Hey Posse. Do you remember when the scentbloggosphere went bonkers for Khol de Bahrein, properly spelled Khôl de Bahreïn? It was 2013 and I’d only been blogging for a year or two and suddenly it was everywhere. The house was brand new and dropped about five perfumes all at once but it was KdeB that scored the love of all the people. In 2022 they did one of those weird, enormous Insta-Line releases of seven fragrances in their Serpent Collection. It always baffles me that a line would do this. Rather than have me running out to try them it all it makes me ignore them. Who can seriously try seven new releases in one sitting and give them all attention? Silliness. My thought is, give me two incredible releases and let me wear one on each arm for a day.
I refund this decant, bought from a long defunct split group way back when and have been wearing it for my Decant Demolition 2025. Even in the midst of Sydney summer heat it has been breathtaking.
From the brand, “Khôl de Bahreïn is a glamorous fragrance that refers to the Khôl, an ancient cosmetic eye used by the Egyptian Pharaohs and queens and still worn by women in Middle East.”
Khol de Bahrein by Stéphane Humbert Lucas 777 2013
Stéphane Humbert Lucas gives these featured accords:
Top: Violet, Nougat, Gums
Heart: Iris Powder, Sandalwood, Mixture of benzene Amber
Base: Musky Balsamic notes
Khol de Bahrein opens with a strangely alluring sweetness that is more burnt caramel toffee than nougat. It’s underpinned by a very bitter green that smells more like wormwood that the usually bright green of violet. I also smell a very pithy citrus. It’s eye poppingly good and like nothing else I know.
The heart is amber and the sandalwood seems to have that slightly medicinal astringent Australian Sandalwood vibe. What are we going to do now the Oz Sandalwood industry has collapsed? Where is CHANEL or DIOR to buy it all up and run it profitably?
Finally and it lingers for hours Khol de Bahrein’s base is a beautiful, vegetally sweet amber. So bloody gorgeous.
Funny thing, I remember these first being released and being outraged at the price. Well, things being what they are today I now find Khol de Bahrein €155/50ml reasonable. Guerlain Shalimar Jasmin is €122/50ml. How times have changed.
March wrote about SHL Mortal Skin in 2015.
Do you remember or were you a big fan of Khol de Bahrein?
Portia xx
Whoa, I forgot alllll about this. Yeah, look how reasonable that price is now lol. I should scare up a sample, I bet StC has it! Thanks for the reminder!
Portia – I own a bottle of KdB that I picked up on a trip to Dubai when it was first released. I’ve probably used up half of it….such a lovely fragrance. However, I’ve not tried any of the other scents from this house….I see the newer releases but they’ve kind of fallen off my radar. Thank you for this post!
I remember when everyone was raving about Stéphane Humbert Lucas 777, but I didn’t try any at the time. I did try some later and…..not for me. I did think “Wish Come True” was pleasant and recently a friend gave me some samples that she didn’t like and I don’t either. “Lady White Snake” was one (great name) and I should love it but, no.
I must have been distracted by my teenagers in 2013 cause I don’t remember this one at all Portia. But I’m happy to hear about it now. Sounds kind of intriguing since I do like a green scent — I hadn’t heard that Aussie sandalwood is collapsing. What happened? Was it over forested?
I never liked this one, for some reason it smelled off on me. The only one I own is Taklamakan and I never think to wear it.
What happened to the Oz sandalwood industry? I wasn’t aware there was a problem.
Like Tom, no memory of the house at all. Looks like Harrods has it, and a couple of the online places. But, as I’m not buying samples going to have to wait for a trip up-country. The notes for this sound very intriguing.
I don’t remember these at all, but I get overwhelmed with houses that debut with 437 scents. I agree with you: give me one or two at a time. Even at six month intervals. I mean, I like pizza, and I like seared salmon, and filet of beef and ramen and gyros and Thai and fettuccine carbonara, but not all at once.
Great analogy, because it’s true.