicy vanilla . Perfect for autumn and winter time as nutmeg is a King in this juice. Very sweet and very spicy,it has got niche quality too. Not the longest lasting but in my opinion is worth your money if you like vanilla and spices. Saffron is not as prominent in here.

This is the best of Penhaligon's in my opinion! Such a unique smell, woody but just right amount, creamy, a touch of spice, oooo just perfect,but this fragrance isn't sweet, so a deeper more masculin fragrance I would say! I usually love sweet fragrance but I ador this one!

I loved it from the first try, amazing scent for autumn and winter. It is definitely complex but if I can compare it to similar (and more affordable) perfume it would definitely be By the fireplace, and, for closer effect layered with Autumn Vibes also from MM brand.

I love this smell so much.. To me it's a fall/winter scent.. Although it's not in the notes I get a powdery and leathery vanilla on top of the woods.. It's super comforting and intellectual.. I will always keep a bottle of this masterpiece in my collection!

I adore this perfume ... for me its spicy velvetty vanilla with some woodyness. Sweet without being over powering .. it leaves a scene trail that I find Intoxicating . Its very morish & good projection... Personally I think It a very sext scent

This is a lovely spicy and woody vanilla scent, its blended very well and the sweetness doesn't get cloying. Its a delightful spicey, warm fragrance. I dont think its worth a full bottle, there are many fragrances similair to this one.

This is beautiful! I definitely get sweet medicinal notes in the opening, it’s not the average plain sugar sweetness. After a short bit the woody notes start to show, after most of the sweetness leaves it reminds me of By the Fireplace

Soothing delicious, autumnal, sensual and gentle. The main notes are vanilla and sandalwood. I like to mix Babylon with a tiny drop of frankencense essential oil on my pulse points just to give a little more edge.

I feel like I'm in a chic, luxurious store. Saffron dances with vanilla, while a woody accompaniment provides a recital. I think it's a gorgeous bottle. A disgraceful box :) A splendor to be experienced. Wow!

This is my go to scent. If you love musky warm vanilla scents, then this one is for you. This feels a bit more complex than say TF's Vanilla offerings as it has an added woody layer, albeit it very subtle.

Smells like a blend of Lost Cherry and Shagaf Oud or Oud Bouquet. Not a clone of either one by itself but like if you layered the two together. And not the best of both worlds, kinda disappointing.

Lovely! Fulfills all of my powdery fantasies. The spices and vanilla give it almost a chai tea base, with a smoky dry down. Layer this with a tobacco note, and it will be even better.

I’ll keep it short and sweet. This is a more elevated and sophisticated version of Mancera’s Aoud Vanille. If you love that you will adore this! The end. 🤣🤩

The most opulent vanilla without veering into amber territory. Stunning, rich, spicy and deep. Elegant and formal. If it was a colour, it would be gold.

This is one of the most gorgeous fragrances, I’ve had the pleasure of smelling. Do yourself a favour and try a sample of it.

amazing smell that gets better the more and more you wear it. Gender doesn't matter here for this.