On the bank of the Euphrates once lay one of the ancient world's most influential cities: Babylon. It was the capital of Babylonia in southern Mesopotamia. Today, that's about 60 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq. Mentioned in the opening book of the Bible, the Book of Genesis, and often dismissed as a mythical building, they have also associated the Tower of Babel with well-known Babylonian structures such as the temple of the foundation of heaven and earth. The story of its construction appears to be an attempt to explain the existence of several human languages. The Babylonians wanted to name themselves by building a mighty city and a tower "with the top in the skies". God interrupted the work by confusing the workers' language so much that they could no longer understand each other. The city was never completed, and the people were scattered across the face of the earth.
"Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other. So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel — because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth."
However, Penhaligon's Babylon is not another Tower of Babel. Instead, it is anything but confused or scattered. It is a harmony of spicy, earthy, woody accords, all rolled into one. Babylon opens with a robust spicy deal, a fragrance for spicy lovers, a blend of the holy trinity of spices - coriander, nutmeg, and saffron. At first, I get a blast of spicy, woody, and herbal accords, with a whiff of camomile, dry flowers, hay-like nuances. Then, I perceive the slightly leathery note of saffron with a slight citrus hint of bergamot that fades quickly. I even feel notes of blanched almonds, like almond paste, not as sweet as the marzipan. I adore this mysterious fragrance because of its unique personality. Oriental notes of spicy potpourri open the door to that magical oasis that we have rarely seen before.
Soon, the warm spicy nuance twists into something smokier, and I think it's cypriol oil. The effect is intensely dry and smoky, like a burning brazier on which spices are roasted. The aroma converges into the earthy notes of cypriol in the heart, which is very dominant here. Cypriol oil blends with cedar and sandalwood, reproducing a picture of ancient times, hanging gardens, making rugs and oriental beauty. Although the cypriol adds a slightly leather nuance, the cologne never takes the leathery way. At a certain point, the perfume takes on a scent that recalls the smell of dried figs from Turkey. It is a nuance that does not resemble the classic milky fig, but is much closer to the caramelized fruit, cooked and dried in the sun. This is a nuance that I like and did not expect.
Wrapping the wearer at the base is a decadent blend of coumarin and creamy woods. I get good deep and lasting base notes of warm vanilla, sandalwood and cedarwood. It is like an amber veil that covers my skin for many hours. It might be me; however, I perceive little vanilla. Yes, there is, but it's not a keynote, as many others have said. I don't find it a vanilla scent. It's not the edible type, at least on my nose and on my skin. This is a very welcoming and comforting spiced vanilla. No sugar sweetness here. I get a lot of spiciness at the beginning, then a dry smokiness in the middle, and finally a woodiness with amber reflections. The creaminess of the sandalwood blends with the dryness of the cedar shavings, and the result is impressive.
Babylon is a fragrance that slowly grows on me, and my skin is pleased with this elixir. The formula and scent are simply divine, and I love the warm amber note combined with the woody base. It feels like a long, warm, comforting hug from a loved one. I rarely like gourmand vanilla on my skin. Still, the spice and bittersweet undertone similar to caramel and almond come together in beautiful, sweet harmony. I find it a perfect choice for fall, and as we're heading into winter, I feel this is an excellent addition to the winter rotation. The duration is ideal, while the projection is a bit contained.
I base the review on a decant I have owned since November 2021.
P.S. After wearing the perfume a few times, I can say that in my opinion, Babylon differs a lot from
Horizon Extreme, in which the aromatic tones of rosemary prevail. Instead, I noticed a certain resemblance to
Lalique Le Parfum Eau de Parfum, especially in the drydown where they bestow the same spiciness and creaminess. While not clones of each other, the two perfumes share some sensations and vibrations.
-Elysium
Top Notes 
Heart Notes 
Base Notes 
HugoMontez
PedroCabral
Elysium
