Tuesday scent of the day 11/4 :: Now Smell This

It’s Classic 1970s Week here at my house, though, you know, I could easily stretch this into a month long celebration.

Over the weekend, I wore vintage Charlie from Revlon (1973,) and vintage Halston (1975,) both purchased as samples from Surrender To Chance. I can’t be sure exactly how old they are, but presumably they’re old enough to pre-date any major reformulations.

I don’t have any memories of smelling Charlie back in the ‘70s, (and I didn’t have the response to it that Angela had in her beautifully written and painfully evocative NST review.) In fact, I had no strong reaction to it; it just wasn’t very interesting. Bright, somewhat green, with (to my nose) non-specific powdery floral notes, with some faintly fuzzy clean musk. Sort of undistinguished all around. I didn’t hate it, but I’m not sure what made it so popular – maybe Shelley Hack’s lovely smile and fabulous slacks. Certainly a triumph of marketing.

I had much more luck with the vintage Halston. This was actually a delight to wear – a kind of peachy, rosy, mossy chypre, with a warm, ambery dry down. It’s credited to Bernard Chant, who created some of my all-time favorite perfumes. (Side note: I can find very little info about Mr. Chant himself – an elusive figure in the perfume world.)

Yesterday, I wore vintage First, from Van Cleef & Arpels, (1976.) It’s a very early creation from Jean-Claude Elléna, and it’s a gem. What a gorgeous, glamorous, abstract floral. Would I immediately identify it as a ‘70s fragrance? I don’t know. I’m by no means a fragrance historian, or an authority on such things, but it seems like a classic from an even older era. I think Elléna’s genius trick is that he’s made it huge, but not the least bit heavy; it truly sparkles.

Today, I’m in another mainstream perfume marketed to women: Anaïs Anaïs, from Cacharel, (1979.) Ah, the scent worn by my college girlfriend. This is always a tricky one for me to wear, since it’s so evocative of her – “the one that got away.” It’s very pretty, soft, citrusy, floral… lovely stuff.