Place Vendome by Boucheron

I couldn’t fall in love with this fragrance; the first time a perfume has given me a headache. It is very woody and floral, super elegant, and gives me the impression that it is for dressing very formally and being older than me. Simply put, we didn’t match… What I do want to highlight is the bottle, divine, with a lovely and heavy cap.

I didn’t like it at first. It has a strong opening, very spicy, with cedar as the star. At first impression, it seems very strong and woody, but I gave it a chance and magic happened. As it dries down, the wood, honey, and benzoin blend deliciously. It’s different, ideal for a formal afternoon, evoking a cabin or a mountain walk. The only downside is that, given how strong it smells, I expected it to last longer; on my skin, it’s already soft after an hour and I have to lean in close to detect it.

I couldn’t expect less from Nathalie Lorson and Oliver Cresp, two of my favourite perfumers. This duo has created a beautiful scent. The name evokes the historic square in the centre of Paris, where the Boucheron house had its first jewellery store. To me, the bottle is lovely and eye-catching, simulating the Vendôme Column erected by Napoleon in 1810. The opening is very pleasant (orange blossom, tangerine, pepper, and rose); I perceive a lot of citrus. In the heart, the floral chords stand out. It closes with benzoin and a notable cedar. It’s floral (rose, peony, jasmine) with slight sweet touches and a beautiful woody dry-down. It comes out of the wardrobe in autumn; I think that’s when it develops best. Although they say it’s discontinued, it’s still available. I’ve just bought my second bottle and want to review the eau de toilette as well. The longevity is about 6 hours. It’s worn to the office without bothering anyone and is suitable for formal dates.

Firstly, I must say I adore having it in my collection. Its name is a tribute to the Place Vendôme, a historic square located north of the Tuileries Garden and east of the Église de la Madeleine. In its centre stands the column erected by Napoleon in 1810; it was here that the house Boucheron first opened its jewellery shop. Its aroma exudes class and sophistication. It is a spicy woody floral, with no sugary little flowers or fruits. There are spicy white flowers wrapped in a respectful citrus accord that never dominates the forefront. Then, spectacularly, the honey and rose make their entrance, hand in hand, leading to that cedar base. Imagine a great old cedar tree when its resins emerge and drip, and beside it, a magnificent rose bush with delicate bud roses, not prickly. Performance: it lasts about six hours on skin and a couple more on clothes, with moderate trail and projection. I lack words to explain the beauty of this underrated fragrance. Fun fact: it bears a great resemblance to Illicit by Jimmy Choo, another underrated scent. The main difference is that Illicit is less floral and more gourmand, with a sweet bomb base (honey, amber, vanilla, caramel) that makes it lovely but not elegant. In contrast, Place Vendôme is elegant and refined; it is like a well-dressed woman on the third floor with red lipstick matching her heels. I adore both, each with its own magic.

Fantastic for everyday wear. It smells of white flowers (orange blossom and jasmine) slightly spicy due to the pepper, accompanied by a touch of honey and a cedar base. For some reason, perhaps because of the honey note, I always wear it in winter, but as it is not excessively sweet, I will try it in warmer seasons too. It has moderate trail and lasts about seven hours on skin, though much longer on clothes. I admit it is light, and to enjoy it 100%, I tend to overapply it somewhat. I usually wear it for informal occasions, although it has a certain elegance. In comparisons, despite the frequent comparisons to Illicit by Jimmy Choo, I find similarities but not enough to be redundant. Yes, both carry honey and jasmine, but Illicit is much sweeter, creamier, and less floral; perhaps cozier but less elegant. The one it resembles most is the classic Roberto Cavalli EDP. It differs in that it is softer and lacks its marked vanilla character. Scent 7.5/10, Longevity 7/10, Sillage 7/10, Value for money 7/10, Versatility 8/10, Packaging 8.5/10. Would I buy it again? Probably yes.

What a wonder. It belonged to my wife’s collection, and I am personally fascinated by it. It exudes class and savoir-vivre. Without going into details, it reminds me of a box of makeup pencils with a floral note where rose and frosted orange dominate. A gourmand dry-down that is not cloying. It is a pity it does not project excessively and that its longevity is not a little longer. This is much better than average designer perfumes, although that note of rose and wood distances it from the masses’ taste. It deserves greater recognition. PS: What a fine perfumer Nathalie Lorson is.

A rich, elegant, and very pleasant perfume. It smells like freshly opened wooden pencils to me, very woody. It’s wonderful and I’ve loved it immensely.

Excellent perfume, lasts a long time, and initially smells of coconut, I don’t know why, as it’s not in the ingredients, but it’s a proper perfume. Smells of sweet flowers and its aroma is uncommon.

What an olfactory design masterpiece! When asked about my favourite fragrance, I reply that more than the name, it’s the designer and the signature. Boucheron is refinement, and this luxurious perfume is no exception. The notes of pepper, honey, praline, and jasmine with orange blossoms make this perfume a sensory juice, an elixir full of beauty. Without a doubt, it’s one of my favourites with the seal of good perfumes.

I tried this perfume today and it seemed nice, but I didn’t see much personality. A soft sweet and nothing more… According to the sales staff, they are discontinuing it. Edit: this afternoon I put on the jumper from yesterday and felt a very pleasant scent that wasn’t any of the ones I own. Immediately my nose went to the right cuff and there it was. I smelled my wrist and could feel it as if I had just worn it. After a while without understanding, I remembered that yesterday I had tested Place Vendome on that hand, from which I had dismissed its personality, sillage, and longevity. What surprises me most is that it has passed from the wool cuff to my skin; hours have passed and I still perceive it on my wrist. I insist, I don’t find it very defined in its notes, but that very thing makes it refined and delicate. It is undoubtedly a quality perfume. Perhaps I will give it another chance, especially if we won’t have it anymore. Due to the imminent discontinuation, according to the sales staff, the price-quality ratio is also very convenient.

Place Vendome by Boucheron is an oriental floral where honey, neroli, jasmine, and praliné reign over a soft base of roses, peony, and cedar. It is a beautiful and romantic perfume; on my skin, it lasts from 6 to 8 hours with moderate sillage. It suits me perfectly for afternoons and warm nights, although it can be worn perfectly in cooler climates.

I was looking for something to alternate with Chanel Chance, and the sales assistant recommended this. Upon application, I thought it was wonderful: very floral, elegant and sophisticated. I almost bought it on the spot, but decided to wait and see how it developed, and I’m so glad I did! After 40 minutes, it smelled only of pepper, nothing else. Definitely not for my skin. What a pity, because I know where I live this is a perfume almost no one wears, and I love feeling exclusive with it, but well… I’ll keep looking.

I bought it blind, without testers, fearing I might be wrong. I asked on a forum and a user suggested this alternative. A short while later, I opened it (heartbreak, it looks so beautiful sealed) and I couldn’t tear my nose away from it. I barely smelled it and my eyes welled up. It was exactly what I was looking for: delicious, sweet, soft, and with personality. I declare myself a fan of Boucheron. Thanks to azuriiita for the help on the forum. At first, it was a soft citrus, nothing intrusive (I don’t like citrus), a cheerful orange scent that gave way to the sweetness of honey, like the honey candles in Catholic churches. A warm and sweet scent with flowers, and now I sense a timid praliné. It is grand and elegant. On my skin, the honey stands out, delicious. The blind purchase was worth it.

Refined and elegant, very distinguished and subtle. Original and fresh. I’d wear it in the morning for work or in the afternoon. It seems more suitable for summer.