The story of Balenciaga
Cristóbal Balenciaga was born in 1895 in the Spanish Basque Country and opened his first house in San Sebastián in 1917. The Civil War pushed him to Paris, where he set up at 10 avenue George V in 1937. His architectural cuts earned him the respect of the whole trade. Perfume came in 1947 with Le Dix, named after that address. Quadrille followed in 1955. The couturier closed his house in 1968. The group that later became Kering bought Balenciaga in 2001. For fragrance, the house signed with Coty in the late 2000s. Balenciaga Paris, by Olivier Polge, came out in 2010 and Florabotanica in 2012. That licence was not renewed and the brand vanished from perfume counters for almost a decade. It returned in 2025 with ten fragrances developed by Kering Beauté, including a new take on Le Dix. L'Oréal completed its purchase of Kering Beauté in March 2026.
An olfactory signature
Florabotanica sums up Balenciaga's Coty years: a flower treated like a greenhouse plant, green and a little strange. Mint and caladium leaf make for a cool, almost sharp opening. The carnation and rose heart keeps a spicy bite. Vetiver and amber leave the base dry, far from the sugary musks of the time. It is a botanist's perfume more than a florist's.
Which Balenciaga perfume to choose?
Our database features Balenciaga through Florabotanica, a 2012 eau de parfum. It will appeal to anyone who likes green, peppery florals with no sugar at all. Wear it in spring and during the day, two sprays. It has become hard to find, and many retailers list it as out of stock. For a more classic rose, try Le Labo Rose 31. Balmain Ivoire shares its love of green in a more powdery style.