Pearls and Lace

Anais Anais meets Chanel No.19 with a touch of Yardley Lace. Musky floral green goodness with hairspray aldehydes and face powder. Forever classic.

This is very green at first then it settles down to a beautiful powdery makeup smell after about a half hour and it lasts about 3-4 hours.

Avon’s Pearls and Lace perfume was my signature scent in high school, circa 1990-94. My boyfriend’s mom was an Avon lady and she hooked me up with the full set every Christmas. I loved the fragrance and when Fragrantica reminded me of it, I was on a quest. Yay for the internet, I now have a small vintage splash bottle. While I haven’t checked the lot number to determine the date, and while it doesn’t smell exactly as I recall, it still smells lovely – and frankly, I’m not sure a fragrance memory 30 years old is to be trusted! I do agree with those who compare this to EL’s Beautiful as well as to Sung. Beautiful doesn’t work with my chemistry but I love how it smells on others; and Sung is a lovely, springy scent that develops into a warm, beautiful floral. Pearls and Lace shares a similar vibe to these 2, and while Fragrantica just lists floral and powdery notes, I get a lot more complexity. Pearls and Lace is a wedding, a wedding of tuberose with spicy sandalwood: they hold hands the whole time, keeping the tuberose sweet, a tad spicy and mellow, with no grapiness, no sugar bombs; and the sandalwood is present early, giving warmth, spice and smoothness that melts the whole fragrance into your skin. Bridesmaids are hyacinth and lily, lovely in their supporting roles and keeping this a springy white floral...and could that be freesia, trailing along behind? Groomsmen are white musk, working with the sandalwood to give a fleshy, warm, (yes, musky)-ness that grounds the florals and ensures warmth. And who is this but baby nutmeg as ring-bearer, hiding in the skirts of the bride – or is this just the spiciness of the tuberose, or the warmth of the sandalwood? I’m wearing this to work on a rainy day. It’s strong enough where I’m sure people can smell it, but it’s not an aggressive floral. I would label this a warm white floral. It’s grounded, fleshy (but not dirty), round and full. No aldehydes, no iris or other notes which might give a more green/bright/crisp/shrill vibe. Therefore, it’s not a “modern” floral; and could be labeled “vintage” or “older style” for those reasons. I don’t get a “powdery” note, but that note tends to be very subjective. This particular combination of florals could give a “soap” smell (a la French milled soap, floral soaps in grandma’s bathroom), but I wouldn’t call it soapy. On the whole, as lovely as I recall and still a joy to wear.

This one came out in 1985, and my sister and I had it then. I was 13, and I remember there was this lavender colored cashmere sweater I used to wear, my hair was long with some feathering on top (like Melinda Sue Lewis from Guiding Light), and I wore Wet & Wild make up, Love My Nails nail polish and Maybelline Kissing Potion roll on lip gloss. This perfume went with sweaters like that, it was a nice fall weather scent. A little powdery and floral, but where was this sort of fizzy spice to it. The name, "Pearls and Lace", I think the scent was supposed to evoke such things, much like Chantilly was supposed to make you think of lace (though it didn't smell like Chantilly, but that idea). Unfortunately, the one I bought off of EBay is spoiled and rancid smelling, and all of the tricks that are supposed to revive the scent haven't worked (a gentle shake, spraying a few times to clear out the nozzle). It smells like old chemicals now. What a shame, it was nice in the 80s when it was fresh.

I have a bottle of this one, and also a bottle called Midnight lace, I assume its some sort of flanker (the bottle is the same, but black, its sweeter and a bit sharper ) This is so soft, musky, woodsy, and a tad floral. I love it. It is a soft scent, but it still has a backbone, its great and easy to wear. I personally think its a clean musk but the wood deepens it. I also don't agree with the notes listed here. I do not find this powdery at all, it is a skin scent. The Perfume Intelligence site says its a mossy floral, I would say that is possible, but I still find it a Musk first and foremost. I could be wrong, but that is what my nose smells ! Regardless, I love it :)