Bal d'Afrique
Bal d'Afrique by Byredo is an unisex eau de parfum from 2009 in the luxury price tier. It opens with bergamot, lemon and neroli, moves into violet, jasmine and cyclamen and dries down to vetiver, cedarwood, musk and amber. Expect around 7 hours of wear, and it projects at a moderate level.
Notes, explained
Opening
- Bergamot Sharp citrus with a faint bitter edge. The opening of about half of all men's fragrances.
- Lemon Clean, sour, instantly recognisable. Bright but burns off fast.
- Neroli Distilled orange blossom. Green, soapy and elegant.
Heart
- Violet Powdery, sweet and a bit retro. Parma Violets in flower form.
- Jasmine Heady, sweet and slightly animal underneath. Rarely subtle.
- Cyclamen Watery, green and airy. Used to make florals feel light.
Dry-down
- Vetiver Dry, earthy, smoky grass root. Smells like soil and citrus peel.
- Cedarwood Dry, pencil-shaving woodiness. Clean and structural.
- Musk Warm, skin-like and slightly sweet. Makes a fragrance feel like you.
- Amber Warm, golden and resinous. Not a real material — a blend that glows.
Smells like this
- Commodity Bergamot
- Phlur Somebody Wood
- Byredo Bal d'Afrique Absolu
- New Notes Bonbons a la Violette
- Zoologist Cow
- Shiseido Zen
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