Violet Woods - Insp by Byredo Bay D'Afrique
✔ Free UK delivery on every order
✔ Hand-blended to order in the UK, dispatched same or next working day
✔ Vegan & cruelty-free · 8–10+ hour Extrait de Parfum
- Inspired by Byredo — Bal d'Afrique
- Extrait De Parfum, available in 5ml sample, 12ml oil roller, 15ml, 30ml and 50ml, plus a 3x15ml set
- 8-10+ hours wear time
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Hand-blended in the UK
Byredo – Bal d'Afrique is a warm, woody, sweet, citrus‑floral fragrance inspired by 1920s Paris and African dance culture. It's one of Byredo's most iconic scents, known for its radiant citrus opening, creamy floral heart, and warm amber‑vetiver base.
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🌍 Scent Breakdown: Byredo – Bal d'Afrique
Olfactive Family: Amber • Woody • Citrus‑Floral
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🍋 Top Notes (Opening)
Bright, sweet, and sparkling:
- African Marigold — green, slightly bitter floral brightness
- Bergamot — zesty, fresh citrus lift
- Buchu (Black Currant Leaf) — fruity, green, slightly tart
- Lemon — clean, sharp citrus
- Neroli — soft, sweet, citrus‑floral
The opening is radiant, fruity, and luminous, with a sweet citrus glow.
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🌸 Heart Notes (Mid)
Creamy, floral, slightly sweet:
- Violet — powdery, soft, elegant
- Jasmine Petals — airy, white‑floral radiance
- Cyclamen — fresh, watery floral nuance
The heart is smooth, floral, and slightly powdery, giving Bal d'Afrique its signature creamy sweetness.
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🌙 Base Notes (Dry‑down)
Warm, woody, amber‑sweet:
- Vetiver — earthy, woody, slightly smoky
- Amber — warm, resinous glow
- Musk — soft, clean sensuality
- Cedarwood — dry, woody backbone
The dry‑down becomes warm, woody, sweet, and comforting, with vetiver and amber taking the lead.
How Violet Woods compares to Byredo Bal d'Afrique
The same scent direction, our own UK-made composition, a fraction of the price. Here is the honest picture.
Byredo Bal d'Afrique
Violet Woods Extrait de Parfum
Notes you will recognise
Being upfront about the comparison
Violet Woods is our own original composition inspired by Byredo Bal d'Afrique — it is not a clone or a replica, and no inspired-by fragrance is. What you get is the same unisex scent direction and note structure, blended by hand in the UK as a long-lasting Extrait de Parfum.
Worn side by side you would recognise the family resemblance straight away, and you would also notice differences in the opening and in how it settles on your skin. We think that is a fair trade at this price, but we would rather you know exactly what you are buying.
Read our full Byredo Bal d'Afrique vs Violet Woods review →