Passion
Passion by Bahoma London blends sharp pineapple and cardamom with a rich heart of gardenia and jasmine. This 2016 chypre floral settles into a grounded base of amber and cedarwood. It is an ideal choice for women seeking a long-lasting, sophisticated scent for evening occasions throughout the cooler autumn and winter seasons.
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Performance Metrics
4 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Six to eight hours of longevity on skin, with moderate projection at arm's length that is best suited for cool-weather evenings.
Notes Pyramid
Search these notesChoose where each note belongs.
A bold chypre floral with a texture that shifts from crisp and fruity pineapple to a dense, creamy gardenia heart, eventually drying down into a warm, resinous, and woody base of amber, patchouli, and labdanum.
Main Accords
10 MAPPEDThe white floral accord is dominant but behaves linearly, moving from fresh to deep as the patchouli and amber base pulls it toward the skin, creating a warm, resinous, and grounded finish.
Community Data
14 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in spring and fall. The vote picture leans most toward daytime.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Strong and reliable longevity throughout the evening
Distinctive pineapple and gardenia opening is unique
Sophisticated patchouli base feels mature and grounded
Excellent choice for formal autumn or winter dinners
Moderate projection creates a perfect scent bubble
Feels more expensive and niche than the price suggests
The resinous labdanum base provides depth
Works beautifully when sprayed on wool scarves
Well-suited for traditional floral lovers
The scent evolves noticeably over eight hours
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Can feel too heavy or cloying in warm weather
The pineapple opening can be polarizing for some
Not suited for casual or daytime wear
Requires multiple wears to appreciate the complexity
Galbanum might be too sharp for patchouli-sensitive users
Not a safe gift for those who love light scents
The gardenia can lean slightly indolic at times
Might feel old-fashioned to fans of modern gourmands
Hard to layer due to the strong resinous base
Not an office-safe fragrance in close quarters
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Passion by Bahoma London: A Bold Chypre Floral for Evenings”
Passion opens with a surprising, sharp energy. The initial spray delivers a punch of pineapple and lemon, quickly balanced by a spicy hit of cardamom and a faint, medicinal touch of anise. This top-heavy opening is bold, waking up the senses before the fragrance begins its transformation into something much more complex and grounded.
As the fruitiness recedes after about thirty minutes, the heart emerges. Gardenia is the absolute star here, supported by a lush, slightly indolic jasmine and a grounding note of patchouli. This phase is floral in a way that feels heavy and classic. It does not try to be airy or light. Instead, it feels structured and dense, anchored by the lily and cyclamen which add a touch of green freshness to the middle notes.
Moving into the dry-down, the character shifts toward a warm, resinous base. Labdanum and amber take over, supported by cedarwood and a persistent, musk-heavy foundation. This is where the chypre structure really shows its face, providing a deep, wood-meets-resins finish. The galbanum adds a final touch of bitterness that prevents the scent from becoming overly sweet, keeping the composition mature and balanced throughout the final hours on skin.
Performance is reliable, sticking to the skin for about seven hours. It projects well within arm's length for the first half of that time, making it an excellent companion for long dinners. It behaves best in cool autumn air or winter indoor settings, where the heat of the body can help the amber and cedarwood project properly without becoming cloying.
This fragrance is built for a confident wearer who enjoys classic, floral-heavy profiles. It lacks the modern sugary synthetic edge found in many current releases, which will appeal to enthusiasts of the 2010s niche style. It is not an everyday scent for the office, but it shines during formal evening occasions.
Verdict: Sample this if you are a fan of traditional chypres with a modern floral twist. If you generally prefer light, watery florals or hyper-sweet gourmands, this will likely feel too heavy and old-fashioned for your collection.
FAQs
What is the primary scent profile of Passion by Bahoma London?+
Passion centers on a chypre floral structure. It opens with vibrant fruity notes like pineapple and lemon, transitioning into a lush gardenia and jasmine heart, then settles into a grounded base of patchouli, cedar, and amber that provides a warm, resinous finish suitable for cooler autumn days.
How does the fragrance change from the initial spray to the dry-down?+
The opening is immediate, featuring a sharp pineapple and cardamom punch that quickly fizzes. Within an hour, the gardenia and jasmine take center stage, softening the fruitiness. By the dry-down, the labdanum and musk emerge, turning the scent into a cozy, woody, and resinous experience that stays on clothes for hours.
What kind of longevity can I expect with this fragrance?+
On average skin, Passion lasts between six to eight hours. Because it contains heavy base notes like amber and cedar, it clings to sweaters and scarves much longer than it does to bare skin, making it a reliable choice for long work days in the office during winter.
How would you describe the projection or sillage of this perfume?+
It projects at about an arm's length for the first three hours. It is noticeable enough to leave a trail when you enter a room but does not become suffocating in indoor settings. It provides a comfortable scent bubble that feels intimate rather than overwhelming.
Is this a better choice for day or night wear?+
Due to its complex patchouli and amber base, it leans heavily toward evening wear. It pairs exceptionally well with formal attire for dinners or night events in autumn. During the day, it might feel a bit heavy unless applied sparingly, perhaps just one spray for a professional office environment.
What climate is most suitable for wearing Passion?+
Passion performs best in cooler, temperate climates. The combination of gardenia and galbanum can become cloying in high heat or humidity, so save this for crisp autumn air or cold winter evenings when the resinous base can properly warm up against your skin.
Does this fragrance lean feminine, masculine, or unisex?+
It is marketed as a chypre floral for women. While the patchouli and cedarwood base notes are shared by many unisex scents, the prominent gardenia and lily heart ensure it retains a classic feminine character, making it a popular choice for those who love traditional floral-heavy profiles.
Is this a good fragrance for a signature scent?+
If you enjoy sophisticated florals, it could be a signature scent. It offers enough complexity to be interesting every day, but its distinct gardenia and pineapple opening might be too bold for some. Test it for a week before committing to a daily routine.
How does Passion compare to other patchouli-heavy fragrances?+
Compared to something like Coco Mademoiselle, Passion is less bright and citrusy, focusing more on its gardenia and fruity pineapple opening. The patchouli here is earthier and warmer, supported by labdanum, giving it a more resinous, mature character than many contemporary floral-patchouli blends.
Is this a safe blind buy for a gift?+
Fragrance is rarely a safe blind buy, especially chypres. Unless you know the recipient specifically enjoys gardenia and heavy base notes like labdanum, it is better to sample first. If they love classic, rich compositions that evolve throughout the day, it might be a successful gift.
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Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCOREFor those seeking similar depth, Estee Lauder Knowing or Tom Ford Black Orchid offer comparable resinous complexity.
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