Etat Libre d’Orage Bijou Romantique

Etat Libre is a house that has grown on me over the years. They started out with ones that I liked but never quite fell for, like Rien, They added ones that I really, really liked, such as Like This. They always come about thisclose to getting me but somehow I just never quite go all the way.

Bijou Romantique doesn’t quite get me there either.

It’s very nice mind you, perhaps one of the quietest and most conventionally pretty scent I’ve smelled from them. It’s a lovely iris scent that oens with a bright burst of bergamot and finishing with a buttery vanilla that for all the world gives it a hint of white chocolate in the drydown. It’s subtle, lovely and ethereal and it’s something I wouldn’t wear in a million years.

$99 for 50ML at Luckyscent, where I sampled.

You can read another Etat Libre review at PST

  • Patty says:

    I still don’t know why you didn’t love “Crime Scene” I think that’s the way you termed it.

    My two favorite ELDOs are LIke This and tom of finland. I can’t explain tom of finland! But I love it anyway. I never did sniff plumber’s butt, but that one had promise.

    I’m so staying away from that commando thing. Or should i?

    • Tom says:

      Plumber’s Butt? You mean Fat Electrician? I liked that one.

      Tom of Finland I liked enough to get a decent sized decant from, I believe you.. Still not quite a full bottle since I thought it was a bit, unfinished?

      Crime Scene makes me think of the end of “Ghost Story” where Alice Krige’s corpse walks out of the car..

      • Joanna says:

        I like Fat Electrician too. Eloge du Traitre, Delicious Closet Queen & Charogne also exist to be worn in my collection…not just objects of horror and amusement like the other ELDOs.

  • mals86 says:

    So dear Tom does not do “subtle, lovely and ethereal”? Shocking, just shocking…

    (I still get tickled over the way you described Commando as “the impeccably clean skin of a child.” Ummm, NO. Brent should have called that thing “Army Dude Just Home From Month-long Desert Training Maneuvers Without Showers.” I should know, I got a whiff of my brother-in-law in that situation recently. Oh, wait. “Commando” really kinda covers that, doesn’t it?)

    • Joanna says:

      mals you’re too kind. I think it smells like swamp nut. Pardon my vulgarity.

      • HemlockSillage says:

        You just made me aspirate my pretzel! That is hilarious. Is it twisted, that now I want to go try Commando just a leeeetle bit? 😀

        • Joanna says:

          No. To be honest I’ve inexplicably HAD to sample every ELDO I ever read a brutally honest review about.”Oh really? It smells like schweddy balls? I better order a sample!”
          Tom’s Bijou review doesn’t push me over the edge either way so maybe I’ll skip this one.

          • HemlockSillage says:

            I’m with Tom on Bijou. It was. . .nice.

            I’d rather try something amazingly beautiful or startlingly bizarre with my perfume budget. But “swamp nut” really made me laugh, and even as I type that, laugh again. Bless you.

          • Tom says:

            Yeah, I had a giggle over “Swamp Nut” too..

          • Tom says:

            Don’t let me stop you! It’s very nice. It’s just not me..

        • Tom says:

          Hey, I like Commando. But I liked his “Untitled” for luckyscent. Loves me some skank..

    • Tom says:

      Are you saying I’m not ethereal? I’m as ether.. Oh never mind..

  • nozknoz says:

    LOL – ethereal does NOT sound like you, Tom! This sounds a bit like an iris version of S-Perfumes wonderful rose-chocolate 100% Love. I’m also yet find the ELDO that I must have, but this sounds wearable.

  • Ann says:

    Howdy, Tom! I didn’t really pay attention when ELDO launched this one, but your “buttery vanilla” and “hint of white chocolate” has intrigued me a bit. Worth a sniff. Thanks!

  • Poodle says:

    I love Like This and have every intention of getting a bottle of it when my perfume fund permits. I want to try Bijou Romantique as well as a few more from this line. It sounds nice but seeing you describe it as quiet makes me think that it might just disappear on me. I’ve now moved it down the list of scents I want to try. Everyone seems to think it’s pretty which is nice and I suppose some days pretty is exactly what you need.

    • Tom says:

      Yes, some days pretty is all you need. So perhaps you need to sample this.

      Like This I love, but have a generous sample of. When it runs out I’ll consider a bottle..