L'Aimant

My oh my... Vincent Roubert. What he did here. Captured intimacy of aldehydes!!! He forced the notes to play the symphony to him and not the opposite. He ruled. Not aldehydes. Feature of good parfumer. Trend dies. Style never. This is a style of perfume. Want the vulcano of aldehydes? Take Chanel 5. Want mastery and submissiveness of aldehydes? Take L'Aimant. Simple. (If you want both, take both. Like me) Let's be honest here. Nobody can explain how each of the mentioned perfumes happens with certain provable information. What we know is that both are made from the same. Two of the same, but which should be the one and probably one never existed from the two (Catherine the Great scent). We don't know. So we are left with perfumes marked with the same numbers from the same scent "factory" Chiris, which probably was not into protecting rights over inventions or claiming them. It leaked. Going into 2 directions. I won't go into who really invented these scents. I have my opinions but let's skip that... Aldehydes were nothing new, Guerlain had used them in the 1889 Iris Blanc, but what was groundbreaking was using them in such large quantities. As Houbigant did everyone wanted to somehow understand and "copy" the innovative trend. The only "magic" in the Chanel perfumes in my opinion are the aldehydes. In the magic ways, he was not a great nose. Beaux. That's my view. That doesn't mean scents "he made" are not nice, sophisticated, modern, feminine, wonderful... They are. But they are the same. Safe. Let's go further. I think, my nose thinks, they are the same. Chanel 5 and L'Aimant. Magic is in the use of the aldehydes and of course, the notes can behave differently under different growth seasons, and preparations... What later was done with both is the story itself but vintage formulas I think they are both of the same perfume the parent perfume Rallet N1. 1 origin. And that is not just my opinion... (let me add that many perfumes in that period played around with almost the same notes and different aldehydes powers. It was in a sense trendy). L'Aimant and Vincent Roubert are sophisticated and rule the aldehydes, while Beaux from Chanel is "brutal," not ruling aldehydes. He likes them powerful (or it was an assistant mistake, we don't know). Do I find that bad? No. I like both. The name means "magnet" in French and it was launched in 1927. Is it magnetic? YES. Very....wonderful fragrance. Alluring. L'Aimant definitely is for a confident woman, with notes of bright aldehydes (some in Chanel are dark! Love it), with a shot of citrus and bergamot hugging neroli. Calm geranium and vetiver, a fruit-laden heart with peaches and apricots, delicate florals of lily, orris, jasmine and roses (I am pretty sure same as Chanel), an animal base of musk and civet, over powdery sandalwood and warm ambergris. Hours later, I can still smell ALL flowers all over the amber and the civet. Wonderful. Animalic. L'Aimant was housed in numerous bottles over the years depending on what type of concentration the fragrance was made: Parfum, Parfum de Toilette, Cologne, Eau de Toilette, or Eau de Parfum. Some early bottles were made by Rene Lalique and Baccarat. But most bottles made after 1920 were made by Coty’s own glassworks in Pantin and his flacons were fitted with presentation cases made at his boxing factory in Neuilly. I somehow like all bottles. Not by quality. I like the design. Even if I firmly believe the bottle should stay always like the original one. Forever. Top notes: bergamot, neroli, peach, aldehydes, (cyclamen, hyacinth!! Have in mind that for example, the original Chanel 5 had many more notes, than one we can buy regularly these days). Here is the same case. Middle notes: lily of the valley, carnation, orris, geranium, orchid, Grasse jasmine absolute, rose, violet, and ylang-ylang. Base notes: patchouli, musk ambrette, ambergris, Siamese benzoin, Tolu, labdanum, Ethiopian civet, vetiver, Tibetan musk, Mexican vanilla, Mysore sandalwood, Venezuelan tonka bean and Virginia cedar. Allegedly. Beautiful. It's layered very nicely. Nothing is too much or too less. Similarity to Bois des Îles is absolutely there in the dry-down. It's beautiful. It's feminine. It's skin skin-close scent. It's elegant. It's private. It's egoistic. It's modern. It's timeless. It's animalistic. It's an escapade. It's timeless.

Welcome to the most unsettling afternoon tea in an Engish rose garden of which you will ever partake. Unsettling? Why? Well there's a killer at the table of course. Ever since Great Aunt Agatha popped her clogs of decidedly unnatural causes - unless you regard strychnine as a natural tonic that is - suspicion has swirled around the village. She had a fortune once after all, heaven knows how much is left of it and who will get it. And here we all are to hear who it was - if that old bat Madam Coty still has it in her to figure out the murderess in our whodunnit - for surely it was a female, poison after all is the woman's weapon. But it is so bloody hot. This Indian summer is unprecedented. That American woman all lipstick and nylons has brought champagne, pink champagne. Pop, the cork, the fizz, the acid aldehyde buzz. Who drinks champagne in this heat? At tea, in a dead woman's garden? But it would be rude to refuse. The tea roses are nearing the end of the season, after last week's rain they are near fermenting in this fervour. There's something nauseous in their scent and artificial - cheap Turkish delight left out too long in the sun. That American woman is applying powder, and spraying herself. Is she wearing No5? For godsake this isn't a speakeasy. Is the clotted cream on the scones turning in this temperature? Is it the confectioners cream in those slices? Something's off? Or is it just the vanilla smell of that permanently washed Australian niece who's turned up from nowhere and her husband, no, fiance, all woody eau de cologne and sportscar. The old bat has finished her tea - I get a blast: sweet Earl Grey. She pronouces... It was the gardener all along. Agatha was tired of subsidising his hot house obsessions: she wanted to raise the greenhouse to the ground sell off his orchid collection. He rouses his musty be-tweeded frame and makes a run for it. The officers of the law are waiting. Into the black mariah with him. That American snaps shut her her compact, impervious to the chaos and the Arizonan heat, she raises from the table. 'Well if that's sorted I have an engagement, with my solicitor. The arrangements for aunt Agatha's estate to be transferred.' She snaps a brisk military nod, smiles her red lipstick smile, 'If you'll excuse me.' She pauses, fixes her regard on me: 'Oh of course, I knew all along this was a very male sort of a crime, didn't you? I could smell it.'. This is a classic and subtle-as-a-sledgehammer murder mystery where the glamorous and genteel surface can do nothing to conceal the dark goings on beneath. It may all be roses and vanilla on top but that chemical opening and something musty if not downright musky going on down below lurk ominously. For once the bad woman gets away with it. A winner for women and the right kind of man who's not shy of a rose with thorns. Make sure you can get vintage or failing that the 'creamy skin perfume' and layer both with body spray for lethal effect. I'm a guy all at sea on an ocean of female fragrance - help me steer my path. Make suggestions as to what scents I should try out next at the thread 'what made for women fragrances can or should a man wear?'.

I fell in love with Chanel No. 5 at the Macy's counter, but I never really had the money to buy it. I bought a tiny bottle of White Diamonds upon discovering it was similar to No. 5, (at least the top notes, anyway). The intial blast of flowers and aldehydes are lovely, but the dry down smells like a strong combination of animalic musk and cinnamon, which sits very unwell on my skin and isn't pleasant. I recently had got a new job over the holidays for a short time, and on top of that, birthday and Christmas money, I wanted to finally save and invest in the 6 oz. bottle of Chanel No. 5, (which retails for $210!!!) The job didn't work out, so I didn't end up making a lot. I came to terms with the fact that I wasn't going to be able to afford it, so I began looking for something different. I've read countless reviews here and elsewhere how similar L'aimant is to No. 5. I've read that women on a budget in the late 20s and 30s would quietly ask at the perfume counters for the "No. 5 copy." Unfortunately L'aimant isn't sold in US stores by Coty anymore, but thankfully it is still sold and popular in the UK. I finally broke down and bought the 50 ml parfum de toillete, and waited very impatiently for it to arrive. It arrived in a very nice red and gold box. The perfume is encased in a beautifully designed glass flacon, with gold letters and a gold sprayer. Just the packaging and bottle look so high end, you wouldn't believe I only spent around $20 on it. When I sprayed it, I could not believe how similar it was to No. 5. Even though it's notes are a bit different than No. 5, it's all there: The aldehdes, neroli, and citrus. It's so far dried down to a lovely powdery floral smell. I always would say in my head, "one day I'll just break down and buy a bottle of No. 5" but now I don't think I will! I would rather invest more into the L'aimant line! Why spend so much money when this perfume is just as equally as luxurious and lovely as No. 5? I have no idea why Coty doesn't still sell this in the US! I must admit I'm a bit jealous of our friends across the pond, who only pay around £7 ($10 USD) for the same bottle. I recommend this to ANYONE looking for a good alternative to No. 5!!!

This perfume has been on the market for almost one hundred years for a reason, folks. It is a beautifully crafted aldehydic fragrance. Younger noses may not appreciate her, but she's the mother of comfort and safety for many, myself included. Much as so many of us associate 'Old Spice' with our beloved fathers, hands up who associates Coty L'Aimant with a beloved mother figure? You can see from the comments that lots of people do. As for myself, she reminds me of my favourite aunt who has always worn it as her signature, even as a young woman in the 60s. She had nine children and raised them alone after her marriage broke down. She was always strong and indomitable. No matter how tough things got, she kept going. Coty L'Aimant is the scent of tenacity and unwavering love to her children, to me, to her grandchildren and to everyone lucky enough to have her in their lives. I was blessed enough to be named after her and we have such a special bond. I hope this shows in some small way how important this perfume can be for the many people who associate it with a much-beloved matriarch. I'm wearing it tonight as I often do before I go to bed and my 11-year-old daughter (without fail) gets very snuggly with me whenever I wear it which is part of the appeal! She will be a teenager soon enough and I hope L'Aimant keeps all of my daughters snuggling me for as long as possible, especially the 11-year-old baby of the house who has always been an aloof tomboy. Please don't respect Madame L'Aimant by calling her a 'granny' smell. She is the scent of unconditional love. She is right up there alongside the greatest aldehyde perfumes of all time. Roll on 2027 so we can celebrate her 100th birthday. Silage and longevity are both wonderful. I get a good 8 hours wear from her and every second is a joy. Pricewise she is an absolute steal. I'd also urge you to give her a full wear over several days before passing judgement. She is a fragrance that must be worn adequately to be understood. Never sniff a perfume once and disregard it as a 'scrubber'. Give your sense of smell a fair chance to love or hate every perfume you try.

Blind amazing purchase. I had one guy I like to check his posts in Instagram and he love this one. After we have exchanged conversation I have decided to buy it. I am happy. Here is why! I know Chanel 5 really well I don't like Leau..but Eau de perfum is my fav right next to Misia. But L aimant. I didn't want to have copy of 5. I respect Chanel with her character... even if Coty was dreaming to be similar to 5... he have created amazing perfume even ... it's a little bit similar to 5. First spray is a very vintagy soap. To me its paradise because I use Santa Maria Novella soaps and it's reminds me notes from there so I am happy. The other thing... dry down. To me I feel Tonka and poudre and white flowers. If I can be honest with you- L aimant reminds me more Guerlain - in this scent I feel bergamot and tonka like Tonka Imepriale. With a difference... Coty have made a baby ... beans... Guerlain choose an old ones...and mixed it with powerful strenght in formula. L aimant is a very delicate, shy scent... I think someone who is a very shy will find it attractive because its truly smells innocent... after 30 minutes. The dry down smells powdery/woody covered with white flowers and sweetness. So answering question... is it like 5? Of course not.. these are two different characters with a similar soapy notes. I like them both... both are giving me cosy; clean and fresh time. I would say... L aimant is like ... pouder warm blanket- while 5 has a power.. and glory with his...classic tones and character. Even I purchase a lot of perfumes daily. This one I always have in my bag with me.