Is Baccarat Rouge 540 worth the hype?

The most requested fragrance in Nigeria, and what people actually get when they buy the oil.

It is the most requested fragrance we get asked about, usually with the same sentence attached: I want the one everybody says smells expensive.

What it actually smells like

It is not a sweet perfume. It is a saffron and jasmine accord sitting on wood, and half the people who order it are expecting dessert.

The composition is bright, slightly medicinal at the top, with a sweetness that reads more like burnt sugar than candy. It is also linear: what you smell at hour one is close to what you smell at hour six.

Why the oil suits it

Its strength was always the dry-down, and an oil keeps that longer. Projection is lower than the spray, which for a fragrance this recognisable is not a bad thing.

The honest verdict

Worth it if you like the composition. Not worth it if what you want is the reaction to the bottle, because nobody sees the bottle.