Contralto

This is a straight-up middle finger to Bal d'Afrique. Byredo has created some of the best clean smells on the market, but have shot themselves in the foot with shocking performance and pricing, therefore Sospiro have seized the opportunity to replace it entirely. The new Absolu does improve on the original, but it doesn't beat cash grab allegations. I would not label Contralto as a clone - yes, they smell nearly identical, but this is a direct upgrade and has been blended by a master perfumer, so there is zero loss in quality, unlike most other dupes. Everything about this perfume screams 'gatekeep', but if you're already reading these reviews and are on the fence between Bal d'Afrique and Contralto, just get Contralto, even if you have to blind buy it. For those who haven't smelt either, Contralto is a unique combination of fruity, floral and woody accords, something I haven't come across in everyday life, which makes it difficult to describe. There is not one ounce of synthetic harshness in the blend, it smells so natural, it makes me picture an imaginary sweet, tart and yellow berry. Perhaps I am thinking of a Mirabelle plum, or perhaps I'm just losing it. Regardless, it is a fantastic smell leaning slightly feminine, and I genuinely can't imagine anyone not enjoying it. As it dries down, some of the fruitiness fades away, leaving a woody undertone, similar to how Bal d'Afrique fades into vetiver. This type of scent profile is fully versatile, though it may lack the depth to pierce through colder weather. If I was a girl, Contralto would be the holy grail of office fragrances - it's bright, clean, inoffensive and a guaranteed mood lifter. Performance is pretty solid, and miles better than Bal d'Afrique of course. It did seem to struggle a bit in super hot weather, which is why I think it would be perfect for indoor occasions, or at least days under 30C. The bottle is very cool, with a velvety outside and smooth sliding cap. Price-wise it's quite expensive, but cheaper than Byredo whilst being better, which increases its worthiness in my eyes. Thankfully, I managed to get a tester bottle for an absolute steal, but at retail price, I wouldn't blind buy it unless you've smelt Bal d'Afrique and love the DNA. Smell: 9/10 Performance: 7/10 Presentation: 8.5/10 Value: 6.5/10 Overall: 8.5/10

I have never smelled Bal d'Afrique Absolu, but I do have a sample or the regular Bal d'Afrique. Loved it, but is so fleeting that I can't convince myself to get a bottle of it at such expensive price. So, looking for alternatives, met Contralto. Blind bought Contralto, hoping for the "reminds me of" being accurate. And it was. Bal d'Afrique and Contralto smell almost identical. The only difference lies in BDA being a little less woody, more citrus forward, and Contralto being much stronger in sillage and longevity. I find BDA sheer, more delicate, while Contralto is a deeper, woodier, velvetier version of it. I prefer BDA as for its fragrance, but I feel Contralto is better in performance, in price (os easier to find offers for it) and the difference in the scent itself is minimal. So I am happy I get Contralto instead of BDA. BUT the biggest downside here is that I HATE the bottle. It is not an aesthetic issue (I don't find the bottle pretty, but it is not hideous either), it is a sensory issue. I can't stand the touch of that velvety bottle. Just can't. Will probably decant it, so I will be able to spray without wanting to cry.

Byredo Bal d’Afrique Absolu was a fragrance I fell in love with the first time I smelled it. While looking at reviews here I kept seeing people compare it to Sospiro Contralto so I had to smell it for myself and the moment I did I honestly liked this one more. To me this doesn’t have that metallic or synthetic smell some people talk about. It’s fresh, slightly musky and has the slightest touch of powder and creamy smell that makes it smell clean without being boring. The best way I can describe it is like white hotel sheets on a king size bed overlooking the beach on a sunny summer day. It just smells relaxing and luxurious. I think this is absolutely blind buy worthy. The longevity is great and even if you overspray it, it’s never offensive or overwhelming. Easily one of my top six fragrances and if you’re choosing between this and Bal d’Afrique Absolu, I’m choosing this every single time. And for those who are worried about how it holds up in the summer. I’m wearing it in 90 degree (32 in Celsius) weather with 50% humidity. Have no problems.

Similar to Bal, as many have stated, but not a replica by any means. This is more lemony and masculine. (Not masculine enough a woman cant rock but it is a big difference between the two) The first spray is much stronger, citrus forward and morphs into a clove / chestnut which doesnt last long but is a little earthy. Luckily that fades quickly and the citrus/woody/aromatic notes stay. It's way more beastly than Bal D Afrique however it is not as smooth, ethereal & airy as Bal is. As a female, I like the formula of Bal better, but on days I want to be noticed and not have to respray all day, I opt for my Contralto. Really loving aromatic & fresh, citrus & woody frags recently and this is getting heavily used! Bottle is very beautiful, I love the velvet & gold accents.

Bal d'Afrique is more cutesy and has wayyyy less performance than this. To be more specific, BDA is more light and airy than the denser Contralto. In order to get more performance, you need denser ingredients and Contralto has just that. The DNA is very very similar, my nose is still pretty novice but there's this woody note that I can't put my finger on (either that guaiac wood, almond, or even the balsam? again, i'm learning) that sticks out to my nose but isn't overbearing at all. It's kinda nice to have that woody scent over the sweetness of this perfume. This will be my signature fragrance once my BDA fully runs out. I've been having to overspray the hell out of BDA for it to perform for more than 2 hours on my skin. Contralto is a welcomed replacement.

Man, that orange blossom accord really takes center stage at the opening. In that stage, Contralto almost smells like LV Afternoon Swim, but it smoothens out much more. Where Afternoon Swim stays a strong orange, Contralto softens, almost with a very gentle floral blend that isn't really there. I confess I'm not familiar with how many of the individual notes of this fragrance smell on their own, but I suspect it's the juniper berries and, to a lesser degree, the vanilla that give that orange a sweet, soft but slightly nutty scent profile. It's very pleasant and different. A good addition for anyone looking for something nice smelling but that isn't redundant with anything else out there (to my limited knowledge, anyway).

Wow! I’m so glad I got this based on one of my favorite perfume content creators. Just got it out of the mailbox and sprayed inside my elbow. Bright but has an addictive creaminess at the same time. Nice vetiver note in there too. Definitely get the Bal d’ afrique comparison. The lasting power on Bal is not great so can’t wait to test this one. Perfect scent for work or drinks after. Great deals at the moment on discounters and I am tempted to get a back up. I’m not sure about sillage and longevity yet. I wait to give it a proper wear. Edit: this is so good! Long wearing and creamy. I own this and Bal d’afrique and this is very close but with lasting power. You can even combine them.

To me this is the most surprising discovery in a while, and you know the feeling and how rare this happens ❤️ For those that love Bal d’A, but don’t get along with the cat pee odour in it, this is the natural choice. It resembles for a while Prada Candy kiss, some almondy/orris trail. I love everything about it. The after smell is amazing, it does develop into a citrusy cozy elegant aroma. At least during the hot summer when I’m wearing it. Love the staying power, it sits with you the whole day. I had a meeting and i had forgotten my cup of coffee in the meeting room, went back to grab it and the most amazing smell was still there. It was my Contralto. This is signature worth.

The contralto is one of the rarest voices in opera music, the most powerful of the female voices, a unique gift. And this is a fragrance that, with its brightness, gives a feeling of well-being and joy. The orange blossoms are very gentle, overlaid by the green tones of juniper berries and a very composite sweetness, that of chestnut. This creates something open, fresh, extremely attractive and with a unique elegance, in an interplay of notes that had me imagining this creation to be completely different from what I then smelled. Beautiful, especially suitable when you want to bring a little extra brightness to the day. The same effect that Van Gogh's ‘Sunflowers’ do to me.

I love Contralto, I love Byredo's Bal D'Afrique and I love Boadicea's Hanuman. I have all three, This is one of my favorite scent profiles ... juniper and white florals. I love them equally and they are each a bit different from the others. Contralto is a bit thicker and richer than the other two. I get the chestnut and an additional unnamed overly ripe fruit like a melon. If you are a good grey market/discount/wholesale shopper, you can find Contralto for a great price. I paid $140 for a 100 ml bottle. I like Hanuman and Bal D'Afrique sllightly more than Contralto, but the differences are minimal. 8.75/10 and a Fragrantica score of 4.3.

This fragrance is AMAZING! I can see the resemblance with Bal D'Afrique,but this one is stronger and slightly sweeter where Bal D'Afrique is a bit more fresh. I personally prefer Contralto, smell and performance wise as it is way more long lasting. I like Bal D'Afrique, but if I spray before leaving home and the smell has disappeared until I reach my destination then it makes no sense to me to get it, especially in this price point. Contralto is the perfect alternative for me, definitely something I would repurchase once my current bottle finishes. It's a fragrance that you can wear in any season day or night.

First wear: whats the hype? Second wear: This is pretty good. Third/ Fourth wear: I'm searching for a good discount on a bottle. Glad I have a 10ml to enjoy and get to really know the scent profile. This is a grower so you may want to give it a few wears. I love this one. 9/10 These new Sospiro fragrances are quality and worth every penny. Edit: Found a deal and picked up a bottle. Not a complex scent at all, but it's alluring (yt buzz word). I cant get enough of smelling this in the air as Im wearing it. Very uplifting without being a citrus rush freshy. This is really good stuff and signature worthy.

There’s something special about this scent. Call me weird, but whenever I smell Contralto, it almost grounds me back to earth. It immediately calms my heart rate and senses. The mixture of the aromatic juniper berries mixed with the fuzzy cashmere and vanilla almost creates a photorealistic apricot accord. It’s weird, almost like you can feel the fuzz of the cashmere just by smelling it. Depending on the person this would be a good fragrance to spray on your pillows before bed, going to start trying that. Personally I love this. It’s a “niche” take on a fresh, versatile yellow-orange scent.

I’ve yet to smell this one, but for those bal d’afrique lovers out there like me, I own that one and love it so much. I ordered Attar’s Al Rayhan on the recommendation of someone else saying it’s exactly like it but with insane longevity, and they were right. I wear both of these and you can’t tell the difference. I bring this up because Contralto and Bal d’afrique are both way more expensive than Al Rayhan. Also it comes in beautiful packaging, it’s definitely worth the money.

creamy sweet lemon wood cleaner. it is quite nice, incredibly unisex. kind of fragrance that makes you love fragrance. really truly does smell like bal d afrique. I have only smelled the absolu, but it is very similar for sure. I would say the absolu has more a caramel element that makes it slightly more addicting, and if anything this may lean very slightly more femme. but overall this is a banger! and the bottle is stunning I have nothing else like it.

I LOVE this fragrance. It was a successful blind buy. Once I saw that it reminded people of a stronger, longer lasting bal d afrique, I went ahead and got it. I get the bal d’afrique reference but to me it reminds me more of musk therapy. It’s slightly soapy, slightly sweet, smooth and comforting. I’m obsessed. It’s pricey but can be found at discount fragrance retailers. I already want to get a backup bottle. Can’t wait for fall to wear this!

I just know this is going to be my daily signature scent, because it's so good I just want to keep smelling my hand. It's also a pretty unique and distinctive scent not too similar to Bal d'Afrique to me but maybe in the same family. This is a clean perfume that smells soapy (I guess it's coming from the orange blossom, juniper and cashmeran), but with some warm and comforting undertones (woody and slightly spicy). Longevity is very good too.

I have to agree with the other reviewers, this is in fact a masterpiece. It’s very similar to Bal d’Afrique but with much better performance. I will say it doesn’t smell anything like the notes listed aside from the cashmeran. . It opens up with a fresh and fizzy citrus almost like sprite soda. The dry down is equally beautiful and mostly aromatic and woodsy notes. A beast as far as longevity goes with moderate projection.

I completely understand the comparison to Bal d'Afrique (which I own and love), but I find Contralto a bit brighter, longer-lasting, and better projecting. Sospiro is really hitting it out of the park with its fragrances lately, and this might possibly be my favorite. The pink pepper and juniper really make the orange blossom pop in this fragrance without being overly spicy. Definitely a full bottle in my future.

OMG yes, it is amazing, and it is similar to Bal d'Afrique but richer, with more dimensions and longevity. The aromatic opening of herbs with spices and something citrusy and sweet like Bal d'Afrique, but softened with powdery notes and cashmere. much stronger projection and obviously much better staying power than anything Byredo. Instant love!! Perfection for colder fall days

I haven't worn this in a while. I put it on yesterday in about 85-degree heat. I forgot how strong and long-lasting it is. I think I like it more in cooler 45-60 degree weather. This lasted 12-14 hours with amazing sillage and projection. If you want a stronger Bal D Freak look no further. Samples should be easy to find now that it's been around for a while.

Like the person said below me.. Contralto > Bal. No question about it. Contralto smells better, is stronger, lasts longer, smoother, and overall a lot more interesting. I bypassed on trying the new Bal absolue because I can't imagine why I'd need it if I have a fb of Contralto. Contralto is a total stunner. Amazing perfume that smells divine.

Omg, marry me. Bal d’Afrique with actual performance? Sign. Me. Up. Will never buy the former again, adding this bottle to my next purchase list. Bal d’Afrique is slightly better I think, but for the longevity, this is a close enough alternative. Clean, fresh, hotel lobby vibes. So elegant and expensive, but also understated sexy. 100000/10.

Gorgeous fragrance. This smells like a wealthy skin routine with something sweet and citrusy not necessarily layered over it, but almost floating around it, if that makes sense. The more I’ve worn this, the more I’ve come to love it. I also struggled to first wrap my mind around the scent profile. Don’t let the first couple wears deter you.

Very similar to Bal d'afrique as mentioned by most reviewers, however with some distinct differences..I actually feel this is brighter with a subtle frutier note thats reminiscent of apricots or mangoes..Its actually gorgeous !! Smells clean & luxurious and definitely for warmer to hot weather..I give this a solid 9 on my 1-10

I love bal d'afrique but even 20 sprays can't help the longevity and sillage. Contralto fixed that issue and offers a more masculine and more citrus forward scent - perfect for me since I'm a male. It still is unisex right down the middle though where bal d'afrique leaned more feminine. Absolutely a phenomenal fragrance.

After getting to know Contralto after several full wears I definitely think this is a wonderful addition to anyone’s collection, especially if you live in a warmer climate where winter doesn’t really exist. I’ve gotten compliments on this one especially when I layered it with a couple of spritzes of Bal d’afrique.

FYI, received my bottle and the alcohol content is 64%... This is a 36% EDP. Im sure Hanuman by Boadicea the Victorious is luxurious but I don't really think it can be that much better for $1,000 more. Contralto has easily made it into my top 5 real fast. Get your sniffers on this one guys and gals.

This is just so good. Bal d'Afrique if it was on steroids and smelt arguably better. I can't really find a flaw to this fragrance: smells fantastic on skin and in air, performance is great, very versatile, etc. Sospiro created a masterpiece with this and vibrato.

Byredo BAL ın hafif daha tatlı daha yayılımı ve kalıcığı olan hali. Çiçeksi odunsu biraz da tatlı parfüm. Kalite algısı yüksek bir parfüm. Unisex olduğunu düşünüyorum. Yayılım 3 saat kalıcılık 5-6 saat civarı. Yormayan bir parfüm 4 mevsim rahat kullanılır

Yup, this is Bal d'Afrique with slightly denser woods and much better performance. While I do love this scent profile overall, I still prefer the soft, airy-ness of Bal d'Afrique. I'll wear my decant out for now, but will not be purchasing a FB.

Easy to wear, very unique, and lasts a long time. A perfect combination in my opinion. I know this is supposed to be similar to Bal d’Afrique, but beyond that I can’t think of anything that smells close to this. One of my favorites

Just got it in as a blind buy it is like a creamy vanilla citrus fragrance unique and aromatic. It’s very strong. You can smell it without spraying the antomizer. I like it I will be wearing it a lot in the spring and summer!

Wow, Contralto is a powerhouse! The pink pepper and cloves hit you first, warm and spicy, then it mellows into this incredible woody scent with hints of chestnut. It lasts forever, too. I get compliments every time I wear it!

Absolutely lovely. This is one of those scents where, when I smell it, I kind of close my eyes a little. It's comforting and clean. I can't wait to have nostalgic memories attached to this fragrance.

It is the biggest helper when you are indecisive about which scent to use because it is a perfect saviour suitable for every season and every environment, take this warning into consideration 👌

Just better and stronger version of Bal D'Afrique. It has extremely charming drydown. A young girl colleague said that I smell like fresh and toasted caramel at the same time) My score: 8.5/10

I love this fragrance, not generic at all. It smells expensive and clean. It’s a luxury spa in a bottle. Anytime i’m wearing this catch whiffs throughout the day it makes me happy.

beautiful stuff, the best sospiro for sure Edit: woww this stuff rly turns heads. got one of my buddies asking me wtf i was wearing while playing soccer earlier😭

Exquisite! My most successful blind buy. Signature scent worthy, office friendly, good performance. An exponentially better version of Bal D'Afrique.

I have about 85-90mls of a 100ml Italian bottle for sale for $135 shipped cont us. I will also include a 2ml sample of Hanuman from BTV for free.

I have about 85-90mls of a 100ml Italian bottle for sale for $135 shipped cont us. I will also include a 2ml sample of Hanuman from BTV for free.

Beautiful opening, fresh and fruity. Mood-enhancing. I see a lot of comments referring to this as feminine. 100% unisex, men can enjoy.

If you love Bal d'Afrique, but have performance issues, get this instead. Same smell, better longevity and overall performance.

Anyone else notice this has the exact same notes listed as By The Fireplace? 🤔 And they couldn't smell any more different lol

Its stronger Bal d'Afrique and have more Orange in it

Very well done blend of lemon, vanilla and wood.

I get a lemony smell from this, a bit sweet.

Amazing fresh and clean scent!

Interesting mix of herbal citrus and creamy, luxe musk. It's more on the fresh laundry side than the woodsy side, and I'm here for that. This is the closest thing to remind me of Musk Therapy × Initio. I'll be honest, I haven't tried BdA because it didn't pull my interest (while I do love the house of BYREDO, & own a FB of Velvet Haze which is a soft, interesting, comforting cocoa-chouli + osmanthus); so upon trying Contralto I now have an idea of what BdA smells like, too. In the name of transparency I opted for Contralto because scent split doesn't carry Vicki Beckham's fragrances (I wanted to try Portifino '97 without committing to a full bottle), and here I am, foolishly putting my trust in the "reminds me of" again. Thankfully, the more expensive/less widely accessible we get (ie not sold at/thru Sephora or hyped on tiktok), the less interference of dishonest opinions & falsehoods from ignoramuses we get; or so it seems. Anyway, the opening does kinda remind me of the lemon/neroli/caramel in Sundazed, which quickly warms into this beautiful herbaceous, lotiony, musk that I can't stop inhaling. Very nice... Happy to have finally tried something from Sospiro, looking forward to trying more.