Reviews of Balahé by Léonard
When I learned that the two most outstanding notes in Leonard Balahe were plum and opoponax, I really needed to have a sniff and see if it tickles my fancy. I am well into the point in fragrance discovery where I won't even give it a second thought if a scent had originally been targeted to the female gender, as I have long since learned that scent objectively has no gender and there have been constant cultural, sociological and historical shifts in perception. When I wear a scent like this, it is not out of a desire to feel like the Queen of Sheba (though there would be zero wrong with that I assure you), but I rather have my own personal interpretation of the fragrance. When one puts their nose into a fragrant flower, do they immediately become Mary Mary, quite contrary? Only if the recipient wishes.
Balahe, for those who do have their concerns, can very well be considered 'unisex' in the 21st century, as the amber (formerly 'oriental,' let's just embrace this shift, we are too attached to words) family of fragrances of today are quite popular amongst masculine sensibilities as much as the feminine, as with everywhere in between the spectrum.
The opening is decadent and sharp, like the old wooden doors reveal this palace of dried fruits and roses, dusty and musky with that smoky, luminous, and vaguely toffee-like aroma of opoponax resin filling the atmosphere. Subtle shades of oak and honey are also discerned, and a steamy cauldron of narcotic flowers enveloping the senses; heady tuberose, unctuous ylang ylang. However, there is this aromatic, slightly phenolic sensation underlining the experience into the heart, likely courtesy of clary sage combined with anise.
This heart of Balahe is never rendered too sweet as the anise and coriander reign it in, and when drying down to the base, the civet is a kitten with sharp teeth, but is only playful, not ornery. It's fur matches that of the sepia color of that opoponax, and make the base so alluring as it settles closer to the skin. The point in the development most resembles the legendary Habanita, still voluminous in wafts and its phantom sillage, with a somewhat pensive "I've seen a lot in my life" powdery, dusty sensation.
Balahe is dark, dense, bewitching and sublime.
Balahe, for those who do have their concerns, can very well be considered 'unisex' in the 21st century, as the amber (formerly 'oriental,' let's just embrace this shift, we are too attached to words) family of fragrances of today are quite popular amongst masculine sensibilities as much as the feminine, as with everywhere in between the spectrum.
The opening is decadent and sharp, like the old wooden doors reveal this palace of dried fruits and roses, dusty and musky with that smoky, luminous, and vaguely toffee-like aroma of opoponax resin filling the atmosphere. Subtle shades of oak and honey are also discerned, and a steamy cauldron of narcotic flowers enveloping the senses; heady tuberose, unctuous ylang ylang. However, there is this aromatic, slightly phenolic sensation underlining the experience into the heart, likely courtesy of clary sage combined with anise.
This heart of Balahe is never rendered too sweet as the anise and coriander reign it in, and when drying down to the base, the civet is a kitten with sharp teeth, but is only playful, not ornery. It's fur matches that of the sepia color of that opoponax, and make the base so alluring as it settles closer to the skin. The point in the development most resembles the legendary Habanita, still voluminous in wafts and its phantom sillage, with a somewhat pensive "I've seen a lot in my life" powdery, dusty sensation.
Balahe is dark, dense, bewitching and sublime.
Daniel Moliere, who is also responsible for Eau de Givenchy, Fleur D'Interdit, Givenchy Insense, CSP Eau de Naphe, LaRoche's Clandestine, and Jacomo's Paradox is the mastermind behind Balahe.
It has withstood the test of time as it is a softer presentation than the note pyramid suggests. At the time it was not a iconic powerhouse of the day like Poison or Opium which reveled in an overdose of their identifying notes, but a niche like quality that was so well blended with its complexity, it never became vulgar or too much. Balahe was the quiet man-slayer wrapped up in a feminine powdery, vanillic, opulent floral.
The clary sage, coriander, anaise, civet purr and aldehydes open Balahe, it comes off foreign as a good oriental reminds you of far away places never seen but dreamed of in the night. The plums, pineapple and fruits sweeten Balahe counterbalanced by the mandarin and bergamot citrus.
The magic happens when the heart opens up and the flood of orchids, tuberose and rose are supported by a soft richness of ylang, orris and iris to keep this extravagant, plush and soft upon the fruits receding in the background. Balahe finishes in a powdery vanillic sandalwood, sweet opopponax and animalic warm civet, yet the civet doesnt growl...it purrs seductively.Its best with the cooler temperatures but can perform well in the warmer days of spring. A gem of luxury housed in a black mysterious bottle and red silk Japanese cord holds the stopper intact. Masterful composition and blending by Moliere.
Its beautiful. I keep lucking out and getting the huge 6.8oz bottles for next to nothing..Universe is telling me something about this fragrance....
It has withstood the test of time as it is a softer presentation than the note pyramid suggests. At the time it was not a iconic powerhouse of the day like Poison or Opium which reveled in an overdose of their identifying notes, but a niche like quality that was so well blended with its complexity, it never became vulgar or too much. Balahe was the quiet man-slayer wrapped up in a feminine powdery, vanillic, opulent floral.
The clary sage, coriander, anaise, civet purr and aldehydes open Balahe, it comes off foreign as a good oriental reminds you of far away places never seen but dreamed of in the night. The plums, pineapple and fruits sweeten Balahe counterbalanced by the mandarin and bergamot citrus.
The magic happens when the heart opens up and the flood of orchids, tuberose and rose are supported by a soft richness of ylang, orris and iris to keep this extravagant, plush and soft upon the fruits receding in the background. Balahe finishes in a powdery vanillic sandalwood, sweet opopponax and animalic warm civet, yet the civet doesnt growl...it purrs seductively.Its best with the cooler temperatures but can perform well in the warmer days of spring. A gem of luxury housed in a black mysterious bottle and red silk Japanese cord holds the stopper intact. Masterful composition and blending by Moliere.
Its beautiful. I keep lucking out and getting the huge 6.8oz bottles for next to nothing..Universe is telling me something about this fragrance....
ADVERTISEMENT
Leonard Balahe is a colossal super classic aldehydic flori-oriental chypre enriched by ripe fruits, tumultuous spices, by a massive animalic presence (civet) and a yummy accord of vanilla, mellow fruits and heliotrope. The latter, joined to aldehydes, powdery iris, dusty spices, talky woods, anice and amber/opoponax, provides a quite intoxicating-talky-airy sort of Habanita-like animalic chypre aura. Anyway the juice is more complex since syrupy spices, resins and ripe fruits (plummy-orangy a la Rochas Absolu) add massive substance to the general talkiness while hesperides, multifaceted floral notes (orangy tuberose, rose, jasmine) and musky ylang-ylang in particular afford a really sophisticated and classy "historical" temperament (scents a la Diva Ungaro, Rochas Absolu, Madame Rochas, Lanvin Arpege, Givenchy Amarige, Van Cleef, Valentino Vendetta Donna, Gianni Versace and further jump more than vaguely on mind for several of their characteristics). The Balahe's opening is misleading with its tumult of hesperides, aldehydes, spicy fruits and florals, a real storm which quickly morphs in to an accomplished powdery operette (ambery, honeyed, animalic, woody-floral) with a rich array of subtle nuances (musky, floral, oriental, boise etc). Gorgeous, rich, palatin and aristocratic, the left back essence of a forbidding Parisian woman standing lofty in the middle of a rich of chandeliers, tapestries and massive golden frames pictures cultured ambience. At same time I have to say that this juices unveils as well an uncompromising spicy-animalic unapproachable sensuality which makes it even more interesting, dreamy and attractive. Another piece of historical olfactory artistry which I have the pleasure to try on skin and that makes me to yell against the modesty of a significant part of the current feminine plastic perfumery.
I love a mentholated tuberose. Balahé has that little bit of the medicinal with floral and spice notes, notably cumin and coriander. It is an earthy beauty, a sweaty floral if you will. Another way to describe it is a more complex Habanita, with the heliotrope toned down from Habanita's sock-you-in-the-face opening.
ps–Zut nailed it, and yeah, on me, it's pretty damn magnificent.
ps–Zut nailed it, and yeah, on me, it's pretty damn magnificent.
With its melange of at least 21 ingredients, Balahe is certainly a complex floral that is quite pleasant. One wants to find something about this most popular of the house of Leonard's few productions, but I can't rise above the feeling it is just "okay," not in any way unusual or outstanding.
As a mixed floral it is perfectly decent, but not worth going out of one's way to locate.
As a mixed floral it is perfectly decent, but not worth going out of one's way to locate.
Head notes: Aldehydes, pineapple, coriander, plum, mandarin orange, clary sage, anise, bergamot
Heart notes: Tuberose, iris, orchid, orris root, jasmine, ylang-ylang, rose, orange blossom
Base notes: Sandalwood, opoponax, musk, civet, vanilla, vetiver.
Balahé was introduced in the early 80's when there was a huge selection of great classics as well as brand new daring fragrances to chose from. This was a great era for perfume aficionados. All olfactory categories were rather well represented but since the introduction of Opium in 1977, oriental spicy fragrances were all the rage. Balahé is definitely oriental and spicy but the floral elements are the most important of this exotic composition. The top tangy fruit notes never quite fade away once the dry-down begins. They simply become rounder, less edgy. The floral heart is extravagant to say the least. There is a definite tropical island feel to it. Finally, the warm, dark and sensuous base notes give the fragrance a most amazing longevity. Obviously, Balahé is not for everyone. It is a very sweet, almost candyish, fragrance but it's sweetness is natural, unlike the artificial gourmand fragrances. To me, Balahé is one of the sexiest fragrances there is. It can be loud and cloying on some women but when it is worn by the right person, it is absolutely magnificent.
Heart notes: Tuberose, iris, orchid, orris root, jasmine, ylang-ylang, rose, orange blossom
Base notes: Sandalwood, opoponax, musk, civet, vanilla, vetiver.
Balahé was introduced in the early 80's when there was a huge selection of great classics as well as brand new daring fragrances to chose from. This was a great era for perfume aficionados. All olfactory categories were rather well represented but since the introduction of Opium in 1977, oriental spicy fragrances were all the rage. Balahé is definitely oriental and spicy but the floral elements are the most important of this exotic composition. The top tangy fruit notes never quite fade away once the dry-down begins. They simply become rounder, less edgy. The floral heart is extravagant to say the least. There is a definite tropical island feel to it. Finally, the warm, dark and sensuous base notes give the fragrance a most amazing longevity. Obviously, Balahé is not for everyone. It is a very sweet, almost candyish, fragrance but it's sweetness is natural, unlike the artificial gourmand fragrances. To me, Balahé is one of the sexiest fragrances there is. It can be loud and cloying on some women but when it is worn by the right person, it is absolutely magnificent.
Tonights great discovery! Amouage copied 80% of "Balahe" when making "The Library Collection Opus III" !! "Opus III" is an almost exact (but sweeter/more" rounded") copy of "Balahe" edt (by LEONARD), which is discontinued. But "Balahe" can still be found for a good price on the internet !! AND best of all = you can get "Balahe" for a *MUCH* better price. And the black Balahe-bottle, with a silk red string is such a beautiful piece of art itself!! Oh, good I saved me some money by already owning this scent in Balahe! :)
At the initial blast of greens, anise & bergamot, I was VERY impressed. Unfortunately, this exhilaration lasted for about 15 seconds. Next came pineapple & plums, quickly followed by jasmine, rose & vanilla. Soon, the whole thing turned into sweet, fruity, powder.....Bubblegum! I am so disappointed.
i first bought balahe in the mid 80's.not realising it was a "female" frag. must admit,the bottle was what initially attracted me.the top notes can be slightly off-putting,rather medicinal.but the dry down is so intoxicating...very sexy !! the notes of mirabelle plum are very predominant, a favourite of mine. such a shame it is so hard to find these days,even though it is still in production.i managed to buy 100ml vapo on ebay recently for only £7.00.
Balahé by Léonard: My girlfriend wore this in the '80s. What I remember most about it was the fascinating bottle a heavy black bottle. To be honest, my memory of the scent is a bit weak: I remembered a very fruity, somewhat exotic Oriental with a dark, typical '80s drydown. It was very… errr… abundant… okay, …heavy… It certainly made itself known to the people of the neighborhood. Now as I look at the pyramid, I can see why it made an impression on me: pineapple, plum, anise, aldehydes, rose, jasmine, tuberose, orchid, orange blossom, sandalwood, vanilla, vetiver, musk, civet, opoponax, to name a few. But what an excellent bottle! Thumbs up, but just for the bottle and the memory.
I can't believe they still make this! Balahe was one of my first 80s statement perfumes (of course, at the time, I didn't classify it that way and thought it was simply "yummy" and sexy. Can't imagine what my reaction to it would be now*).It's a sweet, fruity, boozy scent with a dominating base of vanilla and balmy notes. Not that far from some of the modern gourmand launches, in fact - but the volume is turned right up.*Edit after a nostalgia-purchase: It's still very pleasant; definitely has an 80s perfume-vibe and may have been tweaked many times since the original, but it's great!