Byzance (2019) Rochas for women

This is one charming and fairy tale perfume.
Where to begin? THE BOTTLE! Oh my, this is oriental fairy tale dream come true. Presentation is just perfect.
Luxurious and captivating color combo embellished to perfection. It is a pity, that perfumes must be stored in dark, this is something you want to display on your vanity. I like original bottle, but I actually like new one even better.
I can not compare this scent to original frag, as I never had chance to smell it, and according to many wonderful fragranticians it has nothing in common with old perfume. If Rochas had chosen a different original name for the new perfume, he probably would have done better. There is no point in connecting the original masterpiece with a new perfume that is completely different. There are plenty of exotic destinations besides old Byzantium to associate the new perfume with.
The scent itself is just glorious. It is sweet vanilla and pear heaven, musky powdery floral concoction. I imagine a beautiful exotic princess in a silk dress with lots of jewelry lying on a velvet sofa in a beautiful oriental palace. Her room is full of flowers, walls are covered in blue velvet, tables and furniture are gold and she has sweet, juicy pears and vanilla cakes on a tray.

The opening is very loud and kinda childlish, but after some minutes it calms down. The drydown is actually very pleasant, very similar to Dior Addict. Sophisticated vanilla-citrus. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to Addict try this one.

Whoaa, this is something extraordinary! This new version of Byzance has nothing to do with the old one. Totally different scents. I did not like the old one, smells to old and vintage for me, but the new reformulation is sooo beautiful. Mysterious sweet, but not cloyingly sweet perfume. Really exotic and seductive, worth buying a full bottle.

Very loud woody notes. Has something artificial and unsettling. Its a little bit borderline-in one hand dramatic and appealing but you would like to get away

This smells.... very doughy. Vanilla is there, yes, but in a playdoh sense. I can hardly smell anything else but it makes me sneeze. If you think about it, yes, it's woody. Yes, it's musky. But going straight into it raw... unpleasant vanilla playdoh.

I have the original with half of bottle still left and bought this reformulation which is nothing like the original, is weak and light whereas the original had this heavy church-like note in it that made it elegant and long-lasting. Had no idea was a reformulation until I checked...

Forgot to add:

From the tester card:
“ Make your wish come true by wearing this captivating, mysterious and addictive fragrance!. This Oriental floral scent opens with radiant pear and neroli, followed by a floral heart combining Freesia and Heliotrope, and ends on rich notes of vanilla and musks.”

Déjate llevar por la magia de esta misteriosa fragancia, cautivadora y adictiva.

Un perfume floral oriental, con una salida luminosa que combina Pera y Neroli, un corazón floral de Fresia y Heliotropo y un fondo rico en vainilla y almizcles.

I would have said this is a gourmand with a woody edge, mainly because of the vanilla and woods in the base.

I can distinguish the almondy smell from heliotrope but can’t make ott what the fruits are.

I never new the original byzance but this one on its own is beautiful. A bit on the heavier side.

While I enjoy it, I don’t think I can commit to a FB.

Guys , i love it !!🥰 i have searched strong and softly smell like this parfume very longtime. I discovered this parfume on shopping center . I smelt the last tester bottle . I got shock 😂 I was trying to put my hand but there was no sprey in the bottle anyway. I ordered blindy cause of i really wondered. So im lucky one i have this parfume and this parfume isnt popular in my country😂😅 Bottle is really masterpiece . Vanilla hits! Omg🥹

I was so excited when I found out they were making a new Byzance. I loved the original and was so sad when it was impossible to find anymore.
Many say that it doesn't resemble the original but I disagree. I think it has some of the same notes though not as strong and spicy and doesn't last as long (which as for days!) I wore through 5-6 full size bottles of the original over the years, so I'm very familiar with what it smelled like.
I can't complain about the longevity of the new version as compared to other fragrances on the market right now. I've had it on for 9 hours and it is still subtly detectable under my sweater-so I see that as a win.
I use 5 sprays-3 on my stomach and two on my chest and it is only heavy for the first 1/2 hour or so. When I initially sprayed it I immediately felt something so familiar. So again, I disagree that it's NOTHING like the original. It's got its similarities, but I agree not as spectacular.
I'm not getting that much vanilla from it but perhaps that is because it is tempered by the bergamot, heliotrope and freesia.
Gotta admit that I love this, wish there was more power to it and will purchase it every chance I get lest they discontinue this as well. At least now I have something that's almost IT.

This sadly has the chemical in it that smells like burning rubber and wood to me, but underneath there is a vanilla perfume that is very similar to Lalique La Parfum. I have and love that scent and it thankfully doesn't have the same tar smell in it!

I had this perfume years ago and I just love that deep cozy vanilla scent and that bottle design. You can tell this perfume is unisex because I’ve finished a full bottle of it and it is not too sweet/feminine scent. definitely worth to give it a try specially on the skin.

I have to say great memories popped up while writing this review ,so this is all from what I remember about it

#Note: This isn’t safe for blind purchase

(Test it out before buying)

I got this one for my girlfriend over the summer and I think it’s excellent. It opens up fresh with that cold pear and bergamot accord, then moves to that thick, but at the same time transparent vanilla. It is sweet and strong, but just understated and well-blended enough as to not be overwhelming. I find it very addictive smelling on her and I think that for the money you can’t do any better. It’s worth mentioning that I haven’t smelled the original from 1987.

The most amazing vanilla i ever had tried. that's why I chose it to celebrate New Year.
To my unexpert nose, its starts with a sweet refreshing scent of Apple's blossom mixed with vanilla bourbon, never had feel any of the other notes listed in here🤷 till the drydown, where i can identificate clearly sweet chocolate mixed with a few dashes of vanilla sugar. About longevity, this Blue/gold baby stay with me for around 15 hours in skin, an need to wash my clothes x 3 times to take it out at all.

For me the drydown is the same like Jimmy Choo Jimmy Choo perfume. Definitely for colder weather, I think this is a strong fragrance.

The bottle is a masterpiece, the scent however, is not. This smells nothing like the original, it’s a pleasant smell. Generic, a watery citrus. Nothing like the complicated and unique spicy original Byzance.

i bought this perfume blindly and for no reason Lol💀 i liked the bottle and after seeing the notes i said i will give it a chance. I placed an order on 31 august 2023 and received it few days later i was sooo excited and when i first smelled it it was a shock!! i felt like someone slapped me in the face with something so sharp and didn’t know at the moment what it was. all i smelled was the heliotrope with tiny bit of vanilla and maybe something woody. i let it sit for about two months and i revisit it and WOW. it smells now so much better and less sharp and i definitely smell more vanilla i do really believe that everyone should give this one a chance. something about this scent is so calming for me i like to wear it to bed. also the most noticeable thing about this scent that it has a note that tingles my nose but in the most beautiful way😭 I don’t know how to say it but that makes me wanting to smell it more and more.

Marketing definitely works the way they intended, I was buying this unaware that it's not from 1987 and the original had been discontinued for some time. I got it for cheap with a gift card though so I guess I saved myself some disappointment. It smells very similar to Flowerbomb Dew (or the other way around rather, since Dew came out a year later), that one has a very synthetic aftershave-like smell to it for the first couple hours or so, whereas Byzance 2019 seems overall better crafted, less chemical, herbal leaning from neroli probably. Sadly it doesn't evolve much and is very heliotrope-forward all the way through, and it's arguably the most dominant note in the composition. Missivy summarized it well - I also get nearly no sweetness and no edibleness until the very end but do get dryness, scratchiness and "resin and bitter citrus rinds" right away. Very bitter perfume with a light sweet vanilla undertone to my nose. I find myself trying to get through the bitterness to catch more glimpses of this vanilla scent which I reckon would have been quite lovely were it more intense. With that being said I can't help but feel like it's just too ordinary for my liking, and I can see that people who love the original Byzance seem to agree.

Despite technically being legal, it feels scammy when a brand tries to sell completely new juice under the name of a well-known beloved product, most likely betting on the off chance that people will buy it thinking either that it is the original or was inspired by and has close ties to it. A few might (sigh) but it's still a distasteful practice and it won't boost the sales tremendously when neither statement is true, and certainly neither is true for this Byzance.

this starts with a hint of pear, bergamot, heliotrope and vanilla. thankfully this pear is a-ok. many times they turn to hairspray on my skin but this one does not and it's not overly sweet. then i get woody notes and freesia. it. it's one of those cozy vanilla scents that isn't overly sweet, with a hint of fruit and florals. pretty, but i have so many vanillas, and while i like this one, there are others i like more so i definitely don't need a full size of this one.

Just to get the obvious out of the way, this version of Byzance has nothing in common with the original. I don't know why Rochas decided to re-use the name and packaging theme. Fans of the original will be disappointed, and those (like me) who couldn't wear it would ignore this edition. Having now worn the 2019 version, I am glad I gave it a chance because it deserves to be noticed on its own merits. I get a deep, woody amber, sombre and dignified, not at all fluffy or musky as the notes list may imply. In fact, the closest I can compare it to is Coromandel by Chanel, it has the same varnished wood character, with a bit of Pirates Grand Reserve by Atkinsons quirkiness. This shines in cool weather. Highly recommended.

Powdery vanilla heliotrope bomb with a lightly herbal undercurrent that reminds me of bay leaf. Very similar to Lalique Le Parfum, I believe this was modeled after that.
A bit more than arms' length sillage, lasts well. Perfect for warm or cool weather, can't be too extreme in either case.

This reminds me of Alien Eau Sublime. There's something in this fragrance that reminds me of the Alien DNA. I would say it's sweeter and the vanilla is more prominent but it's the same vibe as Alien Eau Sublime to me.

One should not expect this perfume to smell like the "original" Byzance - when comparing the perfume pyramids of the original and the new edition it is obvious that Byzance 2 is a much less complex perfume than the original.( which is an olfactory romp through a spicy flower garden)
Many reviewers comment that Byzance 2 feels like a warm hug and it certainly does. I feel as if I am enveloped by a freshly baked vanilla cookie ( bathing in warm vanilla custard would be another image which comes to mind - but yuck - who does that?) It is lovely for those who love vanilla but a no-no for those who don't.

I think Rochas ought to bring back the true Byzance. I wore it for 20 years as my signature perfume and it hurts that one cannot find a bottle anymore. This one is good. We're looking at a a beautiful bottle of perfume. But the old Byzance was great. And I wish it was still available. I would go back to use it. Of course I would.

I unfortunately never knew - or wasn't aware of - the original Byzance. So, as much as I would like to directly compare the 2019 version to it, I can only give my impression of the latter.

The bottle is beautiful, no doubt about that. I love the rich blue with gold, its shape and how it feels in my hands. The only little disappointment was that the gold ring on the front is not a metal inlay, but painted on color. Maybe this is different with bigger bottles, I just bought the 30 ml one, since it was a blind buy. Other than that it's a precious little possession that will look very nice in the bathroom.

The scent itself, on initial spray, resembles L'Instant Magic by Guerlain 1:1 - the version from 2021. If somebody sprayed both on me while I was blindfolded, I'd be unable to distinguish the two. It is also reminiscent of Lalique's Satine. All three share this almondy sweetness, powdery vanilla, soft spiciness and slightest of floral notes. Only after a minute I can detect some very subtle differences. Byzance seems a bit more spicy than L'instant, although that is still a really very soft note. And there's some slightly more serious wood notes than in L'Instant. Maybe the vanilla is more prominent after a while, too and while L'Instant remains very soft, Byzance has something synthetic about it. But if someone wanted to try L'Instant which has been moved to the Les Légendaires perfumes and is not the cheapest from Guerlain, then I'd recommend checking out the new Byzance to see if they liked the overall composition.

I have to say that in Byzance after a few minutes there is something in the finish that smells a teensy weensy bit dirty, maybe from the musks and I don't find that in L'Instant at all. Nothing to bother me too much, though.

I don't really get much of rose, pear, bergamot or neroli. Nothing juicy, really floral or citrusy. Might be a case of just being anosmic to those notes, but it seems to happen to a lot of people, considering the other reviews.

Did I need this perfume? No, because I already have L'Instant Magic and Satine. Still going to keep it, because I love the bottle and it's an ok scent with a pleasant vanilla. Will probably use it more like a body spray: underneath my clothes, rather than a perfume.

I smell fresh cut, musky floral notes on a warm vanilla base. This is not my favorite perfume, but it is interesting!

First bought the original when it came out as model was Tatjana Patitz and remember her coming 3rd in a model competition in Sweden with the photos in Vecko Revyn. Liked the scent and did purchase it a few times over. A good scent but it did dive me a slight headache the last time I bought it.

This new 2019 version is a whole new scent and I adore it! It is like a warm hug. Was not happy with the changes made to Cartier II but this was a success. It will definitely be my scent in the colder seasons.

I feel cheated by false branding. I don't understand how Rochas can use the same name and very similar bottle design for a fragrance that is nothing like the original. It's very misleading.
I should have compared the fragrance notes first, before I ordered it online across the border, then it would have been obvious that they are completely different scents.

Why would Rochas call it Byzance? It has no magic and no depth of the original 1987 perfume. Bottle is gorgeous. I did not like it at first, but four years later give it another chance and find it more interesting. Again, it 's not Byzance.

Pear and freesia are really lovely here. Clean, sweet, powdery and very pretty. Juicy pear, powdery sweet (clean) roses and vanilla. There is a secret hidden note in here that smells just like the fizziness that hits your nose when you open a can of Coke. It gives the scent abit of naughtiness, a cheeky and playful sort of sexiness. To me, it’s a more youthful, more feminine and less serious version of Lalique Le Parfum, though it is quite a classy scent in its own right. I feel like this could be worn all year round, perfect first date fragrance for women 24 and up, it’s so very feminine and romantic. Not aggressively sexy, but so very sensual and irresistible, bottled feminine energy. It’s versatile enough for any situation, and good anytime of the year (probably not for hot days). I feel like this could be a compliment magnet type scent, I’d definitely compliment any woman wearing this and I’d want to know what she’s wearing. I realize that most of the negative reviews are from those who miss the vintage formulation. I don’t know what it used to smell like, but what I’m smelling right now smells beautiful and modern! I think women in their 20s and 30s who like sweet vanilla-based scents but want something a little bit different from the mainstream should try this. It does get more powdery in the drydown, but the sillage is so deliciously pretty. Longevity is good too, atleast 7 hours. Aside from Lalique, it also reminds me of a scent by Yves Rocher, but Byzance is so much better, more refined and abit sweeter.
Update: I still stand by my review and all I’ve stated, but personally I could never wear this scent, it annoys me after awhile and gave me a headache. Something about the sweetness+powdery combo doesn’t sit right with me. Like breathing in powdered sugar. For me personally, not to be sprayed anywhere near my head. It leaves a beautiful trail but I don’t want it close to my nose. One of those scents that I’d rather smell on others (as long as they don’t overspray) than on myself.

The original Byzance is fantastic, I was hoping to come to this page and find that the new Byzance was the same but "watered down," as with many 80's and 90's classics. Looks like I'll have to meter out my vintage juice with utmost frugality; the reviews here indicate that this is NOT a stand-in for the original. The 2017 version is just as expensive to source as 80's Byzance. Since I find Elizabeth Taylor's Passion to be similar (like Byzance + animalics and leather) I'll use that when I find myself in the mood to douse myself heavily (waste perfume.)

I remember original being mature fleshy rounded and luscious and I always stopped smelling it in the store. This new bottle looks gorgeous so that I nearly ordered this blind thinking it would be like the old one. It is nothing like the old one, The new one is sharp and sceetchy and gives me the vibes similar to Armani Si which is one of my most hated fragrances. Thank god I did not blind buy.

Well, Byzance 2019 is not at all like the 1980's Byzance, as everyone has said (I need to get my nose on that one again; I owned it back in the late 80's but haven't smelled it since!). Byzance 2019 opens with a strong heliotrope (I LOVE heliotrope!) but, unfortunately, that dissipates within the first 20 minutes. As it dries down, a peppery and woody note come out that -- judging by the reviews and looking at the notes list -- must be the freesia and woods. The vanilla base plays all the way through, from top to bottom, but B2019 is not a gourmand vanilla at all. The lasting power is OK, but not amazing; or maybe it's just too gentle for me.

I see the comparisons with Lalique Le Parfum, yes, though the Lalique is stronger and more "masculine," all the way through, and has a more herbal and medicinal smell from the bay leaf. B2019 also reminded me of Hermes Twilly Au Poivree, though Twilly is also much stronger, from top to bottom, as well as much more peppery (and rosy).

I definitely like Byzance 2019, but it's not a love; in my estimation, it's just not quite distinctively enough of any one thing. But if you like somewhat gentle woody, mildly peppery and non-gourmand vanillic scents, it's nice, though to my nose, it's a little boring. I prefer stronger, more character-filled vanillas -- like Lalique Le Parfum, with its medicinal tang, the very peppery Twilly Au Poivree, or Guerlain's magnolia-vanilla L'Instant.

I get faint vanilla and old-lady rose and heliotrope. This doesn't work for me at all. It's like cheap rose-scented handsoap.

I was hoping this would be my holy grail vanilla based off the notes and the reviews. I was looking for something semi sweet and powdery with some florals in the background.
This is a beautiful fragrance BUT there is a harsh "pepper" note that kills it for me. After checking the notes again I saw there is no pepper but there is a woodsy note which must be the culprit.
The wood note absolutely destroys this perfume for me it's just too irritating (for me). This smells as if you take a gorgeous powdery vanilla and add OUD to it 😐 No thanks.
I enjoy spicy and resinous fragrances but this totally clashes (imo). I'm returning it.

Ce doux Byzance, qui se dévoile après quelques minutes en une douce vanille élégante et poudrée est vraiment différent. Il me parait être à Byzance ce qu'est Shalimar millésime vanille est à Shalimar : l'héritage vanillé du rêve oriental. Bien que l' ADN soit perceptible, c'en est fini du goût du siècle dernier ou les nez anesthésiés par le tabac se relevaient au passage d'une magnifique outrageusement parfumée. Ce nouveau Byzance est une renaissance moderne réussie et pas une rénovation vintage. Le flacon joue le rêve.
J'ai comparé ce nouveau Byzance à l'ancien dont j'ai gardé une miniature pleine et je les ai testés sur chacun de mes poignets. L'ancien Byzance était pour moi un parfum dans la veine du nouveau Poison... je ne le supporte toujours pas. J'ai acquis ce nouveau parfum, qui n'a rien a voir avec l'ancien, avec plaisir.

I don't leave many reviews and rarely negative ones ( spread joy, not misery ! ) but sometimes a woman's go to do what a woman's got to do - and this time it's personal !

Byzance 2019 is a travesty with no connection to the original that I deliberated about, then went and bought myself for Christmas '87 ( cos I'd worked through the holidays and this was my reward 🥳 )

Ok, to a modern palette, it's probably perfectly ok: a fruity, creamy, same-as-everything else, concoction. It's what Coco Mad is to Coco '84 or Miss Dior '21 is to Miss Dior '47. If the latter is what you go for, fair enough but why besmirch their predecessors good names to do it ? If it didn't share a name then maybe wouldn't judge it so harshly ( or, more likely , have just ignored it tbh ) but, by luring in those that remember Rochas' glory days, this is the result - an angry middle-aged woman with a *very* long memory !

I suppose everything's moved on, and we old fogies ( or should that be "classics" 😉 ) get left behind.

If you've been raised on the scents of the new millennium then this may well smell sophisticated, heck, sexy even ( if you have a thing for pear upside-down cake ). If you only know Rochas for the pink, nougat that is Couture then, yes, you're probably view this as quite sophisticated in comparison. If you think Couture Black is leather wearing rock chick, then this could be your slinky dressed, date night idea of fun.

However...

If you know Rochas for sparkling Lumiere; dark green Mystére; complex Madame, fresh AF Eau d' , well then, I doubt you'll think much of this at all.

If you want to rich & fruity, try Alchemie instead. If you want "sweet" & powdery, try the original Tocade.
Rochas WAS once great.

This Byzance, is not even a fit to wear the cobalt blue of a smokey, spicy, sexy masterpiece that danced to It's a Sin.

In short: nice bottle , shame about the juice !
⁝

For me - this is another Masterpiece!!!
Soft and rounded, gentle and creamy, it has a mature elegant touch.
So cozy, comfortable and naughty. The vanilla note is done in the best possible way in my opinion.
Excellent fragrance in a stunning bottle!

Beautiful, dark vanilla floral. It's NOT a candy-sanitized commercial vanilla patchouli, and it has got spices in it, which is why the kiddies don't like it. (This is a scent that is far superior to 75% of what is available in a podunk department store or a Sephora.)

Sorry, this doesn't smell like cookies, and you have to enjoy being a grown-up to enjoy this. It has a wisp of smoke and sexiness in the drydown; open is mildly fruity and the sweet-powdery, round and creamy note is heliotrope. (If you don't like heliotrope, or vanilla, Byzance 2019 will not be your bag--this scent is loaded with both.) I can see it being especially warm and comforting through colder weather, but I'm also going to try it as an evening scent for cool spring and fall evenings. Highly recommend, and on the grey market it's a steal.

I don't know what Churinl is talking about down there, but this is so far from gourmand I would laugh if I wasn't already choking on this fragrance. There is zero sweetness in this and certainly nothing edible about it. Unless you enjoy eating resin, bitter citrus rinds and neroli flower. I also don't get any vanilla which is weird, as it's suppose to be a vanilla fragrance I thought. Also it is incredibly dry and scratchy. Oof...there must be something wrong with my nose.

Anyway, it's not horrible once it dries down, just not very good. The opening is super scratchy and it tickles my nose and then it all I get is citrus rind like toilet cleaner.

God no.

40ml for 20 euros? The cheapest fragrance that I own at this point, but oh boy, it's really good! A hug in a bottle. Royal blue color feel + better than the latest Dior Addict reformulation for sure!

I have loved the original Byzance since it was first released. For a time, it was a signature scent. I am lucky enough to own the vintage in both EDP and EDT. I also own a flanker - the beautiful Byzantine that was sadly discontinued a long time ago. I mention this in particular, because I choose to think of Byzance 2019 as a flanker, not a shameless capitalization on the name and reputation of the OG.
I purchased it at a great price, and I am very happy to have it in my collection. I think it's a fantastic, grown up, vanilla, with powdery heliotrope on a bed of fluffy musk. I generally dislike freesia, so thankfully my skin doesn't seem to amplify it too much. The neroli cuts through any overt sweetness, preventing it from venturing too heavily into cupcake gourmand territory, though I would categorize it as gourmand.
There is a phase where segues into the mid notes that I'm not particularly fond of, which now that I think of it might be due to a peppery, somewhat medicinal freesia, but it passes, leaving behind a lovely, cozy autumn/winter fragrance that I enjoy.
It's a strong like, not a love, and it's not in the same league as the masterpiece that was the original Byzance, but it's one I will definitely reach for throughout the cold weather.
While everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and may legitimately dislike B19, I would encourage those who are just angry about the name to put that aside, and judge it on it's own merits. You may be surprised!

It’s a good very affordable powdery vanilla - the same style as Zadig and Voltaire this is her and Histoires de unne femme sensuelle from Mouboussin. Absolutely NOT a single resemblance to the old Byzance, so better have that in mind if blind buying. Pleasant but not groundbreaking.

Vanillla and pepper, though pepper is not listed here. Good fragrance! It's called Byzance, but it smells not like any oriental scent. It's European and classic. I'm not familiarized with previous Rochas Byzance, but this new one smells so good. Longevity and sillage - all day long. It smells like Lalique Satin for me. I like both.

BEAUTIFUL vanillic heliotrope, the opening is a bit alcoholic smelling, the pear and bergamot together I’m sure. When it starts to settle and then into the dry down, it’s gorgeous. A bit classic, but still sweet and powderey enough for a younger person to enjoy and wear. Really good value too, smells expensive. Strong silage. It lasts a long time on skin and definitely clothing. And the bottle is beautiful and qualitative too. One of the nicest fragrances I’ve smelled in a while. Too underrated, a lot of these unfortunately fly under the radar(and get discontinued) whilst generic shampoo scents with celebrities in the ad are so hyped.

I was not expecting the 80s Byzance because I knew it was totally different, so not very disappointed... But...
Beautiful, gorgeous bottle, love it. The scent is very similar to Lalique Le Parfum. The only difference is Byzance has some prominent pear and some initial sweetness. Le Parfum is dense from start to finish.
It is strong. REALLY. Linear as well - do not expect anything different from what you had initially - so not a blind buy option.
Comparing both, I consider Le Parfum classier while Byzance is younger. Since they are, I dare to say 95% similar, it is not necessary to have both, just in case if you collect fragrances.

Such a shame, I was hoping it was a real relaunch. Unfortunately this perfume has nothing to do with the original. Byzance used to be a heavy oriental, but nothing of that has been left in this one...

I was hoping that Rochas would relaunche Mystère, but if they are going to violate the original in the same way they did with Byzance, there's no need for it... Please Rochas bring back Mystére in it's original formulation and I promise you I'll stand in line to buy myself enough to last me for the rest of my life!!!

Wow, this stuff is so strong. The vanilla here is rather dry and cold, and even though it's not listed in the notes, I can smell some spices. I was expecting a very sweet perfume, and, instead, this reminds me of some old men's cologne :( The bottle is gorgeous though, I love the vintage feeling!

I have been trying and failing to understand the original Byzance for ages Until today. Justfloral likened this version to a dictator's wife. Wearing original Byzance today, it's totally dictator's wife - a cold spicy floral incense. This is definitely a relative. A dictator will surround himself with people he can trust - this is one of those people - younger, modern, uncaring woody vanilla incense. It's on a different frequency to the original - artificial, and lacking in depth which is normal today. This is powdery, soft and cuddly, and cold.

Okay, I'm making it sound unpalatable, but I actually quite like it. It's one of the few newer perfumes I have. Most of my collection is older and vintage. I have a 40ml. It works best for me on cold damp days which suits its damp woodyness. Not a safe blind buy.

Such a let down….I paid a lot of money for a 90ml bottle. It is one of the weakest perfume of my entire collection and I have over 300. After heavy spraying my forearm (about 8 sprays) all I could smell was a very faint bergamont and some vanilla….no sillage at all…very close to the skin scent… after one hour I barely can smell it on me….this one is going straight to the linen freshener pile…

One of the best gourmand vanilla themed fragrances in the mainstream designer fragrances realm. If you are looking for straightforward cookie-bakery-sweet vanilla with no complications, look no further. It's very sweet, edible and linear, lasting power is great too.

Wooofff!!!...this one is a beast, it’s a bomb that went off and then rogue, spray at your own risk!!

Let me say that this is a beautiful fragrance and such a well blended list of notes. It is sexy, classy and very beautiful BUT...I sprayed a tiny amount on my wrist this morning at 8am and it is now 6pm and I am still being assaulted by the wafts coming from my wrist!!! Assaulted!!! It is so potent that you’ll probably choke everyone within your vicinity, no problem.
Should a fragrance be that potent? I say no, no it shouldn’t. Personally, I think that fragrances should project moderately because not everyone wants to smell you, that’s a personal opinion, of course.
However, Byzance (2019) is out of control and though it smells nice, I cannot spray this and go out in public for fear of making everyone within 6-7 feet of me choke. Therefore, it is a hard pass for me...

Byzance opens quite spicy, with a masculine edge on me. No vanilla I can detect. It settles into a musky, earthy scent that remind me distinctly of the patients from the Middle East I‘ve looked after in the past. Their entire rooms usually had this distinct scent to them, though I can‘t say which ingredient (or combination of them) it is. I‘ve never come across this particular blend in the western world. On me it then fades quickly into a woody skin scent, not unpleasant, but I don’t think I‘ll go back for more.

I love this mini bottle. And the scent itself is nice, similar to Quatre Absolue de Nuit with some of the play-doh-iness of Kenzo Amour. I also get an incense-like note like in Amour. Easy to wear, gourmand but not too sweet, calming but interesting, potentially even a bit mysterious. There’s a slightly burnt tonka-ish note in the background that puts me off, but layered with a syrupy pear scent (like Quatre Absolue de Nuit) I could see this being a real man-magnet for some.

I have been wearing this perfume on my right arm for a few hours now and it has not moved from it's horrid and obnoxious opening of bergamot, bergamot and more bergamot! I was hoping for another vanilla to add to my small vanilla collection and this will not be one of them. I bought a mini of this because of the accords listed above, they couldn't be more wrong. This is just another modern perfume that like so many others that have been made in just the last few years that uses bergamot in abundance and it ruins the whole composition. Is bergamot a cheap ingredient? I've seen the essential oil in health food stores and it is very inexpensive so I would say yes and it does smell cheap. A little bergamot adds freshness, to much just turns into a sharp, obnoxious bomb that is just horrid. I would put this fragrance in my top 20 list of worst perfumes I've smelled in the last 13 months. Just sharp, headache inducing and horrid!

Edit: I just read some of the reviews below that said this scent blooms on warm skin. I was warm when I wore it and still nothing but sharp bergamot.

I recently purchased this as a blind buy based on reviews and a distant memory of the original formulation. I've had it on for about six hours, and here are my thoughts....

The first few minutes were very challenging. I got a strong blast of alcohol and heliotrope and was convinced that this was going to smell cheap and horrible. But, after about ten minutes, the alcohol dissipated and the warmth of the vanilla crept in. I'll admit that, at this point, I started to see some resemblance to Dior Addict. And then it changed again! Twenty minutes in, and I could smell the woody notes and a musk note not unlike the one in Narciso Rodriguez's Narciso. But, ultimately, this actually reminds me a lot of YSL's Manifesto.

Is it safe for work? Maybe... but I wouldn't spray this and leave the house immediately. In my experience, it needs time to settle down and develop. Is it suitable for going out? Probably... it's strong enough to leave a light trail but not so overwhelming that it would become cloying. In all likeliness, I'll wear this one in the fall, daytime on the weekends and the weekdays that I work from home. It gets closer to the skin as it wears, and as other reviewers have noted, it dries down to a beautiful vanilla. I'm not sure that I would rush out and buy this again, but I'm not unhappy with my purchase. The bottle is stunning! It's a big "like" from me!

After a month of (infrequently) applying it, Byzance has started to grow on me. At first i thought it is way too loud and heavy, but now that ive had some time with it, I think it brings something lovely to my perfume shelf.
I was really baffled when I smelled it and the notes listed here were completely different from what was on my arm. It starts with a cinnamon carnation, some sandalwood and vanilla, it is strong and sweet and dark. It develops a little bit, becomes lighter and powder that compliments the vanilla comes through. It doesnt lose the spiciness completely, but it gets easier on the nose. I love this stage because it has the bold character of the opening but with more balance. It gradually fades to a sweet powdery carnation after 6ish hours, and i sometimes catch a whiff of it the next morning.

I would recommend it for autumn and winter, the colder it gets the better it smells. Wouldnt wear it at the office because its strong, but if you only wear a bit of it and let it fade, I think it could work. projection and longevity are impressive, but be careful if you dont want to fill a room with it.
I've been told that it smells similar to the original but I havent smelled that one so i cant confirm.
Overall I really like it, because it makes me feel confident. If youre looking for a dark spicy and deep scent try it and see if it works with your skin, I think it might be right up your alley.

This rendition of Byzance is completely different. There isn’t any spicy vibe which was one of the main players in the grandma. It’s a massive dosage of cashmeran, vanilla, heliotropin and ambery woods. And just a few white flowers emerge, led by neroli. No fruity notes, not any delicate details.
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It’s a simple oriental fragrance for women that follows classic structure in a modern shape. It uses too synthetic notes in this walking path. An extraordinary persistence.

When I think of the 'cheap and cheery' perfumes I have bought from established houses such as Givenchy, Cacharel, Guerlain and Burberry and been disappointed I realise that I might have to amp up this review for the new Byzance. I am mid sixties plus and a good friend of mine wore the original Byzance so I think I am allowed to say there is a watermark of the original present. This is a delightful fragrance that fades away gently without getting bitter. It is well worth the money I paid from an online discounter and I love the bottle on my dresser. Well done and no harsh words at all.

the bottle is wonderful but I do not understand the scent

So unbelievably classy and beautiful ❤ Byzance (2019) by Rochas is a very chic, undeniably French, modern, amber floral which is just my kind of thing..

I can definitely detect the original Byzance dna, from my youth, but this time around the luscious pear, neroli, vanilla and the dreamy white woods make this version..A very well executed update..And although the company said that this version would stand alone from the original. I would say that it does achieve that as well. Very well! And this is a huge favourite for me.

Bravo Rochas. Bravo 👏

Just want to send some love to the peeps at Rochas for bringing out some new fragrances that can hold their own, id never heard of them, certainly not the older frags, but some good stuff coming out from them.

OK, byzance 2019 vs mont blanc signature.

sig: warm powdery make up leaning vanilla, and smooth. - leans a bit narciso poudree ish, but overall warm powdery dense
byz: cool powdery make up or body product leaning non flowery floral. - leans a teeny touch dense fresh floral behind the powdery smooth overall feel

Seems like we all experience different things with this one. I just got this, so note that this is based on solely a small spray on my arm. What I'm getting reminds me slightly of Joop Le Bain, not at all of Dior Addict or Midnight Poison, perhaps very faintly of Armani Code, but mostly of Mystery by Naomi Campbell. I do agree with a touch of L'instant Magic in the opening. Loving this so far, praying for good longevity and sillage.

Update: Still love the scent itself, but pretty much zero projection so far. Longevity seems average though.

I know !! .. this is like a dupe of Dior Addict !! That vanilla note stays after the shower. even if you rub your skin.

I have to agree with justfloral, at one point in the opening it's like a mashup of L'instant Magic and Hypnotic Poison. Yet a few seconds later it's reminiscent of Midnight Poison. As it starts to dry down it shifts yet again and reminds me of Lalique Le Parfum.

At this point I realize is going to keep changing as the different ingredients shift in and out of focus. And it does exactly that for a couple of hours.

On my skin it eventually turns more animalic burnt wood with hints of vanilla. Every now and again it gives me a shock by suddenly smelling like something unexpected for a second as I move around - old Miss Dior, Rochas Femme, Madam Rochas and Aubusson Histoire D'Amour. Very ephemeral. One whiff and it's gone. I'm left wondering what just happened. This is what The Woman in White should be wearing as she haunts people. It's very translucent and magical, and slightly damp, like a foggy night.

Opening is a clean aromatic nutty vanilla. It's really soft at this point. The mid is floral nutty woody vanilla, and is easily discernible but not loud. The dry down is woody animalic vanilla. Very softly powdery throughout. Overall it's not overpowering but I can smell it even when I'm still. Very long lasting.

One day I wore it out and I could just about smell it through my mask for a few hours. 12 hours later I'm back home and it's very soft but still obvious.

Although vanilla does seem more expensive. This scent reminds me of a perfume that I already have or two. In the opening, Armani Code. Midnight poison in the middle notes. Jah! And then again bought together!!...Unfortunately it was not worth it for me. They made a mistake at the pharmacy and they sent me a big bottle that I have to pay for, to top it all ... 😅
I'm floating in a cloud of citric , wood, and vanilla powder.
It's nothing like fresh spicy casbah Avon.
Unbelievable!!! I just wash my arms and it is uninmutable..
That only happens with clothes..

In 2019, Byzance was relaunched and this is an important point to be clarified. There was no attempt at reformulation in order to achieve something close to the original version. All the communication directed to the press was very clear: it is a new fragrance!
In globalized times, where information is born and multiplies in seconds, this means that if one day you read something about it, citing this version as “reformulated”, know that it is not true.

However, it is clear that the brand chose Byzance for its strength and history. And the connection with the past is evident from the moment we set eyes on the bottle. The new fragrance was created by Maurice Roucel and Alienor Massenet. The composition includes the following notes: bergamot, neroli, and pear (head); rose, freesia, and heliotrope (body); absolute of vanilla from Madagascar, blond woods and soft musks (base).

The concept revolves around the romance and inspiration of Parisian nights. Annabelle Belmondo is the face of the campaign, representing the radiant and confident woman who is part of the target audience of the new perfume. The bottle is still blue, but has gained a more mysterious tone (in midnight blue) and even more golden finishings, reinforcing aspects of luxury and sophistication. Truth be told, it is phenomenal!

The fragrance of the new Byzance is floral-oriental and can be defined with just one word: creaminess. As soon as it touches the skin, it seems that it was thought not to explode, nor to leave a powerful trail. It is as if the smell is spread through gentle caresses, which last longer than in reality, as they remain in the memory of the receiver.

On my skin, the output is ephemeral and it cannot hide much of what is to come. Byzance is a fragrance for those who like vanilla nuances, but are not content with generic sweets. Simple like this! If I were told that its only notes are heliotrope, vanilla absolute, and a soft woody accord, I would not question it.

As mentioned before, its projection is not the strongest point. On the other hand, durability is surprising! And if the word of the moment is innovation, you can be sure that Byzance disappoints in this regard. On the other hand, it overshadows that repetitive idea that every woman who goes out at night, with the intention of seducing, must smell like a cotton candy wearing a dress. And for me, this is the biggest achievement.

Ohh no...so why this is called byzance???!
Where is cinnamon , where is iris ...all warm spice notes??
It's a fraud!!!

Powdery, heliotrope-based perfume with something
animalic to it.

L'Instant Magic is a girl wearing flannel pyjama, thinking about his boyfriend before falling asleep.
Rochas Byzance is a dictator's wife sitting in a in huge armchair in a dim red room with velvet covered walls thinking about her new victims.

It smells like: heliotrope + talc powder + wet burning sawdust + animalic note (something like beetle excretion?).

First thing first: this doesn't have any resemblance to the original Byzance; this is a completely new fragrance.

Secondly, you have to try this scent on skin, warm skin, in order to make it bloom: I think the pyramid doesn't show all notes as it is much more complex and with a more interesting evolution than the notes would suggest, but it needs to be on skin.

If L'Instant Magic and Hypnotic Poison had a baby, this would be it. Immediately after spraying you may think that this is very similar to L'Instant Magic, including the anise and iris notes, a beautiful, heavenly powdery vanilla scent with something you may identify as the Guerlinade.
In the drydown though it transits from that angelic fluffiness, typical of what some people may associate to baby products, to a sultry sensual undertone with some more carnal flowers, the almond and the sandalwood notes, moving into a rather makeup/boudoir scent territory and becoming a true oriental.
It is a beautiful, truly addictive and actually quite modern interpretation of the genre.

It has a quite good longevity: sprayed on my neck 4 times in the morning, I could smell it until night and stayed on my hair til next day.

The bottle is to die for, maybe even better than the original one, if this is possible.

It stronly reminds me of Trussardi Inside - the same creamy, comfy, a bit cold scent

I was able to find this from Fragrancebuy.ca, I remember wearing this when I was a teenager in the 90's. I am so glad it is back. The bottle is gorgeous!

Oh My goodness you guys, this is flipping beautiful. I only paid less than $60 US dollars for this fragrance, I am not joking I would have paid that much for the bottle alone. The juice itself is beautiful, the flower is gentle, awesome vanilla scent. Perfect for spring and fall in my opinion. Men and women would really enjoy this one. That bottle is a piece of art!

Bottle is a masterpiece without any comments... Talking about perfume- it seems they removed all the resounding sound of fruits&flowers from Laura Biagotti's Venezia edt and mixed it with woody vanilla from Collistar's La Vaniglia, after sprinkled powder on the top. As a result, a delicate, enchanting and even mysterious fragrance. On my cold skin sounds very noble

5/10

What a nice change this is.
I dont know the original scent.
This one is clean-talc, rounded and smooth with gentle aromatic type flowers.
It's not too dry like some, I dont do well with super drys, the vanilla is mellow and non super sweet, the citrus is like the pith rather than skin or juice.

It's quite closeto the skin, but has stayed on post shower.
I think it could go unisex.

Skin test, summer.

08. December 2019

Can we talk about the bottle? When i saw it in person i was stunned! Just overall gorgeous!! I actually like this design better than the original one. But thats where my excitement about this version ends.
This has nothing to do with original Byzance at all. I have the original in Edt, edp and parfum and i like it a lot, i have never tried the 2017 version but this is something completly different. No aldehydes, no carnation, no tuberose, just vanilla, musk, wood, freesia and a hint of heliotrope. Is it bad? No. But not for my taste and especially when my memory is still attached to the original one. This one is just mediocre... to me it actually smells very familiar, i would say it has that cheapish freesia undertone that i could smell in a lot of drugstore fragrances, something very "Victoria's Secret" like. I cannot put my finger on it, but it is very familiar, if there is such a thing as vanilla wood, then this one it is.
Sillage is modest and lasting power is average, nothing pompeuse about this frag except the bottle!
Again, im writing a review about the scent as if it would be presented to me in a bland bottle with no name or brand written, so im judging it solely on fact of scent itself and its perfomance. Not a negative review, but i wil pass....

No Tuberose? No Spice? So they are just using the same name on a completely new fragrance that has no similarities to the original formula. Kind of like Givenchy is doing with the new L'Interdit fragrance. Alright, whatever.
Love the new bottle, though!

To me, Rochas Byzance (2019) is a complete Masterpiece!
Let's start with the bottle design - so good and luxurious when you hold it in person! It's real pleasure to see so high quality presentation by Rochas! This blue color is stunning and the contrast with the gold nuances is so captivating in reality...

About the smell - wow, wow, wow!!!
It got soft and rounded opening - fresh, gentle, slightly juicy, creamy, mild and...cold. Yes, this cold accord at the beginning is very well put and it gives elegant and stylish, slightly mature touch.
Later, the magic happens! When the vanilla note, becomes the Queen of the composition - mmmm, no words to describe it!
So cozy, so creamy(almost ambery), deep and incredible sexy/naughty... It's not too sweet or overwhelming, but the vanilla note is done in the best possible way in my opinion, because it gives depth, but at the same time playful/modern sexy approach.

And I found very interesting moment - despite the vanilla and the attractive juicy, and creamy character, the scent keeps a long time the clean-musky accord which makes me crazy about Rochas Byzance (2019)!

I'm very impresses with it, because this is a modern scent, very attractive, sensual, deep, sexy, comfortable and at the same time it brings some elegance and classy feel. I know it sound confusing and controversial, but that's how I feel it.
Bravo Rochas! Excellent fragrance in a stunning bottle!

That is a beautiful bottle! I know the original formula and I have the 2017 edt formula, even thought people said that one wasn't the same as the original, to me it smells the same.

The note pyramid for the 2017 version is closer to the note pyramid in the original formula. Yet, according to a fragrantica friend I sent a sample to of the 2017 version and who happens to be an aficionado of the scent, said even that is just a shadow of the original. I wouldn't know since I've never smelled the original, but this new version's note pyramid seems to be so striped down of ingredients it appears to be a totally different fragrance. Only way to know if Rochas managed to recapture the magic of the original is to test it out.

I loved the original. Looking forward to trying the new version.