Comforting and warm: Norell Elixir

Elixir
We interrupt this season of cold, dark dead of winter (for many of us) to give you a much-needed commercial break, a few moments to curl up with something comforting, cozy and warm. And that CCW for me right now is Norell Elixir.

I have been a fan of Norell ever since the original launched, way back when, and wasn’t disappointed when its modern namesake was rolled out a year or two ago. So here’s the description of Norell’s latest:

“An addictive and sensuous fragrance that seduces the senses with blends of cool spice, the headiness of white flowers and a narcotic trail of dark woods and sweet sensuality,” reads the inner flap of the Elixir sample card.

Hmmm… I don’t know about all that, but it certainly is yummy, at least to my nose, on this near-freezing night. It seems to venture slightly into powerhouse gourmand territory, but the pink pepper, patchouli, sandalwood and benzoin keep it in gently, warmly in check. Good lasting power, too — at least five hours on my skin.

Fragrantica calls it a chypre floral, and lists top notes of Italian mandarin, pink pepper and plum; middle, Indian tuberose, Egyptian jasmine and pimento; base notes of sandalwood, patchouli and Siam benzoin.

Norell not ElixirWhat also attracted me is that the Norell Elixir bottle echoes the first new Norell (as opposed to the first original Norell) just beautifully, with its smoky-quartz-like hue, a darker contrast to the golden-clear shading of the original (the uber-spendy Baccarat version of it is shown at left). I snapped up a mini of that one and would give my eye teeth to have a mini of this one as well. Also, in the scent at left, they did a lovely body oil, and I can only hope they will do the same with their newest baby.

Norell Elixir has been around for a bit at Neiman Marcus, but I’m just now getting caught up and able to test it out. Best I can tell, it’s not at any other stores or at the decant houses, but samples can be had on good ol’ eBay.

So please do share: What’s keeping you comforting, cozy and warm now or whenever you need it most?

  • rosarita313 says:

    Oh this sounds wonderful, Ann! Onto the sample list it goes. I just loved the original Norell, I remember saving babysitting money and buying a tiny bottle at the drugstore in the early 70s. Still have a little bottle from the 80s. Wearing Imperial Opoponax and Hypnotic Poison a lot these days, I’m still in a sweeter is better phase.

    • Ann says:

      Howdy, dear! I forgot you could buy it at the drugstore — gosh, those trips to the drugstore were fragrant adventures way back when. And lucky you to have a little bottle still! Love your choices, too!

  • ElizabethC says:

    No. 5 body lotion. Warm and comfy 🙂

    • Ann says:

      Elizabeth, can you believe I’ve never tried that? But I might have to now, esp. with the new L’Eau and the Eau Premiere, both of which I rather enjoy. Have you tried the No. 5 body cream by any chance? Is it as good?

  • Queen Cupcake says:

    I used to wear Norell years ago, in my thirties. It is a grown-up lady perfume to be sure! People seemed to like it on me. Maybe I will go find that neglected bottle… Fragrance isn’t working well for me this month…must be my stuffy nose. For some reason, I am more interested in tea, lately. Not to hijack the thread, but can anyone recommend a sturdy, smoky English black tea? Back in the 90’s, I visited friends in England. Their regular ol’ supermarket tea (Sainsbury’s) was amazing!

    • Ann says:

      Oh, Queen Cupcake, I know you smelled so elegant in original Norell! Do dig up the bottle and give it a go. Haven’t tried that brand of tea, but I see that the Brit Superstore and teadog.com carry it. Good luck!

      • Ann says:

        PS Hope you feel better soonb and your sniffer gets unstuck so you can get back to your good smells.

  • Patti Jennings Moore says:

    Hi, Ann,
    Do you need my mailing address yet regarding last week’s draw? Thanks.
    Patti (from Texas)

  • maggiecat says:

    MFK’s Ciel de Gum is keeping me warm on chilly days, as one would expect a perfume designed for a store in Moscow to be able to do!. I’m also enjoying Something Wild by Derek Lam, a woodsy-vanilla that avoids being too sweet and is somehow just right on me. And I’m wearing Chanel No. 5 L’Eau today because it’s pretty much perfect any time!

    • Ann says:

      Amen to that MFK, Maggiecat, it’s a wonder! That Derek Lam sounds super-good, so on my list it goes. And I, too, am rather fond of the No. 5 L’Eau, surprisingly, since I’m not a fan of the mothership. It is a delight and nice anytime, as you said.

  • Eldarwen22 says:

    I haven’t tried Norell and on the list it goes. I’ve been wearing the crap out of vintage Bal, Lyric, Feminite du Bois and Epic. Recently, Theorema has been getting a lot of love from me.

    • Ann says:

      Beautiful and classic choices, eldarwen! Bal and FdB have a bit too much va-va-voom or something for me, but my mouth is watering at the thought of Theorema, Lyric and Epic. Yum!

  • HeidiC says:

    I haven’t tried the Norell! But I’m nowhere near a NM, so it may be a while before I sniff it. The CCWs I’ve had in heavy rotation are Guerlain’s Cuir Beluga, Ciel de GUM, Chergui, and my teeny samples of Les Indes Galantes and Fete Persanes.

    • Ann says:

      Great picks there, Heidi! Great minds think alike 😉 we are certainly just-about scent twins. Now I need to go dig up my Chergui as you’ve got me jonesing for it. Stay warm!

  • Musette says:

    LOL! I have tried and tried and TRIED Norell (it was one of my mother’s favorites and, in fact, was the gateway to perfume blogs) – but no matter what, it always smells (on me ONLY) as if I’d been on a cheap gin bender and woke up on some strange guy’s leather sofa after a party.

    That being said, I’mo TRY it!

    Why not, right?

    xoxoxoA

    My go-to warms right now are Neela Vermeire’s Trayee and Bombay Bling. Both conjure extreme heat, which is just what my stone-cold heart needs these days.

    • Ann says:

      Yes, yes, yes, darling, to those NVs! They are super warmer-uppers, aren’t they? Hang in there!

  • Ann says:

    Yay for the heating pad, Jenbat — I love mine! And thanks for the heads-up about the MAC scents; that bonfire one sounds amazing.

  • jenbat says:

    Mm, this sounds good! What’s been keeping me warm is a heating pad that has been the smartest purchase ever, wool socks, and testing all of the MAC Shadescents this week; so far they are all gourmands, except for My Heroine, which is like a thousand bonfires condensed into liquid form. That’ll keep you warm!

  • March says:

    Ugh, you’re going to force me to brave the NM sales ladies, aren’t you? Because this sounds fantastic.

    • Ann says:

      Ha, I hear you! I didn’t get into the big city there for awhile so I just took my chances and got a sample fairly cheaply off eBay. But do like I do there: Go in low and fast, make a beeline for the bottle I want to sniff, spritz, and get out quick!! 😉

  • RoseMacaroon says:

    Papillon’s Tobacco Rose (managing to be both lush and darkly deep/dry), En Voyage’s Indigo Vanilla (thick and fluffy violet gourmand, just a pure pleasure), DSH’s Vanille Botanique (very gourmand on me for the first couple of hours, after which the slightly tannic balsams come into play, and Oudh Lacquer and Vanillaville by Soivohle, both of which are dense and sumptuous and perfect for chilly weather.

    • Ann says:

      Yum! All those sound wonderful, esp, the vanilla ones! Thanks for sharing, Rosemacaroon.

      • RoseMacaroon says:

        Thank *you* for the beautifully described feature! And the topic, too, gods know I cannot get nearly enough of warm / comforting atm.