Balenciaga Prelude
What does it smell like?
The first thing you smell is aldehydes and orange. The heart brings carnation and ylang-ylang. On the skin it settles into tolu balsam and benzoin. Overall it smells amber and warm spicy.
- Came out
- 1982
- Lasts
- 6 to 9 hours
- Best in
- winter
Prelude notes
Top notes
What you smell first
Heart notes
The main smell
Base notes
What stays on your skin
Smell profile
Main accords
How strong each part of the smell is
Best seasons and time of day
A closer look at Balenciaga Prelude
Prelude is made by Balenciaga.
Prelude price and value
The usual price in Europe is about €45. That puts it in the middle price range. It costs more than Jil Sander Sun but less than Tom Ford Black Orchid and Penhaligon's Portraits Clandestine Clara.
Prelude: day or night?
It works better at night than in the day, so it is a good pick for evenings, dinners and going out. Its amber side feels cosy and rich after dark.
Longevity on skin
It stays on skin for about 6 to 9 hours, so one spray in the morning can carry you through the day. It lasts longer than Penhaligon's Portraits Clandestine Clara. Base notes like tolu balsam and benzoin are the part that stays longest on the skin.
Who will like it
The strongest accord is amber (100%), followed by warm spicy and powdery. You will probably like it if you enjoy amber and warm spicy smells and notes like carnation and tolu balsam. Less obvious notes include bergamot, cinnamon and amber. Perfume fans rate it 4.17 out of 5.
More from Balenciaga
The house has 22 perfumes here, led by Florabotanica, Paris and Pour Homme.
Sillage and projection
Projection is strong: people around you will notice it. Two sprays are usually enough. It spreads further than Jil Sander Sun and Penhaligon's Portraits Clandestine Clara.
Perfumes that smell like Prelude
Similar picks to try: Jil Sander Sun (8 shared notes), Tom Ford Black Orchid (9 shared notes), Slava Zaitsev Maroussia (11 shared notes) and Penhaligon's Portraits Clandestine Clara (8 shared notes). For a cheaper option, Slava Zaitsev Maroussia starts from €19.
Questions people ask
What is the best season for Prelude?
Winter.
Can men wear Prelude?
It is made for women, but anyone who likes the smell can wear it.
When did it come out?
It came out in 1982.