Baghari - Robert Piguet - Review

Baghari was initially introduced in 1950, and has now been re-released as the third in the Piguet line, joining Bandit and Fracas. When my friend Dawn and I tried this at Neiman's on Sunday, after a full day of sniffing, we both thought it was very fruity. Dawn said she thought it was like Bond No 9 Little Italy and I was thinking it was more lemony/bergamot. It smelled fruity and sparkling. I bought it. When I got home and tried it later, it seemed much less fruity, more overall "perfumey". And as I have said before, perfumey can be a good thing. In fact the last time I remember reviewing a perfume that was perfumey - it was Le Dix. Both observations very coincidental, because guess what? The contemporary perfumer has worked with Bond No 9, and the original perfumer on Le Dix.

It starts out a sparkling bergamot note that as you sniff seems to recede within the powdery depths. The powdery aspect is less sweet than some; very reminiscent of Lorenzo Villoresi Teint de Neige. In fact after checking, Teint de Neige and Baghari share at least five common notes: Rose, jasmine, vanilla, musk, amber. I also feel the Balenciaga Le Dix connection. I never caught even a glimpse of the violet, but another friend said she got iris and lots of strong violets in the middle. To me the rose and other florals are well wrapped in the powdery veil. The aldehydes are mild but do lend to the sparkling opening. The drydown is a soft vanilla amber and musk base. Long lasting but not as much sillage as you might expect. Definitely a quiet, refined, soft oriental. Very lovely, I'm quite happy with my purchase and I expect I will reach for it often this fall.

Notes: violets, neroli, jasmine, Bulgarian rose, rose centifolia, iris, bergamot, aldehydes, vetiver, amber, vanilla and musk.

You can read more about Baghari from the website here: Baghari

Baghari is available:
Le Bon Marché and Printemps (Paris)
Harvey Nichols (United Kingdom and Ireland)
Bergdorf Goodman (New York)
Neiman Marcus stores (U.S.)