Balahé by Leonard was introduced in 1983, a period marked by a notable shift in the fragrance industry. During the early 1980s, the market began to embrace more complex and opulent fragrances. This era saw the rise of spicy floral orientals, which combined rich, exotic spices with luxurious floral elements and deep, sensual bases. Fragrances of this time often featured bold, assertive compositions that reflected the extravagant and dynamic style of the 1980s.
Balahé, classified as a spicy floral oriental fragrance, fit perfectly within these trends. It offered a blend of vibrant spices with lush floral notes and a warm, sensual base, embodying the era’s fascination with sophisticated and exotic scents. While it followed the general trend of the time, Balahé distinguished itself with its unique composition, carefully crafted to balance spicy and floral elements with a rich oriental base, making it a notable example of the period’s olfactory preferences.
The name "Balahé" chosen by Parfums Leonard adds a layer of exotic intrigue to the fragrance. The term "Balahé" does not have a direct meaning in widely spoken languages, but it evokes a sense of mystery and allure. It appears to be derived from a combination of phonetic elements that suggest an exotic or foreign origin. The name itself seems to conjure images of faraway places and intriguing cultures, fitting well with the fragrance’s spicy oriental theme.
In terms of imagery and emotion, "Balahé" evokes a sense of luxury and sophistication. It brings to mind a rich, opulent world where spices and florals mingle in a grand, elegant setting. The name suggests an exotic escape, adding an element of fantasy and allure to the fragrance. It implies a journey to an opulent realm where the senses are tantalized by the complexities of spicy and floral notes.
In summary, Balahé by Leonard, launched in 1983, is a quintessential example of the spicy floral oriental trend of the early 1980s. The fragrance fits well within the era’s love for complex and opulent scents while standing out with its unique name and exotic appeal. The choice of the name "Balahé" adds an element of mystery and allure, enhancing the fragrance's luxurious and sophisticated character. Leonard’s reputation for elegance further complements the perfume’s rich, enticing profile.
Fragrance Composition:
So what does it smell like? It is classified as a spicy floral oriental fragrance for women. It begins with an aldehydic, fruity top, followed by an exotic floral heart, resting on a sweet, balsamic, powdery base.
- Top notes: aldehydes, pineapple, coriander, plum, mandarin orange, clary sage, anise and bergamot
- Middle notes: tuberose, iris concrete, orchid, orris root, jasmine, ylang-ylang, garden rose and orange blossom
- Base notes: sandalwood, opoponax, musk, civet, vanilla bean infusion, amber and vetiver
Scent Profile:
Balahé by Leonard, launched in 1983, is a masterful example of a spicy floral oriental fragrance. The perfume unfolds in a complex and engaging manner, starting with an aldehydic, fruity top, evolving into an exotic floral heart, and settling on a warm, balsamic, and powdery base.
The fragrance opens with a bright and effervescent burst of aldehydes, which create a clean, soapy freshness that immediately invigorates the senses. This sparkling quality is complemented by the pineapple, which imparts a juicy, tropical sweetness. The tangy and zesty aroma of pineapple adds a vibrant touch to the opening. Coriander introduces a warm, spicy nuance with its slightly citrusy, aromatic scent, adding complexity to the top notes. The plum contributes a rich, succulent sweetness, enhancing the top with a velvety, fruit-forward quality. Mandarin orange brings a crisp, zesty brightness, infusing the fragrance with a lively citrus note. Clary sage adds a herbaceous, green freshness with its warm, aromatic quality, blending seamlessly with the fruity elements. The subtle, spicy sweetness of anise introduces an exotic edge, while bergamot provides a fresh, citrusy sparkle that harmonizes with the other top notes.
As the fragrance evolves, the heart reveals an opulent bouquet of tuberose, known for its creamy, heady aroma that creates a bold, luxurious floral presence. Iris concrete adds a refined, powdery elegance with its soft, velvety texture, enhancing the sophistication of the floral heart. The delicate, exotic scent of orchid introduces a creamy sweetness, adding an enchanting layer to the composition. Orris root contributes a rich, powdery sweetness, offering a subtle floral depth that complements the other heart notes. The rich, intoxicating aroma of jasmine enhances the heart with its sensual, heady quality, evoking a lush, blooming garden. Ylang-ylang adds an exotic, creamy richness with its banana-like undertone, while garden rose provides a classic, romantic warmth. Finally, orange blossom introduces a fresh, citrusy floral note, adding a bright and elegant quality to the floral heart.
The base of Balahé unveils the creamy, woody scent of sandalwood, which provides a warm, sensual foundation. Opoponax adds a rich, resinous warmth with its sweet, balsamic aroma, enhancing the depth of the base. The sensual, animalic scent of musk contributes an intimate quality, providing a warm and lasting finish. Civet adds a bold, complex warmth with its musky, slightly resinous aroma, deepening the fragrance's base. The creamy sweetness of vanilla bean infusion provides a comforting, indulgent touch. Amber introduces a rich, golden warmth, adding a luxurious, balsamic finish. Finally, vetiver offers an earthy, smoky aroma, grounding the base with its green, woody scent and balancing the richness of the other base notes.
Balahé by Leonard presents a sophisticated olfactory experience, moving from a lively, aldehydic, and fruity top to a lush, exotic floral heart and settling on a rich, sweet, and balsamic base. Each ingredient is carefully crafted to create a harmonious and opulent fragrance, reflecting the elegance and complexity of its time.
The fragrance opens with a bright and effervescent burst of aldehydes, which create a clean, soapy freshness that immediately invigorates the senses. This sparkling quality is complemented by the pineapple, which imparts a juicy, tropical sweetness. The tangy and zesty aroma of pineapple adds a vibrant touch to the opening. Coriander introduces a warm, spicy nuance with its slightly citrusy, aromatic scent, adding complexity to the top notes. The plum contributes a rich, succulent sweetness, enhancing the top with a velvety, fruit-forward quality. Mandarin orange brings a crisp, zesty brightness, infusing the fragrance with a lively citrus note. Clary sage adds a herbaceous, green freshness with its warm, aromatic quality, blending seamlessly with the fruity elements. The subtle, spicy sweetness of anise introduces an exotic edge, while bergamot provides a fresh, citrusy sparkle that harmonizes with the other top notes.
As the fragrance evolves, the heart reveals an opulent bouquet of tuberose, known for its creamy, heady aroma that creates a bold, luxurious floral presence. Iris concrete adds a refined, powdery elegance with its soft, velvety texture, enhancing the sophistication of the floral heart. The delicate, exotic scent of orchid introduces a creamy sweetness, adding an enchanting layer to the composition. Orris root contributes a rich, powdery sweetness, offering a subtle floral depth that complements the other heart notes. The rich, intoxicating aroma of jasmine enhances the heart with its sensual, heady quality, evoking a lush, blooming garden. Ylang-ylang adds an exotic, creamy richness with its banana-like undertone, while garden rose provides a classic, romantic warmth. Finally, orange blossom introduces a fresh, citrusy floral note, adding a bright and elegant quality to the floral heart.
The base of Balahé unveils the creamy, woody scent of sandalwood, which provides a warm, sensual foundation. Opoponax adds a rich, resinous warmth with its sweet, balsamic aroma, enhancing the depth of the base. The sensual, animalic scent of musk contributes an intimate quality, providing a warm and lasting finish. Civet adds a bold, complex warmth with its musky, slightly resinous aroma, deepening the fragrance's base. The creamy sweetness of vanilla bean infusion provides a comforting, indulgent touch. Amber introduces a rich, golden warmth, adding a luxurious, balsamic finish. Finally, vetiver offers an earthy, smoky aroma, grounding the base with its green, woody scent and balancing the richness of the other base notes.
Balahé by Leonard presents a sophisticated olfactory experience, moving from a lively, aldehydic, and fruity top to a lush, exotic floral heart and settling on a rich, sweet, and balsamic base. Each ingredient is carefully crafted to create a harmonious and opulent fragrance, reflecting the elegance and complexity of its time.
Bottle:
The bottle for Balahé by Leonard, launched in 1983, was an exquisite creation designed by the renowned sculptor Serge Mansau. His design vision brought a unique, artistic flair to the presentation of this fragrance. The bottle, crafted in black glass, is sculpted into the elegant shape of a pebble, giving it a natural, organic feel. This pebble-like form is further enhanced by the artistic depiction of a mountain peak, adding a touch of grandeur and a sense of rugged beauty.
The bottle is adorned with a distinctive red silk cord, which ties around its neck, introducing a vibrant splash of color that contrasts beautifully with the deep black glass. This red cord not only enhances the bottle's visual appeal but also adds a luxurious, tactile element to the overall design.
Balahé was offered in a variety of sizes to accommodate different preferences and needs. For the parfum concentration, the bottle was available in three sizes: 0.25 ounces, 0.5 ounces, and 1 ounce. Each of these sizes allowed customers to choose the quantity that best suited their use. Additionally, the fragrance was offered in eau de toilette strength in three sizes: 1 ounce, 1.7 ounces, and 3.3 ounces, catering to those who preferred a lighter, more subtle version of the scent. This range of options ensured that Balahé could be enjoyed in both its most intense and more moderate forms, reflecting the versatility and elegance of the fragrance.
- 0.25 oz Parfum
- 0.5 oz Parfum
- 1 oz Parfum
- 1 oz Eau de Toilette
- 1.7 oz Eau de Toilette
- 3.3 oz Eau de Toilette
- 6.7 oz Eau de Toilette
Fate of the Fragrance:
Balahé by Leonard was discontinued around 1993, marking the end of its production. Despite no longer being available from official retailers, enthusiasts and collectors can still find old bottles of this fragrance through various online marketplaces. These vintage bottles offer a glimpse into the elegance of the past, allowing those who missed out on the original release to experience the unique blend of spicy floral oriental notes that Balahé was celebrated for. The continued availability of these old bottles is a testament to the lasting appeal and desirability of this classic fragrance.
Miss Balahe:
In 1996, Miss Balahe was introduced.
- Top notes: orange blossom, bergamot, freesia, lily of the valley, cyclamen
- Middle notes: tuberose, jasmine, rose, syringa
- Base notes: musk, vanilla, amber, heliotrope
Miss Balahé opens with a refreshing and delicate array of top notes that immediately captivate the senses. The fragrance begins with orange blossom, which imparts a bright and sweet floral aroma, evoking the feeling of a sunlit garden in full bloom. This is harmoniously blended with the crisp and zesty scent of bergamot, which adds a touch of citrus brightness, enhancing the initial impression with its invigorating freshness. The freesia introduces a light, peppery floral note, adding a subtle, airy quality that complements the other top notes. Lily of the valley contributes a fresh, green floral scent with its delicate, dewy aroma, reminiscent of spring mornings. Lastly, cyclamen offers a soft, watery floral note with a hint of sweetness, rounding out the top notes with a gentle, refreshing finish.
As the fragrance evolves into its heart, the middle notes reveal a rich and luxurious floral bouquet. Tuberose dominates the heart with its opulent, creamy aroma, creating a lush and intoxicating floral presence that exudes elegance and sensuality. This is complemented by the heady, sweet scent of jasmine, which adds a warm, exotic depth and enhances the overall floral richness. The classic rose introduces a timeless, romantic aroma, with its velvety, deep floral notes adding a touch of sophistication. Finally, syringa (lilac) brings a soft, airy floral scent with a hint of freshness, providing a subtle, yet elegant finish to the heart.
The base notes of Miss Balahé offer a warm and comforting conclusion to the fragrance. Musk provides a sensual, earthy quality with its soft, animalic notes, adding a layer of intimacy and depth. Vanilla infuses the base with a rich, creamy sweetness, creating a warm, indulgent aroma that lingers gently. The deep, resinous scent of amber introduces a golden warmth, adding a luxurious, balsamic touch to the base. Lastly, heliotrope offers a powdery, slightly sweet floral note with a hint of almond, rounding out the fragrance with a soft, elegant finish.
Together, these ingredients create a harmonious blend that transitions smoothly from a bright and fresh introduction to a lush, floral heart, and finally to a warm, comforting base, making Miss Balahé a sophisticated and memorable fragrance.
Eau de Balahe:
In 2015, Eau de Balahe was released as a light fruity floral fragrance for women.
- Top notes: tiare, raspberry
- Middle notes: jasmine
- Base notes: vanilla
Eau de Balahé offers a captivating olfactory experience with its light, fruity floral composition. It begins with an enticing blend of top notes that immediately capture attention. The fragrance opens with tiare, which infuses the scent with a creamy, exotic aroma reminiscent of tropical gardens. Tiare’s sweet, velvety notes evoke images of lush, sun-drenched flowers, adding a touch of luxurious, floral richness. This is harmoniously paired with the bright, juicy scent of raspberry. The raspberry introduces a fresh, fruity sweetness with a slight tartness, creating a lively and invigorating contrast to the creamy tiare, and giving the fragrance a playful, vibrant opening.
As the fragrance transitions to its heart, the focus shifts to a single, striking note: jasmine. The jasmine imparts a rich, intoxicating floral scent that is both warm and sensual. Its deep, heady aroma envelops the senses with a sense of elegance and sophistication. The jasmine heart adds a touch of timeless romance, smoothly bridging the fruity top notes with the comforting base.
The base of Eau de Balahé concludes the fragrance with a warm, creamy finish. Vanilla offers a rich, indulgent aroma with its smooth, sweet scent. The vanilla base adds a comforting, gourmand touch that lingers gently, providing a soft and soothing end to the fragrance. Its creamy sweetness blends seamlessly with the floral and fruity elements, creating a well-rounded and elegant composition.
In summary, Eau de Balahé delivers a delicate, light-hearted fragrance experience. The combination of tiare and raspberry in the top notes introduces a fresh and exotic opening, while the jasmine heart provides a rich floral depth. The warm vanilla base ties everything together, offering a sweet and comforting finish that enhances the overall light and fruity floral character of the scent.
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