Beguiling (Breathless)

I detect subtle incense, nothing offensive, myrrh, and oakmoss. The jasmine barely peeks before the base notes and now this creation is fading with the myrrh note lingering. Somehow I missed the bergamot in the opening. This is a multilayered "dark" fragrance IMO, for an Avon creation. Not an expert on notes but this is not the usual AVON. I discovered Oscar by Oscar de la Renta (myrrh note) when Beguiling debuted in 1987. My husband reacted negatively when I tested Estee Lauder Amber Mystique, which incense opening I loved. He prefers Beguiling while I'm on my incense trip.

Once again I am impressed with and thankful for thrift stores that sometimes resell old fragrance samples in plastic baggies with nail polish, hotel soaps, and skincare samples. It is how I acquired a 1987 sample of Breathless, still in its cardboard envelope, with gold embossing, and the statement to "Leave him Breathless". On my skin, the first whiff is Chanel No. 5 with myrrh. This is probably due to the aldehydes. I get some coriander, incense, and oakmoss. I detect zero basil. The rest of the notes are hard to identify. They are blended fairly uniformly. Whether this is because of the quality of production, or the age of the sample, I am not sure. However despite this, it is decidedly an old-lady-in-a-fur-coat perfume. Stately, but a little dated. What was once mysterious and seductive is now associated with gold compacts, seamed pantyhose, and curlers. I don't know if I am going to keep this one, as I can't imagine wearing it and already have some "old lady perfumes" that I prefer more (Mariella Burani). Maybe it will end up at Goodwill again, and in the hands of someone else, but in a different bag of toiletries.

Hmm Breathless (once named Beguiling) is a funny one for me, and whilst I've been on this journey of reviewing classic Avon perfumes, Breathless is one of those ones which took a while to win me over. Ylang Ylang sits in the top, which is great because I adore Ylang Ylang, and it smells simply gorgeous, but the Jasmine takes away this charm, by creating this off direction floral approach which you can pick up in any other type Jasmine blend, and Avon do love their use of Jasmine. However it does smell good. Also whoever said this smells like Cinnabar needs to give their head a wobble. It's nothing like it, but I digress. Theres also some incense influence in there, with a Myrhh note. It's very subtle, in which the reviewer below mentioned to, along with a green herbal quality with it from the Basil, then it turns into an oakmoss base after 7 hours. Overall, the Ylang Ylang up top is sensational, but then it turns into a generic eighties smoky Jasmine blend. Good stuff!

Fragrance created by JAMES BELL from Roure ( now Givaudan)