Close the blinds and send the kids to bed- Salome, the latest sensation from Papillon Artisan Perfumes, is Sexy with a grown-up, capital "S"-- a swooningly vintage-feeling delight that proves that the golden era of full-bodied perfumery isn't nearly as bygone as the doubters might claim. Built around a strikingly animalic blend of rich, dirty florals and even dirtier animalics, Salome is put together with such deft, classic skill that we'd be praising its refinement- that is, if we weren't busy picking our jaws up off the floor.

Just as the biblical Salome had a seven-veiled dance of progressive seduction, so too does Salome seduce in tantalizing layers. At first spray, we're struck with bright, bitter orange blossom and the sweet richness of rose and jasmine, with the indolic sensuality of the florals growing gradually. As the rich heart of animalics begins to growl, suggestiveness turns to an all-out bacchanal, with hyraceum, castoreum and an increasingly indolic jasmine all adding their own elements of dirty, carnal power. As Salome reaches the extended final drydown, smoky leather and deep oakmoss begin to move in slower, more deliberate momentum, still every bit as carnal but now even deeper and more luxuriously vintage-feeling. Vibrant, erotic, classic and devastatingly gorgeous, Salome is another big win from one of the most exciting new houses in niche fragrance.

Salome Fragrance Notes

Jasmine, carnation, bitter red orange, Turkish rose, orange blossom, tobacco, hyraceum, styrax, vanilla, hay, patchouli, bergamot, oakmoss, cumin, birch tar, castoreum

Salome Sizes Available:

50ml

$205

0.7ml sample

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Here's what other people are saying about Salome...

I've gone through 2 bottles of Salome over the last several years and asked for my third for Christmas. I think it's been re-formulated, or simply watered down. Quite frankly, it's ghastly. The richness and depth is gone, there is no animalic sensuality at all, and it smells like Comet cleanser. I get no oakmoss and wonder if they amped up the patchouli and that's what is giving the prickly, harsh Comet vibe. Hard pass for me, and I'm crushed. Try a sample first!

By Tamryn - Interior Designer from Elizabeth on 12/27/2023

I won’t post a ridiculously verbose review full of metaphors. I grew up in the 70s and this to me is the epitome of 70s musk. Think Tabac and Jovan and masculine soap on a string. As it progresses, it becomes more soapy and sweet. It really is gorgeous! No hint of cumin for me nor too much of the leather either. More than anything, it is downright SEXY on me and I guess that’s where the animalic kicks in. I mean if I smelt this on a guy or a woman, I would be following them like a little puppy salivating. All I need now is a silky kaftan and some gold jewelry. I don’t think this would suit anyone too young as you need confidence to pull off a vintage musky scent like this but….. I just love it and will purchase a full size bottle now.

By Lady D’Arbanville - Creator from London on 12/21/2023

I am blown away by this intoxicating scent.

By NY Fragrance Lover - Lawyer from NYC on 6/9/2022

Nope. This is a hard pass for me. I had read the reviews and was excited to try it, however, I didn’t like it on me. I was assaulted at first opening by a ver animalic, almost offensive, note. It developed on my skin very strongly... too much. It was headache inducing. I am not shy when it comes to fragrances and I’d rather stand out than blend in, but Salome After a while the cumin note was so notable that it almost smelled like B.O. not cute. I imagine this is how a starlet in the 30’s or 40’s would have smelled like somewhere in Paris ....It is almost a “throwback” fragrance. B.O. smell covered in Parfum ,cigarettes and sweat. Not for me, this one. I’m glad I got a decanted sample as this is definitely NOT a blind buy.

By Carolyn - Operations Mgr from Somewhere in the SouthEastern USA on 4/17/2020

This opens kind of dusty to me, not like closet dusty but like old books in an antique shop. After that it seemed to "bloom" like a story, there was something warm and vanilla about it. It's hard to describe this scent, it's a bit like a really elevated shalimar yet it doesn't smell "old" I picture the lady wearing this as having stylish tortoiseshell glasses, brunette hair, sipping hot tea outside of the public library. She just checked out a book about the correlation of folklore myths and the religious rituals of the bible. She's half people watching, as she sips her tea, half reading. The only down side for me, was weak projection.

By Alisha - Accountant from Clinton on 9/27/2019

I will preface this by saying that I have recently fallen in love with animalic fragrances. Salome has quite the reputation and I really wanted to see what the fuss was about. I can say that this reputation is well deserved. What an amazing fragrance. It's dirty, it's spicy, it's deeply sexy. The longevity is mind blowing. I can't recommend this one enough.

By Grace - Femme Fatale from Auckland on 5/14/2019

I really had high hopes for this one, but my hopes were dashed-- dirty, smoky, and very oily to the touch. I genuinely don't get all the rave reviews for this, I guess my nose works differently than others.

By kevin - disabled from mount aukum on 4/22/2019

ou know what this reminds me a little of of? Areej Le Dore Koh I Noor. Yep. Salome is softer and a bit sweeter, but the same vintage musc and throwback quality. I love it. It's wondefful enough that I prefer to invest here. Don't get me wrong, I will invest wherever I can find a rare gem like this. But this is amazing in its own right and it sings of florals and animalics without missing a beat. Its beautiful, sensual, strong, and feminine. All the right things. I'd love to smell this on a guy too. Instant gravitas.

By Leslie - Student from Nashville on 3/4/2019

This one is like listening to Serge Gainsbourg album, with bass unfortunately turned right down - definitely dirty and amusing, but not enough darkness in the base to have real depth on me, and to keep me coming back to it. Or, maybe my skin absorbs everything except for florals, and there's way, way too much cumin. It would have been interesting to have dirty honey added to this one for extra funk, plus a more weighty base, but alas, Salome, it's not meant to be.

By Trident - Designer from Australia on 2/13/2019

Wow, this is a powerhouse! Extremely animalic and incensy and dark. Definitely unisex. I recently acquired a tiny Bal a Versaille and it is very, VERY similar, although Salome is not as sweet maybe. Other things it brought to mind are Youth Dew, Toujours Moi, Tabu. All of these can be had for a fraction of the price so....unless you just have to have it, maybe check out the cheaper options to see if this is even your jam. "3 Stars" because: 1) It's a like not a love; 2) While it's definitely good it's not "me"; 3) There are cheaper options if you want to smell dark, sexy, incense-y, magical.

By Christina - Artist from Austin on 1/20/2019

A fragrance sure to make Austin Powers exclaim, "Yeah, baby, yeah!" It is an erotic love-potion designed to intoxicate. It alludes strongly to Indian attars concocted for that very purpose. Smells like 100% natural oils to my nose. A sultry brew, dark and dusky, but also luminous, woody, expressive. Natural wood essences, beguiling spices, "dirty" patchouly, singing musky, aromatic nuances, all exquisitely balanced. The dry notes keep the amber sweetness in check. If 1920's TABU were reformulated for all-naturals and a modern sensibility, this might be the result. Deeply sensual, never vulgar, SALOME is warmly evocative and inspiring. This is the work of a sophisticated, canny nose. The ultimate unisex "soul roll" lovemaking scent.

By david lincoln brooks - artist from Boerne on 8/10/2018

I'm a huge fan of old-timey, skanky fragrances; yet, to my knowledge I had never tried Salome (which is weird, because I've had bottles of MKK and Bal a Versailles in my collection for years). One of the guys recommended Salome to my friend, and I decided to take a spray myself. We walked to the movies after leaving Scent Bar; Salome lingered in the air and on my skin. Love, love, love. Last time this happened with a fragrance, I fell in love with my holy grail, Richwood. Definitely should be full-bottle worthy for anyone loving skanky, cumin/civet fragrance compilations. Won't be waiting on this one... unfortunately for my pocket-book.

By Geordan - Attorney from Los Angeles on 5/29/2018

Smells exactly like a temple in India, seriously. A temple thronging with people on a festival day. Imagine incense, jasmine, b.o. and curry all swirling up together in smoke and that's Salome. It brings back fond memories of travels and for that I'll treasure my sample.

By Seline - Teacher from Chi on 12/9/2017

When I ordered this sample, I took a big whiff and thought, "WOW and EWWWW." It was strong and dirty, and I'd never smelled anything like it before. By then, I'd put it on, and I had to go on with my day. Five minutes later, I smelled my wrist and thought, this is naughty, naughty, naughty. It's the best naughty. It's mysterious. It's carnal. It's so interesting, and it leaves me begging for more. I can't stop smelling my wrists when I wear it. As other's sad, I can't get away with wearing this to the office, but it's my new absolute favorite perfume. I have to have a full size bottle. I can wear it on the weekend, proudly swaying my hips and gazing up slowly with bedroom eyes just for the hell of it. I love this scent. UNIQUE!!

By Sarah - Sassy Secretary from Jonesboro on 6/22/2017

This scent screams sex. And vintage. At first I was turned off by Salome; it was very, very strong and very "old lady" smelling (cumin!). I stuck it out, and was happy I did. The dry-down is amazing. This scent is not for the faint of heart or demure. Must be worn with black lace underwear.

By Heather - Retail Manager from Cleveland on 6/3/2017

One of the best modern animalic driven fragrance today. Best part of it is the drydown.

By SuzanneS - Fragrance Concierge from Arizona on 2/14/2017

I dont find this perfume bold at all. It smells musky and just a tad sweet--just a tad! A very wearable animalic, nothing as gross as Albsolute Pour Le Soir, which smells like straight-up pee. This is very pleasant considering its strong animalic undertones. Full-bodied, vintage in style. Really, really beautiful!

By Angelina - Broker from San Francisco on 7/23/2016

The first perfume that actually made me blush. Jehzus. Elephants. Circus. Straw. Feces. Leather. Sweat. Definitely of the “Grossmith” older perfume house ilk, it felt vintage but more daring. Like Phul-Nana with even more guts. It honestly makes me swoon a little just because I feel like my brain can’t process or define the intensity that I’m selling. This is Not for the faint hearted and definitely not one to wear at Christmas dinner with the in-laws. Or is it… I admit, I bought a FB.

By FataMegana - Herding Cats from Menlo Park on 7/1/2016

I stand by my right to be an adult, like grown up perfumes, and still not like cumin overload! I am kidding, of course, to each her own, but if you don't like the sweaty animalic quality cumin adds to a scent, you won't like this. If you do, you may well love it. Not for me, alas.

By Amy - Writer and teacher from Cambridge on 5/23/2016

I completely agree with the previous review. Salome is not for someone looking for subtle. It is bold, mature, and smells a bit like the altar in a Greek Orthodox church... very heady. It's not a scent that I would be comfortable wearing to an office, or even wearing while running errands on the weekend, but what a powerhouse! This would make for a great evening fragrance, ideal for date night. Intoxicating, and lovely on the dry-down.

By A - Perfume Addict from Denver, CO on 4/27/2016

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Papillon Artisan Perfumes

Eau de Parfum

Salome

Eau de Parfum

by Papillon Artisan Perfumes

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