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Balenciaga Prelude — perfume poster

Balenciaga

Prelude

1982 · For women · Amber & Resinous

Prelude by Balenciaga was launched in 1982, an amber & resinous fragrance for women. Its accord profile is led by amber, warm spicy and powdery. Key notes: Carnation, Ylang-Ylang and Cinnamon.

At a glance

Dominant accordsamber, warm spicy, powdery
Key notesCarnation, Ylang-Ylang, Cinnamon, Jasmine
Community rating4.23/5 from 159 votes

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4.23/5
Community rating
from 159 votes
Aggregated public data, not first-party reviews

Accord profile

amber16%warm spicy14%powdery10%floral10%sweet10%yellow floral8%aldehydic8%vanilla8%cinnamon8%balsamic8%

Note pyramid

Top, heart and base notes as recorded for this composition. Each note links to every other fragrance in the database that uses it.

About this fragrance

Written from the structured record above — note pyramid, accord weights, perfumer credit and era.

Prelude by Balenciaga, launched in 1982, is a floral woody musk that opens with a bright, aldehydic sparkle of orange and bergamot. The heart is a rich tapestry of carnation, ylang-ylang, cinnamon, jasmine, rose, and orchid, creating a warm, spicy floral core. As it dries down, the base reveals a deep, resinous blend of tolu balsam, benzoin, amber, civet, vanilla, and patchouli, leaving a lasting impression of opulent warmth. The dominant accords are amber (100%) and warm spicy (88%), with powdery, floral, sweet, and yellow floral facets rounding out the composition. This is a classic, full-bodied scent that evokes the glamour of the 1980s. It suits collectors who appreciate vintage-style, complex fragrances with a strong animalic and resinous character. Ideal for evening wear or special occasions, Prelude is a statement perfume for those who love their scents rich and unforgettable.

中文簡介

1982年推出嘅Balenciaga Prelude,係一款花香木質麝香調香水。前調以醛、橙同佛手柑帶出明亮感;中調係康乃馨、依蘭、肉桂、茉莉、玫瑰同蘭花交織成溫暖辛辣嘅花香核心;基調則以吐魯香脂、安息香、琥珀、麝貓香、雲呢拿同廣藿香營造深邃樹脂感。主調以琥珀(100%)同溫暖辛辣(88%)為主,並帶有粉感、花香、甜同黃花氣息。呢支香水氣質華麗、濃郁,帶有經典80年代風格,適合鍾情復古、複雜香氣嘅收藏家。最啱夜晚或特別場合使用,展現成熟自信嘅魅力。

Reference data

HouseBalenciaga
NamePrelude
Launched1982
Marketed asFor women
Dominant familyAmber & Resinous
Notes recorded15
Accords10

Quick answers

Short factual answers compiled from the structured record above.

What are the notes in Prelude?

Prelude by Balenciaga: top notes are Aldehydes, Orange and Bergamot; heart notes are Carnation, Ylang-Ylang, Cinnamon, Jasmine, Rose and Orchid; base notes are Tolu Balsam, Benzoin, Amber, Civet, Vanilla and Patchouli.

What accords does Prelude have?

The dominant accords recorded for Prelude are amber (100.0%); warm spicy (87.6%); powdery (63.0%); floral (61.6%); sweet (58.8%).

When was Prelude launched?

Prelude by Balenciaga was first released in 1982.

What does Prelude smell like?

Prelude is recorded as a amber & resinous fragrance, centred on Carnation, Ylang-Ylang and Cinnamon.

Buy this fragrance

We currently hold 2 matching bottles of Balenciaga Prelude in our own stock.

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Also: all Balenciaga Prelude listings

Same fragrance elsewhere: eBay · Vestiaire · TrendyGround · more Balenciaga (searches for the same scent — not our stock)

Market reference & verification

Price ranges are compiled from our own recorded transactions, not from asking prices.

Before you buy

A batch code cannot prove authenticity on its own, but it can expose contradictions — a code that decodes to a date before the fragrance existed, or a bottle and box that disagree.

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