Benghal Lancome for women

I'm still on the fence about Benghal, and it's not looking good. Perhaps, like some of you, I got caught up in the imagery of an exotic scent transporting me to a beautiful, Indian palace garden. It's an intriguing concept, no doubt, but IMO the problem lies with Lancome's execution of it. This could have been awesome had they used a heavier formulation. A fragrance like this needs an oiler base to give it richness, depth, and greater longevity. The weak EDT formula they chose to go with, is not at all unlike a body spray. Seriously, it reminds me of "play cologne" that used to come with toy beauty sets for litte girls in the 60's. Any stages of evolution regarding Benghal are irrelevant because it doesn't hang around in any time or strength to be experienced, so what's the point? A whiff of ginger on my wrist!? I could probably get some ginger out of my kitchen cabinet, sprinkle it on me and get the same effect. But this is SO NOT why I buy fragrance. I'll use up my bottle, but won't repurchase. And so alas, Benghal will soon be put on the LONG list of other SCENTED WATERS posing as fragrances!!

The piquant rhubarb sensation sky76sky aptly describes is Benghal's redeeming feature on my skin.

Finely milled ginger dust blasts from the very pretty bottle and settles high up in my olfactory and does not budge for a good hour or more. Elizabeth-Arden-True-Love brand of apricot jam slowly reveals itself behind the ginger dust.

Yuk!

Hang on a minute! Is this icky sticky goop turning? Was that a glimpse of crisp jasmine? Can I really smell a whiff of refreshing citrus?

Yes!

Welcome tart rhubarb.

I adore the concept behind this scent "...evokes the gardens of an Indian palace..." but in reality the jasmine note is too fleeting, therefore this wearer does not arrive at destination Benghal.

Despite its flaws on my skin it is likeable.

This is a beautiful fresh (but not too green) scent. the ginger really brings this whole perfume together. No matter how much is applied, its just nice. No headache & non offencive, however it's very unique.

I love to buy fragrance when i travel and I picked this one up at Delhi airport.I find it very light and delicious but it gets warmer on me as the day goes on.Damp, pungent yet subtle...get lost in it!

The perfume is spicy ginger, unusual, unostentatious. I didn't feel an apricot and a jasmin. It lasts 2-3 hours on a skin and 8 hours on cloths. I like to catch whiffs of this perfume as I move around, an unique fragrance! The bottle is beautiful and stylish, I like it even more than perfume!

The ginger is very sharp on me, almost glittering bright. I discovered an orange blossom lotion which when layered together (with the perfume peeking over the top and used sparingly) presents me with a slightly naughty apricot and orange bliss that settles nicely. Light or nil on the lotion gives me an entirely different experience, a sexy burst that is not too earthy on me. There is a noticeable perception of heat for me, which begs for sunshine. Something reminds me in this of dry champagne as well.

I'm sorry, but I REALLY hate this one. My mom bought it in Sweden once; she was totally convinced of it's superiority by then, though I already had my doubts. When she smelled it at home she agreed with me that it smells like a toilet refreshener, so now we're stuck with this shitty fragrance. Maybe it's a good perfume in dry weather, but surely not in a rainy country like the Netherlands.

Oh, I love this! Lillybee & Nuppu have it spot-on.

I am particularly picky about how ginger is represented in fragrances as it can make or break them for me. Here, the ginger is true & resplendent in a basket of "real" sharp, sour & refreshing fruits (I do not find the florals break through the fruits, which is no bad thing).

Imagine a tart apricot jam or a tender pink rhubarb compot piqued by ginger & you will get the idea. It is refreshing, spicy, yet delicate & transparent in nature. Mouth-watering yet refined & mature with a super sandalwood base.

This is not your average fruity floral - Benghal is not tooty-fruity, it is authentic & interesting, warm yet sour, feminine without being particularly "sweet & pink".

A unique gem of a fragrance - I look forward to adding Benghal to my collection for summer.

Very pretty perfume. On me the sandalwood, jasmine and ginger seem to dominate. I agree with Nuppu, it's almost a green fragrance. But with a nice spicy, woody background. Maybe green on mahogany?
But a spray on a friend of mine was like a cross between apricot jam and marmalade; very sweet/citrus with a hint of flowers in the background.
still pretty and light, just different.

I just bought this fragrance purely for the description on the box! I am loving the smell on my wrist and keep having a wiff every couple of minuets, it is in a league of its own! Very unique well done Lancome its a brave move! Not your normal safe smelling fragrance!

Very spicy.To me it smelled like a bad version of Burberry London.I don't like this one but all in all Lancome has good perfumes.

After spraying it smells exactly like apricot jam on me :-). The dry-down is more floral-musky. I really love to wear this fragrance spring or autumn-time, although it is supposed to be a summer perfume. One of my favourites from Lancome (No1 ever is Poeme)

I am always purchasing perfumes searching for that one beautiful, long-lasting scent, as I seldom find a perfume that lasts on my skin let alone one I find truly "beautiful". Just when I was about to wave my little flag in defeat..there she was! Like a diamond shimmering in a pile of coals: Benghal! Perfect! Sweet apricots mixed with a little spice. It's a unique and wonderful scent that actually lasts and lasts on my skin. I sprayed it on roughly 6 hours ago and I can still catch whiffs of it as I move around. This is a first for me.
The Lancome website says it is now discontinued. *Heart Broken* I was lucky enough to find a bottle of it, and I hope when I run out I will be able to seek out a bottle online.

I don't like this, because of the ginger- I think. It can be similar to wet clothes on my skin. Not as good as I expected.

less sweet than tropiques but very interesting and modern scent, a bit masculine for me,

Now I have to make new review after purchasing this. First I did test it on airport over a year ago, liked it, try to forget it, but Benghal just keep alluring me in my memory until I just must go and get it. And I'm so glad I did it.

At first you get some citrusfruits and cardamon, then arrive big, bold duo of zesty ginger and sweet apricot. So delicius, but ginger keep everything nicely spiced up and not too sweet. I don't get jasmine or osmathus at all. Just bursting, hot'n spicy apricotjam, bright, colorful and so happy. And suits cool and rainy autumn well, too.

Benghal do have some exotic feel and even when it's fruity, it's nothing like most fruity fragrances. On many perfumes you can think "this one remind me of this and that one", but Benghal is new and special delicates, at least for me. Love it!

Ah, and the bottle is gorgeous and stylish.

I just bought this fragrance at a local T.J. Maxx and I absolutely love it! I was expecting something more subtle but I was amazed at the energizing aroma of the apricot (which is the most dominant) and the hint of something much more exotic. Overall, I love it!

I just bought Benghal as an addition to its sibling fragrance Tropiques. I agree with Nuppu, I was expecting a deeper, heavier oriental, but because it's an Eau de Toilette, I knew there's going to be a twist. It's light, airy, fruity, reminds me a of a mixture of elemi, allspice and sweet orange-y citrus notes (I smell no ginger at all). The most dominant on my skin is the apricot from the first few minutes right till the end. It is sheer and fresh first then it becomes greener and deeper almost like vetiver then mellows down to a powdery sweet smoky and sexy skin-flavoured base (somewhat like Dalissime by Dali without the vanilla) Delicious, though somehow the apricot drowned out everything and it didn't last more than 5-6 hours on me, so it's a 4.5 out of 5 stars from me. Benghal is also available from online stores not just at airports so give it a try!

By the name you woud assume some spicy, oriental thing, but this one is fresh and green, ginger dominates. Very nice and I kick my self 'cause I didn't bought it when it was on hand.