A creative, Luxury, high-end lifestyle brand, born from fragrance, memories, emotions travels and art.
Let’s get stuck into all things Byredo fragrances and talk about why I’ve been a fan of these delicious scents for so many years! (yep….before they became an ‘insta-thing’!). I probably purchased my first Byredo perfume around 6/7 years ago and I have had around 8 of the perfumes now, lots of the hand and body care, and of course I have a fair few of those lovely hair perfumes.
I want to share with you all things Byredo, and also chat about my favourite Byredo perfumes. I feel like they have become very mainstream popular in the last 2 years or so and people seem to be quite intrigued about the perfumes and the different and unusual scents (and those intriguing names!).
What drew my to Byredo as a brand was honestly….the names and packaging. I first saw ‘Gypsy Water’ and was drawn immediately in : I wanted to know how it smelt, how the chic and sleek bottles felt and I wanted to know about Byredo as a brand. FYI Gypsy Water was my first purchase! I am a big fragrance fan, I love niche, I love unique and I love discovering new and exciting fragrances that not *everyone* wears. Byredo ticked all my boxes.
The packaging is chic, minimal and luxury. They are all unisex scents, and for the most part….the compositions are unusual and intriguing.
About Byredo.
Byredo is a European luxury brand founded in Stockholm in 2006 by Ben Gorham, with an ambition to translate memories and emotions into products and experiences. They are know for their fragrances and have a line of bodycare, leather goods, accessories and more recently makeup too (VERY intrigued by this, yet to try). Byredo conceives objects using the highest quality materials available, and high-end design details to fuel a renewed approach to modern luxury. Byredo is currently sold in more than 40 countries.
Ben Gorham of Byredo.
A native Swede, born to an Indian mother and a Canadian father, Ben grew up in Toronto, New York and Stockholm. He graduated with a degree in fine arts, but after a chance meeting with perfumer Pierre Wulff, he was convinced that he’d rather create fragrances than paintings. Ben Gorham sought out the services of world renowned perfumers Olivia Giacobetti and Jerome Epinette, explaining his olfactory desires and letting them create the compositions. The result was Byredo! As an outsider in the beauty industry, Ben is somewhat of an anomaly and has been recognized for his personal style and connection to fashion and art in several international magazines such as French Vogue, Vanity Fair and Elle to name a few. I’m sorry but this guy is like the coolest human I think I’ve ever seen?!
Byredo Fragrances : My Top Picks.
I purchased my first Byredo fragrance around 7 years ago now and have slowly built up a collection over this time. I think I have around / have owned around 8 of these exquisite scents and wanted to chat to you about some of my favourites. I also have some of the hand lotions, washes and of course the hair fragrances too which are beautiful!
Byredo Rose of no man’s land:
This is *possibly* one of my favourite Byredo fragrances. One that made my disgust for any rose-based fragrance into a bit of an on-going obsession!
Rose of No Man’s Land is the nickname given by soldiers to the nurses who saved thousands of lives during WWI. The scent is tribute to selflessness and compassion.
Top notes are Turkey Red Rose and Pink Pepper; middle notes are Turkey Red Rose and raspberry bloom; base notes are Papyrus and Amber.
It’s a really pretty and juicy rose scent : it’s not too green, it’s not bitter or a dried rose smell (which I honestly hate!) : it smells fresh and really beautiful. It’s one I am running very low on so I’m wearing it minimally as I do not want to get to the end of this fragrance. This is one of the best-sellers and rightly so, it’s definitely one that will appeal to many. I think it’s quite feminine but it still has a depth and a balance that will make it appeal to men too. It’s stunning, it’s fresh, it’s uplifting, it’s pretty and it’s chic.
Byredo Gypsy Water:
My first love! The first Byredo perfume I invested in many years ago. This got me hooked onto the brand. Gypsy Water by Byredo is a Woody Aromatic unisex fragrance that launched in 2008. It’s a very easy scent to wear, neither overpowering or a forgetful whimsical scent : it just has something about it I love.
Top notes are Juniper, Lemon, Bergamot and Pepper; middle notes are Pine needles, Incense and Orris Root; base notes are Sandalwood, Vanilla and Amber.
‘Gypsy Water is an ode to the beauty of Romani culture, its unique customs, intimate beliefs and distinguished way of living. The scent wakens a dream of a colorful lifestyle made of innate nomadism. Woody notes of pine needle and sandalwood associated to intense amber and fresh citrus evoke the fever of gypsy nights spent in the forest.’
Byredo Mojave Ghost :
Maybe my second Byredo purchase. Again, like the Gypsy Water, this name got me! This is a really easy fragrance to wear and one I often reach for when I just want something light, woody, unisex and fresh. Mojave Ghost is a woody composition inspired by the soulful beauty of the famous Mojave Desert. It’s light and intriguing and lingers on the skin in a subtle and beautiful way.
Top notes are Sapodilla and Ambrette (Musk Mallow); middle notes are Magnolia, Violet and Sandalwood; base notes are Ambergris and Cedar.
Byredo Super Cedar :
A simple woody scent using the powerful notes of cedar to inject energy, add warmth and lend verticality to the fragrance. Reminiscent of pencil shavings and wooden desks, it evokes a sense of nostalgia for school days and simpler times.
Top note is Rose; middle note is Virginian Cedar; base notes are Haitian Vetiver and Musk.
For me, this is definitely leaning towards a more typical ‘masculine’ fragrance. It *could* possibly be better on a man but of course down to preference. I feel the same way about this as I do Acqua di Parma Colonia : perfectly unisex but I seem to like it on a man more (these two fragrances have no similarity by the way). Me and Tom do share this one, as he finds the others too sweet/floral and he likes woody and warm, which is exactly what this is!
Byredo Black Saffron:
This is one that on paper would probably be geared towards men but I find it really interesting and one I love to wear when the occasion fits. Black Saffron is an Amber Spicy fragrance with top notes of Saffron, Juniper Berries and Chinese Grapefruit; middle notes are Leather and Black Violet; base notes are Raspberry, Cashmeran and Vetiver.
‘Often associated to fire, Saffron is considered as the most auspicious colour in India. The monks and sages of Hinduism wear Saffron clothes as a symbol of abstinence from all the material things, thoughts and pleasures. It has always been a part of BYREDO’s founder Indian upbringing both in smell, taste and colour. The fragrance is inspired by this idea of unity and inclusion.’
Byredo Bal D’Afrique :
This smashed in transit when I was moving house. le sigh. le sob. I think this is one of the more recognisable and popular of the Byredo fragrances. I find it’s one that the majority of people really love and it’s less niche and unusual than perhaps some of the others. It is absolutely gorgeous and it’s just got a perfect mix of wood and pretty floral and is loved by both men and women.
Bal D’Afrique is a love letter to Africa. The nose behind this fragrance is Jérôme Epinette. Top notes are Tagetes, Amalfi Lemon, Black Currant, Bergamot and African Orange flower; middle notes are Violet, Cyclamen and Jasmine; base notes are Vetiver, Musk, Amber and Virginia Cedar.
“Bal d’Afrique is one of my earliest fragrances. At the time of its formulation, I was obsessed with the translation of memories into scent. At the same time, I felt confident enough to include an imaginary component. My father lived and travelled in Africa for about 10-15 years. I would read his diaries; the way he travelled on freight ships, met all kinds of different people… For me, this was the fantasy of arriving in Africa through somebody else’s words. Bal d’Afrique reflects that; it’s an imaginary journey as well as a complete celebration of how I see African culture and its influence.”
Byredo Blanche :
A longstanding icon in the Byredo catalogue, Blanche explores the smell of texture and skin; the allure of intimacy and touch, bodies beneath fresh sheets; laundry baskets filled to the brim; a punch of detergent. Byredo Blanche is dedicated to the colour white : airy, fresh, cotton-like vibes.
Top notes are Aldehydes, Rose and Pink Pepper; middle notes Peony, Violet and African Orange flower; base notes are Musk, Woodsy Notes and Sandalwood.
Byredo Fragrances I want to try next:
Young Rose, Vanilla Antique , Rose Noir and Sundazed all sound up my street! I have a long wishlist.
What is the BEST Byredo Fragrance?
In terms of most popular, it would probably be Bal D’Afrique, Mojave Ghost, Gypsy Water, Rose of No Man’s Land and and maybe Blanche.
Are Byredo fragrances worth the money?
Yep. They are a luxury fragrance house. The quality of ingredients they use are luxury, the packaging they come in is hefty and reflective of the price. Not every fucker in the bar is going to be wearing it.
Where is the best place to buy Byredo?
Byredo is currently sold in over 40 countries. You can buy Byredo here in the UK and a fair few luxury outlets and online. Online you can head to the Byredo website, Space NK, Liberty’s and Selfridges. To get to see these in the flesh, have a sniff and explore – then again, head to a Space NK or if you are in London you have Liberty’s, Selfridges, Harrods’ etc – all the fancy stores basically.
Can I get Byredo Fragrances on sale?
Not really or often. I think the most you may get may be a 10% on a black Friday or something but it’s pretty rare for Byredo fragrances to go into sale.
One of the best ways to dip your toes into Byredo perfumes, without breaking the bank is to buy the Discovery Set (£35) which contains small 2ml samples of 6 scents including Bibliotheque, Mixed Emotions, Young Rose, Gypsy Water, Mumbai Noise and Super Cedar. They do other mini sets like this so do have a look out for these sampler sets.
That’s my round-up of all the best Byredo Fragrances done. And breathe.
I hope this has inspired you to maybe try your first or maybe more Byredo perfumes. It really is a beautiful fragrance and lifestyle house and I find the scents very special. Do please message any questions you may have and I will be doing more in-depth reviews about the individual scents very soon. Hopefully I’ll be adding another into my collection soon too : I try to invest in one per year!
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