I’ve searched around the internet to see what perfume afficionados make of this jasmine laden fragrance, and from what I can tell, they seem to think it bland, at best. But this fragrance isn’t made for those who disect their scents like bodies on a slab, or crave olfactory intricacy that most of us can’t actually distinguish.
Grand Bal is for women who just want to smell beautiful. I’ve complained in earlier posts that all the new fragrances coming out have a same-ness that is getting quite scary; it is like they’re all working to the same vanilla laden recipe and just bottling it differently. However, Grand Bal completely bypasses that same-ness of recent releases by being quite grand, expensive smelling and above all wearable. I’d say it’s an evening fragrance rather than a day one.
That said, although I love pretty well all Dior fragrances, it isn’t for me. It’s a little too full and overt; I like something lighter. But, consider the brief. A fragrance to represent the fullness of lavish ballgowns loved by Christian Dior. For that, Grand Bal has its box ticked. The use of Jasmine from Grasse, where Dior has its own piece of land dedicated to growing high quality flowers only for them, and Tunisian Orange Blossom Absolut which certainly shines through makes it a very rich, decadent and sumptuous scent.
It launches on 1st October at Selfridges and Harrods for £125.
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