Badgley Mischka Perfume : Fragrance Review

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Badgleymischka

Star rating: 5 stars–outstanding/potential classic, 4 stars–very good, 3 stars–adequate, 2 stars–disappointing, 1 star–poor.

Designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka have long been the darlings of Hollywood celebrities and publications such as Vogue, which named them among the “Top 10 American Designers.” The classical silhouettes of their glamorous gowns, their predilection for luxurious, yet understated embellishments and their ability to distinguish between good taste and wanton excess is what garnered loyal support for the duo’s collections. It is therefore not surprising to discover that Badgley Mischka has pursued a union of fashion with fragrance via their eponymous release created by the Firmenich perfumer Richard Herpin.

Initially, Badgley Mischka does not deviate from the now popular formula initiated by Thierry Mugler Angel—sweet gourmand notes allied with patchouli. Badgley Mischka offers its sensual Angelic form rendered through nectar-like fruitiness, somewhat resembling Chanel Allure Sensuelle and Miss Dior Chérie, which also hit the fruity top notes. Yet, modulated by a warm sandalwood base, the effect is much more sophisticated than most fruity Angel variations. Like tiers of lace and tulle composed of the floral sweetness of guava, the luscious softness of apricot, the resinous tartness of mango and the spicy darkness of black currant, the fruity notes envelop one in a shimmering veil which fades slowly into ambery woods.

Despite its resemblance to Miss Dior Chérie, Badgley Mischka strikes me as significantly more interesting, primarily due to the fact that it does not conjure the image of a bubble gum snapping teenager. While Badgley Mischka laughs easily, it does not overwhelm with its gaiety. Indeed, I applaud the design duo for instilling glamour and sophistication into what could have been just another bowl of fruit salad. Among fragrances that try to be both glamorous and sexy, Badgley Mischka is one of the few that succeed.

Badgley Mischka features notes of red berries, peach, crème de cassis, jasmine, osmanthus, white peony, caramel amber, sandalwood, patchouli, and sueded musks. It is available from Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and other major retailers.

Sample: my own acquisition

Photo: Badgley Mischka gown from fashionforum.com.

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13 Comments

  • rosarita: By reading the list of notes, I should hate this. Instead, it’s my favorite of the fruity floral category. I found a bottle of the edp @ TJMaxx practically for free and enjoy it very much. July 7, 2011 at 7:18am Reply

  • Suzanna: This has been appearing with some frequency at Maxx.

    I didn’t care for this when it first came out. It seemed too rich and, in certain climates, almost sour on me.

    I changed my mind later, after finding it like Rosarita did. And as you mentioned, it is clearly one of the better Angel variants. As for Miss Dior Cherie, I retired a bottle of this after a man at a party asked who was wearing “Flea Away.”

    Ouch. July 7, 2011 at 8:27am Reply

  • jtd: I love your, “laughs easily” comment! I just reviewed Badgley Mischka on basenotes, but your comment characterizes it wonderfully. There really is something that excuses this perfume from the apparent ditziness of its genre and makes it interesting from its start to finish. Thank! July 7, 2011 at 8:33am Reply

  • sweetlife: This is one of my occasional indulgences–a dessert always much appreciated by the DH. I bought a small bottle of the parfum verion, which I find both richer and less diffusive. More sandalwoodish. July 7, 2011 at 2:35pm Reply

  • Elisa: I also found a bottle of this for cheaps at Marshall’s. I think of it as falling somewhere between Hanae Mori Butterfly and Narciso Rodriguez for Her in the continuum between girly gourmand fun and femme fatale sexy. July 7, 2011 at 2:54pm Reply

  • Victoria: I agree, it is really well done! Now, for all the ubiquity of fruity-florals on the market, there are some really interesting perfumes that this genre has spawned. July 7, 2011 at 3:09pm Reply

  • Victoria: Oh, that comment would kill any perfume for me! July 7, 2011 at 3:10pm Reply

  • Victoria: Your review is spot on. It is a lighthearted fragrance, but it has enough twists to be interesting. July 7, 2011 at 3:10pm Reply

  • Victoria: I need to try it then. I can just imagine how great it would be with more sandalwood! July 7, 2011 at 3:11pm Reply

  • Victoria: Love your idea of the continuum between girly gourmand fun and femme fatale sexy. And I agree, it falls perfectly in that domain. July 7, 2011 at 3:11pm Reply

  • minette: LOVE this one! it’s a great chypre! has all the interesting qualities of an old-fashioned chypre and yet it’s modern and totally wearable. usually those words spell: boring. but not in this one. glad to see you enjoy it, too! July 7, 2011 at 8:56pm Reply

  • Victoria: Yes, so true, often they are very boring, because they do not surprise. BM, on the other hand, has a number of interesting little twists. July 8, 2011 at 12:22pm Reply

  • Shoshi: Reminds me of a more interesting, slightly deeper and more subtle Coco Mademoiselle December 6, 2012 at 6:48pm Reply

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