Bal d'Afrique (2009)
by Byredo

I am completely baffled by Bal d'Afrique's gender classification. This is a beautifully blended unisex fragrance -- the amber and cedar seem to combine to produce an almost nutty smell, which reminds me of Hermes Vetiver Tonka -- most odd. A daring mixture of notes that work wonderfully. Expensive, but worth it.

as comforting and wonderful in the evening as in the morning when first applied. incredibly long lasting and almost edible yet subtle and not overpowering. a nicely kept secret...

This is a very intriguing fragrance. Smooth, soft, distinctive, neither masculine nor feminine, it is the scent of ambiguity and charm; refinement that doesn't seem to fit into easy categories. This Nose likes to push the envelope with seeming opposites. Lemon and amber; neroli and cedar-- what can we make of these notes? It is not for us to figure out. Why bother to try to figure out what is going on? I find this refreshing in the morning with citrus notes; playful in the afternoon, keeping me uplifted with light florals; and calm in the evening with amber and cedar. Not spicy really; not fruity, it is a very special fragrance that could be worth the pot of gold it takes to acquire. We are moving into slightly unchartered territory here. Bravo!

The gentlemen in Barney's kindly turned me on to this new fragrance (apparently in the US it is only available there). This scent is beautiful. It is sensual and has a perfect balance. I think this could be worn both day and night, as the scent is light, charming, and feminine but not overbearing. My new go-to-scent. Headache test: Pass!! (pass means no headaches).