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степаныч – :
Opening is rich spices with some florals. I’ve no idea how old the round bottle w the round label is, i.e. which reformulation this is. My preference is vintage, and the little bottle does smell like a vintage perfume.
A similarity to Ciara has been mentioned, and I get that. Bal is richer however, and may work as a layering scent with the sharper Ciara.
The fragrance is quite nice, big and bold in a good old fashioned way. This is a good spicy scent to add to my growing collection of spicies!
Dimon2076 – :
This is how an oriental fragrance is done! I absolutely love this classic. Warm, opulent, and seductive with sweet and spicy resins and balsams, dirty civet, and a little smokiness. BaV was probably the inspiration for fragrances such as Ciara and Passion. What an exceptional beauty!
cdrr – :
This is just heavenly! I own a decant of the vintage Parfum de Toilette, so I can’t comment on the modern formulation.
BaV smells of Cabbage Patch dolls (a nostalgic aroma of delicate powdered vanilla), honeyed, skanky resins and balsams paired with animalic musks and an undercurrent of smooth leather and pungent bittersweet benzoin. Salacious, decadent, warm and comforting— this is a true gem that I plan on adding to my collection as soon as possible.
andrey_777 – :
Hi! Just bought a 100ml EdT, and it smells absolutely amazing! The site I bought it off said it was vintage. But the bottle is round, and it has a plastic lyre-shaped cap. I bought a tester, unboxed. So I have no idea where it was made and what version it is. It starts with aldehydes for a minute or two, then turns into a warm, ambery vanilla/nag champa incense. It doesn’t smell like wet dog or a kitty litter box. I have a feeling it’s not the most recent reformulation, but the one before that. Does anyone have any clue? I know that’s not much info, but I have no box. I think it’s the one that was discontinued, not the most recent one. I hope.
niga – :
So amber-y.
Compelling.
Warmmmmmmm.
Today I brightened it up a bit by layering with Oeillet Sauvage by L’Artisan.
Delicious mid-summer sweetness.
BTW, Princerosalium, you inspired me to give this a summer chance.
kolomoets – :
My boyfriend says this smells like baby wipes, and not in a good way. How dare he! All joking aside, I really love this fragrance. It reminds me of Takarazuka theatre in the 70s. ( Takarazuka is an all women’s theatre company in Japan and they do a lot of historical shows, especially in 18th century France) This is what I image a Takarazuka dressing room smelling like, this and Shalimar, even though it isn’t really the most Japanese thing to wear something this strong!
I find this scent really sexy, but it’s not the type of scent I think a typical man would find sexy, which only makes Bal a Versailles more powerful. It’s dark, but it’s feminine, like some kind of fine potion. It’s mature, super animalic and musky. It’s much too rich for summer, but I just love the mood it gives and I’m always looking for an excuse to wear it in the middle of July. Wearing this to bed is very calming and makes me feel really beautiful and womanly, bonus if I’m wearing a very pretty nightgown.
DJ_BAIZIL – :
There is a shoppe near me, where I’ve bought a lot of perfumes over the years. And they have the old, big bottle vintage EDC splash of this..the 1.7oz & 3oz, of the splash parfum..and the 1oz spray of the Parfum in an unsealed little box, where the little bottle is displayed on a tiny pillow. They have Bal A Versailles, covered 3 ways from Sunday. But, I prefer the big, 3oz they have of the EDT, which is lacking in its original DNA, but as has been said below, is more wearable. And also, still remains legit’.
It’s the only EDT that I have that gives me a handful of my favorite notes, in surplus (amber, civet, resins, sandalwood, vanilla, leather and musk. And each one is still discernible in this reformulation. Lucky me.
This, to me, presents itself like an elixir..or an incense oil…the kind you pour in a potpourri dish. And there’s definitely a Nag Champa vibe about it. I like wearing it with dark clothes and a leather jacket for some reason.
abedydype – :
Beautiful, iconic fragrance! I have tried three incarnations of the Bal…the cologne, the EDT, and the parfum mini. The parfum is amazing. Sunny, honey drenched amber and civet with green herbal undertones. The cologne is skankier and sweeter but also much lighter and doesn’t last beyond an hour.. sad because I feel it is the most wearable of the three. I can’t handle the EDT–I love my skanky animalic fragrances but there is a urinous quality to the EDT I just can’t get past. It’s also a bit bitter and dry, not as sumptuous and soft as the parfum. It does last and project mightily though, while the parfum sits close to the skin and only lasts a bit longer than the cologne. I wish the parfum had the performance of the EDT, I’d wear it all the time…it’s just that good.
FriendTristan – :
i don’t even know where to start with this one! it’s a resiny, ambery animalic scent with musky florals and some powder from the orris. a very nice scent that gets better as time goes on, and is perfect for cooler weather. intoxicating and enveloping, yum.
Elevator – :
I love this perfume which I first used as an eau de cologne sample with a Vogue magazine in late 60’s or early 70’s. It hasn’t always been readily available in Australia.
My first Bal a Versailles was a very delicate fragrance for me just into my 20’s.
My last eau de toilette Bal a Versailles was much stronger but still beautiful fragrance and I have just finished it. I think I bought it online in 2015.
Can someone tell me when the most recent version of Bal a Versailles came on to the market? One online perfumery in Australia told me theirs was stocked 2017.
I so much want to buy another one. Its one I can wear without my sister complaining about my perfume (as she always did with Chanel’s Coco)!
wovan1977 – :
-BASED ON THE ORIGINAL 60’s FORMULA (15ml extrait)- (Apparently BaV was a reissue of “debutante a versailles”, allegedly released in France in 1941, but then marketed for international release in 1958. BaV was most likely an improvement to the original due to the constraints of wartime conflict and trading difficulties being lifted, over time the quality of ingredients disposable to the perfumer would have been restored)
I was so so lucky to find this a few months ago, a pristinely preserved 15ml, still wrapped in its golden silk rope. The jus (no evaporation) was a light golden orange (golden yellow when in front of light), not a dark brown like I have seen of the ill-preserved 70s-80s vintages. It only takes me the smallest dab from the end of my finger to get the full effect. A lovely earthy, dark bergamot that has a very distinct but pleasant petrol facet, far removed from the more brisk and linear bergamot in today’s compositions. This perfume is full of contrasts being melded together and smoothed over perfectly, the civet is the star of the show, it eases the bergamot’s potency as the perfumes settles into a slightly herbal state, sinking further into an exceptional bouquet of orange blossom, rose, jasmine and ylang ylang. The spiciness of the ylang plays well with a tickle of eugenol, reinforcing the deep bouquet even further. The herbal element resurfaces, with a strange slight sourness, but not off-putting as a contrasting castoreum-like leatheriness appears, smoothed over by the civet. At this point a powdery diffusive nitromusk element also shows up, feeling like an animated cloud puffing from my wrist, all from this exceptionally tiny dab. As the bouquet and herbal spiciness melts away, a very sudden animalic earthiness takes over, there was not just nitromusk here, but a nicely diluted genuine deer musk essence! As the nitromusk puffiness softens, the real McCoy becomes earthier still, gaining a sweetness of its own before the resinous base fights for presence, with a whisper of velvety rooty orris, and subtle earthiness from patchouli, oakmoss and vetiver. At this stage the perfume has pushed the boundaries often, trying to repel you at times but you can’t help but be drawn in, its the perfect chaos, completely balanced despite being feral in its own way. The resinous accord comprising of mostly vanilla, labdanum and subtle ambergris eventually runs its course, the party is over, at least you think it is, except the musk never left. At this point it is a exceptionally soft, dirty, slightly sweet muskiness hitting a soft patch of soil, this animated furry quality is different from the nitromusk, it blends with your skin and practically becomes one with you. You have to twist the angles of your wrist and nose to switch between extremely gentle earthiness and slight sweet feral.
Projection was strong at first and became a skin scent within a few hours (very good considering it was a tiny tiny dab), longevity of the perfume approximately 16 hours, longevity of the deer musk afterwards however, its been about two days and after enough showers, hygiene and chemical soap, it seems to have gone.
Overall this is one of the best perfumes I have ever smelled, I cannot speak for the slightly modified 70’s vintage (check out MdM’s descriptions on Basenotes), but the 80’s onwards is more nagcham incense with no animated qualities or as much “animal” in it. The American version (00s onwards?) cannot hold a candle to the original in my frank opinion, it just lacks the magic and the richness overall, lacking in the florals by comparison, and the musk is more a linear powder to me, oh well.
Apart from the florals, the main component that blew me away was the animal essences, all of them extremely smooth and well dosed, the deer musk from what I have read to have been used at the time was the Tonkin/Tonquin variety from Vietnam , I would say it is more smooth, refined and less saccharine sweet than regular Himalayan musk, and does not have as distinct a chocolatey sweetness that Siberian musk has (I have sniffed those two types of deer musk from aged tinctures abroad, ageing before the CITES rulings). Although historically Tonkin was considered to be the most prized musk for perfume, I think that the Siberian variety with its more pronounced chocolate facet would appeal today, if dosed correctly of course. Even the synthetic nitromusk was an eyeopener, as I had no major reference point for it, considering that it has been barely used in a couple decades. I do feel guilty about how good these materials smell, especially when they meld together like they do in BaV.
Dare I say I believe this is an improvement of accords in other vintages, the civet in BaV is dosed far better than I have smelled in fragrances like shocking (also with the spice there is a small nod to L’Origan/LHB). In that regard I believe the civet in BaV to the civet in shocking is like comparing the work of Jacques Guerlain to Coty, what Coty did as a rough sketch with harsher tones and accords Jacques smoothed out, gave a soft focus to, and depending on your viewpoint, made it infinitely more luxurious. And this is coming from a guy touching his 20’s, so believe it or not perfumes like this really can appeal to anyone, just depending on memories or emotional connections to the many many reference points in this perfume. Even after this ramble there will probably be odds and ends I have forgotten to mention, it really is something else.
EDIT: I thought the deer musk was gone for good but if I focus and inhale harshly it is still faintly there, rubbing alcohol doesn’t seem to remove it either, oh dear!
Medcg116Negeltzex – :
Lush as a silk-upholstered cushion, rewardingly sweet (but not gourmand), and effulgent with golden-smelling balsams, musks and sweet exotic woods, sweet vanilla/amber, and perhaps a burly tobacco hint. It takes off on a citrus/spice note, laced with methyl salicylate, giving it a cola/rootbeer vibe at first. The midrangey Nag Champa-like floralcy is muted, entirely subordinated to the Oriental incense vibe. There is a waxen/honeyed note that hints at the dripping candles at an 18thc Versailles ball… or at a 1960’s Rolling Stones mansion. Exquisite sillage, hinting at opoponax, thyme (or tarragon?) and myrrh. The drydown is warm and oily/fatty… in a luxurious way. This fragrance, launched during the Camelot Era, is said to have been a favorite of Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson. Not incorrect to think of BàV as a more accessible, friendly, sweeter SHALIMAR, a more rich and soupy ÉMÉRAUDE. Not as smoky or bergamot-sharp as SHALIMAR, but possibly even more animalic, if that can be believed: a milky civet musk unites the whole scent into a warm, glowing sandalwood-y incense scent. Gorgeous stuff… a true old-school Oriental which thumbs its nose at the less-is-more philosophy. I hope never to be without a bottle of it.
dolbatik – :
How I adore Bal à Versailles! I wish I had the ability to do it justice with words. Each formulation is different. Only buy vintage is my advice. Everything is in it: rich florals, resins, animalics, a strange herbal aromatic, almost offputting note (rosemary?), and it all dances around making me swoon, an absolutely addictive living elixir for me, and never to be without it. I can’t tell what notes I’m smelling, I have no idea!
pupsik991 – :
Overrated. Not bad absolutely. But overrated.
An heavy fat oily honeyed melange of thick flowers plus a pint of vanilla and another of patchouli, plus amber and sure the animal note that to make it more “refined”.
“it was done with the ax”, we use to say in my country for things like this… full of things but too much. I notice tobacco as well.
surely for fur coats. In fact remembers me Zibeline by Weil which is even more exagerate.
Remembers me Christmas Of decades ago when yours perennially in diet, without success, aunt coming in fur to kiss you.
Nice but if you want to look young and thin you should not wear this overrated classic.
sined43 – :
Overwhelmingly animalic at first (transl. that pee-pee smell), which settles down after a few minutes to send out a warm and cozy mixture of powdery, floral goodness supported by a barnyard full of furry, hairy mammals.
My bottle is the taller, curvy EDP from the late 80’s. Given to my mother by a rich cousin who never removed the price tags from gifts…it was rejected by mom (she likes D&G Light Blue) and rescued by me to spend the next 20 years decorating my various bureaus until I realized that both I (and my dog) really really like it.
I imagine this is what it smells like in that candlelit, wigged and powdered, card-playing scene in Barry Lyndon if there was also a bear sleeping in the corner of the room.
swat25cvkg – :
I wore the earlier version in the ‘80s, but this review is for the current version.
The current reformulation bears no resemblance to the original. I won’t go on and on about the original, because enough reviewers have provided that insight. I will tell you that there was something slightly sour and skanky in the earlier version…sounds awful but it wasn’t, it was “original” and unique…I also seem to remember more citrus notes. The original was a fragrance best worn for evening and formal occasions, this one is perfectly suitable for office wear.
The new BaV is pure powder once the slightly dusty opening settles down. Maybe a little like today’s Emeraude. Not a bad fragrance at all, pleasant and subdued with very faint floral notes …. but if you’re yearning for the sparkling original, sorry to tell you, she’s nowhere to be found in this bottle, she’s not even lurking in the shadows.
Still, no regrets about getting this…I will definitely wear it from time to time.
delinkay – :
Anyone have dates/eras for EDT bottles?
I fell in love with this, bought the harp-cap EDT and an Eau de Cologne.
I also grabbed a “vintage” EDT with a gold ball cap. Can anyone place a time frame for the gold-ball-cap?
I bought with no box, so that doesn’t help. 🙁
tima134 – :
“Sultry and sensuous princess of the old world.”
Bal à Versailles is a 1962 eau de toilette fragrance by French fragrance house and nose Jean Desprez. The fragrance is very well-known in the perfume communities as a classic/vintage animalic fragrance that is on the verge of infamy. I got a bottle of this out of amazing luck at a local warehouse sale. Only 25 dollars, which is a huge bargain considering how legendary this fragrance is said to be.
Many claim how animalic this fragrance is, and how it’s considered one of the most iconic animalic fragrances in history. Amazingly, on my skin, it doesn’t smell anything remotely animalic. While others claim this smells of sex, pheromones and urine, on me it smells very fruity and musky. I get notes of peach and mildly sweet white florals, of which after some time, faint notes of tolu balsam and musk gradually come into light. If anything, Bal à Versailles reminds me a lot of Guerlain’s Mitsouko because of the musky peach notes.
I cannot verify the vintage of my bottle, since it’s a second-hand item that came without any packaging. Regardless, I have to thank my lucky stars to find it in a inconspicuous occasion such as a warehouse sale, and I can imagine this smelling amazing in cool weather (autumn being the ideal season). Indeed, this is an icon that I enjoy wearing even in the office.
vladyz – :
So finally i;ve laid my hands on this one
the newEDT version
not so animalic and strog as others had described
it’s sexy and classic
then i bought the mini parfum
i gotta say there’s no difference
only the parfum is stronger
this perfume is so luxury and beautiful
smokey sexy and loud
it is a bit like Elizabeth Taylor’s Passion
which is also one of my favourites
but Passion is more animalic and soapy
this one is dryer and more longlasting
considering the price
it must be better than Passion
great bottle and indeed a Versialles Dream
522966 – :
Classic perfect fragrance! So beautifully balanced. Pure vintage elegance. I don’t get any of the dirty panty or sweaty smells that some people associate with this gem. It is definitely animalic, but not in a nasty way. It’s animalic like a fur coat or a cashmere sweater or a fine leather bag. The parfum de toillette that I recently purchased was from the ’80s and it was still perfect, lovely, with no hint of that old perfume smell. Dries down to the intoxicating smell of, well I don’t know how to say this any better, the inside of grandmother’s purse. But a grandmother with excellent taste in perfume, of course. If perfumes had friends, this one would be a lady who lunches with Shalimar and Habanita at Le Grenouille in NYC.
EDIT: I’ve become an addict! I’ve recently purchased a vintage cologne, eau de toillette, parfum de toillette and pure parfum. This is a review of the pure parfum: You really get the citrus top notes with the parfum that you don’t get with the lesser concentrations. The early dry down offers more of the notes lacking in the others. I’m horrible at picking out notes, but the best way I can explain it is it’s richer, fuller, more complex. Later dry down is basically very similarily to the lower strengths. This is the one for me! All others will be measured by BaV from here on out.
maga05dag – :
Review for the parfum de toilette: Bal A Versailles is definitely a polarizing perfume–it’s either adoration or repulsion at first sniff! This fragrance is reminiscent of the rich, sweet, resiny incense burning during Catholic Mass. When applied, notes of spicy amber, civet, orris root, sandalwood and rosemary are dominant. The lovely base accord of vanilla bean, patchouli and cedar result in a soft, powdery finish. Projection and longevity are unparalleled! If you are a fan of Gucci Rush, Acqua Di Parma Profumo, CK Obsession,YSL Opium, or EL Youth Dew, then you will likely fall in love with Bal A Versailles. Unisex; would be ideal worn in winter with leather or fur.
andreignatysko – :
I know this won’t be a popular review but I was recently gifted a sample as I am an avid collector of perfume, and I absolutely loathed it. I had to scrub my wrists (3 times) to remove the all pervasive fecal and urine smell. It also gave me an instant migraine. I am not averse to animalic notes if they are subtle, but this was just overkill.
Dafidolvostrem – :
Wow.
I’m not sure what EDT formula/age bottle I have, but this… this is pretty cool.
They just don’t make them like this anymore!
I don’t get anything like Passion by Liz Taylor, and I’ve had the original Passion before. Passion is soooo dark, heavy, and thick.
This is beautiful. Some citrus, deep incense, balsamic, potpourri…. but light and powdery– not like Passion IMO. And def not as linear/heavy as Tabu.
Smooth and creamy, heavy/syrupy and yet light/airy/feminine. Wow. Spicy and herbal, but not a SPICY/GREEN scent. It’s also SWEET. There is some smoky campfire/woods… this is just SO interesting and layered! Everything but the kitchen sink in the BEST way.
I’ve been discovering some vintages that completely change the perfume game for me. Habanita was one (kicking Shalimar’s ass as my #1) and now this…. I’m in heaven. (another vintage that blew my mind was Bandit 2000-2003)
I don’t get civet with my first test. That could be the tissue I used (not a skin test yet)… or my formula/year/version. I do have the vintage cologne coming tho… that should be here tomorrow. 😉
Overall, a “perfumey” potpourri-incense-floral-amber-sweet scent. LOVE! It smells golden. <3 And in the drydown, I can sense where Passion was born.
I think one must be a vintage-lover to appreciate this. There is a stale-antique-store smell but IMO….. I love/need that. That is what makes this special and from another time/world.
Oh shit this is good. <3 But now I get why… the sweet smoky incense/amber is very Habanita-esque. A bit like Shalimar too.
Now that I’ve worn this EDT, I can say it’s very “churchy” like incense, and I also get “whiffs” of Poison… the same incense. I also swear I get a touch of Opium. And while I think this is feminine, I can also see it as masculine– like a creamy old fashioned barber shop/shaving cream.
navov – :
My first real perfume. A gift for my high school graduation. It so expensive I only wore occasionally. I love it! That was 32 years ago and I still love it!
Remans – :
After obsessing over this fragrance for quite some time, I finally payed the hefty price tag for the tiny .25 bottle through Beauty Encounter.
I think I expected more from this. I suppose the reformulation has changed what this once was. It’s nice, warm, heavenly…..but pales in comparison to something like Shalimar.
Knowing that Liz Taylor had based her Passion on BaV, I had tried that first, only to return it the next day due to the sickly sweetness. I smell that same sweetness in the dry down of BaV, however not to the point of nausea. I will continue to wear this on special occasions, but can’t see spending the $ on the regular for this one.
UPDATE: Changed my mind….WELL WORTH EVERY PENNY. It just took me another day to realize it! Went ahead and ordered the Parfum Extrait!
I also own the Vintage EDT, soap, and EDP. My personal opinion is that the reformulation, although softer, hasn’t made this beauty go downhill. I wear the current day to day, but for night time I have reserved my vintage! I can’t stock up enough on my Bal A Versailles.
malanec12 – :
Finally got my hands on the Bal
I went hunting for it on eBay. What you find on there is the reformulation in the harp shaped stopper and the old vintage mini dab on bottles. The minis are very similar to the splash cologne. This bottle reminds me of a European 18th century bottle of booze or cologne as would have been found in the palace of Versailles or the chateau of a French aristocrat, or nobleman, a Comte or Vicomte. As such it is unisex because this fragrance clearly comes through as terribly musky, spicy, and the florals are taking a backseat. It’s not a pretty feminine floral or fruity floral, not a modern gourmand, nothing at all like today’s fragrances. It’s a ’62 vintage classic of the Golden Age. For me it’s as precious as an expensive classic car.
Bal A Versailles opens with an explosion of fresh notes. Aldehydes, citruses, cassis, rosemary. There’s definitely aldehyde in this fragrance. The initial spray is quite potent and very old-school, quite mature. This reminds me of older Church ladies whose perfume leaves a scented trail that not everyone is quick to follow. In fact someone at the Protestant church my parents went to when I was a kid wore the hell out of this. But if you apply with a light touch the aldehydes don’t really project. The scent of lemon and mandarin orange, along with neroli. It’s a shower of zesty citruses and smells good as it opens, like after a shower good.
Eventually the fragrance, which I find to be linear, and not multifaceted, delves into a slightly floral heart and into that musky civet dry down. The cologne’s heart notes feature an epic jasmine, greenish and whitish with patchouli and woodsy notes. The jasmine is accompanied with rosemary, ylang ylang, and iris. The iris note becomes bigger and bigger and turns to powder. This is powdery up to a point. Then the scent of civet emerges. This might come as a surprise to anyone who is not familiar with civet and it might turn you off to the fragrance. Civet is a note that no longer exists in today’s fragrances because IFRA banned the note and PETA has made it illegal to capture and trap any animal for secretions to make into perfume. So while that is a good thing we are also far from the natural and less chemical perfume world of yesteryear.
This is a very natural smelling fragrance. Everything is aromatic, green, oily and realistic. Real lemon, real bergamot, mandarin, patchouli, musk, sandalwood, amber, and jasmine. It’s long lasting and powerful so use it with discretion and don’t overdo it. This is so harsh when you spray in the air you’re bound to start coughing. As for comparing it to any modern scents I would say that it is the inspiration for such frags as La Nuit Paco Rabane Magie Noire Lancome Passion Elizabeth Taylor, and Salome Papillon Artisan. These are Oriental and greens very strong and makes a statement. So the wearer has to be confident, intellectual, and with an assertive personality. This is a worldly professor’s cologne, a writer, an artist, or an older thespian/actor/actress.
I really do like the cologne and find it fascinating. I believe it’s best worn in autumn and winter. The dry down is a warm boozy musk with just the right amount of vanilla and amber. Bal is a lot of things. It’s indolic jasmine, feral civet, and Oriental craziness. A fragrance like this one only comes once in a lifetime. It has stood the test of time and has been a beloved fragrance, embraced by celebrities such as Jackie Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Jackson. And though I’m no celebrity it’s good to know that when I wear this it’s a cologne that has charmed the stars and comes from a more glamorous and romantic era.
navigator-id – :
I am sorry to have to disagree with the lovers of this perfume. From start to finish it is a strong smell that fades, but to me is a Johnny One Note–awful. It does not smell of flowers or fruit. If I knew what a civet smelled like maybe this would be the defining note. I do not understand why this perfume has been called one of the best. It is very medicinal smelling , like I am wearing my cough syrup. Yes, that’s it. Its like cough syrup with rosemary and bitters. The best thing about it is that my little sample came in a cut faceted bottle, very pretty.
For those of you who can smell the layers and how it opens up I admire your noses. I just don’t pick much of anything up except that it does not smell like perfume at all. If I had to choose a perfume a little close to it, I might say Tabu or Shalimar, because those two smell awful to me as well.
Give me Prada Iris Absolue any time!
anodaycokvada – :
Brighter and more greener than in the hellish years, aldehyded florists were reliving a second youth in 1962 thanks to the new molecules and foundations created after the war. With Bal à Versailles, Desprez seems to want to distance himself from commercial successes such as Madame Rochas, Chant d’Aromes, Capricci and Calèche. Thanks to his very personal style and his mastery, he will squeeze more eye to classic florientals like Caron Narcisse Noir and Patou Chaldée, but revisited from the all-round patchouli of Youth Dew. Inspired by the Versailles Mirror Gallery, it will distil a powerful and refined nectar that can capture the spirit of the sumptuous feast of the palace, among prickly dwarves that revolve in crinoline, gold stucco and coated woods. Hard to describe Bal à Versailles as a heart-head -bond because after a hint of citrus and neroli in his head, he releases his baroque symphony of strawberries changing now with the silk of iris and orange blossom, now with the decadent sweetness of jasmine and ylang-ylang, now with the creaminess of sandal Mysore and benzoin. Wearing it is a continuous discovery for the kaleidoscope of imperceptible sensations that reveals: the almost medicinal spice of carnation and cinnamon, the herbaceous bitterness of rosemary between the inked lines of oak moss or the sunshine that stretches over waxed parquets, or still the dangerous saphir of the gray amber telling of stables and stallions over the flowerbeds of Petit Trianon. Although altered to less fidelity, the current version continues to shine with its important sillage, such as the coming of a big diva.
sashass21 – :
Finally got my nose on this thanks to an amazing giveaway! I have a mini, and I suspect it might have less top notes than originally, because it’s quite deep… Even more than I expected.
But to me, this is classic sophistication. There is sex appeal in it, but it’s not whorish… Or if it is, you couldn’t afford her. It’s heady and bold with some sharpness that keeps the depth from feeling flat.
I bemoan the fact that I have to daub this, but think it gives me enough FYI that I know I want it. I’ll probably try the contemporary formulation next, in spray, to layer over this as has been recommended.
I’m thrilled!
HelmInemy – :
Guys i’ve been in ther fragrance game for a while, can somone please tell me what is the best BaV to get? Current EDT? Parfum? Cologne? I’ve seen a few on ebay, what would be the most magical? Help me fellow Fragantics! 🙂
dimonsaint – :
on the noze – the cat urine smell is __not___ the civet. It’s the cassia. Civet is more fecal and not as forward as cassia. Cassia (black currant leaf) is in the top note and once it burns off a tiny bit it will give a green/aromatic scent.
vic31 – :
@ on the noze…Your bottle is, as you suggested, fine – the note you’re finding noxious is indeed the civet. Some people, myself included, love it and others such as yourself can’t believe anyone can stand it. One of the great mysteries of fragrance. I hear ‘cat pee’ in enough reviews and my wallet is open as I perceive it as sex in a bottle. Just think, the 60s vintage is skankier and the eau de cologne is even skankier! You may find cold weather makes a big difference, and it may (seriously) also sneak up and steal your heart one day if you give it enough tries. Or not. I was given a bottle of BaV when I was 18 by my wealthy perfumista boss and I can’t count how many times I sniffed it and put it away over the next 20 years. Even when I loved other animalics I hated it for ages and would have tossed it except the bottle was cute. Now I love it, go figure.
Phymmendyd – :
I had it and i liked it…The warm scent of honey, cocoa powder, ambra, resins, maybe leather. Very classy and unusual, i don’t know similar perfume.
neo-tlt – :
With so many great reviews, I’m not seeing why so I wonder if my vintage bottle is off.
I do know the smell of bad perfume so I really don’t think that’s the case here but I get a cat pee thing going on and would love to know from other reviewers if that’s how this perfume is meant to be. <