Wishing

Avon first released a scent called Wishing in 1947 but it was quickly discontinued and those 1940s splash bottles are extremely rare. In 1963, they re-released Wishing with all different packaging and possibly even a different scent (which Avon has been known to do). It is this 1960s version of Wishing that most people remember. Wishing was then discontinued in 1967, but was re-created for nostalgia in the 1990s. These 1990s spray bottles DO NOT SMELL THE SAME as 1960s Wishing; the 1990s reissue resembles original Azuree by Estee Lauder a bit, which original '60s Wishing did not. At the end of this review, I've included a cheat sheet on how to get a good bottle of vintage 1960s Wishing that smells as it should. On to my review: When I smelled Wishing from a vial in a late '60s Avon sample case, I immediately felt that it was a special fragrance and I knew it would hold a top position in the hierarchy of my favorite vintage perfumes...and I've tried most all of them from high end rarities to low-end drug store fragrances. Wishing is an aldehydic floral chypre, kind of a cross between Ma Griffe and Chanel No. 5. It starts with a sparkling, sweet lemon note + aldehydes before segueing into a lovely, bouquet of jasmine, gardenia and rose, perfectly balancing the sour yet soft candied lemon opening with the magic of the florals. In the soft and warm drydown, I think I might smell just a hint of cinnamon playing at the edge of the woody-mossy chypre basenotes (a very subtle cinnamon note that Wishing has in common with old Ma Griffe), as well as a very cozy warmth that comes, I believe, from frankincense. I agree with a reviewer below that a certain sweet "fairy dust" was sprinkled over the creation of this fragrance. I find it to have a charm and magic to it that many perfumes just don't. This scent is lovely in a distinctly mid-century type of way. I can imagine a housewife in the early '60s applying this scent at her vanity on a hot summer evening before heading downstairs to play cards with her husband and the neighbors. Then they sit out on the porch with lemonade to enjoy the night with the chirping of crickets, stars blinking above, and a light summer breeze as the scent of Wishing wafts around, elevating and quietly intriguing everyone. I compared it to vintage Ma Griffe earler...but I actually enjoy Wishing more. I would reach for it any day before Ma Griffe. Wishing is a relatively unknown Avon from their back catalog that deserves a lot more attention than it gets. So? How to find a '60s bottle that still smells good? I recommend avoiding all spray versions of this fragrance because, in my experience, it will either be spoiled if it is from the 1960s OR the spray bottle will be a reintroduction from the 1990s which does not smell anything like Wishing used to smell. So I would avoid spray bottles of Wishing altogether. To get a lovely bottle of vintage Wishing from the 1960s, seek out the vintage *splash* bottles from the 1960s with yellow juice that has not darkened: Either the 2 oz glass splash bottles with the white cap, or the 15ml mini bottles with the clear plastic stopper. Again, the juice should be pale yellow, NOT darkened to any kind of amber color. In my experience, these 1960s bottles with the yellow juice all still retain all of their original loveliness.

Though I have various scent memories of my mother kissing me good-bye before going out with my dad, Wishing is one my sisters and I all share. She had a mirrored tray of perfumes my whole life, and I think that's why I LOVE fragrance so much today.

This has a magical sweet note when it opens, fairy tale like. This is very light and feminine. Longevity is not strong but it does give fleeting moments of charm.

Wishing is quite lovely! The opening is an absolutely beautiful sparkling lemon-aldehyde without leaning pissy or detergent-y. This quickly ushers in a slightly powdery floral heart dominated on my skin by iris, rose, and carnation. The base is vetiver and oakmoss with sandalwood and civet. This feels like the playful little sister of the rather austere Avon moonwind.

Wishing Dram Perfume circa 1965. I found a full dram bottle of Avon Wishing perfume without the box but still in excellent condition; yellow and clear. Wishing is a strong, woody chypre with floral notes. I get a bit of roses but the woody chypre notes are dominate. I am not adept at identifying leather notes, but they may be present along with a cypress resinous note. Reminds me of Youth Dew on steroids or that other ultra-strong Estee Lauder creation, Azuree. This is a potent perfume. Wishing was first released in 1945 and then seems to have been reintroduced in the early 60's. I have looked at the old catalogs online and don't recall seeing it in the late 50's ones. It shows up with a big ad campaign in the bell shaped containers with the wishbone in the early 60's catalogs. I am not sure if the original 1945 fragrance is a different formulation from my 60's bottle. My bottle looks like a baton or wrapped bouquet minus the flowers, with a flared gold screw top and a ridged flared glass bottle. It is very mid-century mod. I have found that 1960's Avon perfume drams that are full, in good condition are a great bargain. I got this one for just 10 bucks.