Le Dix Balenciaga (1947) Eau de Toilette

Bottle Design: Davsen

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8.2 / 10 136 Ratings

Le Dix (Eau de Toilette) is a popular perfume by Balenciaga for women and was released in 1947. The scent is floral-chypre. The production was apparently discontinued.

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Perfumer

Francis Fabron

Fragrance Notes

Top Notes	Aldehydes, Bergamot, Coriander, Peach, Lemon
Heart Notes	Lilac, Iris, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-valley, Rose
Base Notes	Amber, Benzoin, Musk, Sandalwood, Tonka bean, Vetiver

Ratings

Scent

8.2 (136 Ratings)

Longevity

7.6 (89 Ratings)

Sillage

7.0 (90 Ratings)

Bottle

8.4 (98 Ratings)

Submitted by DeGe53, last update on 21.11.2019

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Reviews

01/21/2015

10.0/10

Rickbr
190 Reviews

Rickbr

2

Grownup violet classic scent

There is no doubt that you are wearing a classic fragrance from the past upon spraying this revered Balenciaga creation on skin. Le Dix has that type of more complex glamour than the one we witness in the market lately and its olfactive signature, a floral chypre rich in aldehydes, is tipical of its era. Le Dix is apparently knonw for some as the 'Chanel No 5 with violets', which somehow does make sense, but for me it reminds me more in style to a Rochas creation a little bit earlier than it, Audace, because both has an aroma saturade in a violet of an aroma which is green, slightly plastic, sweet and powdery. The similarty with Chanel No 5 might be due the aldehidic intensity wherewith Le Dix opens. The aldehydes here has for me a slightly powdery aroma and they give me a very clean and brighimpression. After them Le Dix is dominated by the sober violet smell, more earthy and green than sweet as was aforementioned. I think it's interesting that in this moment i can already presence a tiny use of civet in this composition, giving it an animalic touch that doesn't make it dirty. Le Dix base is fantastic, switching between moments of a slightly mossy and dry woody aroma and moments where you notice a creaminess with incense nuances typical of a good mysore sandalwood or a good mysore sandalwood accord. Le Dix smells like grownup sophistication from the beginning until the end.

07/13/2014

5.0 7.5 7.0/10

Coutureguru
223 Reviews

Coutureguru

Very helpful Review 8

New Looks ... new Smells

1947 Paris, in fashion terms, must have been such an interesting place to be! Post WW2, the collection at Dior is heralded as a 'New Look' on the back of a quip by a reporter, while at Balenciaga the first fragrance from this house is released ... the inspiringly beautiful 'Le Dix'. The world of fashion is looking forward, and shedding it's wartime severity.

Does Le Dix smell old fashioned? Why yes ... in the same way that all great things from a time gone by do! Does it smell dated? Well ... not to my nose it doesn't. The difference between a perfume smelling 'dated' and 'old fashioned' ('it's the same thing' some will cry!) resides in its heritage as far as I am concerned. Some fragrances from as recent as the 90's smell 'dated' to me ... whereas Le Dix simply smells vintage, and classic. I'm lucky enough to be reviewing a vintage parfum, gleaned off the net at a very reasonable price.

It is unfathomable that Violet is not listed in any of the note pyramids I have seen, because there it is ... front and centre. I have a spotty track record with violet (a la Stephen Jones Millinery) ... but here in Le Dix it works a magic that is tantamount to ethereal. This fragrance carries a certain melancholy ... suitable to its intention as an 'evening' perfume. One can see it matched with a starkly elegant, architectural gown ... the hallmark of Balenciaga style. It smells like dusk in Autumn, when the last rays of a watery sun still carry enough warmth to slightly emblazon the clear, crisp air it has just vacated.
A floral aldehyde, it is difficult not to draw parallels with other famous fragrances of the same genre - many say that Le Dix is like no.5 with violets, and to a certain extent this is true. Le Dix is, however, in very good company ... Miss Dior is released in the same year, as is Balmain's Vent Vert.
The progression from slightly sharp Bergamot and Lemon in the top, to beautiful florals in the heart and on to a solid woodsy and slightly vanillic base is all crystallised by the aldehydes here ... doing their job of making this fragrance sparkle. I can't help but be reminded of a line from one of my favourite Eartha Kitt songs : " ... I like the old fashioned flowers, Violets are for me ... have them made in diamonds by the man at Tiffany ...".

So there it is ... sparkling violet diamonds ... herein lies the attraction of the beautiful, classic Le Dix by Balenciaga.

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