Rouge Smoking Extrait by BDK Parfums

It’s a super-friendly niche, nothing challenging. I’ve smelled more natural cherries, but here I prefer that creamy, smoky accord with an almond note, a milky touch, and a vanilla base. It’s unique; the cherry, which didn’t initially appeal to me, is perfect. The best purchase in a long time. Totally unisex and I recommend it 100%.

A beautiful scent. As an extract, the longevity is incredible; I could still smell it the day after showering. Of the three extracts, this is the best: dark cherry and brandy, all very well balanced. The dry down is super creamy, projects a lot, with saffron and oud wood in the base. My favourite from BDK so far.

Love at first sight! Finally, I’ve found a perfume with cherry that I adore. I’ve been trying for months to add it to my collection without success. Not being a fan of fruits in general, whenever I smelled cherries I only remembered those artificial and brash candies. But here, nothing like that happens. I think I know why: Rouge Smoking is not a cherry perfume, but a perfume WITH cherry, and that’s the key. Although I notice a certain cherried touch in the opening, it’s not prominent or obvious. It’s a subtle detail that gives it a playful and sexy edge without sweetening it or turning it into a repulsive candy or a childish scent. Quite the opposite: it’s an adult, dark, and very provocative aroma. Alongside the cherry, there’s plenty of resin that makes it feel dense, unctuous, and sweet notes that provide balance. I’ve been hugely surprised. I’ve tried almost all BDK perfumes and this is the second one I’m buying from the house; it’s certainly going to be my favourite. That said, in terms of versatility, I’m a sumo wrestler. It’s a scent created for night and cold nights. That limitation is a handicap, but I couldn’t care less. It’s well worth it.

I tried this perfume in a decant in April and fell in love at once, so I ordered it and by June I already had it. I couldn’t be happier. I use it non-stop since it arrived. It smells of super ambered and spiced dark cherry; although not listed in the notes, it has a brutal saffron. The opening is exactly that: cherry and saffron. As it dries, the other notes appear without taking the spotlight away from the stars. Excellent longevity (8 hours), strong projection at the start, and it marks clothes until washing, sometimes more. Nothing like the classic Rouge Smoking. I have both, and the EDP is super innocent and vanilla, but this has character and shouts: HERE I AM! 🔥

I always saw the classic Rouge Smoking as an innocent scent of sweet cherry and vanilla, perfect for dipping into niche without risk. But the Extrait is a different story: to my nose, it has very little to do with the original. It’s a smoky, woody, dark cherry with a milky touch. It feels incredibly complex and distinct; it reminds me a bit of Sirene (one reminds me of the other without being identical), that vibe of dark balsamic cherry, slightly milky but not creamy. It’s hard to explain. If you like the classic, don’t buy it blindly thinking it’s a safe bet, because you might not like it as much as I do; I simply can’t bear to wear it in certain moments.