Boudoir

whatever you call old lady now used to be the most desired notes around 20-30 years ago. carnation, marigold, narcissus, hiacynth, whatever you find in your grandmother's garden. compared to new floral scents the older perfume blends are a lot sharper - i do believe the time also increased the perfume density so it doesn't smell the way a new batch one would (check Clinique Aromatics elixir new bottle vs purchasing a 20+ year old one). Yes there is reformulation but the more it stays the different it smells, even unopened. Chemistry i cannot seem to stand the scent of this. in old forum descriptions people called it erotic, smelling almost too feminine? i do find it to smell a bit dirty, the combination of all of the florals smells feminine in a nasty way, like someone trying to find body odor after s..x, drinking alcohol, smoking all in one night. i have a difficult relationship with old floral fragrances unless its specifically a chypre.

I randomly found this at a perfume shop down in Key West. Was so disappointed to open it and find out it smells horrific, honestly smells expired? Like the commentator below me, just smells like an old womans perfume and an antique store. I have kept it though, the bottle is gorgeous.

They let me try a spray from a vintage bottle at an estate sale and it smelled like powdery old lady. Not sure if the new one is reformulated and better but save your money and don't buy the vintage bottle

I have a barely used 50ml bottle from a 2008 batch that I bought for 15-20$CAD, and a 30ml from a 2011 batch. The 2008 one has that dark, cognac like color that the older Coty batches had. I bought them new and always kept them in dark areas, so the scent has not degraded at all. It's a very bold, very strong, very pot-pourri, antique smell. Not merely "vintage". My boyfriend low-key wants me to sell it since he dislikes it a lot, he says it smells like when he used to work in a retirement home back in 2010 😂. We are both millenials as a reference. This is not happening - he'll have to bear with the smell in some occasions. IMO, this is not at all a boy friendly kind of scent, whatever the reviews say. At least not a 2026 boy friendly smell, it's more like what Rose would've smelled like as the Titanic sank in 1905 kind of "sexy" antique lol. And I fricking love it for some reason. It's unique in that this scent profile is definitely not popular nowadays as far as I know. A boomer would feel like it smells like their deceased aunt or even their own grandma. To me, it smells like browsing through an old suitcase of my great aunts souvenirs, their wardrobe etc. There's something kind of nostalgic to it if you've grown up surrounded with elderly people born in the early 1900s like me. There's nothing airy or subtle about that perfume. It's very heavy, very much there, and a single spray will fill the room. If you get headaches from strong perfumes, this is not for you. Definitely not office friendly.

I acquired Boudoir when it came out (1998). then still not, nut now I resemble this heavy, classic, bewitching perfume with Coco, Flowerbomb, Guerlain's Mahora and Nahéma and Creed's Fleur de Bulgarie. (also the old Cartier's Panthère and Musk.) can you imagine I felt HAPPY with these perfumes (at separate moments) in my bag ? these are exactly the perfumes I love. actually the code 4 chemical but also raw material saturated 80s bombs Giorgio-Poison-Obsession-Knowing and in 1990 Beverly Hills by Gale Hayman I like even better. but BOUDOIR was perfect. I even bought the perfume. all named perfumes are explosions of flowers, with the classic ones: rose, jasmine, gardenia, tuberose, carnation, iris, orange blossom, narcissus, hyacinth et al. I remember I was so early with achieving it there was this tiny and deft booklet inside with an explanation of the construction of the perfume. Vivienne was punk and royal. (is) I never liked her fashion much. I like punk but then in the hands of Karl Lagerfeld, Thierry Mugler (then), Montana, Gaultier, Sonia Rykiel. but her perfume was and is to die for. perfume lends just such pleasure to life. it makes it fuller, more dense, sticky, flowery, relievingly opaque.

I found out they had brought this back last week by a fluke. I was on the Westwood site looking at bags and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this perfume in stock. For the last several years, I have been emailing Westwood at least once a year begging them to bring back Boudoir. I wrote to them in 2025 to tell them of my desperation to be reunited with the greatest perfume ever put into production—they must've finally listened to me! Hurrah! I saw the perfume online and noticed that it was now classed as a unisex fragrance. They had the 50ml and 30ml in stock but, before I purchased, I reached out to VW and asked: is it the same as the original? They told me they had updated it for a 2026 version and it was slightly different. I went back online the next day to get the 50ml, but it was all gone; there was only the 30ml left, though they do have 50ml stock in the flagship store. I ordered my perfume on Friday afternoon and was on tenterhooks until they dispatched it. They don't dispatch over the weekend, so I was twiddling my thumbs until Monday morning when it was posted first thing. I had it by Tuesday. I sat with the box unopened for at least an hour. I wanted to save the unboxing until all my chores were done so I could savour the moment. When I finally opened that lid and smelled the spray top, I melted! Straight away, the top note was old Boudoir. I didn't doubt for a second that it would smell any different—but I was wrong. My Review On the first spray, the iconic 1998 Boudoir was there in all its glory. I thought to myself, "Why are all the reviewers saying this is so different?" This smells exactly like the original." Well, I was wrong and right at the same time. While the original fragrance was definitely the top player, the middle layer shocked me. I kid you not, I got a heavy fecal smell—a skanky, dirty layer. I was quite disgusted for a moment, but then it hit me: a carnal smell, the kind you only get when you have been intimate with someone, the most intimate you can get with a man and a women. My heart started beating! I’m not joking; my body went into shock after I sprayed her. I got a surge of adrenaline and endorphins that stopped me in my tracks. Even though the perfume is very different, the top layer is purely old Boudoir. I missed her so much; I'm so grateful she has been brought back. I literally got emotional—really emotional—thinking of all the times I missed her; all the times she wasn't with me during my walk, my talk, my memories, and my story. My life hasn't been the same during these last seven years without her. I missed you so intensely, how could I not just adore this? That skanky smell I love is pure animalic magic. There is a slight greenery, though I'm not getting this as prolifically as other people. The carnation is there; I am a carnation lover, so I really do smell it. Once the middle and base notes settle, I just smell the original Boudoir. I sprayed her when I got her, I sprayed her when I went out to see how it would react on my body throughout the day, and I sprayed her before bed. I could still smell her the next morning, so the longevity is there. This is glorious. This is more than glorious. This is the essence of the human body in every single way: sweat, blood, tears, sex, lust, and love all rolled into one. This is sexy as hell. I’m even questioning if I like this more than the original. "Bravo to the perfumer! Bravo to the team at VW for bringing this back and taking the risk of updating this perfume. You did not alienate me for one second—and I am the self-proclaimed number one Vivienne Westwood Boudoir wearer of all time!" I would like to just add I do prefer the original bottle and the lid, the lid does now feel a bit cheap this time, this is my only critique and I am being very picky

Down history lane #4 – Boudoir Vivienne Westwood’s Boudoir, altho a comparatively more recent release that came out in 1998, is such a covetted and sought after perfume that i might aswell “lump it together” with the great ones. Apparently its creation was inspired by the historic perfumes found at the Versailles Osmotheque and thats another reason why it deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence with the most famous and iconic perfumes. Boudoir is one of the rare cases where a perfume was brought back by popular demand and that happened just last year, in 2025. My sample is of an older version so i cannot comment on the new itteration. I’d like to think that one of the big appeals of the perfume was the bottle itself. Its one of the stand-out presentations in the world of perfumery in my opinion, a bottle reminiscent of a relic or some sort of potion kept in secret by select members of high society. I always imagined Boudoir to be a decadent perfume. Confident, rich, arrogantly luxurious and unapologetically elegant. A Diva’s perfume, or an Opera singer’s, the sort of Diva that belittles everyone around her and carries herself with an air of superiority. The type to have very specific wants and needs, peculiar and exact tastes and an obscenely pretentious attitude. She makes you hate her in mere seconds yet for some reason she’s also a magnet to people. As much as you want to throw a glass of water in her face for her snarky and downright rude remarks, you can’t help but fall in love with her. My expectations and imagery was in some ways wrong, in other ways right. That is because Vivienne Westwood’s Boudoir is a serious perfume. Its not a flashy, vibrant and “pompous” perfume for an emotionally immature or scandalous type of person. Boudoir is not for someone who throws tantrums or is childishly pretentious. I wasn’t off by thinking it would fit an artistic personality because it could very well fit a Diva or again, an Opera singer. The caviat is, it would fit a mature personality, not a self-absorbed celebrity. In a paradoxical way, i'd characterise the person i envision wearing Boudoir as "powerfully demure". Demure because she's humble, powerfull because she's grounded. It showcases a powdery texture sitting on top of a floral layer. The florals have a stern, deep facet to them, with Jasmine being the most prominent to my nose. There’s a musky component that, together with the powderiness and the florals, give a vintage feeling to the perfume. In terms of style it reminds me of Fils de Joie by Serge Lutens, only Boudoir is less sweet, loud and provocative. Fils de Joie has the honey base that carries the jasmine but to my nose Boudoir also dries down to a similar, sour grape-like jasmine. I recall reading somewhere that this is Vivienne Westwood's only perfume release and that was done on purpose. Her reasoning behind that is simple. If you make a good enough perfume, you need no other and smelling Boudoir, i can stand behind that concept. It truly deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

i wish this version wasnt so hard to come by in person, i feel like the price would be more reasonable for something sprayable . my grandma had it but it was empty for as long as i could remember, i just remember thinking it was spicy smelling from the cap as a kid . this was before i was into fashion and could interrogate her on it, but i feel like she mainly got it for the catholic imagery and to remember london .

I had watched a review on Boudior a while ago from someone who is incredibly passionate about the fragrance. I blindly bought it, and I do not regret it! I'm not used to musky floral fragrances. However, I do not mind this; I adore it. Boudoir is incredibly alluring and mysterious, yet, at the same time, familiar, and feels like a romantic kiss. I understand it's supposed to exude a bit more of a sexy idea or feeling, and I can see and feel that. But, for me, it's a fragrance that just keeps on giving a different experience depending on how you're feeling. I tend to blush when I wear it alone because it feels flirtatious, and it always manages to cheer me up. A little goes a long way with this one. Too much, and it will give me a slight headache. Lately, I've been experimenting with scent layering. I like to layer Boudoir after Polo Green EDT. Something about the floral, musky taste with the leather, woody mixture is exciting to me. I've gotten a lot of compliments. As a fragrance alone, I highly recommend adding it to your collection if you're looking for something romantic that can be sexy, too.

This one is real special. Might be an ultimate. Need to splurge on a bottle stat. The most comforting familiar musky smell to me. ~~~ Wow big difference between the clear cap and solid cap versions. My sample and 5 ml splash - my first encounters with the scent. These were dabbers of the later iteration. Warm viburnum musky center. But felt glowy and bright still - I was not catching the dirty notes mentioned by others. UNTIL I smelled the dark concoction that is the original iteration in the solid metal gold cap. And um. wow it's so much more heady, spicy and sexy than the later iteration. now this smells dirty and naughty - but I love it! The clear cap is definitely brighter sweeter and more wearable. And uh yeah it smells like straight up p*ssy and it's amazing for that. The extrait smells like ambrosia!

I appreciate the release of its new edition but I would personally stick to the vintage edition 💋

I called the Los Angeles boutique yesterday and was told they don’t have this in stock yet, they might by mid-November. Also contacted the Worlds End UK store and they are not able to ship it internationally, or at least not to the US. Just FYI!!! Edited to add - I heard back from the New York boutique and they confirmed they will not have it until November as well.

It’s back exclusively in store in the main boutiques. For now. Whether it’s similar or simply called Boudoir remains to be smelt.

Looks like it’s coming back! I saw the instagram advert too. A new one!

I saw the Instagram story earlier!! They’re definitely going to have to reformulate it because some of the ingredients aren’t ones that are used any more. But I am excited to see what happens!

@La Capricieuse You've made my day!!!! I really hope they're bringing this back without butchering the original formula.

Guys, check out VW’s ig page!!! Apparently they’re taking it back!! Hopefully with the same notes. If u have any kind of infos about it please message me!

Like a lot of beautiful things it gets even better when it's warmer. Animalic boudoir, powdery carnal, she can make you laugh like never before or fall on your knees depending on her mood. She will lights you like a cigarette, best place in the world between her lips.

I just bought this expired frag on impulse when grabbing a discontinued favorite. TBH I mostly bought it for the cool bottle and bc I'm a fan of Vivienne's work and general aesthetic, thought it would be fun & nice to display, and hoped I'd like it. The first spritz was pretty gnarly, I really didn't like it. Now it's sat for an hour on my test paper, and it's no longer revolting. But it's still not very pretty, to me... or rather wayyyy too pretty and pink and gaudy and rich and femme. I'm not sure if I even would have liked it when it smelled how it was intended to smell, because now it smells extremely sweet, floral, and powdery. VERY femme, and doesn't seem safe to wear anywhere besides the bedroom, or an intimate date. It's old fashioned smelling. P.S. I have the gold cap version. I mostly smell jasmine, bitter amber, and cinnamon/aldehydes. Looking at the votes on notes, it mostly smells like carnation, aldehydes, and vanilla. I'd say that's very accurate. I'm also getting a strong hit of viburnum and narcissus. It's too sweet for me, also too bitter. I might find a way to wear it once or twice but it'll mostly just be eye candy. Kinda giving rose-jasmine scented wet dog. I wish I could experience it in its original form (pale cotton candy pink), but alas this is old and discontinued, and mine is a deep orange-red color, not baby pink, so I know all the top notes have gone off. Edit: I've tried layering it with either 03 Blonde by dedcool or Life of the Party by 5 sens and they both combine beautifully with Boudoir. It's still indolic, but Life of the Party especially works well, I think the black currant really hides the absence of the original top notes. And it tones down the cinnamon/tobacco/patchouli and turns it to a vetiver-esque note.

Just a note that the gold cap (original) and the clear caps (Coty) smell slightly different. Nothing huge but the coty is sweeter/ more wearable.

I finally got my hands on a mini .5 ml sample of Boudoir after years of yearning to try it but put off by the prices. At first sniff this was seemingly nothing special but still a beautiful honeyed viburnum (and yes it does actually smell like the plant). Then something strange happened. The more I tried to understand this, the more obsessed I became. I dont smell the skank that others mentioned but I do smell a heady lush aroma- a hint of bubblegum, a dash of powder, a pinch of carnation...pink spicy clouds of Aphrodite incarnate surround you. It is heavenly, so heavenly that I've just purchased an extrait version (which is exceedingly rare) and will come back to review that one. When I dab this on, I feel equally like an 18th century courtesan intent on debauchery and a glamourpuss hair-flipping Rita Hayworth. The ONLY other perfume to capture me by the knickers this way is Mitsouko (these don't smell alike btw) with it's glorious spicy peach. It's straight to signature frag territory and the horrible thing about it all is that it's discontinued!!! Nebras comparisons: I bought nebras before boudoir and was taken with its bubblegum carnation but there is a cheap gas station pink soap smell in nebras that does not exist in boudoir. It's the only part of nebras that I dont like and I try to ignore it (with difficulty) just to smell that carnation goodness. The flowery-honey aroma of viburnum in boudoir is also absent in nebras. To me, these are not dupes and are not even close tbh but maybe distantly related. Love each in a different way. I will eventually obtain the eden dupe and review that one here too. Edit: well unfortunately the extrait purchase fell through but I did acquire the Eden dupe. While technically, yes it's boudoir, there's something...missing...it's like the death of your lover brought back by a witch but he's not quite the same anymore....no depth, no soul. The very thing that makes boudoir raunchy and addictive is not present in Eden's even though from a distance it looks the same. It is the translucent ghost of boudoir. Sad days for us boudoir fans!

Boudoir by Vivienne Westwood is an Oriental Floral fragrance that encapsulates the essence of femininity, power, and sensuality. Launched in 1998, this captivating perfume, crafted by the talented perfumer Martin Gras, was designed with the modern, strong woman in mind. Boudoir evokes the mysterious, intimate allure of a boudoir, making it the perfect scent for a woman who wants to captivate and leave an unforgettable impression. The fragrance opens with a bright, refreshing burst of aldehydes, combined with the sweet, citrusy notes of bergamot. Marigold and hyacinth add a fresh floral touch, while orange blossom lends a soft, sweet, and romantic layer. These top notes create a vibrant, inviting beginning that is both fresh and airy, yet seductive and slightly unexpected. As the fragrance develops, the heart unfolds into a lush, opulent floral bouquet. The rich and slightly spicy note of carnation blends seamlessly with the romantic sweetness of rose. Narcissus and jasmine bring depth and warmth, while orris root adds a powdery, soft elegance to the heart. The subtle spices of cardamom and coriander add complexity and intrigue, contributing to the fragrance's sensual character and enhancing its femininity. The base notes of vanilla, tobacco leaf, cinnamon, sandalwood, and patchouli anchor the fragrance with warmth and depth. The smooth, creamy sweetness of vanilla blends beautifully with the earthy richness of tobacco leaf and the spicy warmth of cinnamon, creating a seductive and comforting finish. Sandalwood adds a soft, milky woodiness, while patchouli gives the fragrance its grounding, earthy depth. Together, these base notes create a warm, inviting, and luxurious aura, making Boudoir a fragrance that lingers sensually on the skin. Boudoir is a fragrance designed for women who wish to feel empowered, confident, and irresistibly alluring. The scent is feminine, seductive, and comforting—perfect for romantic occasions or those moments when a woman wants to make a statement. The bottle, designed by Fabrice Legros, is an artistic tribute to femininity, with a globe-shaped top encircled by a ring symbolizing the power of the feminine spirit.

A classic. Ultra-feminine boudoir scent. For females who love the feminine - corsets, stockings, powdery veil - but stay strong. A very good and thorougly blended scent. Today marigolds dominate on me, with orange blossom, aldehydes, tobacco, vanilla and maybe carnation. I feel also cinnamon, orris root and narcissus. It is vivid, strong but gentle on. Well-balanced, enveloping and warm. One of the scents that should be produced forever it is so unique and well-done.

I keep a bottle of this is a box away from grabbing little toddler hands and friends who raid my perfume collection. I have a sniff every now and then just for memories sake. There is NOTHING else like her. Gosh I wish this was back on the market, then I could wear her. Bring back Boudior!

One of my top 5 vintage scents, and I happen to choose the perfumes that gets discontinued - over and over (at least the original compositions, which I guess might have something to do with my age!). To me, scents are personal and filled with memories, so it becomes more than "just a perfume". Being a designer myself, I've always followed the Lady (r i p) and her philosophies in life. If anyone happens to have some spare drops of this love of mine; please send me a message, so that I can add to my - soon to be - collection of empty bottles! Thank you <3

All those youtuber say delina is sexy, BR 540 is sexy, Killian LDBS is sexy, buuutt... they never truly experience what is sexy, alluring, classic beauty, embodied in one bottle and it is BOUDOIR. sillage is moderate, longevity is hardcore. Trully an icon. Bring this baby back, please!

I got a almost a full bottle 50ml of rare Vivienne Westwood Boudoir in my collection, if someone wants it please let me know

This will forever be my favourite perfume of all time and it's a travesty it ever got discontinued. It was absolutely magical. The perfect juxtaposition of classy and sexy, elegant and skanky, conservative and anarchic. Juxtapositions that only Dame Viv could pull off. I really do hope this is brought back one day, to honour her legacy. Nebras by Al-Rehab is the next best thing but just misses the naughty magic Boudoir had.

This one is my absolute favourite! Whenever I wear this one I get conpliments even on the train or bus people compliment me ! Sooo sad it got discontinued...💔 So as I am living in Australia (with very little choice for frangrances and overpriced) I just looked for "Boudoir by Vivienne Westwood dupe" and found The dupe Spot handmade perfume dupes at a fraction of the price so gave it a try and believe me when I say their interpretation of this beautiful frangrance is identical if not perfectly the same ! I am amazed and from now on I get my supply from them ! Highly recommend if you guys love Boudoir and live in Oz !! 😍 I started to wear Boudoir when I was barely in my 20s (around 2010) I am 34 today and still am crazy about this beauty and I think until I die I will keep wearing this fragrance ! 😍

I am sure all of us have a list of perfumery regrets. I have lots. One of them is not buying this years and years ago when I first tried it and when it was widely available and dirt cheap on ebay. I remember being so impressed how the meek marigold and modest carnation shined in this composition. It smelled old. Old in a good and classy way, old like black and white cinema, it gives me Marlene Dietrich vibes. A lost beauty.