1940

Besame has recently brought back their Decades line, I can't speak as to whether they've been reformulated or not. The packaging has changed and currently I don't believe the larger bottles are available. This is such a beautiful scent and unlike anything else in my collection, which is probably some 300 bottles at this point. It is warm, boozy and spicy and while it doesn't smell like Tabu, if definitely gives off that vibe to me. My boyfriend, who rarely compliments or even notices my fragrance, seems to really like this. Like another reviewer said, it's strange yet alluring.

This is for the reformulation: Smelling out of the bottle I was a bit skeptical but upon dry down..... LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. I'm not big on rose scents EVER but this one has captured my heart. It's heavy on the floral but not in a "punch-you-in-the-face" way. It's elegant but definitely stands out. For those who have an issue with longevity, I found that it stuck to my clothing like glue, skin not so much. I'm sure if I were to oil my skin before spraying it on, it would last longer. Easy 8.5/10

Got this in a sample pack March 2023. Opens with bright "red" tones, fruity tobacco, the middle opens into musks and powder which seem to never quit. The base is sweet and dense; the aftertaste of a maraschino cherry at the bottom of a Rum and coke. Something about the base in this one reminds me of White Diamonds in the quality of how 'big' it seems. I love cloves and I did not smell any here.

Current formula (white purse sprayer) remains faithful to the 2014 original. Boozy tobacco infused with menthol on a vanillic-amber base. Heady, rich, and unisex-masculine. No articulated fruit or florals here. Reminiscent of MM Jazz Club as others have said.

if you love booze and tobacco scents, this one’s for you. if you don’t, steer clear. i ended up giving this one away to a friend and it really suits her!

I find this a very disappointing perfume given the other reviews and even the description which gave the impression that this scent was much more nuanced and with such depth and reminiscent of the era The idea of cognac, bergamot, artemisia, rose, amber, sandalwood, and beyond drew me in as did that original stunning antique packaging that has sadly been discontinued for these jarring ugly roller balls (mine even arrived scuffed up and dirty so that was equally disappointing and dubious of the care and quality of the brand) that lose the elegance immediately It is unique in the sense that it smells like Cola and there is a certain nostalgia about it, almost like Root Beer Barrel candies to me, however it was very artificial and cheap smelling, the other claimed notes were either exceptionally faint or non-existent, and between that and the generic packaging, I do not see the appeal or the value for such a perfume or what it could and ought to have been It also had a terrible longevity, only a few minutes on my skin before I could barely notice the remains beyond the aforementioned almost sickly candy note base. No cloves, rose, amber, nothing fresh or herbaceous, just a glaze of evaporated sugar I am sad that this has become the fate of Besame 1940s and I doubt the others in the Decades range fair better if this is one of their top sellers. In the very least, I would hope that the company would return to the gorgeous previous bottles to retain that elusive luxury and charm (wish more perfumes came with glass and a pump as options as they certainly add flair and a sense of class) that could possibly make up for a rather watered down and artificial scent that did not live up to the professed glitz and glamour

I just tonight found my long-lost roller bottle of 1940 and immediately put some on. On me, it smells exactly like a vanilla-heavy, boozy bread pudding. I'm surprised that vanilla isn't one of its notes. I understand that Besame once again offers their Decades perfumes, now as a spray, and that they had to reformulate them (alas). I'd be curious to see what the new 1940 smells like, as well as 1910 and 1960, the two others I own.

Most of us know that clove perfumes were the rage in the 40's, and me personally put L'air de Temps by Nina Ricci on the top list of clove/spicy/40's perfumes. Either intended by the nose or not, this perfume reminds me of L'air de Temp big time, but in a more sweet/modern way (which is a thump up commercially) and to be honest, I was expecting that. I'm a big huge fan of that perfume, so I loooooved this.

1940 by Bésame was the most peculiar fragrance, there was something so strange yet alluring about this scent. This opens with a fresh burst of bergamot and rose. As it dries down I smell the cloves, the herbal hint Artemisia, and labdanum with a whiskey and amber base. For some reason it makes me think of my favorite grandmother and I think this is such a beautiful and unique fragrance!

Smells slightly too alcoholic.