Portos by Balenciaga
Men 1980
Description
Portos by Balenciaga is a woody-chypre fragrance for men. Launched in 1980, this composition features top notes of galbanum, coriander, hyssop, bergamot, and cumin. The heart reveals carnation, patchouli, geranium, vetiver, Virginia cedar, and jasmine, while the base settles on castoreum, leather, myrrh, frankincense, oakmoss, French labdanum, and musk.
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The olfactory pyramid
A guide to the opening, heart and lasting trail of the fragrance.
The community speaks
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In the collection
Leading answer I want it
485 votes
What do you think?
Leading answer Love it
134 votes
Season
Choose severalLeading answer Autumn
123 votes
Time of day
Choose severalLeading answer Night
68 votes
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Fragrance profile
About Portos
Portos by Balenciaga is a woody-chypre fragrance for men. Launched in 1980, this composition features top notes of galbanum, coriander, hyssop, bergamot, and cumin. The heart reveals carnation, patchouli, geranium, vetiver, Virginia cedar, and jasmine, while the base settles on castoreum, leather, myrrh, frankincense, oakmoss, French labdanum, and musk.
Green, herbal and fougère Flowers Woods and mosses White flowers Musk, amber and animalic Resins and balsams
It may remind you of
Ranked by what the community voted.
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How it wears
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Longevity
Leading answer Long-lasting
73 votes
Sillage
Leading answer Moderate
80 votes
Character
Leading answer Traditionally masculine
41 votes
Value perception
Leading answer Fair price
36 votes
Featured review The most detailed of the latest reviews.
Have you worn Portos?
Tell us how it opens, how it settles on your skin, how long it lasts and when you wear it.
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J.A.M.
Hello everyone. Balenciaga Portos is the polished, refined, and sophisticated version of Jean Pascal: what Jean Pascal wanted to be but couldn’t. It’s a fragrance with smoothed edges, round, and distinct from the strident scent of its predecessor. The smell in Portos is clear, very elegant, well-conceived, and executed, with a perfect balance in its notes—a true work of art in a bottle. Thank God I have the privilege of owning a small bottle of this golden liquid that I treasure and keep like gold in a cloth, impossible to get in my country, but luckily I bought it from an excellent international seller. Definitely one of my favorite perfumes. I’ll update my review soon.
J.A.M.
It’s a great fragrance that carries the seal of what perfumes from the 80s were: with great animal and baroque character. It doesn’t seem to have the heavy sillage some say it does, but it has ingredients of very high quality. It denotes a lot of virility; it’s not for perfume novices. Those who love aquatic and gourmand scents should stay away. If you like animal perfumes and oakmoss, I’m sure you’ll love it. I don’t recommend buying it blindly. It’s a Kouros without aldehydes. Have a nice night. Warm regards to all perfume lovers.
J.A.M.
It’s a brutal fragrance that captures the essence of 80s perfumes, with a very marked animal and baroque touch. It doesn’t have that exaggerated sillage they talk about, but the ingredients are top-notch. It smells of pure virility, nothing for novices. If you like aquatic or gourmand scents, better not to get close. But if you’re a fan of the animal side and oakmoss, you’ll surely love it. Don’t buy it blindly; it’s a Kouros without aldehydes. Enjoy it!
juancar677
What a pity that Balenciaga stopped launching this fragrance along with the rest of its family. They say the brand has returned with new distribution and other scents, but I never got to try Portos, although I did try Cristóbal pour Homme, something more recent and was a spectacular oriental, my winter perfume for going out at night. It always hurts to lose these perfumes over time; I hope one day they return as the great fragrances they are.
gelo999
Portos is a vintage cult jewel that everyone should try at least once. Its 80s composition with barber shop touches is complex and powerful: a dominant and beautiful leather bursts from the beginning to the end, accompanied by aromatic herbs. That accord smells of smoke, patchouli, and lots of myrrh, giving it a warm, balsamic, and heavy character, but the castoreum makes it vibrant, wild, unique, and super-masculine. It’s the perfume for an 80s alpha male: chest hair, semi-open shirt, tight jeans, self-assured, dominant, and irreverent, with overwhelming sex appeal. With animal tints being in fashion again, it’s a perfect retro candidate to stay up-to-date. Not recommended for novices or those who prefer soft eau de toilettes. Rating: 7.5
priethcallas
It starts strong with a trio of absinthe, coriander, and bergamot that reminds me of the opening of Kouros, but softer. Hours later, patchouli and florals dominate, evoking parts of Givenchy Gentleman and Kouros (they share 7 notes with Gentleman and 12 with Kouros). It has that same powdery sensation of Gentleman. Then cedar, moss, leather, and musk emerge, though patchouli still takes the lead. It’s the best of two worlds: Gentleman and Kouros, halfway between them, not just in style but in era. The trail is heavy and the longevity exceeds 14 hours on me. Ideal for winter and formal occasions. What a shame it’s discontinued.
priethcallas
It starts strong with a trio of absinthe, coriander, and bergamot that evokes the beginning of Kouros but softer. Hours later, patchouli and florals dominate, reminding me of parts of Givenchy Gentleman and Kouros (they share 7 notes with Gentleman and 12 with Kouros), with that same powdery sensation. Then cedar, moss, leather, and musk emerge, always under patchouli’s command. It’s the best of two worlds, right halfway between Gentleman and Kouros, not just in style but in era. The trail is heavy and lasts more than 14 hours on me. Ideal for winter and formal occasions. What a shame it’s no longer sold.
sepulveda
My mother gifted me this cologne years ago; now that it’s gone, I want to remember it, because for me a good fragrance takes me back to the past, and nothing better than this sweet and pleasant scent to remember my loved one.