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Tell me everything you know about BALENCIAGA

post #1 of 29
3/20/10 at 1:24pm
Thread Starter 
I've recently fallen in love with Le Dix. I think it's the most beautful scent I ever smelled, just heavenly. Tres chic, a bit naughty - but just a bit - unique and pleasing at the same time and oh so ladylike in all the good ways; for me the epitome french perfume.

I want to know everything about the house and the possibility of finding another gem in their collection. Tell me all you know, please, I'm listining.

And - I don't get it: Are the perfumes discontinued (with exception of the brand new one) or are they still available easily (as I don't find it too easy to get them)? Have they changed by reformulation?

Which one is the current package, which one is vintage? I find it really hard to find that out for the Balenciagas, maybe you could help me?
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post #2 of 29
3/20/10 at 1:30pm
Unfortunately, I don't know anything useful about Balenciaga, but I really like some of their scents, including Le Dix and Quadrille. I suggest you check that one out -- it is, at least to my mind, feminine and worldly. Good luck with your research!
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post #3 of 29
3/20/10 at 3:07pm
The House of Balenciaga was purchased by the Gucci group as has Boucheron so neither of the Houses exist as once they did, sad but, as I understand it, true. This is similar to what happened to the House of Patou, which as I understand it, was purchased by Proctor and Gamble. The glory days are gone. I have not yet seen one "acquisition" of a beloved House that has lead to continued great art and new masterpieces. LVMH purchased Guerlain, which has not been the same. The great Houses are now trademarks purchased and owned by someone else with a few exceptions. Draw what conclusions you may as to how much art is left in the fragrance business.
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post #4 of 29
3/20/10 at 4:53pm
Balenciaga fragrances are owned by Coty Prestige. The clothing company is owned by Gucci. The latest release Balenciaga Paris was a collaboration between Balenciaga's current designer Nicolas Ghesquiere and perfumer Oliver Polge. Cristobal Balenciaga, a Spaniard, founded the company in the 1920s. He was known for his dramatic, complicated, architectural dresses and suits. Le Dix is named after the address of the Paris boutique, 10 Avenue Georges V, ten is dix in French. They seem to be neglecting their back cataloge these days. They would be fools, IMO, to stop production of Le Dix, it stands alongside Chanel No. 5 as one of the great aldehydic florals of all time. The bottle is still gorgeous and it still smells good, although I think the formula is done on a strict budget these days.
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post #5 of 29
3/20/10 at 4:59pm
OOOH!!! I just wrote for ten minutes and hit a bad button, but I shall begin again.
I posted a thread like this about a year ago, when I got into this house, and now I have all the following, so....

Le Dix Animalic Aldehydic

Quadrille - is a favorite, a deep, plummy chypre along the lines of Femme, but closer to Molyneaux Fete. Sumptuous. discontinued.

Cialenga - A floral aldehyde very dry. I hear described as green, but I'd just say "dry". Very similar to Rive Gauche, mixed with EL Private Collection. discontinued.

Prelude - A classic, flawless Oriental in the pure form like Fath de Fath. Here we see the Ambery, hot-blooded drydown that is the undercurrent of all the Balenciagas. It's just so classic and elegant. discontinued.

Michelle - A curious chypre/aldehydic flora, with a sharp, tonic note that almost sears. I LOVE this one, but I will concede to its being an acquired taste. discontinued.

Rumba - Who could forget this one having smelled it? A loud, brash, dark eighties chypre. I now love it, but I used to find it trashy. It screams "Woman" and the sillage is so perfumey and classically potent, it's divine. This one is bought by Lapidus and not the same. Get an old bottle that reads "Balenciaga".

Balenciaga PH - A heady, knock-you-down tobacooey Oriental for men, stronger than Bel Ami! discontinued.

Talisman - This is another I once hated, but now LOVE. The heavy Angel-like dose of Prunol put me off, but it's so much more, and deeply ambered in its drydown, and totally elegant. It LASTS. Totally sexy. discontinued.

Talisman Eau Transparent - This is NOT like Talisman, rather it's a green, ambery chypre with a very modern zesty vibe. Like Gucci Envy's less frigid, hotter sister. I love it! discontinued.

Cristobal - AH! My favorite! I cannot -- and I MEAN it -- think of a better Oriental save Ubar, and I think it's the classiest of the house by far. Deep, deep, inspired by the past, vanillic warmth and a headiness I think if I were a man, I'd inhale like a drug. discontinued.

Paris - I don't even want to try it. From the house that was so destitute it killed off Cristobal and threw Rumba to the dogs? I am afraid I'd cry!
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post #6 of 29
3/20/10 at 7:59pm
Michelle --- that is absolutely fantastic,special. If you can get it, get it, even to keep it and look at it, cause maybe your tastes will evolve later.

Sadly, I have only very little of it left, I think for about 4-5 aplications... I keep it for special ocasions, meanwile I "roam" ebay is search for one... original and with the perfume not altered, and with a resonable price...

P.S.-couuld you tell, please, a well known aldehydic to wich Le Dix is closer to?... haven't tried it, and sounds interesting...
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post #7 of 29
3/20/10 at 8:24pm
I have the vintage Rumba and while undeniably beautiful, it is so strong that I simply give my hairbrush a quick spray of it before brushing my hair, and the scent wafts around all day. If I want it on my skin, I decant it into a roll on vial so I can dab it once on each wrist only. It lasts until my next shower, the sillage is unbelievable. I can't wear it in the spring, though: it's a total bug magnet.
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post #8 of 29
3/20/10 at 8:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by w3pearl View Post

Michelle --- that is absolutely fantastic,special. If you can get it, get it, even to keep it and look at it, cause maybe your tastes will evolve later.

Sadly, I have only very little of it left, I think for about 4-5 aplications... I keep it for special ocasions, meanwile I "roam" ebay is search for one... original and with the perfume not altered, and with a resonable price...

P.S.-couuld you tell, please, a well known aldehydic to wich Le Dix is closer to?... haven't tried it, and sounds interesting...

It's closest to Arpege -- the old Arpege (at least to me), but it also reminds me little of Antilope. It really stands alone, in how it smells, though, so that's tough, but I can say, it's NOTHING like Chanel 5.
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post #9 of 29
3/20/10 at 10:35pm
I have a small bottle of vintage Le Dix - one of my all-time favorites. Now I'll have to look for some of the others.
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post #10 of 29
3/21/10 at 2:19am
I have a bottle on Le Dix on its way to me. Funny thing is the sa working for the company told me it was discontinued. Only the new Balenciaga Paris existed now. Yeah right! Its available online and not expensive. I did spot the vintage on ebay and bid but at the last few moments I think others realized it was vintage and the price sky rocketed out of my leaque.

The new one is pretty, inoffensive and not really bad but nothing usual to stand out from the crowd. Lets put it this way, you could wear it to work and no one would complaint about your fragrance.
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post #11 of 29
3/21/10 at 3:54am
Thread Starter 
Thank you all. That's marvellous information.

I agree, that Le Dix is in some way similar to Arpege, especially in the base notes, but I find the aldehydes in Arpege much more aggressive (which always makes me a little uncomfortable), whereas I can see, why people also see similarities with No.5, at least in perfume concentration, which has a equal smoothness and naughty Madame appeal. But - Le Dix is by far the most beautiful one of them (I love No.5, don't get me wrong). The combination of violet and aldeydes are just to die for.

Now, that we are discussing vintage vs. current Le Dix: How do you realize, if it's vintage? I have a bottle with the blue-purple bow, but not the one, where the bow makes a rectangle in front (which is obviously vintage, I suppose). But there are now boxes available with a golden bow? Does anybody has information about this three packages and from when they are?

In this very same package I've seen Prelude: Same bottle like Le Dix, same golden bow. Bute there are more bottles of Prelude out there with red packaging and a roundish bottle. Which one should I buy?

I am so totally confused! Please help!
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post #12 of 29
3/21/10 at 4:32am
Hillaire I hear you! Cristobal is beautiful beyond words and
was my first real discovery when I joined Basenotes.
I can't imagine why it was discontinued although it is still
available online and I have stockpiled it.
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post #13 of 29
3/21/10 at 8:58am
I'm beginning to feel that Coty has discontinued all of the Balenciaga back catalog. The men's offerings, Ho Hang, Ho Hang Club, etc. seem to be all discontinued, too. Le Dix, which was once available for pennies from the discounters, is going up in price and is much less ubiquitous than it once was. I've seen this happen before with many offerings by Guerlain, one month 50% off, six months later 5%.
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post #14 of 29
3/21/10 at 10:37am
The one I spotted on ebay, well the box was quite plain and the bottle had a gold lid with what looked like crystals round it. So I did a google for Le Dix and picture came up of the same bottle saying 1960s or 1970s. Also the box looked like it had been sitting round for a long time on a shelf or cupboard.
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post #15 of 29
3/21/10 at 12:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bandit

I've recently fallen in love with Le Dix. I think it's the most beautful scent I ever smelled, just heavenly. Tres chic, a bit naughty - but just a bit - unique and pleasing at the same time and oh so ladylike in all the good ways; for me the epitome french perfume.

I want to know everything about the house and the possibility of finding another gem in their collection. Tell me all you know, please, I'm listining.

And - I don't get it: Are the perfumes discontinued (with exception of the brand new one) or are they still available easily (as I don't find it too easy to get them)? Have they changed by reformulation?

Which one is the current package, which one is vintage? I find it really hard to find that out for the Balenciagas, maybe you could help me?

Sadly I know very little, but Le Dix is also one of my faves, so thanks for starting this thread! :-)
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post #16 of 29
3/21/10 at 7:20pm
Balenciaga in the early 50s:

Balenciaga now:
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post #17 of 29
3/21/10 at 7:23pm
I hear the new Balenciaga Paris is a really wimpy violet. I have not tried this and only had read reviews. I will have to sniff at a counter and get an actual spray to try.

I do like violets and want to try this. Charlotte Gainsbourg is the model/muse for this scent launch.

http://www.mimifroufrou.com/scenteds...ted_by_ch.html
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post #18 of 29
3/21/10 at 7:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kewart View Post

Hillaire I hear you! Cristobal is beautiful beyond words and
was my first real discovery when I joined Basenotes.
I can't imagine why it was discontinued although it is still
available online and I have stockpiled it.

I have, too! I also discovered Beauty Encounter has the deodorant very affordably. I am lurking on ebay for some lotion!
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post #19 of 29
3/22/10 at 12:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hillaire View Post

OOOH!!! I just wrote for ten minutes and hit a bad button, but I shall begin again.
I posted a thread like this about a year ago, when I got into this house, and now I have all the following, so....

Le Dix Animalic Aldehydic

Quadrille - is a favorite, a deep, plummy chypre along the lines of Femme, but closer to Molyneaux Fete. Sumptuous. discontinued.

Cialenga - A floral aldehyde very dry. I hear described as green, but I'd just say "dry". Very similar to Rive Gauche, mixed with EL Private Collection. discontinued.

Prelude - A classic, flawless Oriental in the pure form like Fath de Fath. Here we see the Ambery, hot-blooded drydown that is the undercurrent of all the Balenciagas. It's just so classic and elegant. discontinued.

Michelle - A curious chypre/aldehydic flora, with a sharp, tonic note that almost sears. I LOVE this one, but I will concede to its being an acquired taste. discontinued.

Rumba - Who could forget this one having smelled it? A loud, brash, dark eighties chypre. I now love it, but I used to find it trashy. It screams "Woman" and the sillage is so perfumey and classically potent, it's divine. This one is bought by Lapidus and not the same. Get an old bottle that reads "Balenciaga".

Balenciaga PH - A heady, knock-you-down tobacooey Oriental for men, stronger than Bel Ami! discontinued.

Talisman - This is another I once hated, but now LOVE. The heavy Angel-like dose of Prunol put me off, but it's so much more, and deeply ambered in its drydown, and totally elegant. It LASTS. Totally sexy. discontinued.

Talisman Eau Transparent - This is NOT like Talisman, rather it's a green, ambery chypre with a very modern zesty vibe. Like Gucci Envy's less frigid, hotter sister. I love it! discontinued.

Cristobal - AH! My favorite! I cannot -- and I MEAN it -- think of a better Oriental save Ubar, and I think it's the classiest of the house by far. Deep, deep, inspired by the past, vanillic warmth and a headiness I think if I were a man, I'd inhale like a drug. discontinued.

Paris - I don't even want to try it. From the house that was so destitute it killed off Cristobal and threw Rumba to the dogs? I am afraid I'd cry!


A fantastic description of the Balenciaga house.
And I totally agree with the Paris. I DID try it and left it exactly where it is. In the store!!
Good luck!
Bookshop
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post #20 of 29
5/30/10 at 12:51pm
Thread Starter 
Now I've tested some more: Cialenga, Michelle, Prelude, Talisman, Rumba. I'm in love with Prelude and to be honest, with Talisman, which is not my usual sort of fragrance, gourmand (now I'm also hooked on gourmand!), but the funny thing is, I get cravings for that perfume. Prelude is warm, spicy and a beauty as well. Balenciaga gave Le Dix a bluish white box and Prelude a red, I think it fits perfectly.
The other ones I mentionend I really like: Cialenga reminded me instantly of Onda, but she is the nice, well dressed french sister of her. I can't wear Onda, I definitly can wear Cialenga. Dry and sweet. Michelle is nice, I'm not quite sure, what to think of it, the coconut appeals and repels me at the same time, I like that. And than there is Rumba, a thing on it's own. I'm quite a bit scared by it, but I let it sit in the box for a while, maybe it calms down or I get braver. It's a bright coloured creature in a bottle. Sort of a Jeannie.

Cristobal is on it's way and hopefully will make it to me soon. I'm also going to try Talisman Eau Transparente in the near future. I've also ordered samples of Quadrille and Fuite des Hueres just because I'm curious. Big bottles of them are already too skyhigh in price for me.

Balenciaga is my favourite perfume house by now. They are exactly my style and they can sell me a perfume of every classification, whereas I can be really picky otherwise. It's a shame, they are all discontinued.

That's why I am curious now about the male range.

Has any of you ladies tried to wear some of them? Ho Hang should be very in between, I'm eager to try that one as well, but what about Cristobal PH? Than there is Ho Hang Club, Balenciaga PH and Portos. Is it wearable? I know, in theory everybody can wear everything, no gender rules, but for me there are boundaries: Havana, Kouros or Caractere are beautiful, but I could never wear them. Unisex is sometimes ok, but I usually like it very feminine, sweetish and very old fashionend blended in your face womanstyle.

Experiences? Advises? Dissuasions?
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post #21 of 29
5/30/10 at 2:48pm
Fortunately, my stockpiling tendencies, have once again saved the day. I like Ho Hang and while cheap and still abundant bought four bottles about a year and one half ago. How sad that great fragrances are lost.
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post #22 of 29
5/30/10 at 3:11pm
I jsut got some old Ho Hand recently. It a surprising deep, spicy Oriental with a leathery drydown. No doubt an answer to Habit Rouge. I LOVE it!!!
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post #23 of 29
5/31/10 at 3:49am
Thread Starter 
Yep, as I said, I will definitly test Ho Hang.

Have you ever tested Cristobal PH or even the d'Orient? I'm really curious about them, but I don't want to buy a whole bottle of a men's perfume, that I can't wear. Unisex would be ok, though.
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post #24 of 29
6/1/10 at 3:35am
Primrose, your description of BP as a 'wimpy violet' is absolutely spot-on. Compared to the brilliant, brilliant Le Dix, it's an olfactory insult.
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post #25 of 29
6/1/10 at 4:48am
I own a empty cristal bottle of extrait de parfum LE DIX and a superb overcoat ( both owned by my mother ).
Balenciaga was the Master of all designers
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post #26 of 29
4/20/11 at 10:22am
Could Prelude be worn by a man?
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post #27 of 29
4/20/11 at 3:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by B.I.G. View Post

Could Prelude be worn by a man?

Anything can be worn by anyone. That said, nothing about Prelude strikes me having crossover potential. It's a sweet, heady, and very powdery Oriental.
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post #28 of 29
4/20/11 at 7:59pm
Hi Bandit
I too am a lover of Le Dix from years back. I used it in my 20s and 30s and it was pretty much my signature scent, together with Miss Dior. I only discovered it online relatively recently, and bought it with some trepidation, because I knew it would probably have been reformulated. Well, to my memory, it still smells the gorgeous way I remembered it.

I have tried the current offering Balenciaga Paris, and in doing so, realized that Le Dix really doesn't smell of classic violets at all. And the ingredients do not mention violet. But there is just nothing like it on the market.

A SA from our most sophisticated Department store told me that Paris was a replacement for Le Dix. It doesn't come 'within a bull's roar' of Le Dix. Paris is a violet and pepper combination, essentially a violet soliflore. It has none of the exquisite blending of ingredients that Le Dix has, and no development at all, to my nose. I put it this way, the perfumer seemed a little afraid of his ingredients.

Having said that, I bought a bottle of Paris, and am not sorry. It has its place, and I treat it like a piece of violet candy when I feel that I need a violet fix. However, it wil never take the place of my precious Le Dix.There is just nothing like Le Dix. If it's your kind of perfume, you will find nothing to replace it. It shares a heritage with perfumes like No 5 and Arpege, whilst being nothing like either of them. I guess it's the aldehydes that brings that sort of comparison. But it is also the subtlety of the blending. It's so classically feminine.

If you love your Le Dix, do as I have done, stock up while you can still get it. I only have two 100ml bottles, but I intend to get more. 'Cos when it's gone, it will not come back. It belongs to another era that is now long gone. It will not appeal to many in the current perfume environment. It's probably too 'girly' and not complex enough to appeal to the 'niche perfume' lovers.
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post #29 of 29
4/21/11 at 9:40am
This whole thread makes me so sad. It's tragic that balenciaga has been reduce to nothing, they made such great scents. Talisman is a favorite as well as some vintage Quadrille that was my grandmother's. And discontinuing Cristobal was a huge surprise to me because it was fairly new and so likeable. You have to wonder why perfume houses get bought out at all by other companies if they are just going to strip them to nothing or kill them. Fendi is another tragic case.
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