Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540

7 Reviews

1. 

   tautOtter4

   Reply

   If you like sweet, sweet fragrances I think this is probably a good choice. I’m not a fan, but then I don’t care for sugary-sweet fragrances like La Vie Est Belle.

   This one is just too too sweet and to me, lacks depth and intrigue. The notes seem nicely blended, though. Can’t detect any one specific note and am very glad I bought only a small decant. Had to try it – and now I know this is a pass.

2. 

   adoringWeaver7

   Reply

   I have the EXTRAIT and I LOVE IT. The extrait is my signature scent and prefer it over the EDP. I initially thought that the EDP was a beast because it seems you cant smell the extrait after a few minutes..but my classmates in the Masters i took proved me wrong. I was late in class and when i entered they told me they could smell my perfume and it lasted during the 4 hour class that we had hahaha!

   This is very expensive but a little goes a long way. I will definitely repurchase when i finish my bottle.

3. 

   mellowJaguar7

   Reply

   I’m one of the few who doesn’t get the rich complexity of this scent. I dislike it mostly because it’s boring, overhyped and overpriced for what happens when it hits my skin. All I get is dry, metallic saffron wood. No other notes are discernable on me. It’s also linear as hell, goes on bitter dry and doesn’t change at all, all day. This was recommended to me as a birthday scent and I’m very disappointed. It’s not bad, but it’s a bit like wearing saffron on my wrist. Not nearly interesting enough to merit the cost. I guess it works better on others coz it’s hailed all over as a masterpiece. It’s also called sweet, but I get nothing sweet (amazing on my sweet-amping skin). A total pass for me.

4. 

   zestyThrush5

   Reply

   WOW, simply wow! I adore gourmand fragrances, especially in cold weather and this is probably the best I’ve ever tried! I got this as part of a set of 4 sample sprays from the MFK website. Although good in their own right let me say when in comparison to this the other 3 (Aqua Celestia, Universalis, OUD) all paled. Still, fantastic value (14 euros) for the chance to pick any 4 fragrances of your choice and try them for a fraction of the retail price, with stunning presentation, packaging and delivery by courier all thrown in too. Bargain!

   Now onto the fragrance…I got this in the ‘Extrait de Parfum’ which is slightly stronger than the normal ‘Eau de Parfum’ and the longevity is out of this world. I spritzed this on yesterday late afternoon and my mom who doesn’t have the greatest sense of smell remarked several times that she could smell something ‘yummy and beautiful’. I actually could no longer detect it after 1 hour but apparently everyone else could! Even this morning I was again told that it could still be detected when I walked in and out of a room, which is madness as it’s been over 16 hours since I sprayed it!! Better still I awoke to the smell of candy and sugar on my pillow as it must have rubbed off slightly overnight. This is the only time I’ve managed to catch a whiff of it since yesterday.

   So what does Baccarat Rouge 540 smell like? Well it’s unusual and also very divisive, it’s one of those that people either dislike (not come across a ‘hate’ – that’s important to note!) or they love. I fall under the latter…in case it had escaped anyone’s attention! To my nose it’s cotton candy, a touch of caramel and some slightly peppery fruit with some tiny amount of smoke thrown in somewhere, it’s unique, it’s sweet but whatever it is I LOVE IT. Some gourmands make you crave chocolate and candy and smell similar to whatever they’re trying to replicate, whereas this isn’t trying to replicate anything and therefore doesn’t do that (thankfully). It treads a fine balance between sweet and classy. It’s a unisex fragrance and I can imagine this smelling equally great on a guy. Now if only it wasn’t so darn expensive ($300 for 2.4 oz at Saks) I would be out there snapping up the matching body cream, body oil and hair mist too.

   P.s the Eau de parfum is very similar but settles on you like a subtle veil of fragrance with less projection imo. But when something smells this good…subtlety be damned I say!

   Selena x

   ~ My HG list ~

   (As I’ve sampled 100s of skin, hair and m/u products over the last decade and a half, I thought it might be useful to share my top 10 must-have products, subject to change if and when I come across something more effective. I love constantly trying out new stuff – usually sample sizes via e-bay, also plenty courtesy of a friend who works at Sephora)

   1. Hair Loss Treatment: ‘Divine Herbal’ – Hair Oil
   2. Lip Balm: ‘Nuxe’ – Reve De Miel Lip Balm
   3. Pigmentation + Anti-Ageing Treatment: ‘Divine Herbal’ – Facial Treatment Serum
   4. Cleanser: ‘Paula’s Choice’ – Skin Balancing Cleanser
   5. Concealer: ‘Mac’ – Studio Finish Concealer
   6. Lash Growth Serum: ‘Divine Herbal’ – Divinelash
   7. Foundation/SPF: ‘Juice Beauty’ – Stem Cellular Repair (warm glow)
   8. Foot File/Callus/Heel Treatment – ‘Microplane’ – Colossal Pedicure Rasp Foot File
   9. Ingrown Hair Treatment – ‘Priva Shave’ – Post Hair Removal Treatment
   10. Hand Cream: ‘Origins’ – Make A Difference Rejuvenating Hand Treatment

5. 

   cynicalAbalone0

   Reply

   A store representative sprayed this onto my wrist when I showed curiosity at the brand.

   It wasn’t too intense on initial spray; warm and clean. I know “clean” is usually associated with “cool” but you will understand what I mean if you try it.

   After a few minutes it settled into a sheer spicy woody fragrance. Absolutely breath-taking. I mean, I can’t describe how luxurious this smells; it was so velvety and beautiful. I was still in-store when this development occurred and I just couldn’t stop sniffing my wrist. I fell with in love with it on the spot. I have a preference for subtle fragrances, and the clever thing with this amazing perfume is that it makes itself known without needing to shout about it, and what I mean by that is if you were on a packed train and someone were wearing this it wouldn’t take over the area. Rather, it’s one of those which touches you momentarily so you get a tease of it every now and again.

   It’s one of the few scents that actually smell expensive. I’ve worn and sampled a range of perfumes throughout my life from dirt cheap to ridiculously expensive, and this is one of the few that projects an air of wealth and class.

   After the middle velvety notes died down I detected the beautiful musky tones of ambergris. Ambergris is quite distinctive to me, and this is the note which lasts – it is one of those notes that grow rather than fade, so once the top and middle notes have subsided you are left with sleek spicy musk tones.

   The longevity of this scent is vast. One wearing lasted almost 24 hours without topping up, and this was even after bathing.

   I would class this scent as unisex. It’s not overtly feminine, and could be worn by men also.

   For an even more wonderful olfactory experience I would recommend the Extrait version which is divinity personified.

   This scent, however, is quite expensive, with the Extrait version even moreso, but it is worth the investment if you fall in love with it, as a little goes a very long way.

6. 

   tautPepper1

   Reply

   I purchased a sample of Baccarat Rouge 540 through LuckyScent. This is the most unisex of unisex scents I’ve ever smelled! I really, truly can imagine this on both a man and a woman. In fact, I could see a couple sharing a bottle. There is enough sweetness and woods to be a perfect balance. It has depth and sexiness with a little dash of freshness. This is a very special fragrance that would make for a great signature scent. There’s a good chance that in your group of friends or colleagues that no one else would be wearing this but you. I’ll list the notes below, but really I smell a light cotton candy mixed with Christmas tree. I know that sounds odd, but trust me it works! A bottle is pricey ($300 at Neimans), but I might just splurge. I suggest purchasing a sample to see if it works for you.

   Top notes: Jasmine and saffron

   Middle notes: Amberwood and ambergris

   Bottom notes: Fir resin and cedar

   EDIT (3/26/2019): So, I’ve had my sample for awhile and smell it from time to time, but I’ve never invested in a full bottle. Honestly, while I like the scent I don’t feel that it is wildly unique. For instance, I don’t think that Baccarat 540 is more unique than Alien or Angel. Also, both Alien and Angel last longer than 540. Plus, I have sooooo many bottles of perfume… If I was new to the fragrance world and looking to only have one fragrance then I might consider 540. My best advice for anyone who has heard about this VERY HYPED fragrance is to definitely purchase a sample from Luckyscent. Decide if YOU like it, not because some pretty lady on YouTube said it was great but do YOU like it?? Also, I’ve heard YouTubers say they get compliments while wearing 540, but I’ve read regular reviewers say their husbands/boyfriends didn’t like it and asked about a cigarette smoke smell. It makes me wonder if some of these YouTubers are streching the truth because they’re benefiting ??? Anyway, I LIKE BR540, but I don’t think it’s groundbreaking. In fact, I actually like Aqua Universalis Forte and Feminin Pluriel more than BR540 (but I’m a floral lover).

   OH and another perfume that is super-hyped by YouTubers is Delina by Parfums de Marly. I wish it had an entry on Makeupalley because I’d also like to warn people to try it before they blind-purchase. I made the mistake of blindly purchasing a full bottle strictly based on wildly popular reviews. To me it smells like Perfumer’s Workshop’s Tea Rose perfume mixed with Viva La Juicy. It is a ROSE BOMB and I’m not a fan of rose-heavy scents because they make me queasy. Luckily, my mom loved it so I gave it to her. I’m saying this to warn others about these YouTubers/influencers and buying things based on their opinions.

7. 

   scornfulWidgeon4

   Reply

   I recently purchased a generous decant of Ciel de Gum, and the wonderful seller included a carded sample of this beauty. It immediately became full bottle worthy and I had a gorgeous bottle on it’s way to me within an hour of trying it.
   Quality ingredients, interesting notes, expert blending, and gorgeous presentation. The Fir Resin and Cedar are very prominent in the opening on me (I always get the basenotes first on fragrances, not sure why). The saffron and amberwood lend a sweetness–almost a berry quality to it. This is fresh + sweet + a tiny bit masculine, without being too much of any of those things. Some people get Christmasy, and I definitely can see why–it’s crisp and feels outdoorsy. But I can’t wait to wear this one in the cool Spring air and see how it performs. Definitely full bottle worthy, even at the price they are asking!
   I’m very very excited to explore more MFK scents as the 2 I’ve tried have really gotten me hooked.
   (crossposted)