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simvanya – :
I happened upon a sample of this when I ordered samples of the more popular “Like This” and “Putain de Palaces” from the same house. This one ended up being a LOVE, in fact, it was my favorite. Someone below mentioned this being reminiscent of the 80’s and I agree. At first application, it immediately transported me back to being a preteen and wearing the original Love’s Baby Soft” although it doesn’t really share any notes. I think it’s more the feeling/vibe I had at that time, which was pure, innocent happiness. Lip smackers, wax lip candy & hope for the future. After the initial “Love’s” vibe, the ylang-ylang, vanilla & benzoin stayed at the forefront for me. A coworker passed my office & exclaimed, “OMG, someone smells SO good. This scent made me happy in a nostalgic 80’s way. Not loud 80’s perfumes, but smells of the 80’s and a happy time in my life. I want a FB of this, so I can recapture that feeling anytime. It’s fantastic!
justas666 – :
Instead of describing the notes, which others have done so well, I’ll describe how this makes me feel. Its a seductive fragrance, it may be familiar but you can’t deny liking it. The scent memory makes me think of southern Italy, walking into the town square on a warm spring day. I can imagine being alone drinking a glass of wine al fresco.
This fragrance is all about reflection.
Ulcelpgerrics – :
At first spray, the sugar encrusted citrus fruits mixed with vetiver and pink pepper remind me so much of Angel Muse. But then, slowly Bijou Romantique becomes tamer, softening with coconut, iris, and benzoin. The mix becomes less piquant, but still interesting, as it transforms into a cozy, powdery sweetness. Overall this is a really pleasant and modern take on Shalimar. However, where Shalimar is elegant and mature with its animalic qualities, leather, and incense, Bijou Romantique remains bright and upbeat from start to finish. Although I prefer the former, BR is a nice alternative for someone looking for a less serious, and more playful version of the Guerlain classic.
dixis69 – :
So first off, this perfume seems to vary a lot depending on weather and its interaction with individual chemistry. At first, this perfume was almost nothing for an hour or so, to the point that i was afraid that i had gotten a bad sample. If i searched hard, maybe i could detect some citrus or vanilla, but it was almost as if i hadn’t even put it on. Then, my partner tested it, and immediately there’s this deep smell of incense and spices.
I go out into the cold, and I’m hit by a wave of burnt/caramelized sugar and vanilla, which slowly settles down into just smelling like a very high quality vanilla ice cream. So, depending on who you are and the weather, you might either get a spicy incense or a sweet vanilla icecream, somehow. Overall, it is nice, though not quite as interesting or complex as Eldo’s other fragrances, especially when compared to for example Fils de Dieu, which also gives off similar gourmand-vibes.
zaklu4onuy – :
This smells sweet, very sweet. Like pink cotton candy, artificial sugar-coated jellies, highly synthetic-smelling bubblegum from the past century, cheap marshmallows and whatever else real or abstract candy sweetness you can imagine. The smell of the Candy Crush Saga universe, I suppose. As time progresses, this sweetness starts to caramelize, and powdered sugar starts to fall over the candied ‘bijou’ like snow. For a short moment, something in this whirl reminded me of Angel by Mugler. However, bear in mind that these two scents are completely different. Powdery vanilla is also present here to tantalize your saliva, but be prepared not to lick, ‘cause it will make you sick.
pompypnf769Unlogrere – :
Opens with bergamot,sage and vetyver then it becomes smoky creme brulee, custard burn vanilla caramel, delicious gourmand with Ylang Ylang and Madagascar vanilla notes. I see the resemblances with Shalimar but still I think it holds its own character without miming the Guerlain’s Classic. Great projection and unisex. One of the best Etat Libre d`Orange fragrances.
digidoxir – :
When this came out of the sample bottle I was all over it – I thought it was a delicious resinous scent – right up my alley. I found it interesting as citrus lifted it, reminiscent of Guerlain (but without the herbes de Provence mix which, in Shalimar, can sometimes feel a bit busy). Later, coconut adds a creaminess rather than a suntan or tropical feel and I was really falling in love by now. However, over time, I found that it became too sweet and a bit too vanilla.
If vanilla is your idea of a great time, then you really should try this. It has some interesting twists in the start and dries down to a lovely warm vanilla. For me, however, I was hoping that some of those interesting twists would keep going through the whole life of the scent.
It does share traits with Shalimar but does not have the leather, smoke or herbs. I prefer it without the herbs but I must admit I missed the leather and smoke!
viktorstarr – :
I realy enjoy wearing it… reminds me of a copy-cat perfume made to simulate Dior’s Poison that I actually wore during late 1980’s…
may carry the risk of being sentenced to be “generic” or so..
any way, I disliked the connotation that it reminded of Shalimar! the latter to my nose is a pure vanilla..
This perfume must preserve its quality and great ingredients, and it will be a landmark in perfume world.
EL9_88 – :
It’s based on 2+ years sample.
Dusty sour vanilla.
It has that sweet dust as a dominant note and underneath comes ylang vetiver and the citrus musk. It does have an essence of coconut but blended well with sweet iris and clay sage donuts hardly could be detected.
It’s a fine powdery sweet yet Dusty fragrance as it’s not cloying and not gourmand but a fairly sweet blend.
asus2000 – :
Beautiful composition. It’s so french, resinous, cozy and chic.
u232331 – :
I wanted so badly to love this. Sniffing it from the sample bottle I smelled the same “Shalimar vibe” as many others have reported, and I love Shalimar… Spritzed onto a card, it all seemed good.
When I sprayed it on my skin, the opening was a mixture of benzoin and vanilla, without any of the other notes I had hoped for. Here it stayed. Fortunately I like the combination of these two notes, and I kept optimistically sniffing, hoping to find it changing and developing into something really beautiful. It didn’t. It stayed exactly there, smelling pleasantly benzoin-y, all day. By next morning I found a little of the powdery vanilla drydown, so I can confirm that it has excellent longevity.
I have tested this one many times, each time hoping that it would give me what it had refused to release until then. No. It remains pleasant…and I do not keep “pleasant” fragrances. Sorry, Bijou Romantique.
Katrin90rus – :
I’ve had for quite sometime now. I remember the time I received it as a sample from an order. At the time I was blown away by Bijou Romantique but as time passed it didn’t strike me as it once did, it even lost its luster. Going back to this fragrance after it collecting dust on the shelf I watched a YouTube review and I realized again just how gorgeous it is. The opening is youthful,vibrant and then it starts to smooth out to the mid and base notes like taking a joy ride in a brand new Buick or Cadillac. I’m so glad I revisited this and I know this will be in full rotation when it’s starts to cool down.
Bloodfaust1997 – :
OOOOoooh! Yum This is gorgeous. Not exactly like Shalimar or the Kenzo Amour le Parfum but some shared notes. Its sweet but more spicey than the Kenzo and not vanillary or leathery enough to be Shalimar. Im puzzled by anyone seeing a similarity with Memo Manoa. Manoa is an oppopanax beast where as here it’s just one component! BR is softer and more powdery than any of these three. Very feminine and pretty. I can see why people call it more of a classic fragrance but its got more than that. I think its the clary sage which makes the difference. Clary sage is used in Aromatherapy for lifting the spirits. Its bright, very aromatic and it can be piercing if not used well. You have the classic combo of benzoin, vanilla. iris, coconut, ylang ylang and then the twist from the clary sage. Clary sage is evident after 30 mins or so and takes this scent out of the predictable. Very ELdO. Moderate sillage and longevity.
Adanosof – :
I really love Bijou Romantique, it is a lovely sophisticated fragrance that is really reminiscent of Shalimar, but vintage and not the extract or the parfum, but the cologne. I have a stop-watch bottle of vintage Shalimar cologne and Bijou romantique smells almost identical. I do not smell any of the cocoanut thank goodness as it can smell very sunscreeny on me. Suffice to say, though this review is short, if you like vintage Shalimar cologne pick this baby up, it is more affordable than you will find on the bay and a lot easier to track down too.
Esosterorie – :
This is benzoin, vanilla, citrus, and iris at it’s finest…Very reminiscent of the heady vanilla in Guerlain Shalimar, with a bit less lemony opening and of course, no leather or incense. It is still a powerhouse, and is amazingly gorgeous. I would liken this more to the LE Shalimar Mexique, I think. Marketed as an oriental, but it touches briefly into gourmand territory on random sniffs…
I get a creaminess of coconut in there but not much pepper or sage. This is more sweet than savory on my skin, but I’m ok with that!
As of yet, this niche house has not disappointed–I will be hunting down more ELdO fragrances in the future!!
nik5985 – :
I love this fragrance!
A kind of modern interpretation of Shalimar, a lovely oriental powdery perfume with some flowery, spicy and musky tones.
Very reassuring and confortable to wear, elegant as well as sensual, Bijou Romantique opens on slightly fresh top nots (lavender and bergamot), twisted by a spicy touch (pinkpeppercorn) and becomes very round, with white floral heart notes, on a bed of vanilla, labdanum, and patchouly.
Great trail and longlasting on skin.
kamynin48 – :
I see the word “plush” ha been mentioned below – that is Bijou Romantique in a nutshell.
If this perfume was a colour – it would be a dusky burgandy pink.
If this perfume was a garment it would be a vintage satin ballgown, made of crushed satin with layers of softest tulle petticoats underneath. Glamourous but not restrictive.
The opening is slightly rough – with spicy pepper and some citrus, but then the fuzzy roar of sweet vanillic benzoin and ylang ylang takes over. The vetiver and clary sage stops it getting too sweet and sickly. Long lasting, and equally at home as a cozy scent or out on the town. Fabulous.
csHawWrinia – :
Nice. It smelled very classic since the beginning, but before I could point out Shalimar, I was distracted by a inflammed rash on my skin. I sprayed it only once in the crease of my elbow and in 5 minutes the whole spot became a red round inflammed and burning dot. I had to ask something to the SA in the department store, but they had nothing else than cleansing milk. It helped a bit. If I want classic powdery I’ll stick to Shalimar, even if BR has an interesting pink pepper note.
for61 – :
For something billed as overtly feminine, I actually find Bijou Romantique to be almost middle-of-the-road unisex. There’s no girly florals, nothing melon-tropical, none of the usual associations with ‘feminine’ notes.
On me, B.R. is all about creamy, burnt-sugar benzoin with a back bone of vanilla and a touch of vague yellow floral, (ylang ylang, I assume).
The initial opening blast is boozy and floral, but almost instantly settles into a plush, velvet benzoin monster. There’s a slight green citrus/herbal note that struggles to peer through the haze of creaminess during the first 20 minutes or so – but it gives up and goes home pretty quickly. What’s left is an opulent, warm, if a little mushy fragrance. Well suited for cooler weather I suspect – in the heat it wilts a bit and without any sharper, herbal notes the nose struggles to pick anything specific out of the miasma of soft, fluffiness.
Sillage is moderate IMO, perhaps heavy in comparison to most ELdO frags, but you won’t be knocking anyone out. Longevity is firmly in the ‘long lasting’ category.
All in all a beutiful, if somewhat safe offering from a brilliant house. Enjoy on cool evenings with cocktails and mood lighting.
ozzy oz – :
This is another insanely apt and imaginary story-telling creation.
To me it screams of a bygone era. The 80ies perhaps? Large shoulder-pads, loud laughs, ladies of a heavier and curvier statue (definitely NOT the Audrey Hepburn type) digging and tucking into opulent buffet style banquets, while their even more opulent jewelery is dazzling in the bright and lustrous chandelier lights.
Like a big, chunky and slightly crass Picasso painting (I am not a fan) these ladies choose size over style, not to say their are tasteless, but lenient to the “more is more” ethos of the 80ies.
Not a subtle scent and very much in your face. But very confidently and in a feminine kind of way. VERY DIVA. Very Joan Collins. Think DALLAS, Think DYNASTY. Think SHOULDER PADS. Think fashion fads.
In the music world, I think Aretha Franklin would smell like this!
Again, there is something old-fashioned and bygone about this….but romantic? No, romantic it ain’t. It smells of greed, lust and money and essentially captivates everything about the ‘RICH zeitgeist’ of the 80ies.
Memorable. Opulent. Daring. In-your-face. Expensive. 10/10 for an 80ies reference perfume.
Alibaba – :
I avoided Bijou Romantique after a first test, dismissing it because it seemed so conventional, so safe and likeable. There was no slightly “off” note like in most ELdO’s, nothing caught the nose as being remarkable. At least nothing that could justify the high pricetage (compared to other ELdO’s).
Such a thing might still be lacking to my nose, but after a closer examination I found that I adore this gorgeous fragrance that envelops the wearer in billowing layers of plush vanillic benzoin.
Bijou Romantique opens with a bright opening of lime en pink pepper but right at the start the vanilla is present. The heart is dominated by the same unsweetened coconut that is used in Fils de Dieu by the same brand. Some lime laces through the coconut, brightening the fragrance.
Then caramelised benzoin appears, with hints of creamy rich ylang-ylang and powdery iris. There’s a white chocolate vibe at times, creamy and chewy. Rooty vetiver blends with the benzoin to create a smoky effect, ensuring that the fragrance does not become too sweet. What I like best about this frangrance is the fact that it manages to be both fluffy powdery and rich creamy. It’s something that I also admire about Chanel N°5, although N°5 smells nothing like Bijou Romantique.
Yes, Bijou Romantique is a very close relative of Shalimar, but there are differences. Shalimar has a gorgeous animalic note, while Bijou is very clean (but not uncomfortably so) and more modern. The darker facets in Bijou are thanks to caramelised sugar and earthy vetiver, while Shalimar boosts a great leather.
I love both, but I prefer the more girly, less serious Bijou Romantique. A wonderful homage to a great classic, but full of humor, just like we’re used to with Etat Libre d’Orange.
Drusha1979 – :
I was very shy to write this review about a decent, powdery, likeable fragrance featuring lemon and pepper over tons of vanilla and ylang ylang which reminded me of another fragrance… I hate to admit that some niche fragrances smell to my nose as exact copycats of other mainstream fragrances, but as someone has already opened that path…
Yes, this smells like Shalimar
Yasik – :
I could write a long review about this delightfully chewy benzoin, vanilla and bergamot scent, but I will simply say this:
It’s “Shalimar”, sans the leather.
mihaki – :
I’ve worn Etat Libre d’Orange Bijou Romantique a few times now, and I always love the opening, which is rich and complex, with iris and ylang clearly detectable along with the oriental notes. After a while the iris fades and the benzoin really seems dominant, especially by the drydown when I’d call this a sweet benzoin scent.
Overall Bijou Romantique smells quite nice, but I’d like it more if the complexity of the opening were somehow sustained. In the end, I feel that vanilla-infused benzoin seems more like a base than a perfume, but the journey getting there is certainly pleasant enough.
filmspro – :
Mmm, this scent is very sweet and powdery in the best possible way, so feminine and smooth!
Reminds me of Diptyque Volutes + distinctive etatlibreade (I mean this characteristic ELdO’s set of notes closer to the base).
Although there is neither incense nor tobacco listed as parts of the composition, I do feel both. There’s leather, too (as an integral ingredient of the etatlibreade).
Another great one from ELdO, bravo!
orolta – :
For woman ? Nevermind, I’m a “fake girl”. I LOVE this one ! Perfect benzoin scent in a gourmand way !
With that, a little sharp iris, pretty the same as Dior Homme Intense, and a sweet vanilla which calm and balances the all thing so-well.
Warm, gourmand, half-sharp / half-sweet with a fruity-floral background. What more, seriously ?
I would find my perfect women fragrance for enhance my feminine side, I think I don’t neet to search anymore. Wow.
JIa6aHoB – :
To me this is a sweet floral with a benzoin/coconutpunch. Nice, but I don’t like sweet/sugarsweet notes in my perfumes, so this will not be a favourite of mine. Bijou Romantic is Timeless – so both younger and older women can have this on and smell great.
För mig är detta en sötblommig doft med en punch av Benzion/kokosnöt. Trevlig, men jag gillar inte söta/sötsliskiga parfymer så detta blir ingen favorit hos mig. Bijou Romantic är tidlös och den passar både tjejen och kvinnan riktigt najs.
Risspd – :
How fantastic is it when the fragrance delivers spot ON what the name implies!! This is so lovely and sublime. The way this is crafted so seamlessly actually prohibits me from deciphering it properly; at least well enough to suitably describe it here. I still struggle to describe the obvious! All I know is this feels on my skin like an elegant and languid jewel that’s been warmed in the sun. I’ve worn this sample three times now and each occasion solidifies my resolve to make this a part of my collection. I really love this.
kot312 – :
I have the full collection of samples from Etat Libre d’Orange now and this is one of five fragrances I purchased a larger bottle of, as it is truly lovely. (The other scents I bought are Fils de Dieu, Vierges et Toreros, and for men in my family: Tom of Finland as well as Je suis un Homme). Bijou Romantique is warm, rich, comforting in the winter, utterly elegant, and it keeps the rounded feeling and polish throughout its dry-down period. It does have the vanilla, but works for me though I am not usually a fan of gourmand scents. Perhaps it is because the vanilla is well grounded in benzoin, giving it a sandalwood impression, and is elevated by the hint of florals. I wear this (applied lightly) to work and it softens my day.
raven_8 – :
This is absolutely lovely! Exactly how I like orientals. At first sniff it reminded me of many other perfumes and I actually thought that it is not special, but when it developed on my skin I started to enjoy it and couldnt stop sniffing my wrist. It is a rich oriental and somehow I get much more notes than listed. Warm, ambery comfort scent and very romantic as the name promises. A modern Shalimar..
catwood – :
oh my! I received my ELDO sampler today and tried the one with the least scary name first- Bijou Romantique. I am a newbie to describing scents- so forgive my terminology. Mostly on me this smells of ?sandalwood. Very beautiful, almost completely unisex. Very oriental and exotic. I would wear this!
zjbiprogr – :
questa fragranza,come tutte le altre di Etat libre d’orange,mi ha lasciato una senzazione unica sulla pelle,meno animalesca di Putain des palaces,meno dolce di Noel au balcon,ma assolutamente più raffinata e non scontata.
Bijou Romantique è un’opera d’arte olfattiva…che valorizza la tua bellezza,ed emana una sicurezza sessuale.
La bellissima iris di Firenze,regala al profumo un’aroma retrò.
Durata eccellente,sulla pelle,nei capelli,scia incantevole.
E’quello che mancava nella mia collezione personale di Etat libre D’Orange.
saturn – :
Romantique is a ladies fragrance. Well dressed, perfectly manicured, full on old style perfume. It has the opulent old school, Guerlain-ish elements. Catnip is spot on. I got a lot of ylang-ylang on the opening, no clary sage or coconut, just straight into the deep vetiver/vanilla/benzoin. Not delicate at all in my view, more ostentatiously rich and lavish. A good special occasion scent.. but not one I could do daily.
eldeloamecode – :
This is indeed romantic, in a baroque sense. Etat Libre d’Orange Bijou Romantique is described as a woman, and the scent is very feminine, even sexy. It starts with notes of pink pepper (I know a lot of people have lamented their overuse in perfumery, but I like them when used well), and the bright beginning is flirty, in a youthful way.
However, as the fragrance develops, it acquires smokier, waxier, and more mature facets. It is as if one sees a female silhouette in the dusk and perceives it as a young girl until she starts speaking in the husky voice of a woman. Bijou Romantique is sweet on my skin, perhaps a bit sweeter than I wish, though it is far from a gourmand. I didn’t not feel the clary sage or the coconut distinctly.
It lasts fairly well, and this would be more of a night than day fragrance to me—one I would reserve for romantic (or naughtier) dates.
demaTeams52 – :
I think this should definitely be tested on skin before buying. I sniffed Bijou and Fils de Dieu on paper and for a long time they smelled very similar and citrusy. But while Fils de Dieu keeps up the citruses, they evaporate quickly with Bijou and becomes a full-blown amberlike scent. Likeable but does not represent anything new compared to amber scents, closest similarity would be with Etro’s Ambra to me.
Авиатехник – :
My first foray into the Etat Libre d’Orange line; while I was not disappointed, I was not wowed. Warm, even during the citrus opening notes, developing into a warm base – obviously, warm it the descriptive word for me on this one. That, however, is not enough to make it either truly interesting, or to elicit the desire to keep sniffing one’s wrist. I will add that it has excellent longevity – 6 hours or so on skin
barabulka45 – :
I smelled it yesterday in Paris for the launching in Le Printemps department store. The name really reflects the smell: romantic, seductive, like a joy on a red velvet cushion. Very rich fragrance that reminds me some sides of Jicky (Guerlain), without the civet note.
Archabasov Vlad – :
I need to write this up; it is so very very delicate and lovely .