Baghari 2006

It's very hot where I live so I don't often get to experience this one in the cold conditions it was meant for. Last night it was freezing and this morning, as I was struggling to leave my warm bed, it was the thought that today was a perfect day for Baghari that finally got me up. I do wear Baghari in the heat but then I miss out on all the lovely subtleties of it, like those bubbles of freshly poured cola that sparkle from freshly sprayed Baghari. And the coziness and warmth of it puffing up from a scarf into cold morning air are absent in the heat. I disagree with most of the reviews and the note pyramid. This a warm, spicy and slightly animalic scent - I get Christmas cookies and the musky scents of skin and habitation - perhaps Grandma's cottage at Christmas. But shot through it all are the sparkle and sophistication of the aldehydes - Grandma had an interesting past and a secret stash of exotic liquors and foreign spices. The comparison to Chanel no 5 is fair to the extent that there are very few scents that combine aldehydes with spices and musk to create a "dark" aldehyde centered fragrance like these two. Other than that, I don't think they have much in common and comparisons to the lighter, sunnier no 5 flankers like eau premiere are even farther off the mark. I've never smelled the original, but I find this reformulation to be much friendlier and easier to wear than no. 5. Someone mentioned l'Heure Bleu as being similar, as well. What I think they're getting at is a gourmand aspect coupled with an animalic muskiness. But l'Heure is lemon pastry to Baghari's gingerbread, plus the sparkling sophistication of the aldehydes is lacking in l'Heure Bleu. This is one of those scents that I will always have in my collection. I only wear it a few times a year, not because it isn't a favorite but because wearing it is an all day experience that is so all encompassing and satisfying that once or twice a year is gracious plenty. I like to keep it special but it could just as easily be a signature. Today, I will enjoy this all day in all of it's many facets, sparkling, spicy, cola, warm, sweet, orange peel, panforte, musk and I'm going to feel as cozy and snug as a hibernating bear in it's cave, all while being ravishingly beautiful, sophisticated and sexy as hell.

An immediate love even before I sprayed it on my skin. Just lifting the cap and smelling the nozzle was enough to capture my heart. There's something about this fragrance that evokes an emotional response in me, a feeling that I know this fragrance, or it reminds me of something or someone, maybe something in my past. I have no idea what that could possibly be since I don't know anyone who wore this scent, either the original or new version. It brings to mind another time and place, and has an old world, refined, and elegant feel, yet is not dated, conventional, or prissy at all. Though structurally it has a vintage backbone, it's much more modern than that. While many here compare it to Chanel No. 5, it has a much warmer and more feminine profile than No.5, which aside from the aldehydes and some shared notes really doesn't remind me much of that fragrance. I haven't really delved deeply enough yet into this fragrance to dissect the notes, though some do stand out to me. But right now, I'm not interested in that. I just want to enjoy the full effect of this beautiful fragrance. I just want to add that I've never smelled the original Baghari so I'm able to appreciate this on its own merits. And based on what I smell here I think is just beautiful. It's a very alluring, womanly, and chic fragrance. When I'm in need of feeling ultra-feminine, this is the one I'll pull out. I'm so glad I bought a bottle. Even though I have more perfumes than can be used in 5 lifetimes, I am considering purchasing a backup because I know this fragrance is going to be in heavy rotation. Edit – reading through the reviews, I have to agree with tanguy20026. He used the term “haunting” to describe this scent and I could think of no better adjective than that. One of the definitions for that word is as “having qualities (such as sadness or beauty) that linger in the memory and are not easily forgotten.” It's certainly having that effect on me.

I like this one. It reminds me of a salad made of fresh herbs (Including herbs that might not be available in my country. I'm thinking of an herb from Italy, I think it is called Nepitella? Anyway, this herb sounds delightful, and I wish I could find it here in the US. Baghari has that "rare herb" quality/essence to it, is what I'm trying to say), with a hint of sweetness from amber or whatever the beautiful resins are in this, a touch of smoke, and some fizz from aldehydes. Upon applying, I felt like it could be a cousin to Vol de Nuit (and now I'm curious to try Vega, which I see that Baghari has been compared to. I've never sampled Vega and now I'm kicking myself for not investigating it before Guerlain pulled it from the website, last year). The florals and vanilla are very understated, very refined and in the background. Baghari definitely has a vintage smell/vibe to it, which I love because it doesn't smell like what most people are currently wearing. I would reach for this on days where Habanita might be a bit too intense. This is definitely growing on me. PS: This one projects a very soft, close aura around me. After about four hours, you would have to stand very close to me in order to smell it. So I have had this on for almost nine hours and now I can smell the jasmine/violet/musk/vanilla close to my skin. I am quite impressed! I think Baghari and I will become good friends! Edit: I recently acquired a sample of Guerlain's Vega, and yes Vega does smell very similar to Baghari. I prefer Baghari.

Just got this, and while I will concur it reminds me of Clive Christian No. 1, perhaps more a sister rather than a cousin. I did a side by side, and I love them both, but there are differences although to my nose their similarities are more intense. I am glad I happened upon this because I don't have to be ever on the hunt CC No 1 at a steal. I'm not going to name notes because Fragrantica and the reviews are pretty dead on if it works for you. I just will say that I love this. I will add that this is not quite as "dress up" and CC1, or as pricey. If you ever wanted to try CC1 and don't have the $$, which I think is vulgar, then go for this one. Oh, side note, I never tried the original. I love Fracas also, so I will probably try more from this house. Edit 11/13: I still really love this one. Fragrances seem to bloom more on me in the dead of winter, which we are experiencing here in the North East right now. This evokes John Dillinger's woman to me. If I had to imagine what she smelled like walking past me, this would be it. Sorta flapper age. It is very lovely, sexy and alluring enough just to pull in not Dillinger, but perhaps even the actor himself who portrayed the notorious bank robber. I prefer this one very much over Fracas. They are both worth a try though.

I wasn't expecting to like this as I'm not keen on aldehydes and I'm not a great fan of Robert Piguet, however I have surprised myself because this is one of the most stunning perfumes I have smelled in a long time. At the first spritz I can smell strong aldehydes and I get shades of Chanel No5, but this baby is far, far, nicer than Chanel in every respect. Firstly, there is never any harshness in this fragrance, I think that the neroli softens the bergamot and then the middle notes step in with the most beautiful and delicate rose note, a soft and quiet jasmine and a hint of violet. The composition ends with a crescendo of oh so sweet vanilla! which is kept in check by the musk. I simply adore this fragrance, I cannot get enough of it and I can't stop smelling my wrist. The dry down on this has settled into a sweetened floral aniseed. I know aniseed isn't listed but on my skin that's what I can smell. Finally I get a quiet and gentle floral perfume which is gentle, sultry, elegant, charming, classy and refined. Damn this is too good to be true and I just have to have a FB.