Elusive

I absolutely adore this scent. I (blind) bought a bottle at a flea market this summer, on the recommendation by the (crotchety and enigmatic) booth seller of it having been her favorite in the 70s. It was a 1994 edition to celebrate what must have been the 25th anniversary. The lavender filigree design had me sold. It turned out to be a GREAT buy for me. I get green lilac (or maybe some heliotrope, wisteria, a bit of iris? powdery purple but not violet.) And a strong incense/smoke. Then it dries with some muskiness, powderiness, and mild mossy notes. Overall, Elusive is pretty linear. Starts as a pale purple smokey floral, and ends that way. You can find this scent easily and affordably on auction sites and second hand shops in many different iterations--Avon sold popular scents in numerous & varied collectible shaped cologne bottles for gift-giving. I have backups in the form of a perfume oil, perfume roll on, and a few of the colognes in fun shapes. I also scored a bottle of vintage Yardley Khadine, as it's noted for its similarities. I don't think they're very similar other than having a chypre structure and similar marketing/ad copy. I own many chypres and none smell very similar to Elusive except other Avon chypres. Elusive has a true "smoke" note that is appealing and unique.

Oh my gosh...this fragrance is beautiful! It makes me wish that I could transport myself back to the year 1969! I've always had an affinity with the hippie era and the flower children. Of course, anything purple and paisley is right up my alley! I love the original design of the bottle...the colors, and the beautiful paisley cap! I purchased a bottle of this on eBay, and it doesn't smell bad at all (considering that it's about 50 years old)! I think that some of the notes have withered slightly, but the smell is not unpleasant at all--though I am not brave enough to wear it outside my home. Elusive reminds me of ET's Passion, but Elusive is softer and more feminine. And, of course, it doesn't have that leather note. But there is some similarity there. I like Passion, but I like Elusive much more. Elusive is soft, delicate, and feminine. It is sweet, powdery, and smokey. I wish Avon would bring this one back, but it should stick to the original formula.

I still love Elusive. It is an elegant light spicy scent, IMO. I would not hesitate to wear it anywhere I wouldn't dare wear jeans (designer or otherwise). I just bought a full 1/4 oz of PERFUME in a teeny bottle shaped like a bird or dove. The owner says his mother sold Avon in 60's and 70's, and when she passed, recently, he discovered cartons of Avon in a backyard storage shed which for decades had sheltered the bottles' contents in the searing heat of south Texas. Every perfume bottle I sniffed was still true to the scents as I remember them. Maybe a bit "thinner" version of the original, but definitely vintage Avon. I have fond memories of vintage Avon perfumes.

Just received a vintage 1/2 oz perfume version in a retro crystal teardrop bottle. This is classic....almost chypre...oriental floral...in the same "vibe" (not clone/dupe) of scents like Chanel Coco,Sisley Eau de Soir and Dioressence. Just "type of". Projection/sillage is light to medium..but no matter..it is a classic beautiful scent. Albeit...traditional. Love! I may also get a small cologne spray to compare with the perfume version...... Edit: Received an Elusive Cologne Spray Mist today, and it is awesome. A chypre on my skin for sure. This can stand in line very easily with some of the big chypre classics....IMO.

This was MY perfume in the early 70s. I sprayed some on my middle daughter today and she said it reminded her of autumn leaves. Someone on a thread I started about Elusive once said they found it to be a 'woody chypre' and that's how it smells to me too. I've found that it smells completely different in warmth or cold. Wearing it outside in the winter, I smell more flowers and it smells sweeter. edit: Wearing Elusive for the first time in months today, and I'll be darned it if isn't spicy. How could I not have noticed that before? All I knew was, it smelled wonderful. A spicy-woody chypre. :)