Balsamir by Perris Monte Carlo: Is This the Ultimate Myrrh?
Written by Kristina Kybartaite-Damule
Perris Monte Carlo's new perfume Balsamir is an immersive experience of mysticism and luxury. It elevates resins in the fragrance to the next level.
Photo credit: Kristina Kybartaite-Damule
I must admit, I’m currently in my Myrrh phase – loving its sophisticated sweetness and warm balsamic scent. This resin has been receiving quite a lot of attention in recent years – Bon Parfumeur recently launched their 403 Myrrh Shadow, while last year we welcomed Mystique Myrrh from Welton London, to mention a couple. Both showcased myrrh in a different light, and I loved them equally.
Now, Perris Monte Carlo presents yet another facet of this note, where opulence and luxury take center stage.
My first thought after the initial spray was: Wow, this is everything I wanted from a myrrh perfume. This is how I imagine the precious resin that was gifted by kings in Bethlehem – it truly smells royal. There's no dirty smokiness here, just a soft balsamic spiciness that lies on the skin like silk.
It opens with an energetic burst of pink pepper and a generous dose of mandarin orange – it even feels sparkly. It is unexpectedly bright and airy, especially since I usually anticipate something dark and heavy from this kind of fragrance. This lively opening creates a beautiful path for the myrrh, which emerges gently, almost humbly, glimmering through the composition.
Photo credit: Kristina Kybartaite-Damule
Like a scene from a slow-motion film, the myrrh arrives gracefully, surrounded by other balsamic and resinous notes like labdanum, opoponax, fir balsam, and Tolu balsam. However, it never becomes too dim or incense-heavy – it’s not a scent you would call churchy. The composition remains balsamic, velvety and luxurious – perhaps thanks to the modest sweetness of tonka bean, which softens any potential bitterness without tipping into gourmand territory.
The fragrance closes with cedarwood, giving the base a woody nuance. But it’s not overly dry, as cedar can sometimes be. Instead, it’s soft and refined – I feel like it's an ideal choice to round off the scent. This is a stunning perfume that leaves me hypnotized.
Photo credit: Kristina Kybartaite-Damule
Balsamir is the result of a collaboration between perfumers Luca Maffei and Antoine Lie, and it's not their first time working together. Last fall, Collection Les Ambres was introduced by another brand within the Perris Group, Houbigant. In that trio of perfumes, Maffei and Lie also co-authored the compositions. I don’t know how they do it, but their creations simply resonate with me—I wrote more about that collection here.
If you're a myrrh lover, Balsamir is absolutely worth experiencing. It captures the depth of this ancient ingredient while adding a modern elegance and luminosity. Majestic perfume.
[bottle generously gifted, opinion my own]