Rumba by Ted Lapidus

I first encountered this wonder when I was about seven, at my father’s mother’s house. She was a formidable woman from the start, the kind who leaves a mark, always wearing hats, heels, and fine suits, the kind you’d be afraid of, hehe. Her collection included Poison, Rumba, and others I can’t recall, but I loved those two. The first perfume I bought was Rumba at sixteen, when I started university. Wow, it was so delicious. I would put a cotton pad soaked in this elixir inside my brassiere, and my classmates would say, ‘You smell delicious, I want to eat you,’ hehe. Anyway, it is a complex fragrance with many notes, it lasts for ages, and it is delicious for those who enjoy strong emotions, rich food, seasoned, spiced, and spicy dishes… it is not for everyone, seriously. I still buy it at nearly fifty, and yes, it has changed, but it remains a delight. If others don’t like it or find it too strong, well, I love smelling it on my skin and clothes. In short, a strong, potent, characterful, but DELICIOUS fragrance.

A vintage perfume, a classic from the eighties, with wonderful quality. An aroma to my taste that is floral, but that eighties floral, honeyed, earthy, yet without losing some freshness. It reminds me much of perfumes like Animale or Peau de Montana. What can I say, excellent projection and longevity. I recommend it not on days of intense heat, but on those fresh afternoons, accompanied by a good book and coffee.

This perfume is a true EXQUISITEZ! It is a bomb from the moment it is sprayed. Its bottle deserves special mention, as it is beautiful, subtle, and elegant. At first spray, I can smell lots of honey, but bitter in fruits, almost dry, feeling medicinal. But after five minutes, the magic happens because it becomes extremely creamy and sweet, of course, not a sweet of today. I can smell the honey and peach mixed and accompanied by ambergris, which makes it sweetly animalic. It reminds me of a combination between Poeme by Lancôme and Coco by Chanel (vintage), but drier. From the start, Rumba is much more potent. In its dry down, the honey feels animalic, a dirty aroma that reminds me of the opening of Paloma Picasso; the hardest part of Rumba is its dry down, it smells like candles or old yellowed books, it is due to the ambergris, it is curious and I love it. Its longevity exceeds twenty hours, it activates with water and leaves a very potent, overwhelming trail. A super winter aroma, very good fixation; six sprays are more than enough, only for winters and cold autumns; in sunny seasons, this could knock you out. Ideal for the most important dinners, trips you don’t want to forget, or cold operas; it is a perfume you won’t be forgotten by. It leaves many compliments from men and women. Completely unisex.

It is a very, very, very strong perfume. It feels somewhat spicy, not powdery at all. In my case, it causes stomach pain. It is not for buying blindly at all.

It is a potent aroma, highlighting its floral, fruity, and woody notes, amalgamated so talentously that I can barely distinguish one note from another after putting much attention. It opens with an exuberant blend of honey, leather, and impossible-to-ignore oakmoss, but they wrap the whole ensemble. It is strictly forbidden for those who cannot bear strong smells or who prefer soft or sweet perfumes, because despite the honey, fruits, and flowers, it is not sweet at all, not in the slightest. It is impossible to go unnoticed when using it; EVERYONE will turn to see who is wearing such a “powerful, sugar-free concoction” (I believe that in the last 10 years, the whole 🌎 has gotten used to almost infantile fragrances full of sweets and candies…). Well, this economic treasure is not like that; it is the best example of the 80s and 90s in its maximum expression: POWER, STRENGTH, ELEGANCE, CHARACTER, and PERSONALITY. Personally, I love it because it reminds me of my childhood, as it is one of the perfumes my late grandmother used; this was her “errands” perfume, just as “English Lavender by Atkinson” was for parties 🥰🥰, so it really smells like my childhood, between games and cartoons, with my oat milk and a large piece of sugary biscuit.

If you buy a Ted Lapidus, brace yourself: it’s a powerhouse of longevity and projection. These are vintage fragrances but nothing is obsolete; the entire line has character and concentration, being EDPs rather than EDTs. A trick to soften them: dilute them in 60° or 70° alcohol with a few drops of glycerine and you’re done.

Ideal for women with character. I wear it only at night in autumn and winter. Many people find it annoying because it’s so present and long-lasting. It’s a strong classic with immense personality.

What more can I add about Balenciaga Rumba? I’ll be subjective: I managed to get a small vintage Eau de Parfum bottle at an excellent price. Upon trying it, my goodness, my nose exploded in an ecstasy of scents and aromas. My nostrils collapsed quickly; I have Can’s nose, I enjoy aromas but strong smells give me dizziness and nausea. I searched for a coffee blend to cleanse my nose of that penetrating, skin-chilling scent. After calming it down and waiting 30 minutes, I timidly approached it again… same thing! It smelled overwhelming; I wanted to know its secrets but couldn’t manage it. I waited an hour, composed my stomach, and tried again with enthusiasm: SAME! Was I hallucinating? I don’t drink alcohol, I don’t smoke, and I was fully conscious. Balenciaga Rumba is an atomic bomb. Do not buy it blindly; it’s not for cowards. I don’t like it, but I applaud it standing up and take my hat off to such a creation. Chapeau! I wish my favourites could reach half of its trail and fixation; it’s impossible to cast a shadow on a 100-metre tree. Notes? All declared ones and more, almost impossible to distinguish due to the potency. Longevity? On my skin, 48 hours, even after showering three times and exercising, a detectable trace remained. Similarities? I hate comparing them, but it was so strong it reminded me of Mary Stuart, the one my grandmother used. In terms of power, Mary Stuart is a 3 and Rumba is a 100. I’m not exaggerating; it’s a wonder. For beginners: extreme caution, one puff on wrists and one on the neck, maximum on the chest, and apply it 2 or 3 hours before going out. I don’t recommend wearing it out without testing it first; if you want to saturate a place and command attention, it’s worth it. Not suitable for work; they might send you out the door. Enjoy life, it’s beautiful, and if it smells good, it’s even more beautiful. P.S.: For @allan2780. The bottle is in excellent condition; I got it from Deffupar (an importer supplying over 70% of fragrances in Argentina). Everyone has their contacts, beyond shops and malls. My experience is totally personal; you don’t have to know someone who had the same experience, nor someone who had the same experience as me. We are the same but react differently due to our pH. For some it’s a blessing, for others a curse. I don’t renounce my pH. I’m not attacking the perfume or the creator; it’s my personal opinion. I’ve loved them since childhood; I’m not a hater. I’ve read reviews and reiterate that this is my experience. Vintage, December 2020, I bought three: Wings by Giorgio Beverly Hills and Giorgio. They smell wonderfully, I don’t feel they are reformulated, but I don’t want to talk about them here. To my people and patients: do not take my comments personally. Thanks for the suggestions; I didn’t know both smelled the same, I read the opposite. There is variety and tastes for everyone. This Rumba doesn’t agree with me at the moment, but it’s well kept in its pretty box. Who knows, maybe one day next winter, timidly, I’ll press a single spray and try it again. Thanks! Best wishes and have a great year. Atte. Paul.

It’s not for every day or every moment. It’s potent and wonderfully talc-like, for a strong, empowered woman who marks her presence and leaves trends in second place (being vintage). I like it; it reminds me of a fragrance from my country that elegant ladies used before, Mary Stuart lotion.

I’ve had the Rumba EDT (by Ted Lapidus) for some time. I wanted to share my impressions because I’ve had a lot of nostalgia for 80s perfumes, before the macabre reformulations. I didn’t know the Balenciaga version, only this one, and my first reaction was astonishment at seeing its trail fill a room. It more than fulfils in longevity, projecting with considerable intensity, perhaps for the first 6 hours. To my nose, I don’t perceive it as oriental; its floral-fruity quality predominates. I mainly sense the honey, plum, carnation, and patchouli. The aroma is quite sharp, cheerful, and carefree, nothing mysterious. Given the vibe it transmits, it reminds me of something like Amarige. Personally, I think it’s a feminine fragrance for a woman with a cheerful and exuberant personality, who doesn’t mind drawing attention. I would recommend it for both day and night wear. Greetings from Chile!

Ted Lapidus Rumba smells like the eighties, with leather, gardenia, jasmine and musk. At first it’s a bomb, but it fades quickly; it lasts about three hours. It used to last longer, I suppose they toned it down to eau de toilette because of complaints. It’s for women aged 25 and up, ideal for winter and night outings where you want to turn heads.

It’s too much, very intrusive. Just smelling the box made me want to cry with excitement, so sensual! But putting on a drop was too much. It went up my nose and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. If they soften it, I’ll buy it. I don’t doubt that if used well, without overdoing it, it smells divinely and is very captivating.

Rumba is love and hate. It was my grandmother’s perfume, who is no longer with us. When they reformulated it, it felt weak and watery. The original I knew was super strong, eighties-style, with lots of leather, carnation, almost masculine, with a heavy trail that later turned sweet. It was a scandalous, rock-and-roll party. Now it gives me nostalgia seeing it for the vintage vibe. Every time I see a bottle, I think of my grandmother.

It’s the most praised perfume I own and it’s not for men. It disguises gender quite well. I have the Altamir by Lapidus and they share notes, but the potency and longevity of this are incredible. If it’s strong, it lasts days on clothes without needing to be reapplied. It has an extremely long trail. I’ve spent a lot on perfumes worth double or triple the price and they don’t even come close.

Without knowing Balenciaga’s Rumba, I came across Ted Lapidus’s in 2013 and decided to buy it blind. What can I say? It was a great surprise. Nowadays it’s rare to find a designer perfume that meets expectations. Rumba has an extraordinary trail in the first few hours, capable of filling a room, and a longevity that lasts hours with the same vitality. The scent is like sweet plum honey, deep and warm, with floral hints of carnation, calendula and rose, plus leather, sandalwood and amber. The honey and plum dominate, creating a sweet spring that recalls a walk through a plum orchard. For me, Rumba is joy, warmth, sweetness and coquetry. Given its qualities, it should be worn in winter to break the grey. Plus, it has excellent price-to-quality ratio.