Hey there Perfume Posse People! Lately I’ve been doing most of my perfume shopping on Sales Docs in the Facebook perfume pages. Scotty bought a bunch of things from me and sent the money via PayPal so it feels like I have this other income stream to blow on frags. One of my latest pick ups is 1969 by Histoires de Parfums. This crew has been pumping out excellent, reasonably priced fragrance since 2000. Yet the scentbloggosphere is remarkably quiet about their stuff lately. This particular offering was created by the house founder and perfumer Gerald Ghislain.
1969 by Histoires de Parfums 2001
Gerald Ghislain
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Peach
Heart: Rose, white flowers, cardamom, clove
Base: Musk, patchouli, Mexican chocolate, coffee
1969 is classic proof that you can’t judge a scent by its name or note list. I see peach, a spicy bouquet, chocolate, coffee and patchouli and I’m thinking, because it’s called 1969, that I’m going to basically get the scent of someone heavily perfumed with Mitsouko in a head shop. Wearing tie dye, protesting against the Vietnam War and dreaming of living the adventure described in James A Michener’s The Drifters (I’ve been rereading it since I got back from holidays, Amazing book) If that’s what you thought, prepare to have your preconceived ideas thrown in the bin.
1969 IS a herbal fruit-chouli. While having a lovely, herbal but clean patch it also has the sweetness of tinned peaches and a spicy hit. There is a dark chocolate drizzled over everything and the whole is a far more elegant and refined fragrance than I could have dreamed. It’s warm, a little bit earthy and modern. Sheer and radiant with oodles of heft and throw. Not what I expected but better than that, a modern and wearable beauty that is interesting enough to make my head go on fantastic journeys but not so potent that I’m unable to think clearly.
Surrender To Chance has an excellent selection of Histoires de Parfums
Portia xx
Portia also writes for Australian Perfume Junkies
Portia, I haven’t tried 1969, but The Drifters, omg. In 1981, my dear college roomie and I went on the Eurail trip of a lifetime. I first read The Agony and the Ecstasy through Italy, then the Drifters through Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, etc. I loved that book. It would be fun to revisit. And eat muesli while reading!
Hey there Spring Pansy,
You are the ONLY other person, other than my father, who has ever even known this book existed. Do go back and reread. So much of what it says makes real sense to my now grown up self. All I saw back then was the glamour of sex, drugs and travel. Spent the last however many years scratching those itches but now the underlying political, humanist and thought provoking message are making a much bigger dent.
Lucky you, that trip sounds fabulous.
Portia xx
I need to read it.
Haven’t tried this one at all, but I love HdP Vert Pivoine so very much and have been using a decant of it all summer long. Getting a FB of it is high on my “want” list. It’s a powdery, green peony to me. Very clean and refreshing smelling during a sweaty, humid summer. 1969 sounds like a great choice for fall. I’m so ready for cooler weather.
Hi DinaC,
OOOh that Vert Pivoine sounds fabulous. A powdery peony? Yum.
Portia xx
I really liked my first bottle, but my second bottle smells a bit meh. Not much character at all. I am letting it sit for a while to see if it gets better or decide it’s been reformulated. The first bottle was exactly as you described. I want to try thair Noir Patchouli next.
Definitey reformulated. I used and loved 100 mls up back in 2001 or so. I am wearing it today from a new 15ml. It’s not what it was.
Aha Val,
Well, I’d trust your nose with patchouli any and every day.
Portia xx
Interesting TaraC,
I’m not sure how old my bottle is so I can’t give you a heads up on the reform. One thing I do know though is that patchouli oil gets more full bodied and darker with age, I wonder if it oxidises in the perfume, making the end of the bottle smell loads better than the start?
Portia xx
There is basically next to no patch in the current version. I dunno what happened to it. The extreme richness it had in the past has gone. At least to my nose. The new batch is ok, but it was amazing back in 2001.
Right, thanks.
I just bought a dark patchouli EO that’s supposed to be quite old. It smells amazing.
Portia xx
It matures like wine. ??
HA! Maybe more like Scotch.
Out of their offerings, this was one that fell in the just okay bucket for me: goes on like coca cola; a bit candied, too soft, citrus and patchouli powder
Hey Gina,
I can definitely see that 1969 would be a bummer for some people. Especially if the love big, bold, statement fragrances.
Portia xx
But it was once über-bold.
This is the perfume I have coming in my monthly Scentbird decant subscription! I’ve been intrigued by it and now especially after reading your review. I should have my nose on it in a few days! Peach, spicy, and warm sounds perfect for pending fall weather soon!
Hey there Kathleen,
We are curiously in sync lately. I love it.
Yeah, 1969 should make your fall smell wonderful.
Portia xx
Portia, I received my decant of 1969, and it is as good as you described. The best patchouli fragrance I have worn. I get boozy peach and plums initially and cardamom. It is better than I expected as well, and I’m fairly certain I have the recent reformulation. I can’t imagine how good the original version was! This perfume will smell wonderful in the crisp fall air next month.
And I want to read The Drifters!
YAY! So glad you’re loving it Kathleen.
If you do read The Drifters I’d love to hear what you think of it. My nostalgia may be standing in the way of good taste. Doesn’t matter though, when I get to it I thoroughly enjoy it.
Portia xx