Hiya Posse. Maybe you remember the bro-ha-ha when this perfume was released? The scentbloggosphere went ape shit crazy for it. It’s been eight years since Rouge Smoking was released, there’s even an extrait version since then. The original EdPs heft and longevity leaves me questioning why they needed something denser and more beast mode. This is already a big cat. BDK seems to know their market though. I also love their Creme de Cuir and Velvet Tonka. This year BDK Parfums is celebrating 10 years in the business, what a sensational ride they’ve had to Mass-tige. Bravo.
Rouge Smoking by BDK Parfums 2018
BDK Parfums site gives these featured accords:
Top: Italian Bergamot, Cherry Accord, Pink Berries
Heart: Black Vanilla, Heliotrope
Base: Ambroxan, Cashmeran, Tonka Bean, Labdanum, White Musk
Recently while trawling Surrender To Chance Perfume Miscellanea there was a Rouge Smoking Travel Size. I do love a manufacturers travel. Always so cool. So, of course, I purchased. Now it’s arrived, the perfect 10ml for a perfumista.
How does it smell? Are you a fan of Parfum d’Empire Ambre Russe or Mancera Red Tobacco? Then you might just like this sophisticated cousin. While none of these perfumes are the same, they definitely share a scented swagger. A devil may care nonchalance that is very enticing.
What will you smell? Here’s how Rouge Smoking wears for me. Warm, sweet, richness straight out of the gate. Deep and yet sizzling berries like a bite of cherry cheesecake, with that vanilla biscuity crust. MMMMMM. Considering how gourmand the opening is, somehow it manages to not be confectionary. Maybe the amber keeps it all grounded. Even if you loathe sweet, I think Rouge Smoking could still fit your wheelhouse.
The heart is basically the dry down. Here we have the smell of cooking in an electric oven. Yes, it is baking but also skews a little savoury. There are definite nods to Indian cookery. While I can’t pinpoint exactly what is creating these scent slices my thoughts are cardamom and coriander seeds.
The thing I really wish for and do not get enough of is smoke. If only there was a burning incense or charred wood given a bit more oomph. Then Rouge Smoking would be utter perfection. As it is, it’s only eye rolling in back of head, swoon worthy amazing.
Unisex leaning slightly traditional femme. Longevity, dispersion and sillage are excellent for the first couple of hours, then a decided taper off. Afterwards we head towards dry down when I’m still fragrant but not so pugnaciously. I lose the ability to smell Rouge Smoking after about 9-10 hours. Then, I wake next morning to beautiful amber scent remnants.
What about you? Did you have a Rouge smoking love affair too?
Portia xx
I don’t think I have even heard of these. Was I in a coma? Must investigate…
You sent me off to STC..
I’m surprised too Tom, these have been front and centre of the scentbloggosphere and the influencer social kids for ages. Glad you’ll get to meet a few of them.
Portia xx
…. how have I not tried this? TBH it doesn’t sound like something I’d love to own, but definitely worth smelling! Carolyn’s got tons of new samples from LuckyScent I’ve been wading into, I really need to take a look at the StC offerings and not just mooch off her lol.
Truth March! STC always have such a good selection.
Yeah, weird you never got to Rouge smoking.
Portia xx
The only BDK I know is their Creme de Cuir – and I lost mah MIND! over that one. Not FB but I definitely would’ve sprung for a mfr travel size. (had I known one existed)
You make Rouge Smoking sound so alluring… but then, you always do! Your enthusiasm, even for the scents you find ‘meh’ is always so engaging!
xoxox
Hey Musette,
I did go FB on Creme de Cuir. It’s bloody gorgeous and wears beautifully through all seasons.
Thank you.
HUG
Portia xx
You forced me to order a sample of this one..
Ha! Forced?!?
Glad you did though Tom. I’ll be interested to read your thoughts.
Portia,
This scent sounds like Not My Cup of Tea, sadly, but I totally agree with your love of a manufacturer’s travel size flacon!! Love how some perfume houses are wising up that we don’t all want a Costco-sized bottle of scent sitting on our vanity with the associated price tag that goes along with such a mammoth size. I love that 10 ml size. Veronique Gabai presents hers in a leathette sheath for protection. So nice!
Hey DinaC,
HA! I do love to read of something that sounds “Not My Cup of Tea”. My wallet breathes a huge sigh of relief too.
Yes, 10-30ml is well enough for me nowadays.
Portia xx
I tried Rouge Smoking and found it to be almost a carbon copy of TF Lost Cherry. After a while Lost Cherry fell out of favor due to the tonka. So Rouge Smoking was a bust too. Now BDK Gris Charnel is awesome and have the edp of it.
Hey there Eldarwen22,
This is so interesting. I find Gris Charnel very different to the other two, maybe that’s why you love it so much. I’ve the EdP also, and not the intense version.
Portia xx
I just wish that the extrait version came in a travel spray when it comes to Grid Charnel. I can’t justify 100ml of the extrait.
The extrait was way too dense for me, I’ll stick with the EdP thanks.
I’m stuck on that sweet but a bit savoury thing you talk about towards the middle to dry down. I’m not sure I could go for that. But it’s raining here yet again and I think that makes the idea of heavy and sweet/savoury feel a bit no thank you.
Funny you should say that Cinnamon, rain makes me queer for quirk in perfumery. We get a VERY different kind of precipitation here in Oz though. Much more forthright, and it never seems to linger.
Portia xx
We have a very peculiar micro-climate here. 40% more rain than London. Plus, we get the smells off the estuary, from muck spreading, woodsmoke. Only really sharp things sing for most of January. But not colognes. Putting on perfume can be a bit of a mind-bender.
BUM
I thought this perfume sounded familiar so I went to your note list. Yes, I did try it. After not smelling cherry in TF Lost Cherry, I decided to try some other cherry forward fragrances. This was one of about 4 that I sampled. I’m totally anosmic to the cherry note. When the main note of a perfume is not there, the perfume does not smell good. It doesn’t seem to matter what the other notes are.
I can’t even imagine what this would smell like without the cherry/berry Maya. What a bummer for you.
Portia xx