Our take
What does Byzance smell like?
Rochas launched Byzance in 1987, naming it after the old city of Byzantium. Nicolas Mamounas and Alberto Morillas composed it. Aldehydes open the perfume on a soapy note, surrounded by cardamom, basil and citrus. Carnation adds a peppery edge. The heart is a dense bouquet of tuberose, Turkish rose, jasmine and ylang-ylang. Iris makes it powdery. In the base, sandalwood and vanilla meet heliotrope, which brings an almond softness. Classifications waver between floral chypre and spicy oriental, which says a lot about its hybrid nature. The effect recalls Yves Saint Laurent's Rive Gauche, another soapy aldehydic floral, only spicier and heavier. It has become hard to find. The first minute can feel like a bar of old-fashioned soap. Be patient. Once the aldehydes settle, tuberose and rose turn almost creamy. Cardamom lingers in the background right to the end and gives the perfume its particular warmth.
When to wear it
An evening perfume for big winter occasions. One spray is enough because the aldehydes carry far.
It belongs to the Floral, Chypre family. Byzance is one of 21 creations by Rochas in our encyclopedia.
