POSSE! OMG! I was rummaging around in my cupboards and came across this unbelievable unicorn, Oscar de la Renta vintage parfum. I have no memory of where I bought this or when but am so excited. Maybe I didn’t realize it was a parfum when I got it? We’ll never know.
Little bit of back story: Many years ago when I was a holiday squirt bitch my counter was Guerlain, Worth, Nina Ricci and yes, you guessed it de la Renta. If only I knew then what I know now I would have spent every bloody cent I earned on scent.
The perfumer, Jean-Louis Sieuzac, is one you’ve probably worn perfumes of but he is not super duper famous. He signed off on Dune and Fahrenheit for DIOR, Opium for YSL, Bel Ami for Hermès and even 2022’s Kredo for Nishane.
Oscar by Oscar de la Renta vintage parfum
Oscar de la Renta site gives these featured accords:
Top: Orange Blossom, Basil, Coriander, Galbanum, Peach, Gardenia
Heart: Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine, Tuberose, Rose, Rosemary, Cyclamen, Lavender, Orchid
Base: Opoponax, Carnation, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Lavender, Amber
As you can see in the below picture my Oscar bottle is the spray version and is nearly full. I think the reason it’s lasted so well is that the lid is JAMMED on so tight there’s no air access. It took me real brute strength to even get it off. Maybe that’s why it got sold on. I can’t imagine it being easy for anyone a little bit frail.
How does it smell? Ridiculously fabulous. An aldehydic chypre from the time of kitchen sink perfumes. That very blows, over the top opening of greenery and flowers with a hint of sweet tinned fruit salad. The heart, and into the dry down, is a big bouquet but creamy and mossy with what I think are sandalwood, vanilla, oakmoss and patchouli all drizzled with a very sweet sappy, resinous amber. The last gasps are mainly a mossy amber in that now very old fashioned but still glamorous trope.
Lasting power is out of this world and I woke up this morning with remnants of yesterday before spritzing again.
Way back in 2012 Mrs Honey reviewed this Oscar de la Renta parfum
Do you remember the original? Did you or a family member/friend wear it ?
Portia xx
Ah, that bottle — the one with the wimple — big sigh. Yup, thought kitchen sink immediately upon reading the notes list. This sounds glorious. You lucky one to have it hidden away.
What. A. Find! I wish my rootlings in cupboards brought forth such glories! Ok sometimes they do.
I own an 11ml mini of OG OdlR but not the Pure Parfum. I can only imagine how fabulous it is. The OG big blousy overblown white floral bouquet. The lushest of the lush. Ahhhhh… I can smell you from here
“If only I knew then what I know now..” Hoo boy, is that ever true..
It’s weird: I remember this was pretty ubiquitous among ladies who lunched but for the life of me I can’t remember what it smells like. I’m sure if I did smell it it would be like opening a floodgate of memories.