Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 is something I completely missed. I vaguely remember it coming out, and I don’t even recall sniffing it, but I’m sure I must have.
Over the intervening few years since it came out, I kept hearing rumblings about it, just figured it was a thing I must not have liked. So then Miss Musette sent me that sample, which I talked about last week, and you could have just knocked me over. I’m like what is that?!?!?
I only briefly covered this, and that was the EDP. So I’m waiting for that bottle to arrive and thought, well, if the edp is that good, how good would the extrait be?
If I were a poet, I would write a missive about the opening of Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait. There is this glorious bitter almond that almost makes me cry with how beautiful it is with the saffron and ambergris. The EDP is really pretty and addictive, but the Extrait is amazingly gorgeous. It is denser, adding that little bit of toasted cherry’ishness to it. But that cherry vibe is brief. And then it just unfolds into this both complicated and simple smell that is so comforting and warm and snuggly.
Now, word of warning, this seems to disappear (not really, but you think it has) from skin. So spray liberally all over your clothes. Then slip into that sweater the next day, and you will be enchanted all over again. I wish I had more words on this, but I just don’t! Now, the price tag for both the EDP and the extrait is blushingly high. And I don’t think if you love it that you NEED the extrait. It’s just really pretty.
Do I have an unfinished giveaway I haven’t drawn from? I’m so looking forward to next week, when my schedule finally gets less crazy and I can decorate my tree and enjoy the start of the holidays!
Let’s do a drawing! I’ll give out a sample to two commenters drawn at random. Am I the last person on earth to have tried Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540? Or has anyone else sorta missed it?
It’s an interesting one. I’ve tried both versions and yes, the extrait is denser, stickier. After I finished the sample I bought a decant of the Extrait and it took me very long to go through it because the sweetness became more overwhelming up to the point that I could hardly stand it. Thank God for decants! I think it smells best on clothes the next day. It’s definitely a must try but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
No need to enter me in the draw, of course 😉
I missed it…but I don’t keep tabs on much 🙂
Thanks for the give-away!
I remember getting a sample after someone here (Portia?) wrote about it a couple years ago — I thought it was lovely, but now I can’t find the sample to remind myself! I’d love to try it again! I’m still desolate that Ciel de GUM is impossible to get — Ann gave me a sample a while back, but I used that up almost immediately.
Patty, I’ve seen that one multiple times back in the days we could shop in person, but never tried it.
Thanks very much for the drawing. I’d love to have a chance to try it!
sure would love a sample! Love discovering new (to me) scents!
I’m not sure I HAVE tried this – maybe put off by the price tag? I love almost all things Kurkdjian, so I’d be surprised if I didn’t love this, but maybe a little scared for the budget.
Oh well, we didn’t really need all those groceries, did we?
Sadly, I seem to be the only person in North America who has tried this and didn’t like it. When I sniffed it, it punched me in the face with pungent notes that overwhelmed me. Just my luck I had the snippy sales lady. I asked her if there was oud in it. She said no and rattled off the list of notes. I think maybe the saffron note is what I’m objecting to. I don’t know. She was very offended that I didn’t like it and berated me for not liking their BEST SELLER when I told her I preferred Amyris. She insisted that Amyris was much stronger and then marched off. Well. That was me told. 😀
omg! that made me LOL!
xoxox
LOL. I swear, people. I totally get how this could go wrong on someone. It surprises me when it works so well on me, but I get it, and if it went wrong, it would be really wrong! Amyris is beautiful!
This is a powerhouse of a perfume. I have a sample of the edp and I can smell it all day long with just a few dabs. Definitely a cozy scent for colder days. It is lovely!
If the draw is for the extrait, which I’ve never smelled, count me in please and thanks!
You can smell it on your skin? I’m always surprised by the people that do. I can smell it there for like 10-15 minutes, then I put my nose in and nothing. I know it’s THERE, just off doing something else on me.
I’ve missed most perfumes by Maison Francis Kurkdjian but since you and Miss Musette are keen on it, I feel it’s a must-try. Snuggly is always good! Would love to win a sample. Those notes–they enchant me!
I really should try writing earlier in the day when I’m not between jobs, I swear, I’d have more words. I’m always surprised when I read a review by someone who does not love BR540. I mean, sure, that makes sense, but it surprises me nevertheless!
full disclosure: I wasn’t that keen on it – it just, oddly (and I mean that – I have NO IDEA WHY) was on my office desk (???) when we started talking about it. You’d think it would be up my alley with the bitter almond/cherry vibe that I love so much in Jergens – but it isn’t. Doesn’t mean it isn’t glorious – it is. Just not ‘me’. xoxoxo
and I TOTALLY get why P is in love with it – it’s def ‘her’ (like Gin Fizz is ‘me’ – whooo! lots of quotation marks today 😉 xoxoxo
I have a version of this somewhere, you’ve inspired me to revisit it and wear it today – it is definitely a unique scent!
It is just so pretty! I’ve been wearing it nonstop since last week. i really need to do something else, but now my clothes are all starting to smell of it! 🙂
LOL! that’s me and Divine right now (I’m down to the last dregs of my sample – waaah) – all my clothes reeeeek! of it, in the most wonderful way! xoxoxo
No you’re not alone. I’m even later to the Baccarat Rouge 540 party. Never tried it. Probably cos I lost my fragrant mojo when I retired & just wore what I had then regressed to the classics for about a year. C19 has got in the way now my mojo has returned ????
Yeah, try it!! It’s a good jumping back in point. You’ll either love or hate it, there doesn’t seem to be a middle ground, probably because of all the hype that I missed as well. Until now, of course, when I’m adding to it!
I somehow did miss both the EDP and the extrait of Baccarat Rouge 540 which sound so gorgeous! Thank you for this draw!
You are welcome!
MFK Baccarat Rouge becomes sour skank on me. So beautiful on paper. I’d live in MFK 754 if money were no object. APOM, Aqua Vitae Forte nice but not nice enough at that price point. I’d love to smell the Baccarat Rouge on you Patty. It never ceases to amaze me what smells Intoxicating on others can just bomb on me. Hoping the wee beasties are well.
I hear this, and I get that it could go that way for sure. Was 754 the Bergdorf one? I keep getting that one confused, I think. I still miss the skanky one, Something noir. I was ignoring them because I was mad about that discontinuance.
I have had a bottle of the EDP since it came out and I adore it; however, I’ve never sniffed the extrait. Baccarat Rouge is my sister’s signature scent, and it smells so beautiful on her. I love being around her anyways, but especially when she is wafting her perfume.
You probably don’t need it, unless, of course, you want it. 🙂 Then you do. 🙂 That was not helpful.
Love love love the extrait (I just have an almost empty sample) but haven’t tried the edp.
I love them both for different reasons. The same, but not the same.
I have had a bottle of the EDP since it came out and have had a tiny sample of and tested the Perfume version. I don’t find them that much different. As for the smell itself, I find it to be odd. Sometimes I like it and sometimes I wonder why all the hype about it. There are many more in the MFK line that I like much more. I don’t dislike it but I do not reach for it that often.
They aren’t different except that bitter orange on the open. And there is more denseness on me. But I’ve used up my edp sample, so I need more of it to do a more in-depth comparison.
I still haven’t sniffed it! I didn’t see it in stores back when I still went to stores, and never ordered a sample. You make it sound lovely, though.
I also look forward to decorating my tree and house soon 🙂
I have my tree up, never took it down, just took the decorations off and turned of the lights. Lights are back on now, just need the decorations!
It punches me in the nose so hard Patty when I apply and then I can hardly smell it. Bought a travel size and try it fairly regularly but always the same outcome.
Sad face.
Portia x
I am so sorry, that has to suck. That open is HUGE, and it does seem to disappear on skin for me, as well, but on the clothes and in hair is a charm, it just wafts all day
Yes! Thank you for saying that. Me too, Portia. I only tried it once but that was more than enough.
My daughter and Grandaughters love this perfume,it smells lovely on them. It smells awful on me. !!!!
I get how that can happen, but so strange. I wonder why or what the chemical is that can go so bad?
Isn’t it lovely! I prefer the EdP, find that cherry note in the extract lingers and goes a bit Play Doh-like on me. But the EdP is my second favourite evening or bedtime perfume (after 31 Rue de Cambon). Lately various department store websites have had the MFK line on 15% off so stock up!
Who has it on sale?!?! I need to find those!
Unfortunately I am completely anosmic to whatever it is made of. Fortunately I found a $12 Oil Perfumery dup of it that I can actually smell. So DNEM. 🙂
Ditto – isn’t that a frustrating feeling? It smells like water to me.
I keep hearing that, which seems crazy because this is a BIG smell. But I guess if it’s that big and that chemical is a no-go, then it is nothing