Balenciaga Rumba is my most recent perfume discovery. Having read nothing about this fragrance I did a blind swap. And, as it turns out, Rumba is pretty fabulous in a truly unfashionable, 1980s, big perfume way.
I looked to other, wiser perfume bloggers for their thoughts. Bois de Jasmin writes (in a review from 2005) "Rumba is miles away from minimalist. It is vibrant and exuberant, expanding into waves of warmth interspersed by beguiling darkness." A comment on Fragrantica goes on, "Rumba gives you the big rich debutante's bouquet, honey and fruits on the table and patchouli and leather in the night air." Angela from NST, had this to say in 2006, "Rumba is big and deep, and is a strange but compelling combination of a hot electric burner, fruit, and beeswax". And Patty at Perfume Posse writes "Rumba sounds deeply, desperately not my sort of thing", and goes on to say how much she likes it.
Rumba isn't a muted edgy 2010 fragrance. Released in 1988, it was created by Jean-Claude Ellena and Ron Winnegrad and has a very old-school feel about it. It's a giant step step away from the usual kind of perfume that I would buy or like. But the soft beeswax and honey elements make it gentle and wearable without being overtly sweet.
Rumba is definitely going to be a regular feature in my perfume wardrobe this winter. Of course I'll be wearing it in a retro, tongue in cheek kind of way.
7 Lovely comments:
Ooh might check this one out, I love in-your-face 1980s fragrances-it sounds right up my street. I'm actually wearing Balenciaga Paris today. Think shiny beauty halls of the Champs Elysees and this scent pretty much transports you there! V x
Aaah, something out of Jean-Claude Ellena's opulent past... very interesting.
I also have a bottle of Rumba, but can't quite 'get it,' even though I have tried several times. My chemistry tends to make perfumes sweeter (or I am delusional), and this goes kind of over-ripe fruit sweet on me. Still, I'm going to keep trying because I love, love, love Jean-Claude.
Hi Viola - Do try it - I'd love to know what you think.
Hi OT - There's something quite satifsying about getting to know perfumers and following their work through several decades.
Hi Josephine - Couldn't agree more. I was left feeling quite flumoxed, so had to look to other bloggers for their reviews and opinions.
I remember it, I tried it long ago. I hope you will feel very good wearing it. It is nostalgic and beautiful after the years.
A good core of reviews is certainly important like this one. I admire your courage and enthusiasm about sniffing lots. It takes some rigorous scheduling to do so, right? I'm really looking for a scent which perfectly described through text. I can say, this one is perfect. You had me delighted for a while.
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