Baccarat Rouge 540 EDP

BR 540 EDP opens with burnt sugar and cedarwood, toned down a lot from the Extrait, and it also has an added lovely, fresh citrusy note in it. It's more herbal (the sage is a great touch) and a bit spa-like, with the sweet caramelized sugar in the background. The saffron is softer and more suede-like than the sharper leather of the Extrait. The jasmine is very clean and pure, addind a subtle floral sweetness. It smells like a luxury hotel and is very enjoyable.

It is a more linear scent than the Extrait, but both dry downs are similar. After a few hours, I get the lovely aroma of the opening, but now with clean musks and a hint of ambergris from the base notes, creating the scent of pure, clean ocean air. The burnt sugar note floats over everything, much more so than in the drydown of the Extrait. It's sweet, not overly so, but very fresh.

Compared to the Extrait, I think the opening is better here as the EDP has the sage and more citrus. The dry down of the EDP is sweeter and muskier, and the scent is overall more linear. I prefer the dry down of the Extrait, which is smoother, woodier, less sweet, and has more of the fresh forest/ocean air vibe.

It has wonderful projection, creating a large, long lasting scent cloud. The longevity is excellent too, lasting a full 12+ hours on skin, and days on clothes.

Such a special and lovely unisex scent. It's a classic for a reason. Very easy to wear and the perfect combination of warm and fresh. I give this a 9.75/10 as I wish it had the drydown of the Extrait!