So glad to finally try this scent! I moved and fell out of BPAL in all the craziness, and this was the first scent that I received and sniffed in over eight months. What a great welcoming back to BPAL!

In the imp, I don't smell any citrus. Just sweet vanilla and sandalwood. The scent is strong but so pleasant!

Wet on the skin, the throw is not overwhelming, which is wonderful. I can't stop sniffing myself! The sandalwood is definitely coming out strong along with the Lily of the Valley. That extra muskiness must be the opium, which, apparently, I adore (and as a result, I am browsing for more opium-mixed scents right now).

Dry on the skin about thirty minutes later, and I am enamored. The musky vanilla-lily-sandalwood combination is lush and womanly, though not overly so. It seems to go slightly powdery (not soapy, however) on my skin, which I prefer in scents anyhow. I still don't smell any mandarin notes, though I am certainly not complaining! There is something about this scent that seems almost dreamy.

Belle Époque is a classic! It makes me think of warm gardens and beautiful women lounging outside with large brim hats many, many years ago. And it makes me remember watching the movie of the same (with a very young Penelope Cruz), which it seems to reflect in an amusing way. I will definitely be adding this permanently to my growing collection. I highly recommend.

Source: Belle Époque