Can a man wear bal à Versailles

[FlamingShorts]

I love this and want to wear it more often. For some reason I think it suits me. How many people would instantly click that it's a "female" fragrance? Hope Im not embarrassing myself with it. Anyway what "male" fragrance could I say it is if somebody asked?

ps Using EDT.

 

[Sybarite]

Absolutely yes ... many BN'rs wear BaV with pleasure. As do I. I do not think there is anything particularly feminine about this frag .... in fact I actually think the opposite is more true , and it almost seems more masculine to me (but then that could be because of the way it is reacting with my own skin chemistry). ... Also the only version of it that I have is a very old vintage one ... which I might add, is still in absolutely perfect condition. Though even if it were not, it would only add another "off" skanky quality to it, anyway ! ... Ha!

 

[perfaddict]

Anyway what "male" fragrance could I say it is if somebody asked?

Just say "Bal a Versailles" . Seriously.

BaV can be comfortably worn by a man. Sampled it sometime ago and will still get a bottle. I have Miller Harris' L'Air de Rien which has been compared side by side with BaV in another frag blog.

Welcome to BaseNotes, FlamingShorts!

 

[petruccijc]

Most certainly! If you like it, wear it!

 

[Somerville Metro Man]

I love this and want to wear it more often. For some reason I think it suits me. How many people would instantly click that it's a "female" fragrance? Hope Im not embarrassing myself with it. Anyway what "male" fragrance could I say it is if somebody asked?

ps Using EDT.

Honestly it is the first sentence of your post that is the most important factor about whether you can wear Bal a Versailles. If you love it and want to wear it you should. If you carry it off nobody is going to think anything other than "there is a guy who smells good".
And if someone asks you what you're wearing just tell them. Trust me 98% of the people will have never heard of it before. The other 2% are us and its likely you're talking to another perfumista or colognoisseur.
As to whether I wear wear Bal a Versailles, yes I do and I like it.

 

[surreality]

No, it will cause you to grow breasts and lactate.

Of course a man can wear it; if you like it wear it.

 

[Kevin Guyer]

I love Bal a Versailles. I have the EdC which is supposedly close to the original formula. It really does the dirty leather thing well.

 

[mikeperez23]

I love Bal a Versailles. I have the EdC which is supposedly close to the original formula. It really does the dirty leather thing well.

Ooh, I didn't know there was an EdC. Tip!

 

[Kevin Guyer]

Ooh, I didn't know there was an EdC. Tip!

Yes, and you can almost always find it very cheaply online. Heaven knows why it's considered an EdC.

 

[scentimus]

I love Bal a Versailles. I have the EdC which is supposedly close to the original formula. It really does the dirty leather thing well.

My local Marshall's was loaded at one time with this stuff. Personally I found it to be very gross and all I could think of was a very old lady wearing this who clothes smelled like mothballs.

 

[bbBD]

It's great! And if you can find the vintage, it's even better!

 

[kumquat]

I'm starting to think it should be worn mainly by men. It doesn't work for me.

 

[Kevin Guyer]

My local Marshall's was loaded at one time with this stuff. Personally I found it to be very gross and all I could think of was a very old lady wearing this who clothes smelled like mothballs.

Yes, but when a man wears it...........

 

[Hillaire]

Okay, I totally have to encourage you to wear Paco Rabanne La Nuit, if you like Bal....
Seriously, it's very much the same but more hardcore (leathery and dungy), and more "manly" if that matters...

 

[anak]

A MAN can wear anything. Its the people who have doubts about being a man that have to worry about what they wear.

- Ali

SOTD - Opium Pour Femme

 

[FlamingShorts]

Thanks team, I feel better about this one now. I find baV is comforting and says "cuddle me, I could be your favourite teddy-bear"

 

[mikeperez23]

I finally found some vintage EdC today and bought it for a great price.

The EdC has, as a few other threads suggest, a similar leather feel to Knize Ten and (dare-I-say) Tabac Blond.

I think the comparisons to L' Air de Rein by Miller Harris are credible, although this one hints at a much more orientalized feel

 

[Bigsly]

Most of the time, the issue is with the top notes, so the main consideration may be when to spray it on or how to get the top notes to dissipate more quickly (such as by blowing the area dry, as I do).

 

[mikeperez23]

Most of the time, the issue is with the top notes, so the main consideration may be when to spray it on or how to get the top notes to dissipate more quickly (such as by blowing the area dry, as I do).

Maybe it's just me, or maybe it's the fact that I am smelling the Eau de Cologne, but IMO the top notes are very easy on my nose.

 

[Bigsly]

I was speaking generally, not on this frag in particular. I tried it a very long time ago, and it impressed me as too "feminine," but I don't I paid much attention to the drydown, so I wouldn't be surprised if I had a different opinion these days.