Although Balenciaga Prelude and Cristobal are clearly different fragrances, they are similar in many ways. In another Balenciaga review, I compared Rumba and Talisman to sisters. If you’ll allow me to flog that analogy one more time, let me present the Balenciaga brothers: Prelude, the eldest; and Cristobal, mommy’s little boy.
Prelude follows the tradition of two of Balenciaga’s other scents — Quadrille and Rumba — in being named after a form of music. But Prelude is more Beethoven than Chopin and more cello than piano. Prelude opens with a hint of brightness from aldehydes and bergamot, then quickly settles into a spicy, almost gummy stage, like a stick of cinnamon chewing gum might taste if it were made by Fortnum & Mason and stored in an amber case. Just enough carnation and jasmine surround the cinnamon to soften the edges. Prelude is deep and nostalgic smelling, but for all its depth it doesn’t last more than a few hours. Prelude was released in 1982, with top notes of aldehydes, bergamot, orange, and pimento; a heart of carnation, jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, orchid, and cinnamon; and a base of amber, vanilla, patchouli, civet, benzoin, tolu, and olibanum.
Cristobal, named after Cristobal Balenciaga, is much sweeter and more gourmand than Prelude. To me Cristobal smells like a fig crème brûlée might taste if it were made with honey steeped with a pinch of tarragon and a teaspoon of pineapple juice. I’ve read reviews swearing that sandalwood tempers Cristobal's sweetness, but after the first brief herbal notes dissipate, Cristobal grows bigger, creamier, and more vanilla sweet on my skin. And this baby doesn’t die easily — a few drops before your morning coffee will linger to spur a hankering for Haagen Dazs after dinner. Perfumer Olivier Gillotin, who also created 10 Corso Como, made Cristobal in 1998. Cristobal has top notes of green fig, bergamot, marigold, and pineapple; a heart of jasmine, blue freesia, rose, and orris; and a base of sandalwood, vanilla, patchouli, and amber.
The family resemblance between Prelude and Cristobal lies in their shared warmth and almost edible quality. Of the two, Prelude is more serious and less social. He has a hot cup of spicy tea and a macaroon at his elbow as he sits in his boiserie-lined library reading a new translation of Petrarch's sonnets to Laura. Meanwhile, Cristobal is in the kitchen with his hand in the cookie jar. When you catch him, he breaks into a cherubic smile and lies, "But you told me I could have one." At dinner, Cristobal's wild stories hold the table, while Prelude talks quietly to the woman at his side. And after dinner? Prelude returns to the library to listen to old jazz records while Cristobal charms the ladies with his sweet and entertaining, but ultimately forgettable, prattle.
Prelude is discontinued, but one discounter offers a 100 ml bottle of the Eau de Toilette for $29.99. Cristobal is widely available at discounters — one even lists a 50 ml bottle of Eau de Toilette for $14.99 — and it’s still new enough to be stocked in some perfume stores at the mall. This review was for the Eau de Toilette versions of both scents. Please comment if you’ve tried either in parfum.
That wraps up the Balenciaga siblings. Sure, I could write about Aunties Le Dix and Michelle, but I’ve tested your patience long enough.
Note: image via Images de Parfums.
Angela – great review! I never order anything unsniffed, but I am dying to try that Cristobal right now – fig creme brulee by O.G. – that sounds amazing.
Thank you for the compliment! Cristobal is pretty sweet, but if you're a fan of vanilla, you should like it.
Angelita, let me just repeat myself once again – great review, Miss A!
I am definitely Cristobal, well for the most part I am, but I refuse to be tagged as forgettable!
I tried Cristobal only once and that was ages ago but I clearly remember it being very sweet. Mind you, I've no problem with very sweet NOW, but back in the day I wasn't much into perfume altogether (!). Now you've piqued my interest in Cristobal, what with its yummy/dreamy notes, and that Prelude sounds like a brooding bloke – I love benzoin, frankincense and tolu, so must try that, too. And no, you're not boring us with Balenciaga at all – I'd like to meet the whole family, especially the quirky/domineering Aunties 
Btw, did you get your hands on La Myrrhe?
D, I have to admit that neither Cristobal nor Prelude overwhelmed me with greatness. The Cristobal was comforting, but after a while I was tired of it. The Prelude wasn't terribly original, although I like the list of notes–tolu and benzoin, who wouldn't love it? I'm guessing Prelude is a different story in parfum.
I'm still working on La Myrrhe, but I haven't forgotten your misty, cool, moody, and intellectual description. I won't rest until I've tried it.
Dear Angela-
I love reading your impressions on these perfume pals of mine.
Spot on…
Angela — thanks for the thoughtful review. I smelled both of these and (Le Dix) at one of those mall perfumers — he was actually quite fond of them and recommended for a sniff. My first impression was how … BIG they both seemed. While I enjoyed smelling them, they felt like someone elses's fragrance.
Thank you!
I know what you mean about feeling that they're someone else's perfume. (Hmm. Maybe that's why I anthropomorphized them as male.) Le Dix is a whole different story for me, though–it's aldehydic and ladylike, but with a drydown that reminds me of Bois des Iles.
Yes — that's it exactly! It did remind me of something, and I think that's it. Now I should re-sniff. THAT I could see wearing, and the price was reasonable. Certainly easier to get…
I remember trying on Cristobal at Nordstroms many many years ago. It was sweet, but the sweetness from Cristobal didn't bother me (Unlike, Silver Rain by Le Prairie). And I was amazed that the vanilla was just right on me. I don't wear vanilla because it always smell like play-doh on me…. Weird….
I am still thinking about getting Cristobal for myself one day.
The price definitely beats Bois des Iles with a stick. Le Dix also reminds me some of Baghari. And the bottle is nice.
If you find a vanilla that works for you, I think it's worth buying. Sometimes it's nice–warm and comforting–to smell faintly of vanilla. Plus, men really seem to like it. And, hey, the price is definitely right on this one.
I definitely want to buy Cristobal one day real soon! I really like the way it smelled. Very sophisticated sexy and warm.