Byzance Gold Rochas for women

I already own Byzance 2019 and Girl, both of which I like very much, but I cannot make up my mind about this scent. The opening is pretty harsh and synthetically fruity, then in about 20 minutes it sits on skin as a pleasant mixture of litchi, raspberry and rose. Inoffensive, intimate fruity fragrance that ultimately remains absolutely redundant, especially if you own 100 perfumes like myself. For most of the time there is something synthetic, cheap and almost vintage about it. There's nothing gold in it, really.

I love this fragrance. I love all its ingredients and most of all it is long lasting on my skin it lasts all day. It's different from all my sweet vanilla and sugar scents, which have started to become stale to me.

Byzance, by Rochas, was launched in 1987. Its fragrance was floral-oriental, full of aldehydes, and with a classic personality. A great success! Later, in 1995, the brand launched a flanker called Byzantine and, in 2017, an Eau de Toilette version, which fell into public oblivion.

In 2019, Byzance was relaunched completely (proposal, concept, and fragrance). The look caught attention and disturbed the competition. The fragrance, however, did not exceed the expectations of many users hoping for a composition that, at least, resembled the original. But it appealed to women who love creamy vanilla fragrances with a sophisticated signature.

In 2022, Byzance Gold Eau de Parfum was launched, but without much fanfare. The inspiration was modern fairy tales and the fantasy of the Arabian Nights. The beautiful bottle now seduces like luminous gold and the black ribbon reinforces the haute couture touch.

The new fragrance was created by Michel Almairac and is classified as chypre-floral-fruity. It opens with a spicy accord of red berries (raspberry and black currant) and lychee. The top notes introduce a floral and radiant body with notes of rose and jasmine, as well as a beautiful touch of patchouli. Finally, musk, cedar, and tonka bean guarantee a sensual dry down.

When touches the skin, Byzance Gold is like an explosion of roses and raspberries dipped in a lychee lotion. And that's what remains – at least on me – most of the time. Of course, you can notice a blazing nuance here (black currant) and a warmer there (patchouli). Still, the fragrance follows that “fruitchouli” style similar to others on the market.

A characteristic that is repeated here is the low projection. The durability is good, but the fragrance really stays very close to the skin, focusing on people who prefer a fragrant aura rather than something invasive and with a bigger trail.
Another point that stands out to my eyes (and nose), is the low suitability of the product for the concept. Particularly, it would make more sense for me to find the Byzance Eau de Parfum (2019) fragrance in this Byzance Gold bottle and vice versa.

And as much as, most of the time, I like the fragrances from the Rochas brand, I must admit that this one disappointed me. For a Gold version – generally marketed for special nights –, it is too innocent, it deserves a much larger dose of the fruity opening accord, in order to make an impact, and it doesn't deliver what it costs.

Apparently, Byzantine gold doesn't have that much value.

Nothing special. I expected something better. This is typical fruitchouli... I like a different type of patchouli, here it is very green...

I can't find this anywhere, including Rochas's online store. I hate black currant, so maybe it doesn't matter, but I have new and vintage versions of Byzance in EDT and EDP, along with Byzantine, so I do want to at least try this one. Guess I'll have to investigate further.

A chypre fruity rose but very faint.
Like a multi-photoshopped version of La fille de Berlin or Portrait of a Lady.