Buenos Aires by GALLIVANT Review (Karine Chevallier) 2024 + Porteños Giveaway

Buenos Aires by GALLIVANT

Buenos Aires by GALLIVANT via the brand

The latest city to be featured in the British brand GALLIVANT’s olfactive world tour is the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires introduced by Michelyn on CaFleureBon. Buenos Aires by GALLIVANT is the brand’s first foray into the Southern hemisphere and sees the brand’s creative director Nick Steward working with longtime collaborator, the independent perfumer Karine Chavallier.

Nick Steward of Gallivant Stories

Nick Steward and Karine Chevallier

“I have such a strong memory of arriving at Ezeiza Airport and being hit by the smell of leather and that cologne that the Spanish and Latin Americans put through their hair. That was the beginning of a life­long love affair with the city, and its residents, called Porteños.”-Nick Steward

what does tonka bean smell like

Tonka Bean Unsplash

Together they have hit upon a fragrance that unites tonka bean with Argentine traditions like the ceibo flower, yerba maté and dulce de leche which, despite being built with such culinary ingredients, performs nothing like a ‘gourmand’ in the traditional sense. Indeed, it’s nutty and there are sweet elements in the base bonding it to the skin, but it’s airy, flighty and at first sniff feels more like a nonchalant almost-Fougère with the tonka bean’s freshness cranked up to ‘maximum possible’.

Buenos Aires Gallivant Stories

Buenos Aires Mood Board via the Brand

The grape accord and Paraguayan petitgrain makes the opening feel wholly unique and quite hard to place, but once the pieces start to settle the perfume becomes a big ball of bright tonka that’s coloured slightly with the green, lightly smoked elements of the yerba maté (a traditional tea) and underscored gently by the brittle caramel tone of the sweetened milk that’s slowly heated to make dulce de leche.

Nuance – as always – is key, and Buenos Aires by GALLIVANT excels at taking these location specific touchstones and making them polished, carefully dosing the accords to color a recognised perfume style in a new hue. The perfumer, Chavallier also leans into the tradition of Argentine leather manufacture using a leather accord to counterpoint any lactonic sweetness in the dry down. Thankfully her work is never heavy handed; more of the leather or the maté and it might feel too dry, too much caramel and the fragrance would be operating more within the boom of enriched vanilla fragrances that are currently popping up here, there and everywhere.

Paul Parquet’s Fougere Royale (which was released in 1882), put the coumarin rich material at center stage (which for many years gave it a more masculine leaning connotation), but Buenos Aires by GALLIVANT bears little relation to such a gendered style of composition. It’s perfectly unisex, rounder and deceptively simple, presenting more as a pert, sweet tonka fragrance that tips the brim of its well-worn gaucho hat to the Fougère style. It seems perfectly content for noses to notice all the closer, subtly unique flourishes and olfactive intricacies in their own time.

Notes: grape accord, petitgrain, ceibo flower, yerba maté, tonka bean, dulce de leche, leather

Disclaimer: A sample of Buenos Aires by GALLIVANT was provided by the brand.

–Oli Marlow, Contributor

Buenos Aires Travel Spray

Thanks to the generosity of Gallivant we have an 8ml travel spray of Buenos Aires available for one registered reader in the UK & EU only.  You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what sparks your interest based on Oli’s review and where you live. Draw closes 11/12/2024

Please read our reviews for: Brooklyn, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, London, Los Angeles, Berlin, Amsterdam (*Amsterdam is discontinued), Tokyo, Los Angeles, Naples Bukhara, (written by Former Senior Editor Fragrance Foundation Award Winning The Silver Fox) and Abu Dhabi and Accra (Karl Topham), NIDA (Nicoleta) and (Oli) Ta’If. ÇaFleureBon was the first fragrance site to review GALLIVANT  in 2017 Nick Steward was featured in our roundtable Artistic Perfumery 7 Indies Speak out and was Michelyn’s  Hardest Working Perfume Person of 2023. Now with Oli’s essay, we have gallivanted to every olfactive city to date.

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16 comments

  • docm3902 says:

    This sounds like such an intriguing scent! GALLIVANT’s journey to Buenos Aires with Nick Steward and Karine Chevallier is such a unique approach. I love how they’ve captured the essence of Argentina without going overly gourmand, even with notes like dulce de leche and tonka bean in the mix. The combination of yerba maté and ceibo flower gives it a green, airy feel, which sounds refreshing. And the leather touch—what a clever nod to Argentina’s leather heritage without overpowering the fragrance. I also love the idea of it having that nonchalant, almost-Fougère vibe, and that it’s perfectly unisex. This blend of cultural references with a light, nuanced execution sounds like the kind of fragrance you want to keep rediscovering every time you wear it!

    EU

  • Jeremi says:

    The heart of the scent includes ceibo, Argentina’s national flower, and yerba maté, adding a smoky, grassy dimension. This blend captures the essence of Buenos Aires and its rich cultural heritage and that really sparked my interest. I live in Trzebnica, Poland, EU.

  • Joel Franco says:

    Again , more fragrance whit leather my favorite note , greetings from San Angelo Texas to Argentina

  • theSCENTguy says:

    My, oh my, you had me at “dulce de leche”. Although I am a fan of heavy vanilla fragrances, I love GALLIVANT’s approach to make the scent more more balanced and subsequently stand out more than most of nowadays fragrances. So the dulche de leche and tonka bean combined with the leather and the very unique sounding opening notes make this a fragrance I am very hyped about and would really love to try.

    EU

  • Amaziz89 says:

    Nuance – as always – is key, and Buenos Aires by GALLIVANT excels at taking these location specific touchstones and making them polished, carefully dosing the accords to color a recognised perfume style in a new hue. The perfumer, Chavallier also leans into the tradition of Argentine leather manufacture using a leather accord to counterpoint any lactonic sweetness in the dry down. Thankfully her work is never heavy handed; more of the leather or the maté and it might feel too dry, too much caramel and the fragrance would be operating more within the boom of enriched vanilla fragrances that are currently popping up here, there and everywhere. A beautifully balanced fragrance really intrigued by the balance struck between Leather, Caramel and mate. Thanks a million from the UK

  • Ozzyaziz says:

    Paul Parquet’s Fougere Royale (which was released in 1882), put the coumarin rich material at center stage (which for many years gave it a more masculine leaning connotation), but Buenos Aires by GALLIVANT bears little relation to such a gendered style of composition. It’s perfectly unisex, rounder and deceptively simple, presenting more as a pert, sweet tonka fragrance that tips the brim of its well-worn gaucho hat to the Fougère style. It seems perfectly content for noses to notice all the closer, subtly unique flourishes and olfactive intricacies in their own time.

    Notes: grape accord, petitgrain, ceibo flower, yerba maté, tonka bean, dulce de leche, leatherPaul Parquet’s Fougere Royale (which was released in 1882), put the coumarin rich material at center stage (which for many years gave it a more masculine leaning connotation), but Buenos Aires by GALLIVANT bears little relation to such a gendered style of composition. It’s perfectly unisex, rounder and deceptively simple, presenting more as a pert, sweet tonka fragrance that tips the brim of its well-worn gaucho hat to the Fougère style. It seems perfectly content for noses to notice all the closer, subtly unique flourishes and olfactive intricacies in their own time.

    Notes: grape accord, petitgrain, ceibo flower, yerba maté, tonka bean, dulce de leche, leather. I am fascinated by the notes especially ceibo flower, yerba mate, tonka beans, dulche de leche and leather capture the essence and spirit of Argentina. Thanks a lot from the UK

  • Salem says:

    My gosh, I’m having such a hard time trying to imagine this scent!
    Such an unexpected mosaic of very particular notes, from the grape accord, to the yerba maté, going through the almost inevitable, and ever so delicious dulce de leche!
    I think I will rely on this very inspiring quote of “airy, flighty and […] a nonchalant almost-Fougère with the tonka bean’s freshness cranked up to ‘maximum possible”, though.
    I also find it extremely smart to counteract the potentially excessive sweetness with a touch of leather, a nod to Argentina’s leather making tradition.
    All in all, Gallivant Buenos Aires sounds like a smart, unique but also easy going essence, capturing some of the “gourmandise” of the culture it’s inspired from, while staying fresh, sparkly and unpretentious.
    EU.

  • iudita says:

    The notes inspired by the city of Buenos Aires reminded me of Frassai perfumes, an Argentinian brand that I love. The local flower ceibo, tea frangeance and dulce de leche make this perfume remarkable and I’d love to smell it.
    Cheers from Italy

  • Patricia R. says:

    I have a pleasant reaction to even the mention of coumarine note, I don´t remember which one of the perfumes I tried in the past had it, but it was so distinct. I believe it is a masterful composition if it contains those ingredients, including yerba mate and goes well with south hemiphere but cooler weather I imagine Argentina might have. I live in the EU.

  • PhilippSu says:

    I’m really intrigued by how Buenos Aires by GALLIVANT captures such a unique mix of elements tied to the city’s spirit. The combination of tonka bean with yerba maté, leather, and dulce de leche sounds like it brings together both warmth and an airy freshness—not at all a typical gourmand. I love the idea of a fragrance that nods to Argentina’s traditions without going too heavy or sweet. It feels like this would be the kind of scent that tells a story gradually and subtly, which is exactly what I look for.

    I am from the EU

  • perusegenesis says:

    Never been to Buenos Aires (yet!), but this sounds absolutely delicious, would love to smell it, Oli’s review made it sound mouth watering, loved his description of a polished tonka ball. Greetings from Romania!

  • AromaDulce73 says:

    Enjoyed Oli’s review. A grape accord, yerba maté and dulce de leche sounds amazing. I was in Buenos Aires earlier this year on a layover and was able to explore this beautiful city. This would be a great addition to my collection and a great reminder of the beautiful city of Buenos Aires.

    Los Angeles Ca. USA

  • scenternet says:

    The scent journey to Buenos Aires by GALLIVANT sounds absolutely captivating! I love the thoughtful combination of local elements like yerba maté and ceibo flower, paired with the warmth of leather and tonka bean—bringing Argentina’s spirit to life in such a nuanced way. The idea of a light, airy fougère with subtle gourmand notes like dulce de leche strikes a perfect balance, avoiding heaviness while still feeling indulgent. It’s intriguing how each layer seems to reveal more, making it a fragrance you’d want to savor over time.

    US

  • opalbear says:

    Hmm I’m curious about the ceibo flower! And I do not have many perfumes with a grape accord. I absolutely still love tonka, its warmth and unisex nature is so perfect. I would love to try this little gem.
    U.S.

  • aurora_ru says:

    I am intriguied how the maté and leather accords counterpoint lactonic and tonka sweetness, and there is also grape accord, which make me think of other perfume brand from Patagonia – I mean, Fuegia… very interesting.
    I would like to participate in this draw from Latvia, EU, thank you!

  • mmerline says:

    Steward’s scent memory of Ezeiza Airport is really distinct and makes for a strong design foundation. Interesting that GALLIVANT Buenos Aires includes notes of ceibo flower, yerba maté, dulce de leche, and grape—is nutty and sweet—but “performs nothing like a ‘gourmand’ in the traditional sense”. The tonka sounds like both the fixture and focal point of this fragrance, it’s freshness alluding to fougères, but also bridging the leather to the rest of the composition. I’d love to try it.

    I’m in the USA.