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denverru – :
This scent snuck itself on me and now I feel I can’t get enough of it. It is very light and smells to me like paper and dust and something very dry with just a hint of sweetness. ON the days when I wear it and now and then get a whiff of this scent during the day I want to inhale for a long time and just enjoy the peace and happiness this provides. Try it!
владимир карпров – :
Nice scent. I think it would be perfect in cold weather.
1710.2011 – :
Wow this is a little beauty, a very well blended amber, wood and incense. Barbara Bui is delicate and feminine, she’s no heavy hitter. And that’s great because so many of my scents of this type are SO heavy and loud it’s nice to have a softer one for days when I don’t need a “screamer” just lovely everyday any-occasion super wearable incense goodness.
UPDATE: I disagree with the person who said this performs better then Penhaligon’s Elixir. Elixir lasts all day on me and this was gone in an hour. I still love it though especially that bit of powdery heliotrope in the heart. I live in a really hot climate though and realized I need at least one amber/incense that isn’t too heavy or cloying in heat, and this is the perfect hot weather incense.
jdanovds – :
This is my “smart” perfume, this is the academic side of my quirky cat loving self. It smells like an old library to me, all the books, the slight sweet moldy smell. Beams of sunshine reflecting on dark wood with particles of dust in the air. Humble, exciting, and comforting.
The smell reminds me of silk way, but barbara bui is a warmer version whereas silk way stays more cool. If you want something subtle & enchanting. Woody, slightly sweet, dusty, and kinda warm. Try it 🙂
Dima0402 – :
I really don’t know how to describe this one.it’s a very simple scent and is complex in it’s simplicity.I thought it’s gonna be very loud,intense and too mature.but it’s very soft.a real skin scent
Barbara bui has a nice,almost delicious ambery sweetness.it’s warm in a very pleasant and comforting way.it doesn’t smell very perfumy.it’s just like a warm,sweet and powdery cloud surrounding you and then sitting on your skin.it’s powdery quality isn’t too dry or harsh.it’s very softly powdered so even if you’re not a fan of powdery scents,you may like it.musk,amber,incense,soft florals and woods are so naturally melted in eachother that talking about different notes seems useless.I really don’t feel that I’m smelling a perfume,so if you wanna smell nice but don’t like most perfumes try this.it’s a real your own skin but better fragrance.can be used for layering other perfumes too
Sillage is so soft that after initial minutes,I can only smell it when my nose is glued to my skin but even without smelling closely you can feel a nice smelling and soothing cloud is wrapping you
A very lovely subtle cloud
❤❤❤❤
studio5 – :
I recently acquired a big bottle from a lovely lady I met on Ebay. I love incense notes in a fragrance. I am in love with this one. The back of the tester bottle says: Spices, Incense, Jasmin, White Musk, Sandalwood, Heliotrope, Cedar, Amber. It is a beautiful, yet simple combination. I could smell strongly wearing after several hours. I tried Penhaligon’s Elixir hoping it would be a fabulous encens fragrance. I did nothing for me, nothing at all with poor lasting power. The one is gorgeous if you are a fan of amber and encens!!!
teltysype – :
At first spray, it’ll likely come off as watered down, synthetic or cheap. And you won’t be surprised by any of that, after all, you won’t have paid much for it.
But then it sneaks up on you. It just needed a little bit of time to develop, that’s all.
The sillage & longevity of Barbara Bui is actually really hard to describe. It melts into your skin rather than dominating it, and almost fools you into thinking your skin naturally smells so sweet and soothing. It’s indeed a ‘quiet’ and understated perfume, and it takes a little bit of patience to appreciate the payoff. If amber happens to be a favorite note of yours (as it is mine), you must do yourself a favor and try this one out.
Lastly, I must admit – after my first spray of Barbara Bui, I thought to myself, “Wait, did I just spray Silk Way?” It seems after visiting this page, I wasn’t the only one who felt this way.
Though, after finally trying them side-by-side, the differences are clear. Actually, I think the color of each fragrance explains the difference quite well: Barbara Bui is a sensual warm amber & woody blend with a powdery quality; Silk Way seems ‘cooler’ – a light incensey musk & damp, dewy cedar. Both are worth trying, especially for the incredible price.
merujanovich – :
This is unlike any fragrance in my collection. Completely and totally feminine in every way. I get the makeup comparison very much. When I first sprayed I was like wait, is this water? Where is the perfume? Then after it began to dry I got wiffs of this heavenly soft powdery scent. I think it comes through after about 5 minutes. So this definitely is a fooler. While it goes on light it lingers ALL DAY and then some into the next day. And it morphes into a real sexy scent the longer it stays on the skin.
p.s. word to the wise. I was in my car opening my mail when this arrived. I went to remove the cap and it shot across my car to the windshield it’s on there. And you can by accident remove another portion of the top that is not meant to be taken off. You’ll see what I mean if you have a bottle.
bash7060 – :
Makeup-powder heaven.
I read reviews that said Silk Way and this are exactly alike, but on me, they’re not the same.
BB starts off powdery with floral, like loose power, or decadent old-school facial moisturizer. At times, it also reminds me of perfumed soap (like the ones I used to splurge on from Fragonard). The drydown is sandalwoody, and I can sometimes detect some vanilla, too.
This scent has more punch than Silk Way, but is still comforting. Amazing longevity — wearing it before bed, I can still smell it the next morning. Different enough for me to love and use both BB and SW.
qwer1234 – :
This reminds me a bit of Balmain’s Ambre Gris, not because they smell alike but because they are a similar type of fragrance, beautifully made, plush and well balanced. I like them both very much and admire the craft that goes in to them. The synthetic sandalwood is lovely in both of them and the value is exceptional. Ultimately though, they do smell synthetic and I prefer the real thing.
karbofos – :
Ah, at first I thought – ‘sweet, synthetic smelling light woody amber. Meh’
But after two days of wearing this I can see the appeal. It’s subtle yes, but it wafts enticingly every so often with a tingly sweet light amber/woody glow.
Just warm enough to be cosy without tipping into heavy, cloying or spicy. The slightly synthetic tones mellow out after an hour, then it really does become similar to the smell of a cashmere jumper stored in a wooden chest of drawers.
Ok, I stand corrected! Very nice, subtle, good longevity and subtle but distinct sillage. A very good choice for those who become tired of fresh florals in spring/summer
Slultenly – :
This smells very much like Pure eVe by The Different Company, with a drop of sandalwood oil. Sweet, almond-ey musk – this scent is soft and cozy.
bubka – :
Oh and one more thing….no smoke, only amber and musk is all I smell.
gerard – :
This is like an EDT not an EDP on me. Very close to the skin and not very long lasting. It’s light with an acceptable fresh, sllightly sweet skin scent. It is a good one to put on before you go to bed. I just don’t smell it within an hour after I put it on. If it were stronger it would be awesome because the scent is very fresh and a little sweet and nice girish.
Xeroxkueuj – :
Very lasting, simple and beautiful, perfume of comfort. I like its sweet- cognac and clean and powdery notes, pleasant and lasting.
lexa031085 – :
It’s hard to describe this scent, from the notes it looks like it should be loud or deep, but it’s completely soft and weightless, warm and musky but at the same time clean and a little powdery.
It isn’t incensey in the usual way of perfumes, but it actually smells quite a bit like unburned sticks of Japanese incense, a soft, sweetish hint of sandalwood with a woodsy-cinnamon tingle to it, and a smooth vanillic amber sweetness blending in. Beneath that, there’s a soft, fluffy white musk that can sometimes tend towards a quiet soapy floral, but right now it’s all soft cinnamony-sandalwood on me, which I LOVE. Warm weather seems to bring out the soft incense-spicy nuances a little more, and tones down the soapy ones.
It has some projection right when you spray it, for about an hour or so, then it mellows down to a skin scent. I agree with the reviewer that compared it to Kenzo Amour, it doesn’t smell the same, but it has a similar powdery-soft feeling.
Deroxcwszy – :
This has to be the most natural smelling perfume I have ever tried. It is so soft and gentle and caresses you like a sheer vail. It’s just so perfectly balanced. I see myself wearing this on practically any occasion and during any season. It’s not a “fancy” perfume, its a perfume you grab when you wanna smell like yourself, but with a little something extra. Its like second skin. I used to never wear perfume to bed, but since getting aquaintanced with Barbara Bui, this has become a special treat of mine at night time. A lovely companion into dreamland. So peaceful, natural and soothing. Not really like you’re wearing perfume at all. Masterfully done!
toff35 – :
Heavy sandalwood oriental on me. Very much like other fragrances, so it doesn’t stand out in my mind. Would work well for simple usage though
napas50 – :
Barbara Bui–a contradictory scent for me. Topnotes are gorgeous, and there is a woody smokiness that reminds me of…bonfires! I grew up in the rural countryside, where seasonal bonfires were as much a rite of passage as taking care of livestock animals, gathering eggs, mowing grass on a tractor, and hunting hogs and deer. Bonfires were an every weekend event, all the neighbor kids were involved under the watchful eye of a parent, and a great deal of care and exploration went into choosing sticks and tree branches to go onto the fire. Olfactory memory pleasantness and nostalgia! Topnotes are then followed by a very brief pungent musk, which luckily doesn’t last long. Dries down into a dreamy soapiness that sits close and warm, and I’m happy again. I’m hoping this scent is not discontinued. I would love to find a full bottle.
Deroxgmpxb – :
This is the one I spritz on in the airplane lavatory, at the end of a redeye flight. I know it won’t offend my seat partner and I can pretend I showered and “refreshed” myself.It’s a clean skin scent similar in feel to KENZO AMOUR, more of a subtle bouquet of aromatic wood chips, rather than rice pudding, comfort for the senses, never the less.
LapkinAS – :
To me this is a duplicate of Sonia Rykiel “Rykiel Woman.” I have a really hard time telling the two apart!!
Zanek – :
Soft smokey floral with woody undertones. Reminiscent of vintage perfumes. Very very likeable! Ultra feminine.
It is close to the skin, elegant and pleasant enough for daytime as well as exclusive enough for special occasions.
I see no flowers mentioned: really? I think creamy gardenia and violets are hiding somewhere in there. Other than that all other notes mentioned are all present and well combined.
Amazing silage:)
xomen74 – :
Sweet and powdery, close to the skin. It’s not as sweet as Kenzo Amour and not as powdery a Chloe Love. The fragrance close to the skin, can make great “cuddle” fragrance. If only the silage could be a bit more subtle. However the scent definitely worth owning, especially if you love Hypnotic Poison or Kenzo Amour 🙂
drun_ – :
I totally agree with Kfried…this is a very smooth, creamy, sexy spicy scent, and it’s simply mesmerizing! I can’t stop smelling it…not to mention men love it!!!!! 🙂
kalamurzic – :
11/30/11:
I just received a sample of this today. At first spray I get a woodier version of Kenzo Flower, then it transitions to a not as sweet Kenzo Amour, then settles to something that falls in between Kenzo flower and Kenzo Amour. Finally, as it slowly fades away I’m reminded of Prada Infusion d’Iris.
I really can’t stand the suffocating powdery smell that Kenzo Flower produces, and I’m not totally blown away by the watered down Kenzo Amour Vanilla Milkiness either. So as it stands, I’m on the fence with this one. We shall see!
etnes – :
Oooo, this is nice. It’s so smooth. It’s a calm musky incense and not powdery like many other orientals (which I sometimes love, but am happy find one without).
I’ve been looking for something darker but without the heavy florals and this is smells so sexy to me in a confident way. It’s not miniskirt and cleavage baring sexy, it’s a clingy cashmere sweater. Perfect for nuzzling up.
156nero – :
Barbara Bui is not just similar to Silk Way by Ted Lapidus….it’s pretty much IDENTICAL. I swear, I wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. So if you find it difficult to find Barbara Bui for a reasonable price…..go ahead and buy Silk Way. They are totally interchangeable.
Komb – :
I like the idea behind this one, but it’s just too harsh for me. I had some vanilla extract and diluted this with it, and that worked very well. I prefer Kenzo Amour EdP to this one, for those who feel the same way. Otherwise, there’s nothing “bad” about it.
dswyeoo – :
FYI: The notes for Barbara Bui Le Parfum are listed EVERYWHERE else on the internet exactly as follows:
spices, incense, jasmine, white musk, sandalwood, heliotrope, cedar and amber.
CoanigoCore – :
OK I tried a small bottle of this based on reviews – so far I’m on the fence. I like earthy woody fragrances but this seems a little unfeminine to me. I’m determined to keep trying and see if it grows on me…
OK it grows on me – unfortunately like a fungus. This is an unfun ungirly unlikable scent to me. My husband asked me if I’m wearing something new which gave me great hope – when I said yes he then asked if I would please kill it and put it out of it’s misery.
Done.
dacryon – :
OKAY is everyone sitting down . . . my husband actually told me that I smelled nice! He never says anything about what wear so needless to say I immediately ordered a bottle!!!! I also love it. I know why he likes it, is because of the incense smell.
berlinec08 – :
I took a chance [as usual…must be the big, gaping hole in my head] and blind-bought this one…It’s indeed a gorgeous, full-bodied, woody-somewhat sweet scent…It reminds me of a Jovan discontinued frag called “Touche.” The latter mentioned was sharper, but Le Parfum Barbara Bui will be a much welcomed substitute…
tony19128 – :
just gorgeous. clean but warm, sensual but soothing. reminds me of an “grown up” version of baby powder. I’ll save it for cooler days though.
schapowalow83 – :
i just tested this tonight and i love it, this is so awesome. just a gentle amber/powdery skin scent with lasting power. this is so soft and with such a calming affect. i really need to get a full bottle of this. i am going to wear this to bed tonight and i bet i will just have the sweetest sleep. this is a perfect perfume imo. 10-10. A+.
ty kchild for introducing me to this heaven in a bottle.
xolopov – :
On my skin Barbara Bui Le Parfum opens with the distinct impression of pencil shavings and dries down to a well blended sandalwood, amber, heliotrope and incense. While its linear, its also so well crafted that it feels much more expensive than it is. This is a scent that gives the impression of luminous, glowing, clean skin. It does not cling too close to the wearer, on the contrary, I find it has very good projection and have gotten lots of compliments.
Sillage: fantastic, but soft and not in your face.
Longevity: 8 hours on skin, a solid 10 in my hair.
This is a grown up clean woody musk. Timeless in its simplicity, this is great fragrance for any occasion.
snacker – :
Sometimes I love it, other times it turns synthetic and chemical-y on me. Most times it’s a linear, powdery, comfort scent and I can’t distinguish the individual notes – they all blend together and envelope the wearer like a blanket. The way I perceive it may depend on the weather – most of the times when I thought it was too synthetic was in summer. The strange thing is that even when it did that it was still bearable, I didn’t want to scrub it off immediately.
denvas – :
Very soapy, very musky. It is controversial – gives you impression of a clean scent and then follows you around everywhere like some loud fragrance from the eighties. I personally don`t find it soft, it is not a scent you put on and forget about it and it is not a skin scent on me. It also seems to be the same from beginning to the end, and I like it.
BB is more intensified, more musky and – thank you, Lord – with a whole handful of incense – big sister of Alessandro del Aqua.
The staying power is amazing! And who ever thought that incense can feel so squeeky clean.
rostamaxa – :
I agree with the other reviewers who say this is a skin scent–a very good skin scent. An intimate skin scent. This gives me an impression of warm sheets after they’ve been slept in by your favorite person. There is some faint traces of powder in the beginning, not unlike Johnson’s Baby Powder but it’s very light. The predominant notes I get are sheer woodsy notes over a base of amber. I don’t get a lot of incense on my skin, but maybe it needs to be sprayed instead of dabbed.
enedybilaKeed – :
After reading all the positive reviews I decided I had to try this. Oh my!!! It is wonderful. Opening is amber cream,then the woodsy notes pop up and a bit later the incense rears its lovely head. I love this!! I only purchased a 1 oz bottle, but I am goin back for more:)
Avencycline – :
Creamy woods, warm and soapy. Now I know what a “skin scent” is! My mom had an assortment of bubblebath from Avon when I was a little girl. One of them came in a pink bottle, and this is what it smelled like.
I think this is a fragrance that could suit almost anyone, and offend almost no-one. I’m slightly bored by the opening, though. It’s just a little too “clean” for me.
I feel I should provide an update that after a couple hours, the woods become drier and I can find enough of an olfactory edge to determine that I enjoy this perfume. It’s growing on me in a very pleasant way.
Warm Weather UPDATE: The dry woods and incense in this scent really stand out in the spring weather! They were lost in the cold of winter, but now I am experiencing another side of Barbara Bui Le Parfum that I really really like. I sprayed it on before bed the other day, and the blatant woodiness was so grounding that I fell asleep instantly. I think it is a “must have” for me, solely for this reason. I have upgraded my feeling on this from “like” to “love”.
Evisydaysah – :
Very posh, ancient, wood-pannelled, boarding school library….bear with me on this one!
Still, dusty air. The smell of beautiful, old leather-backed books. Dry, carved wood polished by many hands. The scent of long-gone pipe smokers leave the lightest touch of sweet, ambery tobacco leaves & ash in the room.
This is a luminous skin-scent that is unique because it is not a sweet-nothing but a soft perfume of substance & complexity. For me it is a ghost-scent of quiet memories past….breathing this in I can almost hear the old grandfather clock ticking.
Smokey (like swiping your hand briefly over a log fire), dusty, dry, perfectly mixed & so gentle & light….I may not find it “enough” of a scent for me to buy but I would urge members to try this fragrance as it is a delightfully different little number.
GriectTrearry – :
This is a skin scent, a scent like baby skin, without smelling like baby powder-sweet, with the softest wood, incense ash on a bamboo table-Or a smooth table with an aroma intensity comparable to bamboo anyway. This is as woody as Sensi by Armani and about as sweet, but with less dryness.
This is NOT like Sensi (which is unique for the barley note), but the same weight and amount of sweetness. I like it better than Sensi.
“Oriental” doesn’t enter my consciousness when I smell this. This isn’t strongly woody, and the amber is translucent, but there are no floral notes, or green notes, etc.
This _could_ be called woody musk, but there is no such classification. I would wear this to a job interview perhaps. I can’t criticize it for not being stronger, heavier, woodier, etc.
since I can’t imagine whether this would be as pleasant were it a bit stronger, but it definitely doesn’t have as much dry wood as scents I would normally like, and it’s kind of vague with the sparseness of incense and lack of spices, but it’s not at all a bad creation.
Deroxocuiz – :
Thought I’d love this one – incense and woods are favorite notes of mine. And it’s very pleasant, a warm veil of gentle musk and ambery incense.
However, it sits on my skin boring me and making me wish I’d put on something more interesting. That just may be me, so if you’re looking for a soft comfort scent to wrap you in a snuggly robe, this may the one for you.
Aigre86 – :
On the fence….. based on the notes I was hoping it would be a little more heavy on the incense. But Barabara Bui to me is a soft powdery wood. My husband immediately though it smelled like incense and always says I smell ‘delicious’ when I wear it. I have now worn it a few times and it’s truly a scent that makes you want to nuzzle up to the wearer. Not too sweet either…. really starting to grow on me.
UPDATE: okay this is LOVE! I actually picked up 2 backup bottles. The perfect office scent or scent to cuddle up with hubby. Wish I could just smell like this. definitely see a similarity to Sonia Rykiel Woman (which I have also bought 2 bottles).
xau798speagoessenda – :
I love Barbara Bui!
I’m not one to usually fall for the “skin” scents, but this one is so well-done. A perfect balance of musk, smoky incense and dry woody notes, topped with a sweet hint of amber. Not too powdery, not too musky. It’s very soft, but very tenacious and lasts for hours. I detect some similarities to Avon’s “Sweet Honesty” (which I also love!) but Barbara Bui has a bit more complexity, with the incense and wood. The sweetness of the amber gradually fades to a beautiful dry wood. This is a perfect scent for daytime or office use, year-round. Magnificent!
rustambe – :
Wow, oh Wow, this is the ultimate Go To fragrance for me. A soft skin scent that has hints of powder and sweetness done just right. Loving it!