— fragrance —

Stephane Humbert Lucas 777 Khol de Bahrein EDP Perfume Review

January 6, 2016

Kohl de Bahrein perfume

Stephane Humbert Lucas 777 Khôl de Bahreïn is an example of one of those perfumes that I heard a lot about when it was launched, but I didn’t try. Something is always being launched and someone is always talking about it. Years later, I’m finally trying it. Khôl de Bahreïn is a perfume inspired by khol eye makeup, smoky eyes. This is a look that I love but heavy amounts of liner give me, as David calls them, “angry eyes”. This has its advantages. It gives me that desired look of “batshit crazy” and intimidating, a look that I like but I know isn’t for daily wear. I save it for special “fear me” occasions…I actually find Khôl de Bahreïn much easier to wear daily than layers and layers of dark eyeliner.

Khol de Bahrein opens with a sweetness that is like floral-scented French lipstick and gaz, a pistachio Persian candy that tastes like heaven. This perfume is nutty, powdery and sweet with violets and a “makeup” smell. Despite being a sweet fragrance, it isn’t like other gourmands. This fragrance has a plushness to it from a powdery amber and sticky, balsamic resins. These elements keep the fragrance from smelling like a dessert. As the scent wears, it becomes a buttery iris, almost like if orris could could be made into caramel. It’s like the most luxurious iris paired with a slightly burnt or smoky caramel and boozy vanilla bean pod. Khol de Bahrein is an incredibly long-wearing fragrance. It dries down to smoky, benzoin incense and salted caramel sauce. The iris and ambergris in this perfume are phenomenal and in my opinion, justify the price of this perfume.

Of course, after I announced a semi-no-buy for 2016, the first thing that I try would be this thing that I absolutely must have. Khôl de Bahreïn is exactly the sort of perfume that I crave this time of year. In the middle of winter, I wear either iris scents or ambers. This is both. And it’s a high-quality example of both. I love how it reminds me of Persian spring desserts, a face plastered in makeup, plush velvet and smoky incense. This is exactly what I want right now. I don’t expect for this to be something I want to wear in the heat, but in this cold weather, it’s perfect.

Googoosh

Notes listed include violet, nougat, iris, sandalwood, benzoin, ambergris, peru balsam and musk. Launched in 2013. PERFUMER – Stephane Humbert Lucas

Give Khôl de Bahreïn a try if you like powdery florals or powdery ambers. It is very important that you like powdery or sweet if you’re going to try this. Or if you like perfumes like L’Artisan Traversee de Bosphore, Guerlain Shalimar, Juliette Has a Gun Citizen Queen, Annick Goutal Ambré Fetiche and/or Huitieme Art Ambre Ceruleen. I also think if you like the style of Guerlain L’Art et la Matiere collection, this is worth trying.

Projection is average while longevity is above average. I get as many hours from this that I’m willing to pay attention to. And I usually stop paying attention after the 15 hour mark.

The 1.7 oz bottle retails for $185 at Osswald. 

Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Powdery iris amber. This is an amazing iris. It’s an amazing amber. I’d love to have a bottle of this. Ugh, 2016, why did you start out like this?

Want more reviews? Try…

Kafkaesque

Australian Perfume Junkies

Ça Fleure Bon

Chemist in the Bottle

The Non-Blonde

*Sample obtained by me. Product pic from Fragrantica. Googoosh pic from iranian.com.

 

29 thoughts on “Stephane Humbert Lucas 777 Khol de Bahrein EDP Perfume Review”

  1. Hi Victoria,
    I really liked this but for some reason didn’t spring for a bottle. I will retry while in Europe and maybe, just maybe, might add it to the collection. My decant went in moments.
    Thanks for the link love.
    Portia xxx

    1. My sample is gone! My goal for 2016 is a trip to Europe. And I’m going to hold out for a bottle until I go there 🙂

      I really didn’t expect to like this that much, but it’s exactly what I want right now.

        1. I KNOW!!!! I should keep my mouth shut. Every single time I say “no-buy”, I get tempted! It never fails…

  3. Oh you make this sound so amazing!! I’m not much into the powdery florals right now (though it’s not like I dislike them) but I love gourmand notes and I am on a peru balsam quest (due to Slumberhouse Ore and Carner El Born both being so amazing for me recently).So yeah, I think I need to get a sample of this! Great review! <3

    1. I didn’t think I was so into powdery florals, but apparently I am 🙂 Don’t get me wrong, I like powdery but I have to be in the “mood” for it. With this one, the amber and all the sweeter resins add a special something. It really is something that I want to wear in the freezing cold. Now that I think about it, it sort of reminds me of Ormonde Jayne Tolu (except OJ is “lighter”) and maybe even Memo Shams (except Shams has spice and more woods). Actually, you may like Shams since you’re digging the balsams right now.

      Sort of off topic, I have Aftelier Peru Balsam Chef’s Essence which I use either to enhance vanilla extract or as a substitute. It’s sort of amazing. I use it a lot more than I ever thought I would.

      1. I used to really dig iris, violet and heliotrope and the whole lipstick sort of vibe… but I’ve gone off in a less delicate direction in the last year. But whith some heavier stuff involved too I do think I might love Khol!

        Haven’t tried Tolu or Shams. Can maybe see myself enjoying Tolu, but labdanum goes all sour and wonky on me so I think Shams is a no go unfortunately… I love some resins and balsams but others are just horrible on me.

        Oh oh oh!! I neeed to get me some of that peru balsam chef’s essence! I would add it to like, everything! 😀

        1. I embrace all my “phases”. I used to wear amber a lot. Then burnt myself out. Finally years later, I’m able to wear it again. Same with violets.

          I’ve wrote reviews of both. Tolu was not a first love for me. It took me some time. Shams doesn’t really wear like its note list. But, it does have a leathery thing going on which could be off-putting if someone doesn’t like leather.

          It’s so good. I bought it and thought it wouldn’t get used. Oh, I use it. A lot!

          1. I’ll have to look up those reviews! I do like leather so a leathery vibe would not be an issue…

            I saw that she has some Fir Chef’s Essence too! Now I need that! I got some fir flavored chocolate in an Olympic Orchids giveaway a couple years ago and that is still the tastiest chocolate I have ever had. I could maybe make some if I had edible fir absolute! 😀

          2. Oh, the fir! I use it more than I thought I would. It is really good with chocolate. I also like to add it to citrus things, like just even with grapefruit and vodka. Or added to citrus-y desserts like lemon tarts.

  4. Hmmmm, this is really interesting. In my mind his perfumes were crazy exorbitant – I had gotten a few samples that I loved, especially Rose de Petra. This was a few years ago, so I guess it shows how my concept of expensive has changed. $185 for a beautiful fragrance just doesn’t seem that bad…… Guess others are loving Khol de Bahrain, it’s on back order at Luckyscent.

    1. I actually avoided sampling this brand because I thought they were crazy expensive. And I try to avoid things that I know I’ll never end up buying (if I want to).

      Maybe my concept of “expensive” has changed too. I mean, it’s expensive but it’s not as crazy expensive as a lot of other niche brands where it’s now “normal” to be in the mid-$300s. It was also brought to my attention yesterday that the brand had a price DECREASE. This is something I’ve never heard of before! I don’t know if it brand related (like they want to remain under $200) or if it has to do with conversions into US dollars or what. But, I’ll take this. It’s so refreshing to hear of someone decreasing and not increasing prices!

    2. I fell in love with Rose de Petra about a year ago at the Scent Bar. I caved and bought a bottle. However, it was so damned expensive that I haven’t even taken the cellophane off the box yet.
      Am I the only one who does this? I have a bottle of Chamade that is suffering the same fate – I can’t bring myself to open the box.

      1. Rose de Petra sounds like such a “me” fragrance. I’m actually scared to try it in case I fall in love with a $200ish perfume…again.

        I used to have issues with that, but I made myself get over it. I had to remind myself that I can enjoy all the “special” things without being a hedonist. Actually perfume really helped me to “live in the now” and get over some of my anxieties. You’ve already bought it, the damage has already been done. Enjoy it.

  5. You really make it sound good. I’m going to put it out of my mind because I’m not buying anything for a while.

    1. My goal was to make it until my birthday in May without any purchases (other than replenishing a sunscreen or something I *must* have). And then I try this. This is how my luck always goes.

      1. My New Year’s goal was to spend excessive amounts but only on beautifulwonderful goodies. Figured why not set realistic goals for a change. (or perhaps it’s an attempt at reverse psychology??)

  6. This sounds amazing. I love amber. I love iris. Ack I already blew my perfume budget (and *how* I blew it…) over Christmas…

    1. This is how it always goes! I was going to play it really safe until my birthday in May.

      I’ve already drained that little sample. Oh, well.

  9. I’ve been in NYC all week and have gone to Osswald 3 times to try things that have been on my try list for way too long. After buying two things that might result in a divorce if my husband sees the receipt on a bad day I asked Josie to show me her favorite S777 fragrance. I’d tried a few and didn’t fall in love even though the high quality is unmistakable. She made me a sample of this. I sprayed it on my way to dinner and all I can say is it’s amazing. The warm amber paired with the wistful Iris is simply beautiful. It also keeps the Amber from getting too gooey for me. Kafka detects a heliotrope note and if that explains the amazing floral that shows up i believe it. Through it all there is something deep and substantial that for me makes this beautiful on a woman and inviting on a man. I won’t be able to afford it for a while but it’s on my to buy list.

    1. I hope you are enjoying your stay in NYC. Osswald is a great place to visit. I can see how you’ve already been there 3 times! Josie is the best.

      I try so many things. There’s so much that I like but I talk myself out of buying (who has the space or the money to buy all the “nice” things?). This was one where I knew I had to have a bottle. I second everything you said. It’s one of those that is so well-done that it just works with the person that is wearing it. I think it smells so rich and luxurious (and I hate saying that about perfume but I really think it’s the case here!)

      I didn’t buy a bottle immediately (I rarely buy perfumes in this price range). But, I’ll tell you this, Josie knows how to talk to husbands 😉 I ended up with a bottle as a gift a few months later for my birthday!

Comments are closed.