Memory Lane Monday: Cristalle

Hello, dear Posse folks!! My recent cleanup/reorg has really upped my fragrance game — so much more enjoyable when you can quickly put your hands on what you want. I went into my Chanel box and found some of both the original Cristalle EDT and the newer Eau Verte. I was reminded of discussions of vintage No. 19 vs. the newer Poudre edition from years ago (both were great, but for what it’s worth, the Poudre was nicer on me).

Anyway, in the spirit of spring, I did a wrist-to-wrist comparison, wearing both old and new Cristalles for a day. I’m happy to report that I enjoyed them both immensely.

I thought back on the first time I wore Cristalle, and recall how it was quite different from so many of the heavier scents that dominated the market in the ’70s. It was a game-changing entry for me, coming close on the heels of Estee Lauder’s sportier, but still lovely, Aliage.

Over the years,  the market just exploded with so many scents, that I wound up forgetting about it. So when the Eau Verte came out, I happily gave it a go. Turns out I loved it as well. It struck me as a fresher, slightly more approachable scent than the original. But in its day, Cristalle was groundbreaking, at least for me, and brought back some nice memories. Wearing it recently I thought it perfect for feeling elegant and coolly confident, whereas the Eau Verte puts me in a brighter, more uplifting shade of green mood. I’m happy to have a bit of both in my collection, as well as an equally lovely cousin, Untitled by Maison Martin Margiela. An added bonus: It prompted me to revisit another old love from that era, Quartz by Molyneux.

Are you a Cristalle fan? Or if not, I’d love to hear about any of your “then and now” fragrance experiences.

  • Pam says:

    I wore Cristalle in the early 80s when I was in college; I actually owned a bottle. I was working part time at Frederick & Nelson in downtown Seattle so could try whatever I wanted. Cristalle was my purchase and I wore it every day until it was gone. I also often spritzed myself with Eau Sauvage. Then I went into my pseudo hippy phase and for years only wore patchouli oil purchased from Tenzing Momo, a shop in Pike Place Market, which I would layer with Shalimar. I recently purchased a sample of Eau Sauvage from Surrender to Chance, and had also wanted a sample of Cristalle, but it wasn’t available so I’ll have to keep looking!

  • Kathleen says:

    Cristalle is a beautiful fragrance. I don’t tend to wear green fragrances often, but I love them in the spring. My sister bought me a bottle of Cristalle a couple years ago. I wish I had known it when it was original. Thanks for giving me inspiration; I will wear it tomorrow for the forecasted warm spring day.

  • rosarita says:

    I loved No.19 in the 70s and still do. My mother wore Aliage and my aunt wore Azuree during the same time so I was surrounded by green! Cristalle didn’t show up on my radar until later in the 80s, it was a counterpoint to my beloved Coco. I loved the opening, as I recall it was almost effervescent but I still preferred 19 edt. Never smelled the other iterations of Cristalle.

  • hczerwiec says:

    I like Eau Verte, but I’m such a diehard No 19 fan that I’d rather just wear that — or vintage Vent Vert. But it is lovely and fresh.

  • Eldarwen22 says:

    I can’t remember if I have tried Cristalle proper but did try Eau Verte. While I really did enjoy Eau Verte, it only lasted 2 hours on skin at best. I really don’t have an then and now thing going on.

  • Dina C. says:

    Ann, I’m so glad you wrote this post. I love Cristalle eau Verte and ordered it as soon as it came out. I had an immediate positive reaction to it, and it has been a summer favorite ever since. Only recently did I sniff Cristalle, though. I saw it in an antique mall. I liked it right away, but somehow I passed on it. I’m now kicking myself now for not buying it. I don’t know how Cristalle escaped my attention for all those years because I love green scents — this is right up my alley. The only question remains: edt or edp.

  • March says:

    That is SO FUNNY — I was sniffing at a coworker last week and turns out she was wearing Eau Verte — now I really want some! My best friend wore Cristalle back in the day and it never smelled anywhere near as good on me as it did on her….

  • Brigitte says:

    I wore Cristalle as a preteen in the 70s. I agree it was groundbreaking back then. Current formulation is missing something for me. Several years ago I snagged a vintage but it wasn’t the same. Like all vintage perfume the top notes will be off and this made Cristalle different for me. I need a time machine to take me back to the 70s so that I can get my hands on a pristine and fresh bottle with top notes intact.

  • Lee says:

    Oh Cristalle! I began wearing her shortly after her release and wore her exclusively for years. Then, after some unhappy events in my life, I stopped because I began to associate her with feeling sad. I’ve never rekindled the love affair, but my daughter remembered her from childhood and has adopted her as her signature fragrance, so she’s still in my life and still smells glorious..

  • Neva says:

    Just recently I’ve tried Cristall again after many, many years. I was so afraid that the formulation would be unrecognizable but I was surprised to find out how good it is. I don’t have the old juice to compare it to and I’d happily wear the recent version. I had the Eau Verte when it was released but I was not happy with the longevity.

  • AnneD says:

    Yes, if I have a signature scent, it is Cristalle! I wore the vintage back in the day and I still have half a bottle. I also have the more recent formula and I think both versions are excellent. I will never be without it!

  • Musette says:

    I loved Cristalle but it makes me very melancholy. So does the original Gucci Envy. Which is a shame because both of them were so green and fresh! DagNABBIT! (sad face) xoxoxo

  • Pam says:

    I love Cristalle, especially in warm weather. I haven’t tried the Eau Verte. No. 19 just doesn’t do it for me. Now I must dig out the Quartz. Good idea!

  • Taxi says:

    I loved the original Cristalle but the later versions not so much. I’d forgotten about Quartz! Wonder if I still have any around. No.19 is still a fave. I long for the original Diorissimo. None of the other Diors appeal. All-time favorite classic may be Guerlain Vetiver pour Elle. White Linen was a favorite around 1971.