Bal d’Afrique Absolu by Byredo

It’s sweet, fresh and aromatic at the same time, but rounded in a perfect way. On my skin, the praline stands out quite a bit. I think it’s a spectacular perfume.

The ending of this absolu version is the best.

I went to try it because I’d heard wonderful things about this perfume. The first time I smelled it, I bought it straight away. It’s sweet, but with a citrus touch. It lasted more than 8 hours on my skin and it’s gorgeous. It’s pricey, of course, but if you fancy a sweet perfume with a hint of citrus, this is the one.

I’ve got both perfumes so I can compare them. The Eau de Parfum starts with a fresh, clean opening that, after an hour, develops into a sweeter note and finishes with a drydown where cedar and vetiver come to the fore. The Absolu, however, feels sweeter, denser and more gourmand to me. From the very beginning it all arrives at once, without the evolution that the Eau de Parfum has. My friends get exactly the same impression when they try it. All in all, it’s a delicious perfume that draws attention and tends to be very popular. It lasts very well on the skin, easily reaching 8 to 12 hours, and it projects superbly: you can always smell it, and so can those around you. It’s completely unisex and, overall, a great perfume. The only “negative” is that it lacks the olfactory evolution of the Eau de Parfum, but apart from that, I’m very pleased.

Well, this is my biggest disappointment of 2025 so far. What have you done, Byredo? You’ve ruined a masterpiece to release another Bacarat Rouge flanker 🤦🏻♂️. My goodness. Bal’s DNA is there, but Bacarat’s really comes through. Anyway. Try before you buy.

I have both perfumes so that I can compare them. The Eau de Parfum begins with a fresh and clean opening which, after an hour, evolves into a sweeter nuance, ending in a dry-down where cedar and vetiver stand out. The Absolu, on the other hand, is to me sweeter, denser and more gourmand. From the very start, everything hits me all at once, without that evolution that the Eau de Parfum does have. The same thing also happens to my friends when they try it. In short, it is a delicious perfume that attracts attention and is generally very much liked. It has very good longevity on the skin, easily reaching between 8 and 12 hours, and it projects excellently: you always perceive its scent, both you and those around you. It is completely unisex and, overall, a great perfume. The only “negative” thing is that it lacks the olfactory evolution of the Eau de Parfum, but otherwise I am delighted.

Bought it blind, just like most of my purchases, and it didn’t disappoint. I read countless reviews and watched videos, and the fragrance lives up to all the praise. It’s a lovely floral, sweet with a citrus twist. It’s long-lasting, special, and the quality is evident in spades. A shrewd purchase, without a doubt. One of the best in my collection.

I tried it in a store and initially thought, ‘Meh, smells nice, but nothing special.’ But once it dried down, I liked it more and more. I became obsessed with sniffing my wrist. It smells floral, clean, and sweet, even reminding me of nuances from Baccarat Rouge 540. It’s more suited to a female audience, but I, a heterosexual man with no complex, admit it seemed very interesting. A pity about the price: the Absolut 100ml was around 600 CAD. I wouldn’t pay that, so I bought a Dossier Canada inspiration called Ambery Vetiver. It’s 80% similar, but it has a synthetic note I don’t quite like; it reminds me of someone who’s smoked, leaving a tobacco scent on clothes. This inspiration is of the classic Bal d’Afrique, not the Absolut. To reach the original’s level, you just need to layer it with a Baccarat inspiration.

I have both to compare. The Eau de Parfum starts fresh and clean, then evolves into something sweeter, finishing with cedar and vetiver. The Absolu, on the other hand, is sweeter, denser, and gourmand. From the start, it hits me all at once, lacking the evolution the Eau de Parfum has. My friends experience the same. In short, it’s delicious, attention-grabbing, and usually a hit. It lasts between eight and twelve hours on the skin and projects excellently: it’s always noticeable, by you and others. It’s unisex and, generally, a great perfume. The only ‘negative’ is that it lacks the evolution of the Eau de Parfum, but otherwise, I’m delighted.

Well, it’s my biggest disappointment of 2025 so far. What have you done, Byredo? You’ve ruined a masterpiece to release another Baccarat Rouge flanker. Good heavens. The DNA of Bal is there, but Baccarat sings loud and clear. Anyway, try before you buy.