I smell it here, I smell it there;
—My parody of the famous verse from The Scarlet Pimpernel
Baccarat Rouge smells everywhere!
Is it scent heaven? Is it scent hell?
That ubiquitous salty smell!
Mystery solved. I was finally able to ask someone wearing that perfume I was smelling everywhere what it was. The wearer also told me it had gone viral on TikTok.
I had smelled Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 a few years ago and remembered only that it was too rich and sweet for me, so I didn’t spend time with the blotter until the drydown. No wonder I did not recognize the nuclear sillage.
The brand’s website lists the “olfactory notes” in this order: Hedione, Ambroxan, cedar from Virginia, and saffron. I have read elsewhere that Evernyl is also a main note. Just for fun, I dipped some paper strips in those 3 aromachemicals and waved them together—it started to take the shape of that scent cloud I’ve encountered in a wide range of temperatures without much change.
The end.
Nose Prose 
I’m positive that I tried it (on paper) when it came out, but I didn’t like it, and since I don’t like the perfumer, and I prefer his creations for other brands, I never went back to smell it again.
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Well… most likely the smell will come back to you instead, as it’s so ubiquitous!
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Never, ever have I smelt RB540!
It does read as my borderline hell. Saffron is not my friend, ambroxan in large amounts drills a hole though the top of my mouth. No idea why but it attacks my sinuses.
Where evernyl has been subbed for all the oakmoss is my favourite chypres I get an overwhelming texture of greasiness. I mourn the death of Aromatic Elixir & Azuree particularly.
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When I first smelled Ambroxan (by itself) about 3 years ago, I really liked it. Then after a year or so I found that I couldn’t stand it. Not sure why. Now I think I’m ok with it in moderation. I hope you’re able to avoid it if it has such a nasty effect.
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Haha. Yes, it’s far too sweet for me too. One of those love or hate scents. Indeed, those that wear it seem to spray it so heavily that they announce themselves to all around them within a 10-mile radius.
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I believe the massive sillage is one of the features, so I’m not sure wearers have the choice to not have it project the way it does?!
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Why has this “beast mode” trend come about? Perfume used to be worn subtly, an invitation for intimates to get closer. I know the 80s powerhouse scents probably started it but even then there was a backlash in restaurants & bars.
Now it seems it isn’t what the scent smells like, more a question of, can I be smelt from a mile away? Frequently, it seems to be a male attitude but not always.
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