BASTILLE
14 Juillet

2024

PERFUMER
Meabh McCurtin

tangerine
fireworks accord
blackcurrant

cinnamon
violet
labdanum

benzoin
tonka bean
vanilla

Tomorrow is le 14 Juillet, France’s national day, celebrating the storming of the Bastille during the French Revolution. 14 Juillet is also the latest fragrance release by Bastille. Named after the event and representing freedom, Bastille has been one most (financially) accessible, yet quality niche brands, with great perfumers and 95% natural ingredients; my favorite fragrance by them being Pleine Lune. 14 Juillet gives it a run for its money. What does celebration smell like?

This is a bit of a departure from most of their line-up, as 14 Juillet goes in a sweet and smoky direction. Quite unique. At its core you get a more familiar labdanum-accord. Vanilla, benzoin, cinnamon & tonka bean are listed, so you can imagine this to be on the very sweet side.

Labdanum comes with a smoky edge; there is also fireworks accord listed, but I don’t think this is excessively smoky or daring; it remains in the realm of gourmand leaning sweetness to my nose. Specifically, 14 Juillet has some pyrazine-like, popcorn, (burnt) Rice Krispies quality. At times, I get a clear whiff of coffee as well.

A reference that comes to mind is Versatile’s God Bless Cola, but whereas that pairs the gourmand with a (clashing?) cola tinge, the Bastille adds a different, more subtle kind of fresher levity. Some more notes are listed (tangerine, blackcurrant, violet), but I don’t smell them specifically; yet there is an ever so slight fruity (?) edge, maybe like the outside of a washed fruit.

The drydown reminds me of a sweet roasted coffee more than anything and it’s lovely. At €145/100ml or €98/50ml at the time of launch, it’s up there with the better options on the market.