Byredo Bal d'Afrique is probably one of the best known and most popular fragrances - along with Gypsy Water - in the Byredo line. It was created by Jerome Epinette as a tribute 1920s Paris - Saint Germain, Josephine Baker, African culture. A rich perfume, warmed, with a sense of fun about it. Smoky woods, a little funky marigold, and this is even more addictive than Gypsy Water as a warm, earthy comfort scent.
Founded in 2006 in Sweden Byredo perfume's creator Ben Gorham (former basketball player) wanted to create perfumes of quality while keeping their production in Sweden. Gorham had been fascinated with fragrance much of his life. When he meet Pierre Wulff, a perfumer, Byredo came into being. Currently Gorham works with Olivia Giacobetti and Jerome Epinette to create his line of perfumes.
Byredo Bal d'Afrique Reviews
Now Smell This - "Bal d'Afrique is rich, but not heavy; it's warm without being stifling. Bal d'Afrique smells sexy but it doesn't take sexiness too seriously; there's something fun about the fragrance..."
The Luxeologist - "The unisex fragrance delicately balances feminine and masculine, opening with fresh bergamot, neroli and violet warming down into vetiver, blackcurrant, cedar and black amber. The fruitiness helps with the wearability (I love it for hot weather destinations) and it manages to convey some gorgeous woody notes without heading into oriental/oud/tobacco depths. A barely-there touch reminiscent of coconut/sunscreen echoes the exotic beachside allure."
Fragrantica - "I grew up in Africa so this really does remind me of how wood workshops that my father liked to take me to smelled there, but with a bright hint of fruitiness. It is very comforting, warm, slightly sweet with a beautiful vetiver. This is a very unique smell that awakes just the best childhood memories of fresh exotic fruit, African wood, maybe even the beach and hot sand..."
Fragrantica - "This is the perfume Josephine Baker would have worn on her casual days. There's a nice robust citrus opening and followed by a warm dry down that amplifies the incense, vetiver, cedar, and jasmine. Bal D'Afrique is a well-blended 'cool' fragrance. It's sexy without affectation, and there's nothing that smells quite like it."
| Perfume Name |
Byredo Bal d'Afrique |
| Year Introduced |
2009 |
| Perfumer |
Jerome Epinette |
| Gender |
Unisex |
| Strength |
Eau de parfum, edp |
| Notes |
Neroli, African marigold, bucchu, violet, Moroccan cedar wood, lemon, jasmine, violet, black amber and musk |
| Country of Origin |
Sweden |
