Balenciage seems to have that magic touch when it comes to fragrances. Paris l’Essence reigns over my bathroom cabinet at the moment, Paris would be my scent of choice if ever I have to chose only 1 perfume for the rest of my life (God forbid that day ever comes) and their last offering has everybody falling over their feet to get it.

Florabotanica was first released in 2012, and it truly is Balenciaga’s botanic garden captured in a bottle. Developed by Olivier Polge and Jean-Christophe Herault ( IFF’s perfumers), it is a floral fragrance not quite like any other. While it has floral notes, it is at the same time very seductive and enticing, implying that it’s flowers are not only beautiful but also somewhat dangerous, designed to lure you in. The scent is developed on the idea of an experimental rose, with notes of carnation, wild mint, Turkish rose essence, hemp leaves, vetiver and white amber. It is at the same time velvety and thorny, soothing and flirty, soft and edgy.

The campagne for this fragrance features Kirsten Stewart, and to say that I am not a big fan of hers is putting it midly. That being said, the new images that were released in earlier this Autumn are beautiful and capsulate perfectly the soft yet edgy essence of this fragrance.

Available at Balenciaga selling points
Eau de Parfum 30 ml, 50 ml and 100 ml
Showergel and Body Lotion