Byredo Bal d'Afrique Absolu, hour by hour

How it opens, settles and lingers on skin.

Praline crumbs on a cedar bench beside a pot of violets.

Byredo Bal d'Afrique Absolu with a 10ML travel atomiser and a 10ML refill vial on a gold plinth
Bal d'Afrique Absolu by Byredo, bottle pictured with its key notes: Blackcurrant, Bergamot and Praline
  1. First spray0–15 min

  2. Heart15 min – 2 h

  3. Dry-down2 h – 7–12 h

Lasts
7–12 h
Long lasting
Sillage
Moderate, 2 of 4
When to wear

SeasonSummer

Time of dayDaytime

What wearers say

Votes from fragrance communities, most-voted answers first.

  • Longevity

    Most voted: 53%Long lasting

  • Sillage

    Most voted: 70%Moderate

  • Season

    Most voted: 56%Summer

  • Time of day

    Most voted: 64%Daytime

See all votesHide votes

Longevity, 211 votes

  • Very weak2%4 votes
  • Weak2%4 votes
  • Moderate38%81 votes
  • Long lasting (Most voted)53%111 votes
  • Eternal5%11 votes

Sillage, 205 votes

  • Intimate8%16 votes
  • Moderate (Most voted)70%143 votes
  • Strong21%44 votes
  • Enormous1%2 votes

Season, 208 votes

  • Spring17%35 votes
  • Summer (Most voted)56%116 votes
  • Autumn10%20 votes
  • Winter18%37 votes

Time of day, 207 votes

  • Daytime (Most voted)64%132 votes
  • Office9%19 votes
  • Evening16%33 votes
  • Night out11%23 votes

Which size is right for you?

Every size is decanted from the same original bottle.

  • 3ml

    To discover it

    Price: Now €16.56Was €25.90SAVE 36%
    • Per ml: €5.52/ml
    • ≈60 sprays
    • 20 days of wear
  • Best value

    30ml

    To keep it

    Price: Now €120.60Was €267.90SAVE 55%
    • Per ml: €4.02/ml27% less per ml than 3ml
    • ≈600 sprays
    • 200 days of wear

Loved by 50,000+

Why scent lovers try it with us before they buy the bottle.

10ML decants in glass vials and a travel atomiser

10ML vs a blind buy

What a decant gives you that a bottle bought unsmelled can’t.

Why 10ML?
Blind buy
Authentic original perfume
Yes
Yes
Smell it on your skin before you buy
Yes
No
Try several scents for one bottle’s price
Yes
No
Travel-ready atomiser
Yes
No
No full bottle wasted if it’s not for you
Yes
No

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Frequently asked questions

What does Byredo Bal d'Afrique Absolu smell like?

Byredo Bal d'Afrique Absolu opens with Bergamot, Blackcurrant and Lemon. The heart brings Musk, Praline and Violet. It dries down to Black Amber, Cedarwood and Vetiver.

Is Byredo Bal d'Afrique Absolu long lasting?

Shoppers on fragrance communities most often rate its longevity as long lasting (53% of votes), and 58% rate it long lasting or eternal. They most often rate its sillage as moderate (70% of votes). How long it lasts on you also depends on your skin and how much you apply.

Is Byredo Bal d'Afrique Absolu good for summer?

Shoppers on fragrance communities rate it a summer scent: summer is its most-voted season, and summer takes 56% of season votes.

Is Byredo Bal d'Afrique Absolu good for winter?

Shoppers on fragrance communities rarely pick it for winter: only 18% of season votes go to winter.

Is Byredo Bal d'Afrique Absolu for day or night?

Shoppers on fragrance communities mostly wear it by day: 73% of time-of-day votes are for daytime or the office, 27% for evenings and nights out.

Can I wear Byredo Bal d'Afrique Absolu to the office?

Shoppers on fragrance communities rarely pick it for the office: only 9% of time-of-day votes go to the office.

Who makes Byredo Bal d'Afrique Absolu?

Bal d'Afrique Absolu is made by Byredo. It was launched in 2025.

How many wears is a 10ml decant of Byredo Bal d'Afrique Absolu?

A 10ml decant of Byredo Bal d'Afrique Absolu holds about 200 sprays, roughly 67 days of wear. The 3ml decant holds about 60 sprays, around 20 days. The 30ml decant holds about 600 sprays, around 200 days.

Which other Byredo perfumes can I try?

Besides Byredo Bal d'Afrique Absolu, 10ML has Gypsy Water, Blanche and Animalique from Byredo, each decanted from the original bottle.

Is this Byredo Bal d'Afrique Absolu decant the original perfume?

Yes. Every Byredo Bal d'Afrique Absolu decant is filled by hand from an original Byredo bottle, with nothing added or diluted, so it opens, dries down and lasts on your skin the way the bottle does. We sell only authentic originals.

What is a decant?

A small amount of a perfume, taken from its original bottle and put into a travel atomiser. You get the real fragrance in a size that lets you live with it for days before you decide on the full bottle.

How does the money-back guarantee work?

If a scent isn’t right for you, get in touch within 30 days of it arriving and we’ll arrange a refund. Terms apply. See our refund policy.