Tuesday scent of the day 11/11 :: Now Smell This

Happy Tuesday, all!

Finished my Classic 1970s Week yesterday. So many perfumes from which to choose – I never even got to Opium, N°19, or Cristalle!

A big surprise was vintage Gucci No.1, from 1974. A bit of a mess in the first moments, probably because of the age of my tiny bottle. But after a few minutes, it really came together. Green notes, citrus, rose, musk, amber – a wonderful ride. Wish I had more of this one.

Vintage “Coriandre,” from Jean Couturier (1973) was also fascinating. Herbal, floral, and musky, this one felt of another era. (I think it’s still around, and I’m kind of curious to see how much it’s been reformulated.)

Vintage “Skinny Dip,” by Leeming Pfizer, (1974.) More going on here than I expected. Soft, creamy (if synthetic) lemon, with a hint of incense, flowers, woods, and musk. Doesn’t last long, but while it’s around it’s oddly charming.

Vintage “Z-14,” from Halston. I learned of this one from an interview with Frederic Malle, who said it (along with Aramis) was a favorite of his in his teenage years. (This old stuff is terrific, but a more recent bottle shows the effects of reformulation: it’s recognizable, but thinner and harsher.) Z-14 is definitely a descendant of Aramis – citrus, green herbs, spices, leather, patchouli, and oak moss. The Aramis style continued with perfumes like Azzaro Pour Homme, Puig Quorum, Perry Ellis For Men, and probably many more.

Today, I’m in Vetiver Royal Bourbon from Oriza L. Legrand, one of my favorite recent discoveries, and one of the best vetivers I’ve ever worn.