BYREDO
BAL D’AFRIQUE ABSOLU
2025
PERFUMER
Jerome Epinette
lemon
Bergamot
blackcurrant
violet
praline
musk
black amber
cedarwood
vetiver
‘Inspired by founder Ben Gorham’s personal connection to Africa, particularly his father’s experiences traveling and living there, Ben Gorham crafted Bal d’Afrique as both an imaginary journey and a celebration of Africa’s rich cultural impact on dance, art, and music. Intensifying the gourmand aspect of Bal d’Afrique, this reimagined composition heightens the contrast between vibrant lightness and addictive depth, offering a richer, more addictive experience. Notes of bergamot, lemon, and blackcurrant offer a bold vibrance, melting into the sweetness of praline, musks, and violet, and finishing on a dramatic base of cedar, vetiver, and warm black amber. Beyond the fragrance, the homage to craftsmanship is reflected in the newly redesigned Absolu de Parfum bottle. The textured cap, inspired by Yakisugi, the Japanese art of charring wood, embodies the deep intensity, transformation, and enduring strength that mirrors the essence of the Absolu. The silver and gold atomizer spray, with its industrial edge, complements the bottle’s elemental design and the clean curves of the glass. Within the bottle, the hue of the Absolu de Parfum is intensified, offering a visual hint at the rich concentration of fragrance inside.’ – Byredo
Bal D’Afrique EDP was the first Byredo that I’d ever smelled about 5-6 years prior to this launch. I really enjoyed it, albeit that the performance is notoriously abysmal. In the case of the Absolu, they absolutely (pun intented, I’ll see myself out) solved the performance issue, but I personally don’t like the direction it takes to do so. However, I think a lot of people will enjoy this flanker.
Essentially, this is a much sweeter take on the original’s DNA. A lot of people have mentioned Baccarat Rouge 540 as a comparison and it definitely rings as a 70% Bal D’Afrique and 30% Baccarat Roug blend, And that 30% is so distinct and recognizable that, as someone who doesn’t like Baccarat Rouge, it ruins this experience for me.
The opening is citrussy. Not nearly as clean and watery as I remember the original to be. It still has a prominent soapy vetiver, but the sweetness and intially also the fruitiness have been doubled down on. It feels thicker, juicier, almost Absolu Aventu-esque in the way the citrus comes across.
This is temporary, as it goes in a super sugary direction quickly. Borderline gourmand at times, recalling other BR540-infused scents like Roja’s Pierre De Velay Chou Chou. Whereas the original may have been an alternative for a Tom Ford Grey Vetiver style soapiness, this time around, it’s even sweeter and than Essential Parfums Bois Imperial; like a gourmand flanker to that. It has the grating, screechy, relentless linear sweetness of the Kurkdjian throughout the entire drydown.
Whereas the original EDP lasted about 7 minutes on my skin, I’m 12 hours into the wear of the Absolu as I finish up this review and (admittedly I sprayed quite a lot), it’s still clearly noticeable from a short distance. A massive upgrade in that department. I just much prefer the cleaner vibe of the EDP over this sweet flanker myself and would get annoyed wearing Bal D’Afrique Absolu halfway through the day.
