Top Notes 
Aldehydes
Bergamot
Coriander
Lemon
Peach
Heart Notes 
Lilac
Iris
Jasmine
Lily of the valley
Rose
Base Notes 
Musk
Amber
Benzoin
Sandalwood
Tonka bean
Vetiver
07/13/2014
Coutureguru
223 Reviews
Coutureguru
Very helpful Review
9
New Looks ... new Smells
1947 Paris, in fashion terms, must have been such an interesting place to be! Post WW2, the collection at Dior is heralded as a 'New Look' on the back of a quip by a reporter, while at Balenciaga the first fragrance from this house is released ... the inspiringly beautiful 'Le Dix'. The world of fashion is looking forward, and shedding it's wartime severity.
Does Le Dix smell old fashioned? Why yes ... in the same way that all great things from a time gone by do! Does it smell dated? Well ... not to my nose it doesn't. The difference between a perfume smelling 'dated' and 'old fashioned' ('it's the same thing' some will cry!) resides in its heritage as far as I am concerned. Some fragrances from as recent as the 90's smell 'dated' to me ... whereas Le Dix simply smells vintage, and classic. I'm lucky enough to be reviewing a vintage parfum, gleaned off the net at a very reasonable price.
It is unfathomable that Violet is not listed in any of the note pyramids I have seen, because there it is ... front and centre. I have a spotty track record with violet (a la Stephen Jones Millinery) ... but here in Le Dix it works a magic that is tantamount to ethereal. This fragrance carries a certain melancholy ... suitable to its intention as an 'evening' perfume. One can see it matched with a starkly elegant, architectural gown ... the hallmark of Balenciaga style. It smells like dusk in Autumn, when the last rays of a watery sun still carry enough warmth to slightly emblazon the clear, crisp air it has just vacated.
A floral aldehyde, it is difficult not to draw parallels with other famous fragrances of the same genre - many say that Le Dix is like no.5 with violets, and to a certain extent this is true. Le Dix is, however, in very good company ... Miss Dior is released in the same year, as is Balmain's Vent Vert.
The progression from slightly sharp Bergamot and Lemon in the top, to beautiful florals in the heart and on to a solid woodsy and slightly vanillic base is all crystallised by the aldehydes here ... doing their job of making this fragrance sparkle. I can't help but be reminded of a line from one of my favourite Eartha Kitt songs : " ... I like the old fashioned flowers, Violets are for me ... have them made in diamonds by the man at Tiffany ...".
So there it is ... sparkling violet diamonds ... herein lies the attraction of the beautiful, classic Le Dix by Balenciaga.
Does Le Dix smell old fashioned? Why yes ... in the same way that all great things from a time gone by do! Does it smell dated? Well ... not to my nose it doesn't. The difference between a perfume smelling 'dated' and 'old fashioned' ('it's the same thing' some will cry!) resides in its heritage as far as I am concerned. Some fragrances from as recent as the 90's smell 'dated' to me ... whereas Le Dix simply smells vintage, and classic. I'm lucky enough to be reviewing a vintage parfum, gleaned off the net at a very reasonable price.
It is unfathomable that Violet is not listed in any of the note pyramids I have seen, because there it is ... front and centre. I have a spotty track record with violet (a la Stephen Jones Millinery) ... but here in Le Dix it works a magic that is tantamount to ethereal. This fragrance carries a certain melancholy ... suitable to its intention as an 'evening' perfume. One can see it matched with a starkly elegant, architectural gown ... the hallmark of Balenciaga style. It smells like dusk in Autumn, when the last rays of a watery sun still carry enough warmth to slightly emblazon the clear, crisp air it has just vacated.
A floral aldehyde, it is difficult not to draw parallels with other famous fragrances of the same genre - many say that Le Dix is like no.5 with violets, and to a certain extent this is true. Le Dix is, however, in very good company ... Miss Dior is released in the same year, as is Balmain's Vent Vert.
The progression from slightly sharp Bergamot and Lemon in the top, to beautiful florals in the heart and on to a solid woodsy and slightly vanillic base is all crystallised by the aldehydes here ... doing their job of making this fragrance sparkle. I can't help but be reminded of a line from one of my favourite Eartha Kitt songs : " ... I like the old fashioned flowers, Violets are for me ... have them made in diamonds by the man at Tiffany ...".
So there it is ... sparkling violet diamonds ... herein lies the attraction of the beautiful, classic Le Dix by Balenciaga.
4 Comments
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