Красная Москва (Red Moscow)

I have some favorite perfume. Krasnaya Moskva is also my favorite one for colder season. However, this perfume has two difficult points...1) In Japan, Japan is very humid country. So I can wear only a few months. I have to wait colder season every year. From my feeling, the middle of February, it's so wonderful season for this aroma. Even very colder and darker night, I'm so happy feeling. 2) I can't buy it in Japan (cry cry and crying...) When I want to buy it, have to go to Russia or request to my friends. I hope I can buy it in Japan also. My favorite "how to wear" is dropping on the top of hair. The point is "a few", it's never one push. it's only one drop on top of a finger. After that, knead softly on a hand. That's all. When I went outside, and It was heavy windy, the warm aroma will be covered you as softly bouquet and vanilla. After I done it, many of cases, little girls who are neighborhood asked me "Wow, what's?? what's so nice aroma!!" I'm always surprised about the price when I wore this perfume. I checked the price on the official site. The price!! it's so good! (not expensive) However, the aroma gave to feel elegance. And, I love this design. I just think if you like No.5 (Chanel) or L'Heure Bleue (Guerlain), I recommend to try it! Those are not the same, but I just image of them when I wore Krasnaya Moskva first time. I'd like to say the price again and again, it's very good cost! The other hand, my friend doesn't like this perfume. She told me "I like more modern aroma, it's like a grandma". So, I think if you like more modern type, maybe it's not type of you. У меня есть много любимых духи. Красная Москва тоже мой любимий его. Но... 1) Японии очень жаркая страна в летом... а, я смогу надеть это духи только несколоко месеца. В среднии февраля я убликается надеть его. Этот сезон слишком коротки. Только это очень жалко. 2) Я не смогу купить это духи в японии (я хочу плакоть). Есль я хочу купить его ещё рас, мне надо ехать в Россию или попросить купить моих друзья которые живут в России. Желаю купить это духи в японии тоже. Я любю надеть это немного духи на волосе кончик. Это мягкий аромат. Когда у вас есть сильний ветер, вы можете чувствовать цвети и ваниль пахнет. Я думаю, что есль вы любите No.5 (Chanel) или L'Heure Bleue (Guerlain), вам понравиься Красная Москва. Эти не одинаковие, но я помню эти духи когда я надела в первой. И вы знаете цену этого дух? Когда я смотрела эту цену, удивлёла. Это очень дешёви!!! но аромат не дешёви!!!!

Fit for an Empress, for sure, Moscow Red is absolutely amazing! I have no idea what Russia smells like, but if this is any indication; it's severe and beautiful! Red is definitely the color of this scent with tinges of golden shimmer... This begins with a bitter bergamot and dry corriander alongside a powdery neroli. Some say medicinal, I say sharp and strong. The heart is just splendid with the oily carnation and its spicy floralcy beside lush ylang and its soft sexy scent; as the heart opens the top quiets and blends into the middle not unlike the spoonful of sugar to make the "medicine" go down. The rose and jasmine twine together to make something romantic, but still serious and down to earth. The finish on this is warm as well. I always thought Moscow would be cold; but, I guess that is Siberia! Ultimately, it is smoother than the opening and less flowery than the heart. Iris adds a powderiness and the vanilla is smooth but not sweet or overly gourmand, and the tonka is slightly oriental; though this is very much a chypre. Elegant, strong and proud this is no fainting frilly thing, but a beautiful classic vintage and may be worn by babushkas, but don't let those old ladies fool you! They live longer than their men and it's for a reason-they are hard, but loving, and they perservere just like Krasnaya Moskva has...for over 75 years! Sillage: great Longevity: awesome Overall: 4.25/5 When I was a little boy and the cousins and other grandkids were playing, I was always on my Gunda's knee. I have always felt more at ease, even as a child, around the older adults. This may be a granny scent, but you can learn a lot from a grandmother. They should be treasured, and not pushed aside or forgotten because they are old! You can never really be sure how long you will have them in your life. Remember that age=wisdom, Moscow Red is beautiful just as it is...and I wouldn't change a single thing! *Eva: thank you so much for this very wonderful piece of history. I will (and do) treasure it!!!*

My Russian friend Sergey has gifted me with a full flacon of 1980's vintage RED MOSCOW extrait, mailed to me from Siberia. I didn't expect it to smell so natural, strong and nuanced. Bright aldehydes with a curiously angular coriander accent descend slowly into a citrusy, lemon-juicy orange blossom... bright, tangy and winsome. Gradually the tanginess subsides a bit, slowly revealing the spicy/floral heart of carnation, ylang-ylang, jasmine and subtle rose, inflected not only with the vintage eugenol/clove character, but with a warm cinnamon as well. In the base, a sweet tonka/vanillic accord is made powdery/chalky with iris, and undoubtedly a heliotrope quality, with its slight Play-Doh nuance, while recalling the innocent, frilly orange blossom of the head. There is also a most subtle methyl salicylate (sweet birch/wintergreen-like) enhancement, which confers an almost "vintage horehound candy" like quality to the floralcy. All-in-all, I'd say its nearest neighbor is not Guerlain L'HEURE BLEUE at all, or even APRÈS L'ONDÉE, but rather Coty L'ORIGAN. In fact, RED MOSCOW reminds me of what might happen if all the notes of L'ORIGAN were doubled in power and purity. The mood of RED MOSCOW is definitely the pre-WWI era of the "Gilded Age/TITANIC era", and thus it has much in common with other such constructions of the Art Nouveau era such as the Grossmith scents, SHEM-EL-NESSIM and HASU-NO-HANA. This is a lovely, winsome scent, and I can understand why it has been so memorable and moody for generations of Russians!

You are not Russian and you don't know how the smell of Red Moscow? I will tell you. This perfume was invented by Henri Brocard. Brocard were making soap and perfumes. One night he woke the whole house shouting "Found it!". His wife was frightened and did not understand what was happening. Henri said that he had invented a scent that is sure to appeal to the Empress Maria Feodorovna. A week later, he gave the Empress a beautiful bouquet of flowers. The flowers were made of colored wax and look like real. Each flower in the bouquet exudes its natural flavor. A mixture of smells blended into a gorgeous scent. The Empress was asked to make a perfume and call it "Favorite bouquet of Empress". After this Brocard received the title of "Main supplier of the Imperial court". After the revolution, in 1925, resumed production of these spirits, but was renamed "Red Moscow". In the USSR it was the most popular perfume, they smelt of almost all Soviet women. But then it became unfashionable and was forgotten. Now "Red Moscow" is again popular. Many people think that that's the scent of an old woman, but it's not. Close your eyes and imagine Empress, in a beautiful dress, an updo that goes through the posh corridors of the castle. Around expensive crystal and gold. How do you think it smells this great woman? It smells wonderful, flowers, face powder and luxury. It smells like "Red Moscow". PS: Sorry for my English

I don't think Krasnaya Moskva exactly qualifies as a chypre, I'd say it's a spicy floral but never mind that. When I was a teenager in the 80s, I think that I, and other Americans my age and older where led to believe that the Soviet Union was devoid of anything beautiful and everything was all sorts of dreary greys and bleakness. At least that's what we were told on TV. This scent is one that any of the old venerable perfume houses of Paris would be proud to to put a label on. It's very luxurious in the way of Narcisse Noir or L'Heure Bleue, of which Krasnaya Moskva reminds me. I bought this at a resale/antique shop and the label is slightly different from the one shown and the color of the perfume is darker so I imagine I have a "vintage" bottle (for $6). It has that thick syrupy feel of ylang and rose with spicy carnation to break up the heaviness. Very lovely, very old-fashioned (meaning very well-constructed with high-quality ingredients), with just the right touch of melancholia, although the drydown is much lighter and happier. This is by no means a flirty carefree fragrance if that is what you are looking for, but a glamorous, admire-me-from-afar scent. However, after a few hours it's willing to make friends IF you're worthy ;)

My mother had this fragrance, and I naturally bought it too, and in different editions, there is even a bottle with the formula before 1971, when a significant replacement and simplification of the formula was made. If that vintage, where there was the most expensive jasmine, was preserved in its original quality, then this perfume is light, flaming, ballroom and festive grand style with the richest delightful disclosure. Perfume released after 1971 can be very tasty, but sweet-heavy due to changes in the top and middle parts, especially if it was a mass release with inexpensive ingredients. Releases of the 21st century can be very different in perception. If you did not like fresh perfume the first time, leave it to stand for several years. Cologne Red Moscow is very pleasant as a daytime, warming, autumn-winter. It seems to me a gourmet analogue of the "Red Riding Hood" candies from the "Red October" company. Again, there may be differences in aroma depending on the manufacturer. For example, in my area they once brought in the cologne "Red Moscow" from Ukrainian companies, it is a purely cheap barbershop product with a hint of Red Moscow, it is a barely discernible ghost there.

I love this so much, it’s such a pity it’s impossible to get in my country. The perfume itself is rather cheap but shipping to my country costs like 3x the cost of the bottle. I managed to get a bottle about two years ago before Brexit customs affected shipping costs here and it is truly marvellous, even still after two years. This really is a sister of Chanel no5. I love the design of this bottle, I thought the fact it didn’t have spray would be annoying but it doesn’t bother me as much as I thought. This will always be a rather romantic scent to me. I wore it on my first date with my first boyfriend and while that relationship went horribly sour, I know the perfume and my love for it never will. It’s very soapy and aristocratic. I can imagine a Russian Empress wearing this in a palace full of flowers. I’d actually argue this is more aristocratic than Chanel no5! Some people may find it old fashioned but I’d say it’s timeless.

Ah what a beauty! It has such a bad reputation in Russia that I did not even bother to try it until now. Neither my grandma nor my mother had it so I just believed those who used words Red Moscow as a synonym of something smelling really not appealing. My bad! I finally matured enough to become curious about the most (in)famous Russian perfume. My oh my. Those who say that should it come under the name of Guerlain would enjoy a huge success. It's very old school but not necessarily in a bad way. I got the 100 ml splash bottle and the juice is very dreamy, mellow.. Nothing screechy or sharp here. Can't wait to start wearing it when it get's a bit cooler. Must be truly dreamy in winter. In short, fear this fragrance not. It is much better than it is reputation and at this price point (my bottle was bought it Russia at the outrages cost of $4! Yes as in No-I-did-not-forget-the-zero) why not decide for yourself.

I like it so.I like it despite of the fact that noone wears it anymore, and if one does, one does not admit it.Red Moscow`s reputation was spoiled for years, almost creating a nickname for a stinky perfume out of it...How sad! The scent is truly beautiful, yet very retro. It is also very recognizable, which is almost always a sign of a real masterpiece. I had pleasure of trying the old version - my grandma had it, though never used it, and it was bought in early 60s.Fantastic! Oily carnation (one of the best, imho), head turning jasmine, and those sensual notes of ylang ylang and rose.The heart opens with such exhilaration, that one can easily forget the reputation and age of this scent - it`s very, very young at heart! I like to wear it and get compliments too, though some of my Russian girlfriends refuse to believe it.Good for you if you`re not predigeous! Yo can widen your horizons so much more.

I was gifted this from a fellow Fragrantican for Christmas. I am transported back in time as this spicy, floral, Chypre fragrance develops on my skin to a sweet woody drydown. This is vintage in all its glory, I could actually cry for lost years and the memory of my Grandma and Mum, both of whom this reminds me of. I am on a trip down memory lane to my childhood days at home, under the watchful eye of my parents my Mum breezing through our house smelling of something like Krasnaya. I can re live my childhood through this gorgeous perfume and my heart aches for those lost days of winter, where this smell is warm, spicy and comforting. Beautiful, old fashioned, vintage perfume, this is utterly delightful. Longevity is excellent as it has lasted for hours, silage is good too, it's not a power bomb, but you are constantly reminded of its presence.

My oh my.. This is truly unique, even the cheaper reformulated new version. I actually feel guilty for liking it, I like to dab a a tiny drop on my temples as aromatherapy before going to sleep, this way I can shake my head and I'm enveloped in this spicy (I guess it's very potent coriander), creamy and dusty sweetness. It does smell expensive to me. But not as expensive as chanels I love to be able to pull it off in the public. Living in a post-soviet country I know that this fragance is a synonim of a stinky granny perfume to everyone. (with non offence to granny perfumes, I'm a fan of most of them that are considered granny) So I'm just having it for the collection to sniff it now and then. But I guess I'd never be able to wear it in public, oh god I'd better wear ELDO Secretions Magnifiques :)

There are very few old school perfumes (and leave alone new niche pop-ups) that can match complexity and richness of this perfume, its spiciness and feminity at the same time. Just want to agree with "Silverbutterfly" on "The golden childhood time of all Soviet children. And if some mediocre people try to badmouth that era, don't believe it. It was the best time ever!" For people who see only "limitations in the soviet era" they maybe should try to look at the statistics and see that it was the country having 99.9% of literacy level and any child no matter whether his/her parents are factory workers, teachers or party leaders had a chance to educate him/herself in any area that he/she would want to. So if your "limitations" mean there were no bananas or Levi's jeans, I feel sorry for you.

I have no childhood affiliation with this perfume, and no Russian relatives, so this is purely a review of the perfume and not the politics. It's lovely. First on, I get a strange candied floral aldehyde, just very old style perfume with a sweet tart edge that smells almost innocent. Dry down produces an edge commonly referred to as the 'play-doh' note, which I believe comes from tonka or sometimes from powdery vanillas. Strangely it works very well here. I end up with a floral blend with candy and slightly salty vanilla notes. It's fun and oddly pretty. Pleasant and enjoyable. I really like this and plan to look for it. It must be worn in small doses or it does indeed become overwhelming. UPDATE: I have bought the whole 3.3oz bottle and am loving it.

An update: (a less emotional and subjective review) I have this in perfume and vintage version, should be from 70s. For me it is a perfect pure perfume version of Guerlain's L'Après Ondée. It also reminds me Guerlain L'Heure Bleue. I cannot have enough of it, if honestly. It is a very rich blend of carnation flower, cloves, coriander, iris and viola. There is also a portion of oakmoss for my nose. I don't know if the current production is anywhere close to it, but I am working on getting a sample and might update later. To summarize: should this perfume have been known more it would have been getting raving 5 stars reviews from all over the world, from everyone experienced in what the art of perfumes is about.

Red Moscow what do people picture of the 1917 Revolution Vladimir Lenin Dr Zhivago Leon Trotsky Stalin Khrushchev. But i'm not speaking of Politics this is all about perfumes. let me start on my descrption what makes this perfume powdery mmmmm? i think it's the carnation adding with the rose' zest of Bergamot and Coriander. Blends in a bottle of Political Zeigeist that Collasped in 1991. And the drydown is surprising with a scent of Frankincense & Myrrh make you think of a Russian Orthodox Church with Bronze icons with black robbed Priests swinging censers frankincense filling the Church with Incense on Christmas Eve Krasnaya Moskva is a Romantic Perfume in a Turbulent Time.

It has a lovely scent of flowers, face powder, and elegance. Smells natural, powerful, and nuanced to my nose. Bright aldehydes with an oddly angular coriander accent slowly drop into a zesty, lemon-juicy orange flower. Overall, this is bright, acidic, and appealing. The tanginess fades gradually, presenting a spicy and flowery centre of carnation, ylang-ylang, jasmine, and delicate rose, infused not only with the vintage eugenol/clove character, but also with a warm cinnamon. A sweet tonka-vanillic accord is powdery and chalky in the base, with iris and unmistakably a heliotrope character. This is a nice and appealing perfume! Mesmerizing!

A very old Russian perfume, worth its fame and with a low price and long lasting. It is a classic chypre floral that reminds me perfumes from the 20's: L'Heure Bleue by Guerlain, 40's: L'Air du Temps by Nina Ricci and 60's: Fidji by Guy Laroche, only this is much more older, that goes back in the 1913 - 1917! Beautiful carnation note, blended perfectly with ylang-ylang and iris, along with corriander (my favorite spice ever) and with a touch of vanilla and jasmine. The other notes of the perfume, playing a lesser part on the final outcome, are: Tonga beans, rose, neroli and bergamot. An absolute recommendation from me. Rate 8/10

My grandmother had this fragrance, when I was a child. At those times I didn't like it. Bought the nowadays version today. It smells different to the vintage. And my mom says so, too. Even its color was brown. In nowadays version most of all I feel the ylang-ylang note with the iris, coriander and neroli notes, lightened a little bit by the bergamot and grapefruit notes, and the soft nutmeg in the end. Beautiful! Soft, noble, feminine, elegant. Not too oldfashioned, actually. As a perfumelover from Russia I think that it should be must-have in my perfume wardrobe. But I just also love this fragrance. It opens perfectly!

I bought myself 5ml sample from eBay just out of curiosity. Didn't expect much to be honest as always imagined that something "Soviet" would be grim, cheap and loud. But after I have tried it I have realised how wrong I was. Yes it is old school but in very good way. Strong for a few seconds after spraying but then changes into spicy carnation and sweet powdery vanilla in the dry down. Rich and timeless, somehow resembles with Channel 5. Evening scent definitely, would be better for winter rather then summer. Overall very impressed and deffo putting this one on the shelf with my favourites.

Like a true vintage perfume, it comes out bitter and won't develop until the dry down. Sharpness and softness, like a fresh carnation boquet held next to a powdered face. I associate this with completing a ballet recital. There is a feeling of excitement but the powder base keeps things grounded. I am on the fence about the powder note - it is the only thing I don't 100% love and prevents me from overspraying or making it a daily wear. I live in the USA so the people around me have no associations from this. A unique choice for the unknowing!