Elixir of Love

This was not a blind buy. I owned Elixer of Love body lotion and dusting powder years ago. I bought it in a little shop when vacationing w/ my husband in New England. I used it all and just didn't repurchase, why I can't remember because I really enjoyed the scent. I got a Caswell and Massey catalog in the mail a few days ago and was kind of shocked. I haven't thought about that company for years. So, I ordered the kit of Elixer of Love that comes w/ the full-size perfume, a soap and a jar of body cream. I'm happy to report it smells the same as it did back in the 90's. This is a clean scent, what clean should smell like. Not like so many cheap smelling fruity abstract floral shower gels, that smell like so much plastic that are on the market today. Elixer of Love is a soft and powdery floral. The jasmine in this is divine. There is a bit of a tangy fruit smell but only a tad. I am guessing that is from the passionflower. You can also make out the wormwoods and lavender aromatic clean qualities. There is a Victorian daintiness about this fragrance. I can see ladies dressed in white, w/ lace gloves and parasols strolling along the cobblestones. They are probably at a spa retreat for their health or on holiday w/ family. I think I have to get reconnected w/ this old historic American Brand. This is quality, class and smells like a bygone era. Edit: This lasts like crazy as well. Really good value for money.

In the few weeks since I joined Fragrantica my perfume bills are up and my storage space is down. Yes, I have committed the cardinal newbie sin, indulging in multiple blind buys. One of them was Elixir of Love which arrived today at my office. It is true that I have not had much time to explore this magic potion, but when there is love at first sight, who can wait to share their feelings? Yes, the love affair began already when I lay eyes on the beautiful eggshell and blue box with its graceful flower print and antique letters. It opens like a book, revealing a luminous blue bottle and a description of the main ingredients: "Lavender: Like magic it both soothes... and excites... the hearts of men"... "Egyptian Musk: A fabled aphrodisiac". "The original potion for love everlasting"... After having read this, I was definitely ready to take my budding romance with Elixir of Love to the next level. A few drops on my wrist and I was enveloped in the scent of a Victorian garden with sweet flowers and fresh herbs, mingling in perfect harmony. An aphrodisiac? Yes, in the same way that a delicate buttoned up lace blouse with a an old fashioned pin at the throat excites by covering and yet revealing. I believe in our relationship. No, I cannot commit to never wearing any other fragrances, but I will always come back to you, my darling Elixir of Love.

it smells like the memory of my mom's face cream from the 2010's, that we also gave my 姑姑 (my fathers older sister) in China as a gift—my brothers and I stayed at her house in the summer, and I was still young enough to shower with her in her square bathroom full of steam, and afterwards I remember borrowing the little white jar of gifted face cream on her wooden shelves. and even though it's been years since my mom used it, it's the smell I always associate with her (or at least, my memory of it)—a soft, lotiony, musky scent that I caught whenever I went to to hug her at night, after she'd just showered. Her hair still wet, and she's sitting up in bed under her coral-colored comforter, browsing on her ipad. Looking up at me with one finger curled under her chin as I enter to say good night. these days, I don't live with my mom anymore, and I haven't seen her in a while, but I still remember that smell. This is what this perfume reminds me of. And it smells just like the Elixir of Love lotion, that my boyfriend bought me for my last birthday—I bought the perfume sample in hopes it would smell the same, and it does. It's a soft, light creaminess, a little bit sweet (not like sugar, but the sweetness of cold cream or the froth at the top of a cup of milk), indistinctly flowery. It makes me miss my mom. I'll see her soon.

I am such a happy girl right now. Last week I followed information that led me to Caswell-Massey's website and "The Elixir of Love". I was intrigued. Somehow I found my way to this site, yes...I'm new here...and read the reviews of this fragrance and others. Everything sounded great about this fragrance...but I had not tried it...I was going off of other people's opinions and no first hand experience. But something kept me interested. I ordered it off Amazon and received it today. I set the bar low, so as not to be too disappointed. I told myself that maybe I might like it a little and that it would grow on me. No! I tried it on, refused to take a sniff...and then it hit me....such a glorious, soft, deeply feminine scent! So...exactly what I hoped for! I am so relieved and happy that my blind purchase has been such a victory. I now have a signature scent...and that is saying something, indeed! The floral is tempered with a soft musk and an herbal hint that is delicate and well-blended. Very well-balanced! Love it!

So many fun memories of stopping into Caswell-Massey as a teenager with my group of friends. We would sniff and spray and loved everything! I credit their sandalwood soap for igniting my love of sandalwood. I always loved Elixir of Love, but as a teenager it was always just a little out of my price range. Now, decades later, I have decided to revisit it and purchase my first bottle ever! The scent itself is the same as it always was, but I swear that like every other perfume in recent years, it is not as strong or rich as it once was. It doesn’t pack the same punch, but it still smells nice enough for me to reach for frequently because it’s so easy to wear. It’s soft, a little powdery, a little sweet and fruity (but no obvious fruit), quite musky, clean and innocent. It would make a good first perfume for a teenager. Now if only Victoria’s Secret would bring back their original Victoria perfume, my other mall favorite from that era!

Caswell Massey says they found the formula for this Victorian perfume in an old file. I believe it. One smell of Elixir of Love will have you thinking of parasols and white lace gloves. The opening is herbal(eucalyptus?) and shot through with pepper. The result is clean, pungent,and invigorating rather than perfumey. The heart has jasmine, lavender, and roses in equal measure. The medicinal hint leaves and the scent becomes warm, "golden", and silky. Elixir has good projection and longevity. It is an inexpensive American perfume that smells like a luxurious French concotion. Packaging is beautiful: the bottle is cobalt blue apothocary glass. It is packaged in a box that opens like a book, covered with Victorian drawings. Exquisite, a must have.

Based on the notes on their website (rose, Jasmine, Passion flower, Egyptian musk), I thought this would be heavier and spicier, or perhaps more Egyptian musk. But it does smell very light and floral and “Victorian”; based on Caswell Massey’s Victorian era recipe found in their archives, as other reviewers mentioned. It actually reminds me a little of when Victoria’s Secret stores had their “Victorian” theme, around 30’years ago, with classical music playing, and their original floral “Victoria” perfume. Elixir Of Love is along those lines; a classic, feminine, floral scent.

For a fragrance from 1881 this does NOT smell like an old lady. I had smelled it once in the early 2000's at a Caswell Massey store and wanted it so bad but felt way too expensive. In the mid 2000's I found it again at a gift shop, and got it. Its so so so lovely, just soft and not offensive. I'm at half a bottle now and the price is way more expensive so I'm going to be rationing this for a while.

A really nice, delicate floral. It's so pleasant I feel anyone would like it. It is a tad romantic too. I smell all of the notes listed above. Also, it's not overpowering and perfume-y like so many floral fragrances are. An absolute classic; kind of iconic in a way.

i particularly love the dusting powder from this collection, although i adore the perfume version as well. it's so different from what i normally find myself drawn to as far as fragrance goes, but i've been hooked on it since the late 90's.

Amazing scent! Started with the dusting powder and then bought the spray. They pair well together, especially after a nice bath.

As I was searching for something else (ROSE) I shoved this aside, then thought, no give it a sniff, you bought it, and only wore once years ago. Like what happened for the past 1.5 years? Time stood still, everybody's heart frozen like the white queen's. Waiting for the news, news, what is this virus, what what, will it ever go away. Can you imagine living during WWI or WWII era. Anyways, when I spray this on, it for some reason, maybe they implanted it on purpose, this takes me back to the Revolutionary War era, I think of George Washington and those hero's of yesteryear. This is very nice, All the notes blend well together, nothing over powers the others. Sorta like if you ever were a groupie, there is always that one, that has to have either their voice or instrument be the loudest. Not the case here. It's just so different that anything put out these past 10 years. It really does take me back in time, although not sure I would want to live there. The 70's were mighty fine to live in, and had the best music and drugstore perfumes! Anyways, it's not crazy overpriced by the name, so try it if you can find it. Which reminds me, I need to hit that niche little store that has so much stuff in every corner you think you'll never find your way out. Sorta like Alice, go ask her when she's 10 feet tall. It's a nice fragrance for day, or night. If you are going to the Bolshoi, maybe pull out your other $$$ arsenal and shoot them on, don't think this would be the greatest there. Then again, you wear it, don't let it wear you. Happy sniffing. The dog really was giving it a sniff, lol. I like it, and it's good for that something else day, or daydreaming day. I really have too many fragrances, and am lost in searching for a perfect rose, and home in bed, only a cold, not the bad bug that everybody is hiding from. So, here I am reading and searching. But ladies, do get this, I think every lady should have this one!

I owned a French perfume not in the directory here called Soir d'Ete by a company called L'Eau de Cassis. It was a strong jasmine with some citrusy undertones and I loved it for summer nights as the title suggests. When it ran low, I went looking to replace it as best as possible and that is really no easy task. I'd purchased the original in Cassis but also couldn't get the notes right with other scents. I found Elixir of Love in a relatively unlikely place near me - one of those "country" stores - after reading about it here. It was a fun experience with the box and bottle doing the time warp but I really had no connection in my head to the Victorian era regarding the scent itself. I guess I think of Victorian ladies wearing violet or tamer florals than jasmine but what do I know? Because it's a little sweeter with the musk and passion flower (note not listed in Fragrantica!), I layer it for night with oils of a more indolic jasmine and a sometimes a gardenia from Madini (also not in this directory). Lovely on its own, as well: strong, musky jasmine on me with the aromatic sharpness of lavender and without the bitter I know would normally come from artemisia/wormwood. All told, very lovely for a summer night.

This was one of my first purchases when I got a "real" (read: office) job in my early 20s. At that age, it was so lovely to my nose: soft, powdery, floral and romantic. Girly. And the name - swoon! Now that I'm [cough] years older, I don't see myself wearing it with any regularity again, but not because I don't like it. With the powdery aspect, and with C-M's inclination towards more old-school scents, this could have been cloying, but it's not at all. It's light, but with decent sillage and longevity. Someone below said it's reminiscent of luxury hotel soap, which I agree with. It has a clean, soapy, sweet element, but isn't overpowering in the least. It's especially nice in colder weather, perfect for a chilly early spring day or cool fall evening. A playful and fun scent! Edit: After writing this review, I couldn't stop thinking about EoL and had to grab a bottle. I've been wearing it regularly for the past few weeks. I'm in love again :)

A clean, bright, citrus floral with a lingering musk base and a generous amount of powder. Top notes are sparkling and happy. :) The lavender and musk/powder are the most prominent accord in the base. Lasts around 4 hours on me. Almost old-fashioned boudoir, but simple and streamlined also. Quite valid for daily wear NOW!

On my skin this is a delicate herbal lavender scent with maybe a slight touch of jasmine. More serene & clean than floral. Light, nice & not offensive at all(IMO). Modest sillage..not quite a skin scent & the lasting power is over 4 hours. : )

Light, floral scent that dries down powdery. I really like that it is not heavy. Pretty fragrance that I feel I could wear daily. It is phthalate free as well.

A nondescript floral scent—plain and simple. You can't really pick out any specific floral notes; you just know it's floral. It's soft, feminine, and entirely non-offensive, which might surprise you given the dark blue bottle and the name "Elixir of Love." I ended up requesting a return, though, because the nozzle is poor quality—it shoots out a harsh stream of liquid instead of a fine mist, making application messy. The scent itself isn’t special enough to overlook that flaw, so back it goes.

First Impressions (from memory): Had this when I was a teen. I asked for it on my birthday because I saw it on the caswell Massey magazine. When I first took a whiff of it I didn’t like it at all. It smells too mature, and grandmotherly to my nose. Also the spritzer did not work at all. Summary: Smells like: grandma, and not a love potion Family of: N/A Silage: Moderate Verdict: Pass- too grandmotherly.

After the initial blast (only about 30 second) of a herbal calamine lotion scent, this evolves to a beautiful soft soapy floral like a luxury hotel soap. A little spray goes a long way. I had shelved this bottle for a few years after disliking it in warmer weather but it is so pretty during the colder months but certainly smells more like spring. I plan to wear it more on those colder transition days into spring.

Gorgeous fresh floral with a good deal of white musk. Very clean and old-fashioned but not harsh in the least. Reminds me of sitting with a lover in a bricked-in courtyard garden with string lights hanging and a bubbling, marble fountain with cherubs, just after dusk. Decidedly feminine and long-lasting, even in colder climates.

I'm selling a full bottle, bought it brand new about 10 years ago before they changed the bottle design. DM me if interested, US only :)

It truly smells Victorian! Lovely rose and jasmine blend, a bit soapy on the dry down, but still very feminine and wearable. Nice!

It truly smells Victorian! Lovely rose and jasmine blend, a bit soapy on the dry down, but still very feminine and wearable. Nice!