Browsing by tag: balenciaga

Balenciaga Paris L’Essence ~ perfume review

Balenciaga Paris L'Essence

Well, it’s supposed to be stronger but it’s not actually that strong—it just has a different language. It’s all the same elements but we are saying something different than we were with Balenciaga Paris, which was so much about the violets. This one has a metallic side, it’s about the violet leaves so it’s slightly more masculine and androgynous, too.1

That’s Balenciaga designer Nicolas Ghesquière talking about the new Balenciaga Paris L’Essence, the follow-up fragrance to last year’s Balenciaga Paris. And he’s telling the truth — so much so that I hardly need to write a review, and will prattle on only for the sake of anyone who really needed a little break this afternoon. So, those of you hoping for a more intense version of Balenciaga Paris’ muted violet elegance — perhaps with some sillage? — will be disappointed by L’Essence, although if what you’re after is a real wallop instead of a whisper, you can always turn to Tom Ford’s Violet Blonde.

L’Essence maintains the original’s sheer, close-to-the-skin feel, but intensifies the green notes in the early stages and the dry woody base notes later on. The floral aspect is nearly gone, and the powdery finish is even lighter than it already was. It does not really read as metallic to my nose (actually, it seems less metallic to me than the original), but there is an almost leathery feel (again, as advertised) to the dry down. On paper, it struck me as lighter than Balenciaga Paris, on skin, as ever so slightly more intense, considerably more chypre-ish and considerably more masculine…

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It’s getting closer to Charlotte’s skin

Nicolas Ghesquière of Balenciaga and Charlotte Gainsbourg talk about the upcoming Balenciaga Paris L’Essence.

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Balenciaga Paris L’Essence ~ new perfume

Balenciaga Paris L'Essence

Balenciaga will launch Balenciaga Paris L’Essence, a new fragrance for women, in September. L’Essence is a stronger variation on last year’s Balenciaga Paris, “a sequel and a new beginning”…

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Bunch o’ limited edition collector bottles 2011, part 2

More limited edition collector fragrance bottles, with the usual disclaimers: in most of these cases, the juice is unchanged, just the bottle is “special” (or not, as the case may be), and some of these may not be available in the US.

Le Jardin Cacharel

From Cacharel, the Le Jardin Cacharel series, featuring Scarlett, Lou Lou, Eden, Noa, Anais Anais and Amor Amor, each decorated in the color associated with one of the fragrances’ floral notes. In 25 ml, due to launch in April…

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Bunch o’ limited edition collector bottles 2010, part 11

More limited edition collector fragrance bottles, with the usual disclaimers: in most of these cases, the juice is unchanged, just the bottle is “special” (or not, as the case may be), and some of these may not be available in the US.

CK One We Magnets edition

From Calvin Klein, CK One in the “we magnets” edition — it comes with 40 small magnetized beads. What you do with the beads escapes me, but they’re meant to symbolize ‘the connection between us all’. In 100 ml Eau de Toilette, due to launch this month…

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