Perfume Calligraphy Saffron

This fragrance is absolutely outstanding! I had just managed to track it down and was actually looking to test the popular Rose one in this calligraphy range but somebody had broken the tester bottle the day before, according to the SA. So I thought I'd try the saffron considering it's one of my favourite notes and I had recently revisited Jo Malone's saffron which is very good. Calligraphy saffron is a tale of two halves.. Horrendous opening. Majestic drydown. When I say 'horrendous' I mean strong, sharp, earthy but sweet and even boozy. I found it smelled strongly of the marigold and styrax and when combined with a very real, fiercely strong saffron comes over a little like honey. Actually more accurately beeswax and amber and I thought....'oh no! It's MFK pour le soir like.' Then as it settles the saffron and styrax get more creamy, more opulent, less earthy but still with balance and luckily this process is fairly quick. This being said the transition is long going from good to great on my skin. Some may not like the soft skin like scent it becomes after that powerhouse opening but I'm glad of it. Projection is subtle but longevity is very good. I can't convey how much I loved the drydown, it's incredible...saffron is just magic.

Perfume Calligraphy Saffron is what falls into a category that I've created: the crepuscular fragrance. It is the olfactory metaphor for a caliginous sky, mysterious and somewhat cabalistic. The opening curiously has a saturated herbal facet that reminds of the top notes in Aromatics Elixir. I agree with LuluSaintly that there is the impression of chamomile throughout, perhaps imparted by the marriage between the marigold and lavender. The saffron seems more so to play a supporting role rather than the lead; it is certainly evident, but being that saffron tends to be a bold personality when not dosed judiciously, it seems that the perfumer took care for it not to bury all other components. It is actually refreshing to have it appear for once somewhere where it isn't playing second fiddle to oud. The rose is a cameo that ties together all else like an accent. The dry down is all about the interplay between styrax and tonka, dusky, plaintive yet warm and enveloping into the night. Its puzzling why mediocre releases prevail and unheralded treasures such as this are discontinued so abruptly not long after their release. Such are the whims of the perfume industry.

@sam Idh, Yes I would agree with your comments that Estee Lauder instead of altering the notes which might of cheapened the line they discontinued it. I am also of the mind that if there isn't enough of profit it would not make good business sense to continue losing money. If Estee Lauder raised the price slightly more to offset the cost in producing this line we would all be able to buy this amazing juice. Now about this phenomenon juice, I ordered another bottle for back up. When I spray this juice on my skin, the aroma of saffron mixed with floral notes and tonka beans and styrax giving this juice depth with a warm sweet creamy aroma. There's a smig of woodsy notes perfectly balancing the overall aroma. Personally,I enjoy using this juice during the fall and winter months. Longevity and Silage is superb lasting well past 8hrs Finally thoughts, Whether Estee Lauder discontinued the Calligraphy collections due to not enough profit or they didn't want produce quantity vs quality..we'll never really know. One thing is for certain we all lost an AMAZING fragrance

I want to drink this and pour it over my head at the same time. Both the Saffron and the Rose were blind buys and both are so beautiful (and neither smell like fruitchouli or cake) and unique (to my Western cupcake-infested nose), they stop me in my tracks. This may sound like a stupid question, but why would Estee Lauder bring out such a beautiful line and then so quickly discontinue it? Or is this normal behavior for corporations of this size? I knew nothing about the Calligraphies until they were recently recommended to me by other Fragranticans. The Rose seems to be a bit easier to find; the Saffron I had to order from Canada. I am grateful to have been able to get them before they disappear completely. Thank you all for your very helpful reviews.

This is an amazing perfume! I kinda wish it was a person so that I could speak to it, I know that sounds wierd but that's how much i love it. It's a friend, it's a confidant. I want to bathe in it, drink it in and wear it all at the same time. The initial spray was very "alcohol" smelling but within seconds that dissipates and gives way to a woody, armatic and full bodied Saffron. After about an hour it seems to lift off the body and float in a cloud around you where you only really smell it if a little breeze hits you or you pass an open doorway. But if you've been wearing it and you leave a room, you will know you were wearing it when you walk back in. It's not an overpowering knowing, just a tickle of hello I've been here...