WhatScent

Curlyhen@curlyhen

· Edited

Wear

Still can’t make my mind up about this one.

Destin by BalmainBalmainDestin3.414 ratings

I first tried this in store 5 months ago, I thought it smelt very generic and cheap but familiar, so I bought a sample to try on my skin at home and spend more time with it. This is such an odd one for me, I still think it smells very generic but I’m definitely drawn to it. It smells like something from the late 90s / early 00s but can’t put my nose on it.

The floral fruits are synthetic but very pleasant to wear, fresh and super fruity with a lovely musky and woody dry down with a slight powder nuance. The patch, santal and hint of pepper give it a grown up, sensual edge to the bright floral fruits. Strawberry and raspberry dominates in the opening, peony and lychee in the dry down. A very nice, easy to wear going out perfume maybe? I still can’t make my mind up about this. I still think it smells generic yet I like it more each time I wear it, definitely enjoyable to wear, nostalgic and very feminine. I think if I smelt this on someone else, it would catch my attention. I wouldn’t buy a bottle but if I was gifted a bottle, I think I’d happily use it up. An odd one.

Wore it on August 8, 2026

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Comments13

  1. Av.lilliston@av.lilliston

    I really think whatever the store already smells like messes with my nose. I have had it happen a lot where I love or hate something in store and it's completely different when tried at home.

  2. KeyLimeCocoa@keylimecocoa

    I agree 100%. There is a 90s/2000s feel to this fragrance and it immediately felt familiar to me as well.

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  3. Chloe@chloem10

    This sounds super interesting to me! All for the 90/2000s nostalgia

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  4. Tellulah@tellulahonline

    It’s so interesting to hear what other people think generic perfume smells like bc there’s usually a component of “common, but not popular, dated, but not nostalgic, & just generally unpleasant, but not drastically so”

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    1. Curlyhen@curlyhen

      I don’t think it’s a dated scent at all, and I imagine this could be a popular scent. And I think it’s a really pleasant scent. Mmm. I’m trying to tease out what it evoked in me, why I feel it’s generic and it’s more that it’s unremarkable and possibly forgettable but very nice nonetheless. It isn’t necessarily a negative thing at all.

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    2. GreenOlive@greenolive

      Replying to @curlyhen

      I agree. It feels generic and inoffensive yet complex. It's nothing new but it kind of has a lot going on and changes throughout

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  5. Kaide@kaide

    I tried this in store when it first came out. It is a very pretty scent but it was a sandalwood bomb on me. After an hour I got the teeniest faintest scent of strawberry. Hard pass for me but it is a very pretty scent.

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  6. MariSmells@mehsmells

    I haven't smelled it yet. The hard part is smelling in an any fragrance area is that my nose is already overwhelmed. So can never really tell if what I'm smelling is what I really like.

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  7. GreenOlive@greenolive

    Agree, it's very interesting. I first experienced it 5 or 6 mos ago and have thought about it off and on since then. I can't say that any one thing jumps out at me, in fact I will agree that it's pretty generic, yet different.

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    1. Curlyhen@curlyhen

      Yessss! So strange, it seems unmarked yet moorish. I’m about to go out in the wild with in on so will be interesting to see how others perceive it on me.

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    2. GreenOlive@greenolive

      Replying to @curlyhen

      Sometimes it reminds me of Paco Rabanne Olympea, but I yet to do a full day field test. I'm interested in how it turn out for you. Keep us updated!

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  8. cmewiththemhandz@guerlinaughty

    New Balmain?????? Does it live up to their reputation 🫪

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  9. Marcela@marcela

    I never tried any of the Balmain fragrances, but this caught my attention! I don’t mind having a few generic-smelling fragrances here and there, specially if they are reminiscent of the late 90s or early 00’s. Also, your nails look lovely (judging from the one I can see 💅) ☺️

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