Bal à Versailles Jean Desprez 1962 Eau de Toilette

When I imagine a ball at the huge royal castle, Versailles, I see loads of candlelights and colours, I hear music and people laughing, I feel various textures like velvet and silk, I taste sweets and wine - and I smell flowers, spices… and musk. From what I have read, the nobles in the 17th century used herbs and flowers to cover up their unwashed skin and bad teeth. The huge robes they wore were never washed (impossible to do) and it was certainly not ‘comme il faut’ to shower. So what to expect from a fragrance named Bal à Versailles?
How to describe this scent… there is so much going on in this. The overwhelming flowers in the top, especially Jasmine, and the citric notes are great. The heart of this is very rosy/patchouli/sandalwoody oriental and it stays here for a couple of hours. Then it turns warmer, spicier, darker even and suddenly I get a lilac note, mixed with sandalwood. Finally, the base… spicy and musky, but luckily not too musky.
All in all a really nice experience. It certainly lives up to its name. Not my favourite perfume at all, but I acknowledge the craftsmanship and the beauty in this.
27/365