Tabu

This review is for the eighties-version vintage Spray Cologne. I remember smelling this and owning a bottle of a similar – if not the same - vintage around 1980 and I was puzzled as to why the current version didn’t have the same air of exotic sophistication I remember the earlier one evoking and why it did not have the same subtlety; it smelled like a simulacrum of the original but much, much stronger. There are many current versions: mine is the Art Deco styled one with the rectangular bottle with smoke-plastic tulip-shaped plastic cap and gold 30s text. I’ve also got another current version (turned cylindrical bottle) which has more in common with the vintage but lasts 5 minutes so I was really trying I think to capture that dimly-remembered scent memory. The one thing that kind of blew my mind about the vintage Tabu is it’s subtlety: I was expecting something overpowering. It’s not. This would have to be one of the most unfairly judged and misunderstood fragrances of all time. I just bought two full bottles of Dana Tabu on Ebay Australia for $29 AUD (2.7oz – approx. 80ml) with another fragrance chucked in, the Tabu dating from 1980s (barcodes were introduced to Australia around 1980). It’s said to be a ‘tough fragrance to pull off’. I don’t agree on that for the vintage at all (I’d save that honour for the current formulations and fragrances like Ciara). The depth, richness and nuance of this vintage is so much better than the current version. Just stunning. It’s actually creamier and much less sharp and intrusive than the current one and also it’s not as beast mode which is probably because of the Cologne formulation: so it’s rounder, richer, subtler yet with a moderate projection (I’m still testing its longevity) and you could absolutely pull this off today without ‘offending’ anyone (and if you do: too bad). The vintage version is way more wearable. I might try layering it with the modern talc powder for more longevity in fact, if it proves to be fleeting. I had memories of this being a sophisticated beauty when I bought the current version a few years back and my scent memory was correct: in the vintage form it’s just gorgeous. It’s sophisticated and somewhat decadent in the manner of glam rock era Twiggy in a turban and full, gold, silk pants a la Biba Boutique (just Google Twiggy, Turban, Biba to get what I mean: Biba’s fashion photos are a trip in themselves and influenced the world as well as shaping the style of the whole glam rock era). This is my scent memory as I was a teen in the 70s though Tabu dates back to 1932 and I have no doubt it was even better then, perfectly complimenting the gorgeous 40s fashions women wore. Being a realist I’ve always found it hard to buy the idea that it was in any way a tribute to a prostitute as people were more moral back in those days and the profession was not seen in a glamorous light – there was no moral complacency; this could just be a rumor that’s been taken and run with, I’m not sure. You couldn’t really get away with such a thing as this as a marketing ploy in the seventies let alone 1932 so, yeah, I absolutely take this with a grain of salt. Anyway, TWO 80ml bottles for $29! I’m over the moon. The sprayers leak a little but I honestly could not care. This scent memory is a such a beautiful Christmas gift – part of me is in the present but my head’s back as a teen in the seventies with women wearing the most beautiful fragrances and the most gorgeous, feminine and bohemian fashions. I might look around for a stronger vintage formulation next but at a glance at Ebay they ALL seem to be Cologne so this seems to have been the pre-eminent formulation of the time.

THE FEMININE VINTAGE SCENT WITH THE POWER OF A SIXTEEN-WHEELER Almost a century has passed since this iconic perfume was first launched by Dana. The XX century, during the early 30s, was a crazy time to live in all over the world. Strong scents were all the rage and Tabu was probably the strongest of them all. To this day, Tabu is a landmark and a synonym for a strong and overpowering feminine fragrance. Subtlety and discretion are not its characteristics. Performance is beastly. You can always count on more than 12 hours of longevity - up to 24 hours, depending on your skin chemistry - and its sillage fills a room. Does it project well? oh yes, it projects like a fire hose. This is a sort of love/hate fragrance. I love it as a collector. I love to smell it on strips of paper and on the back of my hand or my wife's hand. I do not like to smell it as a fragrance that lingers all day and night on women, and even less on men. It just overwhelms all the other scents. Overall, I find it very pleasant, but it's not easy to smell the same strong, overpowering scent all day long. This oriental perfume opens with a heavy load of spices, followed by cloves and some floral notes, and then a bottom note of animalistic, woody balsamic amber with strong musk and patchouli, with some sweetness in the background. What is it like? Well, imagine a situation where you are excitedly expecting to drive a fast sports car and instead you get a 5 tonne, 1000 horsepower sixteen wheeler to manoeuvre around town. Yes... this is strong stuff... one of the strongest fragrances in my large collection. It is sold in various concentrations and presentations. I bought the EDT concentration in a violin shaped bottle. The EDT concentration... is pure Dinamite. Nobody believes that this is a vulgar EDT concentration. In summary, I think TABU is a very good feminine vintage fragrance that you can still buy today. I like to test it and even like women to wear it, provided they DO NOT APPLY MORE THAN 1 SPRAY. Also, only use it in cold weather. If you use it in a hot club you will be the cause of a stampede disaster. Do I recommend it? Oh yes, absolutely! Anyone who loves fragrances and has never tried TABU is like living in Rome and never having seen the Pope. It's also pretty cheap! .... (I mean the perfume, not the Pope). TABU also reminds me of the Hollywood stereotype of a voluptuous woman at night, with nice clothes and lots of make-up. Whenever I test my precious Tabu fragrance, Sofia Vergara and Heidi Klum populate my imagination for quite a while 🙂 MY OPINION: This perfume may be too overpowering for many noses. Try before you buy. You should only get this scent if you like lush richness and tons of oriental spices. The spicy notes, especially clove and coriander, are very present, but not unpleasantly so. The rose note is deep purple and the base of Vintage is still made up of real oakmoss, sandalwood, vetiver and cedar. If nothing else, it is a must for the true collector. MUSIC: Marlene Dietrich singing "Lili Marleen" (published in: https://www.facebook.com/groups/733041855168347)

This is the ultimate vintage amber spicy scent everyone should try! Man or woman. And it’s one of those that still smells like back in the day! I will say I find it funny that whenever there’s a spicy “oriental” amber in question people put; “smells like Obsession for women!! NO no it does NOT!!! It’s closer to you the dew and opium but not as amazing as the original opium! ***note (Obsession (for women) was a hot mess headache bringer!! It had two notes in it they ruined it for me back in the day, the tagates (or marigold) and the oak moss.obsession for women made me move far far away from them obsession for Men, on the other hand, brought me in closer... a mix of sweet and spice (not in a food way in a sexual way) For women, It was very very dry!! It didn’t and still doesn’t have that softness that makes one want to stick their nose in someone’s neck! Now, Obsession for men back in the day not the reformulated ones (though I will on occasion wear it) Obsession for men had the sweet spicy Amber thing going on, that made your nose want to go in for more!) But no obsession for women was nothing like the notes listed for Tabu. It had no sweet or spicy clove nor cinnamon that could be found over the damn blast of the the tagates and later the oak moss! yes it had amber but it was too overwhelmingly dry and almost astringent to me, it DOES smell like Halston from back in the day! BUT I actually preferred Halston.(sorry about this rant on obsession)!! I just get soo tired of people mentioning obsession as a”smells like” spicy perfume cousin, when it smells literally NOTHING alike!! 🤦♀️ Sooo if you’re a young bunny and would like to try some vintage spicy ambers? Yesss to tabu, opium, poison of flipping course!! Shalimar, and Cinnabarbate some of the best! it’s just depressing how reformulation messed with the cinnamon and spice of it all 🤷♀️ Sure get your nose on obsession but try BOTH men’s and women’s) see what you like best and what I’m explaining here!? As far as the Tabu? I think it’s a less intense youth dew!! It hs that colander root beer touch. More wearable for out and about! Youth dew is as well but you have to go lighter!! A great winter fall scent that men could rock too and soooo different in today’s gourmand climate that people will think you’re rocking something niche ha I think passion should be mentioned too!! It’s similar to these but has a purple flower note that makes it pretty flippin 80s!! They all have a touch or vibe of that cola zip but to me it was never that? It was always about the spices!! And I’ve been in love with anything ginger cinnamon clove (add in tuberose I’m a goner) due to these beginning vintage scents I smelled on my grandma and moms cabinet... but NO it doesn’t smell like obsession for women !! God I despise tagates/marigold!! It’s funny that due to obsession for women, I thought I didn’t like oakmoss!! But now I have a few scents that you could never tell it’s in there!! But tagates and marigold can F off :) but clove cinnamon ahhh give me more...

1932 Vintage Amber-Floral CLOVE-BENZOIN-SANDALWOOD with Civet & Root-Beer Accents. I can imagine smelling this in the lobby of the Grand Hotel, which also came out in 1932 and starred Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford and the Barrymore brothers Lionel & John. In the first couple of minutes before the spray dries, I can feel the vintage amber-floral vibe. Once the spray dries and the sillage opens up, I get citrus & spices, but already cloves & amber are swelling through. Quickly the citrus is overwhelmed by the vintage amber-floral-spicy vibe, and ylang emerges along with rose and a Root-Beer note. As it's drying down, the Root-Beer note fades, and in the base there's a gorgeous blend of amber, benzoin, sandalwood, patchouli & civettone. Oakmoss & civet bring a lovely smokiness here, close to incense but more like you've just come from a party, but civet is well blended. In the late drydown, several hours in, there's a flinty, smoky, animalic amber skin-scent. Overall it's a gorgeous vintage amber-floral-spicy-animalic scent with Root-Beer accents . This has excellent performance for year round wear, but I would be most likely to wear this in winter. This only gets better with time, both in the bottle and on the skin. Contrast to Youth Dew Estee Lauder: These are different, but there's a similar vintage amber-spicy vibe. Youth Dew is spicier and has cloves & cinnamon more forward with a slightly soapy, ladylike vibe, while the civet is more forward in Tabu. Both have excellent performance. Contrast to Obsession Calvin Klein: These are different, but again there's a similar vintage amber-spicy vibe. Obsession has a more forward cinnamon-spice, while Tabu has a more forward civet. Both have a vintage vibe, but Tabu feels to be of an older vintage (which it is). Both have excellent performance. Contrast to Opium (1977) Yves Saint Laurent: These are different, but again they have a similar vintage amber-spicy vibe. Opium has a more forward raw, fresh-spicy quality, while Tabu has a more forward animalic-musky quality. Both have excellent performance. Contrast to Bal à Versailles Jean Desprez: These are different, but there is a similar vintage animalic amber vibe. The animalics are more forward in Bal à Versailles, while the spices are more forward in Tabu. Both have excellent performance. Contrast to Cinnabar Estee Lauder: These are different, but there's a similar vintage amber-spicy vibe. My grade 2 teacher always wore Cinnabar which I love. The cinnamon (true to the name) is more forward in Cinnabar, while the animalics (true to the name also) are more forward in Tabu. Both have excellent performance. Overall: gorgeous, affordable, provocative vintage amber-floral-spicy-animalic scent with Root-Beer accents from near the opening into the heart. The fact that they're still making this since 1932 says alot. They've been making & selling this while other scents "are coming & going, and nothing ever happens..." - Grand Hotel 1932. It's a love for me. Enjoy!

**Update 11/27/25 2 weeks in** Yep, just as I figured! Just 2 weeks since first spraying Tabu thus allowing air into my brand-new bottle, the performance has improved lasting longer on skin (Bout 6 hrs on skin vs 3 to 4-ish initially)and has also gained much more depth and richness where Its more resinous and almost, very slightly smokey as it reaches the mid. It still starts off strong projecting quite well for about an hour, but really settles to a more moderate (almost) intimate sillage thereafter for the rest of the wear. It still smells like Root Beer to my nose, but its NOT overly sweet. Again, a fantastic purchase for only around 10-13 bucks?, plus having a piece of perfume history from way back in 1932 like Dana's Tabu in my collection? It's (The Bee's Knees!) Lol! A must for any fragrance collector and still VERY wearable today by men and women alike!😉 ----------------------------------------------------- Initial Review 11/13/25 A surprisingly modern smelling fragrance! Tabu by Dana smells almost exactly like "Root Beer!" As it dries down Im getting slight white floral nuances, but the spicey Root Beer smell persists and Im kinda here for it! Also, its not teally smelling all that "Dated" to my nose. Starts off strong, but dries down much softer , closer to the skin and for now doesn't really last much more that 4 hours or so, although my bottle is brand -new and probably just needs to Maturate a bit after having introduced air into it. Tabu is most definately "Unisex" FOR SURE, 100% straight down the middle! Also Im NOT getting any aldehydes or a Civet note in this latest formulation which may be a good thing as those notes would probably make Tabu smell much more "Dated" although I LOOOVE a strong, classic aldehydic fragrance a la Grès by Cabochard, Aramis by Aramis and/or Rive Gauche by YSL. There's a sweetness to this dna which reminds me of some sweet incense/Benzoin note. Very nice! I was actually thinking about getting Obsession for Women, but I think that Im good with Tabu tbh. Again, Im NOT getting an "Old School" dna here at all really. Idk if its all the reformulations, but Tabu smells really great and although it was launched as a womens perfume, I feel completely comfortable wearing Tabu as a man. For this $10 to $12 price point, its a massive deal, TRULEY! Dare I say that this type of dna is only found in today's "Niche fragrances." I highly recommend Tabu to men and women alike ESPECIALLY now that we're in the colder, holiday season! Its perfect! I think that its amazing howTabu STILL has something to say after all these years/decades! Good luck to most of these modern fragrances coming out nowadays with achieving this kind of persisting relevance! Thanks to whomever took time to read my thoughts on Dana's Tabu! CHEERS!🫠

Tabu is the end all be all of my perfume wardrobe, I could easily surrender ever bottle I own to anyone BUT not my TABU. Tabu is the first perfume that I can bring into my memory. My mother wore it and she was not sophisticated or sexy. She was a woman who prided herself in being an everyday hard working woman. She started fires in the fire place, cooked Lima beans on an old pot belly stove, she baked cakes without recipes and shopped in every thrift store within a 100 mile radiance. She raised six kids on a limited income. But on Saturdays .. She would fill her bath tub full of Calgon and her transformation would take place. Instead of smokey rooms, our house began to smell like a variety of florals. My mother would soak until the water was cold, enjoying her time. After she was dressed ... She would reach for her bottle of Tabu, and that hard working woman softened into a beautiful classy and sexy lady. Tabu made her transformation complete... The weeks work was done and she would let the strong aroma of Tabu fill up every room in the house. It was intoxicating. It was beautiful and it made her beautiful. Fast Forward many years and my mother is lying in her bed battling out her last days. On her dresser is a bottle of Chanel 5, Shalimar, and Tabu.. Those three bottles, placed on a tray, facing my mother who had reached a point where she no longer could handle the smell of anything. A day or two later, my mother passed on. All the rituals were fulfilled, all the visitors came and left and slowly life was returning to a form of normalcy. I remember that at that moment I was taking down medical equipment, hurting and grieving, when I smelled her. The smell of Tabu literally filled the room. She wasn't there, no one besides myself was even remotely close to the bottle .. But I still smelled it so strongly it brought me to tears. It was such a beautiful scent.. And it was like she was passing it onto me. It could have been Chanel or Shalimar but it wasn't it was Tabu. From that moment on Tabu has been engraved into my being. I own several bottles of various reformulations, sizes and concentrations. I love them all. The dark amber colored juice is soothing, it is sultry and it will transform you if you let it. Even today, that cheap $5 bottle at Walmart retains enough of its original beauty to let its scent transform you. Dont be fooled... magic can happen in ugly tacky bottles, that are lined up on clearance shelves , because every scent despite the cost can transform us to some degree. Tabu has that kind of magic.

Look. I'm a modern perfume lover and I have owned an insane amount of modern gems... I have a problem. It's ok. I get therapy. This is different... Something has ignited in me. I purchased it tonight as a weird let me smell this while I buy another perfume moment. It's only $20 (Australia) I'm in my 30s and I've never liked vintage fragrances with that heavy powdery dry down or the totally overwhelming aldehydes or ambroxin. But this .. Why does this smell like sex in the back of a car with interior leather. A big Burleigh man sweating underneath me while I ride him. Like a black slip dress and lipstick stains all over the side of my face? Like nails digging into the back of his neck. There is something sweaty and heady. Intoxicating and violent about this insane alluring concoction of pure bliss and evil. I don't understand it. I don't like it, because I love it. It's hurting me in the best damn way. I am an over sprayer with these modern bottles they never give me... This. They never give me the real deal. This smells like a vegans nightmare. It's an animal in a bottle. A whore in the bath but somehow there is a sophistication to it that you would beve find. It's a secret. Like everything I just said, the whole story... Is a secret you are trying to find somewhere on billionaire row. You know it's there, but you can't put your finger on it and you don't know who it is. The scandal! I'm obsessed with it. I'm completely Shooketh by my obsession. I smell like I have ravished myself violently. Something stirs in me. I don't think everyone will love this because everyone is boring. Most people are afraid. This perfume is like me. It is unafraid and unapologetically inappropriate. On me I think it will shock and maim people. 5 foot 2 and a size 6 with boobs as big as my personality and big blue eyes that pierce in the dark. I will wear it in the most conservative and inappropriate places I can find. It smells like me in a bottle. Sorry y'all... Its Mine and if smell you wearing it, I might have to kill you

Upon my first sniff of this after blind-buying a bottle of the version shown in the photo, what promptly came to mind was the scene of a 1930s brothel. This is what I imagine any standard room in said building would smell like, and this was before I read that Jean Carles created this perfume for the everyday... ahem...whore. Incense, civet and amber spiciness is what I get in the drydown. Just pure sex in a bottle, he did a great job. At first spray, I get orange blended with root beer, but it doesn't last too long until it turns into its powdery form with all the notes listed above. This is what I picture Miss Hannigan (à la Carol Burnett) wearing. The woman who wears this doesn't answer to nobody, and will certainly not be toyed around with. She is strong-willed and comfortable with her sexuality, she will never shy away from her lover but will tell them exactly what she wants, because she is completely in control. She is one badass bitch. She definitely smells vintage, which can be expected as this fragrance is 90 years old. But this is by no means what some would consider a "mature" fragrance (don't understand that concept anyway, wear what pleases you at any age! Who cares!). I would've worn this had I known about it at 18yrs, and in my late 20s it's in my top 5. Love to wear this with a leather jacket and boots in order to feel extra sassy. I prefer this for nighttime wear, but you could get away with daytime use if you spray minimally. Practice at home before wearing her around as she can be sneaky and end up overpowering you. They did her dirty with the new bottle design though, it feels kind of cheap and the cap is so plasticky and doesnt stay on well; my babe Tabu deserves so much better.

This fragrance deserves so much more than I can express in one review. I also have an issue with yammering on too long, so I'll try to be brief(ish). This fragrance is top tier vintage to me. Everything is perfect, but unlike Shalimar, Organza, Arpège, or No.5 extrait, this feels more devil-may-care. More...messy. Dirtier. More downtown, and less blended. It's Obsession's older auntie, bohemian, artful. Even soulful. Hell, Tabu even verges toward spiritual. I smell almost everything listed in the alleged note structure, and I smell it definitively. Everything juts out in it's own way, and it isn't necessarily a smooth fragrance at all...but that is NOT to say that it isn't beautiful - it's gorgeous. If I had to pick out two leading notes, I'd say the cloves and vanilla are most dominant...but again, it's a wild mix of everything. All of the constituents are deep, and warm. It's decidedly spicy above all else, and turns into a lovely root beer + incense blend upon my skin. It's exceedingly comforting, but not in an easy or mindless way; it helps me to want to be a stronger woman - more self-possessed, and to quit apologizing for f*cking everything. 🤣🥰 I was fortunate to aquire a splash bottle of vintage EDC. I treasure it, and it's a token elixir to adorn myself in when I feel like I need olfactory therapy. In this way, it has a lot in common with Angel, Obsession and Portrait of a Lady. There are some rare, kickass fragrances in this world (most are throwbacks and not modern), that are polarizing, but to my nose contain a special empowering quality. On top of this, it's just plain beautiful, and my eyes roll back when I bury my nose in it. Freaking phenomenal.

Straightforward but not vulgar. On a sensual level, Tabu is less personal than the magnificent Bal a Versailles. It smells good, durable, flamboyant and full of style. The depth of the fragrance depends on the composition and quality of the formula. The Tabu is mediocre, yet intricately constructed, and is an excellent argument that greatness comes from mediocrity. Jean carles boldly used 10% patchouli (excessive) and eugenol as the core of Tabu, surrounded by walls of cinnamon, myrrh, and civet, forming a warm and spicy oil with rich floral (rose) and woody aromas liquid. One of the best examples of oriental tunes, the formula is simple, rich, soft and brutal, Tabu has personality. A good fragrance has a soul, Tabu - an incredibly strong presence, I feel it. Refreshing basil energizes patchouli, which is complex and ever-changing, and becomes more vivid and vivid when contrasted. Dip a drop of Tabu into your fingertips with a rich reddish-brown aroma. Apply evenly on your wrist and the place closest to your heart that day. The temperature encourages the Tabu to fully diffuse the aroma. Patchouli burst, the heat wave swept through, and the red swirl was huge and deep. The powder particles that were not carefully crushed spun rapidly and collided with sparks. Simple Youth Dew had to bow down to it. The graceful Tabu is the predecessor of the Opium faction. This amber balm is different from Youth Dew, approachable, and even if you're not crazy about patchouli, Tabu is unrestrained and enthusiastic, and belongs to the type of oriental fragrance that does not bring the fear of aging.

A Forbidden Accord: The True Symphony of Tabu Original To speak of Tabu (Original) is to speak of the very history of seductive perfumery. Created by the genius Jean Carles under the legendary and audacious directive to craft a fragrance for an "emissary of pleasure," the original classic is far more than just a perfume: it is a true olfactory monument, a timeless icon. If we were to translate this masterpiece into art, it wouldn't be a painting, but a captivating symphony. Every single note enters at the exact right moment, creating a dramatic and hypnotic crescendo. The opening makes no apologies; it arrives with a whirlwind of warm, rich spices that instantly heat up the skin. Soon, this spicy opulence gives way to a dense, mature floral bouquet where ylang-ylang, rose, and jasmine are not fresh, but intoxicating—wrapped in the embrace of patchouli and an incredibly sensual, velvety, powdery dry-down. There is a perfect harmony in the evolution of its composition. Nothing shouts on its own; the resinous sweetness of benzoin and amber dances flawlessly with the animalic undertones and a touch of civet, creating an aura of mystery and sophistication that modern perfumery rarely dares to replicate. Tabu Original is not for those who wish to blend into the crowd. It is a carnal, mystical, and deeply seductive fragrance. A classic that defies time and fleeting trends. For anyone who has the privilege of experiencing the original formula, the verdict is absolute: an unforgettable work of art. A symphony of seduction in a bottle.

Oh how I adored this scent in the early 80s as a young adolescent, on the cusp of womanhood and discovering my feminine mystique! She made me feel like such a vamp! I left Tabu behind in early adulthood, in preference to more expensive, "sophisticated" perfumes such as Opium and Angel, but I have always carried a torch for her. She sits patiently on the shelf at my local pharmacy, eying me curiously and whispering her siren song to me. Now that I am in middle age, I am so tempted to revisit her. Would we still be suited to each other? Who knows, but for the price I am willing to throw caution to the wind. My only fear is that her reformulation may have changed her into someone unrecognizable. I hope not. I'm definitely going to try her again this winter. Update: I finally bought myself a bottle and tried it for the first time yesterday. This is not the Tabu that I so fondly remember from my teenage years, and for that I am very sad. Upon spraying, I was immediately hit with a nasty medicinal smell, akin to hospital disinfectant. I tried it again today with the same result. This screeching medicinal smell overpowered all other fragrance notes and lasted for hours. I get that the formulation has had to change over the decades as certain ingredients are banned, but this synthetic mess is nothing like the Tabu of the eighties. Perhaps my bottle is off, who knows? Anyway, I have given it to my daughter, who loves the perfume and doesn't seem to notice (or mind) the medicinal smell.

I could swear I’ve previously reviewed this, but can’t find it. So, apologies if this is redundant. However, I just received a vintage huge 4oz bottle of the Eau de cologne and I’m thrilled with it! I can’t express how iconic this fragrance is. It’s on the verge of 100 years old and still is amazing! Yes, it has always been a drugstore cheapie in my lifetime , but don’t let that fool you! This is a fabulous scent! I have never been without this fragrance since I started wearing them. For a fragrance that has been around that long, I don’t find it has changed much. Somehow, it has retained its original characteristics while so many others have suffered from reformulations making them unrecognizable. I admittedly don’t wear this out often, but often sniff it and just enjoy a visit. However, now that I have this large bottle, I think I’m gonna to use it more next fall/winter. It wears so beautifully on my skin and is such a warm cozy fragrance. I don’t find it dated, and think if it was introduced today, it would go viral! However, it is so recognizable, that many will know it as soon as they smell it and associate it with specific eras. I understand that it’s not for everyone, you have to enjoy a spicy, somewhat animalic scent. I find it incredibly beautiful, sexy , mysterious and even a touch primal. An absolute love !

This was on my Grandmother's vanity. That said, it's on mine too, for the past five years or so. This scent has been in every tacky drugstore cabinet for decades, and in many a bargain bin too. I'm sure many people wouldn't spritz it on if you paid them. Nevertheless, I'm a fan. O that boozy musky spicy sweet voluptuous bouquet! If you look at the base notes description, there's a ton of them. Maybe that's why it has champion staying power, and seems to keep on kicking at 10 pm when you gave yourself a couple of brief spritzes before breakfast. I've never tried dousing myself in this. Has anyone? That would be a Liz Taylor "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof" moment for sure. Speaking of cats, my cat likes this. I was wearing Tabu the day I picked her up from the shelter, apprehensive that I might offend, but she snuggled up to me like I was her natural born Mom, and we've never looked back. Maybe it's because there is civet in this scent, before it was banned from perfume manufacturing. I've procured older stock bottles, having heard the older formulas are the way to go. I don't know what the new/current bottles are like, probably more synthetic, nasty and harsh. Isn't that the way of all old/new formulas, that the original/older ones are better? Either way, I'm proudly fond of this beloved 'drugstore' scent!

Ambery, spicy baby lotion. Maple-cola syrup, powdery root-beer barrels and ivory soap. It's fun and I think it's much easier to wear than people make it out to be. Sweet orange is evident in the opening, along with a slight cologne-y bergamot. The most prominent floral is without question the Ylang-Ylang. I also detect a sort of old-timey oriental rose. It's the same rose I smell in fragrances like Habit Rouge. It brings to mind classic black haircare oils and pomades. Modern bottles are only mildly spicy and more ambery/sweet than smoky. My old violin dabber had way more, spice, sandalwood and incense. That bottle did smell a bit like nag champa. There is a gauzy, drug store quality to Tabu, but that's part of it's charm. In it's current formulation, it's probably not strong or luxurious smelling enough for the office or a night out on the town. It's best suited for a day out and about running errands or to keep fresh while lounging around the house. Most consider this dated, but I actually think it could be an interesting fragrance for a teen. It has a certain innocent quality. Like I said, it is reminiscent of baby cosmetics and there's the hippy dippy, incense aspect to it that people tend to associate with adolescence and young adulthood.

I bought this today at Walmart today in the fragrance asile. My mother wore this all my life. She is long gone now and I miss her. For $13 I could bring the scent of my momma back and I bought it. When I got it home, I sprayed it and evalutated the scent with a new nose. It smelled so warm and brought back a feeling of comfort and the life of my mom who would DOUSE herself in this, then set incense all over the house and open the doors for multiples of friends to come for weekly meetings on the esoteric and metaphysical. I am so happy I bought it. When my husband woke up to ready himself for work, he opened the screen door so he could get a better breath of fresh air. *LOL* He noted how strong the perfume was. HA! My son said it smelled like a head shop. Honestly? It does smell like incense. It's all about whatever you associate this spicy oriental scent with. Personally? I love it. IDK that I am going to wear it out of the house. But since it smells like my mom and gives me a chance to connect with her from the Great Beyond, I will likely spray it around my home office to give me comfort and that homey vibe that feels cozy and safe.

Many of us already know the legend that Jean Carles was directed by Dana to compose a perfume that would be worn by a lady of the night, which ended up adding to its cachet. However, after its mid-century zenith in popularity, it would be eclipsed by the harlot in ingénue clothing that would be Youth Dew just two decades later, and would over the decades end up languishing on the lower shelves of the local drugstore, with a cult following, while the younger and hipper dazzlers, the Opiums, Cinnabars, and Obsessions would reign supreme. Tabu is a fragrance that has seen and smelled it all, sort of like Dorian Corey in Paris is Burning. All these spices and shady resins, florals that read for filth, and an undercarriage of smut and revolt, Tabu could very well have the mummy of a criminal in a trunk yet to be discovered. Herein lies its appeal, it makes no apologies, it's always been in the shadows of Shalimar as "that other one" and Dana birthed it with a scarlet letter watermarked on its fundament. This is what makes it a fucking rockstar in the annals of perfume history.

this is a shot of pure nostalgia: the incense syrup, musky/musty yellow flowers, and bee pollen take me back to my childhood. you might have forgotten what Tabu smells like. i’ll tell you what Tabu smells like. it smells like love, home, comfort, and safety. it smells like rural East Texas in the 1980s. it smells like listening to Jim Reeves on the hi-fi... soap operas and westerns on the tv... riotous laughter and delicious food... a picture of Mormon Jesus on the wall, being a sentinel... trailer-house windows blacked out with tinfoil... ice chests full of caffeine-free Coke (it actually does have something of a cola scent to it, if you tilt your head just right)... it smells like sleeping with my grandmother and knowing she had a pistol between the mattresses. it smells like the sound of her bedroom fan. it smells like her bouffant hairdos and rock-turquoise jewellery. it smells like all the good things about her and none of the bad. musical accompaniment: “I’m Not Cool” by HyunA “who’s pretty to you?” /retro edc probably from the 1990s

I have the vintage 1960's bottle not the one displayed it starts of with a very rich citrus mainly from the mandarin, the bermagot is fairly mellow i personally prefer to let it dry instead of rubbing it as youre supposed to with the vintage bottle about thirty minutes in a woody note kicks in it smells fairly earthy with a hint of citrus and floral the dry down is insane it smells like amber and rose. mainly amber and you can smell the pachtouli some what too i guess the vintage bottle has CRAZY projection easily 12 hours sillage is amazing aswell its definately a winter fragrance but you can use it in fall too you can get away with summer at nights but it does cause clogging so be careful with the amount u apply i love layering it with grape mist, not a perfume js literally grape scented mist, adds an extra note and helps in not cloyying during the summers easy ten outta ten frag it means alot to me cuz it has been passed down through my family truly a masterpiece ALSO TRULY UNISEX i would argue it does not lean femine at all

I have returned to re-review Tabu. I recently stumbled upon and immediately bought an (older) formulation of this perfume from Mexico. It comes to me in the format of a "Locion" (the alcohol and perfume oils have been blended with glycerin, giving the liquid a slightly thicker viscosity). It starts off in its familiar cola manner, with bubbly mandarin orange, spicy cloves, and a big slug of myrrh... but below this, I smell filthy jasmine and ylang-ylang. A very strong animalic musk presence. Fragrantica says civet, and it's here, but I keep thinking of costus and castoreum?! It's smelling more oily and poopy than pissy. It gradually evolves into a warm, deep, musky amber with sandalwood, moss, and patchouli. Dense and dangerous. The older formulations of Tabu have a lot more dimension to them than the new bottles. I'm going to have to play around with this one before wearing it out. I wear plenty of animalistic scents, but true to form, the old formulation of Tabu strike me as truly NSFW.

First impression review, I just sprayed this on about an hour ago. Whaaaatttt??????? I kinda can't believe that I just bought 2.3 oz of this stuff for $13 at my rural WV Walmart. Omg I don't know why it took me so long to smell this, on first sniff I was entranced. Tabu is so warm and cozy smelling. It fits into the same category as Revlon's Ciara in my collection, but this one is way more rounded and inviting in my opinion. Another flea-market-incense-seller kind of perfume, but with a cola-esque backdrop that just makes the whole thing really pleasant. I personally don't see this as an "aged" scent, it's waaaaaaay too cool to remind me of my grandma. This is a little more like something your cool aunt who used to smoke clove cigarettes and never got married would've worn. Is this a bit animalic? Yeah. Is this stuff modern? Hell no. I think both of those things work in this scent's favor. I think it'll always be in style for the right kind of people.

I was lucky to find a large, very old bottle that has Dana España on the label. It had developed some hairline cracks and may need to be decanted at some point, but what is inside is a treasure trove of aromas (I prefer early vintages because the quality of ingredients is vastly superior to what was being produced even a few decades later). I am normally not a great fan of such heavily animalistic accords, but here it is so expertly executed by Jean Carles that it enhances rather than overwhelms the composition, as some of those notes can. I've seen different notes on different sites but for me this is an orange and clove-heavy aromatic fragrance with rose, some ylang ylang and carnation being the main florals I get. The gorgeous amber in the base is huge, with some patchouli and then vetiver coming out towards the finish. This is a perfect scent for autumn especially but winter as well, a bit cola-like, very warm and quite addictive.

Just got this today, love it! I am male, and have no problem wearing this one. Has a bit of a fizzy cola vibe, spices, civet and amber. This is really good, certainly worth having at the price, and yes my bottle would be of the recent variety. My reason for the purchase was finding a scent with a similar profile to Musc Ravageur that does not cost a fortune. I really enjoy Musc Ravageur, but for a scent I don’t wear often due to the cost, a reasonable alternative would be nice. Again, they are not a 1 to 1 type thing, but share enough to scratch that itch. I can even get the CK Obsession comparisons, but this has much more going on. Performance is solid, projection surprisingly tame for the style, so yes a solid cheapie discovery. My only gripe would be that my bottle has an atomizer that shoots out a solid stream, so I am going to have to decant into another bottle with a better atomizer. A great find with the help of Fragrantica!

❤️ I LOVE TABU! ❤️ My mother despises it, as in - choking, gagging, opening windows, the whole nine yards. “Are you wearing that damn PATCHOULI?!” (There was a time in my life when I wore straight patchouli oil. I liked it very much. No one else did.) So I’ve learned to limit myself with the Tabu, but it is difficult - I love it so. Tabu is soft, warm, and spicy. Incredibly sexy! I get the root beer comparisons, but for me this comes across as “chocolate Tootsie Roll Pop.” Specifically that. The clove, the patchouli, the bergamot...yes, it’s far too much. Drown me in it. It’s good stuff. Only dislike: There is a medicinal quality to this, a bitterness I can’t quite place. It doesn’t render the fragrance unpleasant; in fact, it makes Tabu that much more distinctive. 🤷 But it can catch you off guard. !!️ WARNING: Do not spray this in your hair. It will get stuck in there. For weeks. Despite washing it. Trust me.

I'll never be able to write a beautiful review as many others shared in here. I can only say Tabu is a masterpiece, a very well constructed perfume and I'm angry (but also happy) it's sold for such a cheap price (in Brazil we find the classic Tabu and its flankers in local markets for US$ 2.00!). Tabu is worth much, much more. It smells like sexy witches, drinking Friday nights at decadent downtown pubs, motherly baked goods (yes, those spices...), passionate love-making. All of this, all together, not sophisticated nor modern but still timeless. It's human, perfectly and earthly human BUT it's not for everyone. It's for those who enjoy scents and can go beyond appreciating only bottled fragrances to smell "nice" at parties. I slept with two drops on my wrists last night, 10 hours later it's still lingering. From all fragrances I have, Tabu has one of the most amazing performances.

Tabu, advertised as ‘the longest kiss in history’ is, and was, one of the most respected creations in the industry at the time of its release in 1931. This reeks of sensuality and, it is said, that the perfumer Jean Carles was instructed to create ‘the perfume of a whore’. The composition is centred around patchouli, which originally was dosed at an outrageous 10%, which when combined with carnation, is incredibly warm, dry, earthy and enveloping. From here, a countless array of dark warm spices and soft florals mingle with the civet which is sharp and rugged. The overall scent profile is like the dusty carpet of an old boudoir. This theme went on to inspire other famous creations such as Youth Dew, Opium and, in my opinion, Bal a Versailles. I love this scent, even in its current formulation it is phenomenal - and the price it can be found for is unbelievably good.

My grandmother introduced this to me when I was a young twenty-something, while it does remind me of her in her old age-it also reminds me of being a young independent woman learning how to navigate the world. When I decide to wear it today, it is almost always a nighttime or going out fragrance due to its longevity and projection. At its base, it's a warm and spicy romantic fragrance that is an intoxicating experience. Patchouli and orange come to the front for me, with aromatics and spices warming upon dry down; Reminiscent of metaphysical stores and summer nights spent with my college friends camping by the lake. I also understand how the sarsaparilla note comes through for others, in addition to it's vintage composition not agreeing with most current individuals. Truly a classic that isn't for everyone, but a polarizing fragrance nonetheless

Epic Journey Into the Bottled Yonder, 214 Male review ---------------- Purchased August 2024 This has become a mens/masculine frag by today's standards. I selected the "more male" option, allow me to explain why. Nobody remembers it and no man on a blind test would know it especially, so what I get is a Coty Musk for Men sort of mixed with Jovan Musk for Men and Aramis JHL. There's a minty amber beginning mated to a stinky rose/jasmine animalic note and that dies off after 5 or 10 minutes then gradually becomes a proper decent frag for men. Love it. Designed by a man, and it's no wonder this bottle is Tabu. Edit: There's something feminine within this scent to me now and I can respect that, including the bottle design into consideration I've selected the unisex option above. Will continue plastering myself with 😮 Tabu 😮.

I had given up on Tabu when the last bottle I bought barely had any scent but I decided to give it another chance. I must have bought a defective bottle years ago because my recent purchase is quite strong and amazing. Tabu definitely has a lot of strength to the point I could still smell it on me after a shower. A lot of power for such a reasonablely priced fragrance. Beautiful florals, cola/root beer,and woods dipped in powder on a person who is out and about on a Summer evening. There is a sweaty note somewhere in Tabu that I can smell. I do like Tabu for all that it offers and represents. A cheap thrill that does not smell cheap at all. If you are into woodsy floral potions with outstanding lasting power,give Tabu a try.Since 1932,and still powerful.

dei blind. gente, que perfume delicioso. a saída dele é como um shot de cachaça pra começar os trabalhos. as especiarias são muito presentes, um pouco difíceis de distinguir, mas acho que o que mais se destaca na minha pele é o cravo. as notas animálicas dão um quê gostoso de um cigarro idealizado. não achei uma bomba, como muitos dizem. o floral fica por trás de muito cravo e canela, vem uma rosa madura, sobre um manto de patchouli. um cheiro extremamente incensado, como a fumaça dentro de um cabaré antigo iluminado de vermelho. incenso de cravo, canela e rosas vermelhas. o incenso inteiro: fumaça, cinzas e especiaria. sensualíssimo, misterioso, macumbístico. comprei a deo colônia, que é o que eu tive acesso, então não achei que projeta tanto assim.

Where to start with Tabu. She’s not a woman of wealth and taste but she’s a woman that demands respect. Not in a “Katherine Hepburn”sort of way but in an “old hide that’s been behind the bar for 30 odd years at the local biker haunt” sort of way. The person who wears this has seen some things. She lives in a house with green shag carpet and wood paneling. Harley t-shirts and fringed shoulder padded leather jackets are staples of her wardrobe. She’s had the same Leather Tuscadero haircut since 1979. She smokes Misty’s so she can feel even a shred of a softer feminine side she had to sacrifice years ago to survive. If Aileen Wournos had a signature scent, this is probably it. Resilience in a bottle. I love her.

I never understood the cola comments in relation to Youth Dew, but Tabu definitely gives off a cola impression, especially in the opening. It's mandarin dominant uptop with warm holiday spices like clove and cinnamon, a lot of myrrh, other ambery notes, sandalwood, and benzoin. After the mandarin goes it doesn't smell as convincingly of cola. The drydown is a warm, softly spiced, creamy, powdery amber concoction. Vintage formulations might have the skank, stronger woody notes, and bitter oakmoss that I was hoping to smell. The current stuff has very little. I don't see myself ever opting for this over Youth Dew, Cinnabar, Opium, or Shalimar. All of them are more distinctive.

Just received a vintage bottle I found on ebay. Damn, this is beautiful! I'm getting spicy, honeyed amber with a soupcon of filth (in a good way) this is another one like Opium EDT that was marketed for women but smells like a honeyed barbershop fragrance on my skin. It reminds me a lot of Floris Honey Aoud and I think it might be the civet with the florals giving the honey note which is the prominent note for me. It reminds me too of a Roja perfume but I forget the name. I will return and give an update when I get a full day's wear out of it! Ah, it just clicked! This is what happens when All Spice and Floris Honey Aoud get sweaty and naked and produce a lovechild!

Tabu is one of my favourite perfumes. It’s perfectly balanced: sweet, spicy and woody. It changes beautifully as you wear it, becoming deeper, smoother, rounder and richer as the hours go by, and do they go by.... One spray is all you need and you will be getting hints of it all day. I love the sweet narcissus note that emerges from the clove. It warms, smoothes out and becomes the most beautiful musk. I wear this when I want to feel warm, enveloped, safe and loved. It’s sexy, grounded and very addictive. Perfect for a romantic date or when you want to snuggle into a cosy evening. Tabu is a confidence-inspiring fragrance. It invites you to love being you.

I just bought this again after having thrown away the little violin sample as I just disliked it. But, I decided to retry this in the spray version. That is the best way to experience this perfume. It must need aeration to bring out the notes. To me it is warm Dr Pepper or Root Beer but maybe without sweetness (I almost want them to turn up the sweet ). It lasts a good while and I'm gentle with the sprayer as I'm giving this a chance as I feel it would overwhelm me otherwise. Tonight I'm trying it out before bed to see what is remaining by morning. I'm just so glad I have tried this again. I love the idea of it still being sold after 90 years!!!!

I love this fragrance for itself, but also because it is sentimental. My mother always had a bottle that I would sniff (and sample) and I remember smelling it on her clothes and in her handbag when she would wear it on occasion. It was always there on her dresser among the Caron and Guerlain fragrances she loved. I think Tabu has a spicy vanilla/amber incense-like scent with a sweet floral center. I think that the floral aspect is what makes it so special. It’s a nice bedtime scent and whatever is left on your skin in the morning creates a nice base for your daytime fragrance. Take care not to over apply. Less is more.

One of the best fragrances ever made. Years ago when smelled this I felt it was kinda dated and retro but still wonderful, now after the last few years of stronger and more complex “elixer”, ablosu, and extrait flankers to designer and niche brands I feel like Tabu fits within the contemporary fragrance zeitgeist once again. This could easily pass as a new release from Amouage, Roja, or a less sweet/more mature flanker for 1 Million or Spicebomb. It’s a dense and heady blend of spices, amber, incense, light touches of indolic florals, grounded with and animalics and earthy base.

This stuff is incredible. I love when I smell a perfume and I have a hard time picking out individual notes or describing how it smells in words. After all, they aren't books, why should we expect to find the words for something our nose is sensing! I so admire the perfumers of yesteryear who are able to blend a billion notes to perfection and create a wholly unique work - that is art and craftsmanship!! All I've smelled is the recent formulation you can get for $10 at Walmart, but if that smells this good, I can't imagine what a vintage formulation smells like.

Dazzling and fun. This is not the sassy girl who tells everyone she's a bad bitch who takes no prisoners, this is the bad-ass boss bitch who actually takes no prisoners, and doesn't need to tell everyone about it. Youthful, but serious and complex, it reminds me of whisky and diet cokes when I was 18 in terrible dives, but in a charming, nostalgic way. That said, it's also a cracking spicy, patchouli, sparkling retro amber bomb which stands the test of time. It's unapologetically sweet and loud, but not suffocating or headachey. And it's dirt cheap. Love!

This is cozy and warm, and deeply nostalgic. Something in it reminds me of Mary Poppins. It makes me think of perusing an old bookstore, getting lost in an amazing antique mall, coffee shops in the snow, laughing with friends at a jazz bar, tipsy off a couple martinis, smoking a cigarette through a 1920s extender, carrying a vintage doctors bag as a purse. It brings me so many feelings and they are all good. I definitely pick up a lot of orange and spice, there are some root beer undertones but not in a bad or overpowering way. I LOVE it.

This is my favorite blind buy ever. It’s softly spiced (not like Opium or obsession), warm, slightly sweet, musky, powdery gorgeousness. I can see the mentions of root beer. It might be the cloves that read a bit like sassafras. If you like vintage fragrances like Youth Dew, Cinnabar, Emeraude, etc. chances are high that you’ll enjoy this. I find it incredibly easy to wear. It feels unique among a sea of today’s fragrances. However, it doesn’t feel dated. Tabu makes me feel confident and sexy and like a bit of a standout. I adore this.

Found this in my friends mom's house while she was moving out and offered to buy it for 5 bucks so bing bang boom I got it. I've been wanting it for a while and I am stokeedd I love itttt it is however making me realize I really need to diversify my perfume collection because this is so extremely what all my perfume smells like at this point but I don't care I'm obsessed. If you, like me, are looking for headshop femdom 70s90swizard glamorous slacker girl type scents, this is for you!

Yall this is a wonderful parfume. I don't really understand the violent reaction some people have to this. Like I get why you might think it smells like grandmama...but why you don't like it though?!😂 Siriously it's a beautiful scent , I smell all the notes listed above, totally agree but they also should mention it smells of roodbeer...which luckily I like the smell of. Enough to wear it every day. I even got a compliment today on the smell. So that's cool

You can smell the influences it had on things like Obsession (both women's and men's versions), Red Door, and even Fahrenheit. It's really no wonder this has endured so well. I can see either gender doing well with this, provided they've got the personality for it. A really delicious, cozy, and complex scent. Sensual, hot, cold, spicy, musky, wild, and sophisticated. Even now, the bottle has a nice Art Deco style to it. Really, wonderful.

i own this in a vintage "eau de cologne pure spray non-aerosol" bottle i got on ebay for an incredibly reasonable price... this is the perfume that converted me from gourmands to patchouli and amber. it is deep but sweet and simply magical. when i smell it, the opening to siouxsie and the banshees' "cities in dust" plays in my head, and when i wear it i feel like the most goth, witchy version of myself. great for shows and nights out.

My mom wore this and obsession while I was growing up. Tabu smells like lightly spiced unsweetened coca-cola. The sweetness comes from the spices, including cinnamon which gives it a sexy, spicy appeal. Its very seductive, smells expensive and classy with animalic undertones definitely not skanky tho. A timeless piece of history created in the 1930's. Smells modern and not at all old fashioned. Nice med strong sillage.

Ohh Tabu. This is the most sumptuous and delicious fragrance but only in the violin bottle. I’ve noticed that when I buy any other type of bottle, I find the scent cloying and nauseating... but the orange potion in the violin is just so smooth. My immediate feeling is of roses, nag champa, Coca Cola. There is a syrupy sweetness and a faint fizziness. It feels like a rich fur coat lined in velvet. A forever favorite.

I have two experiences with this perfume, one being a brand new unopened bottle from the 70's that was amongst gifts she had received through life that became mine in her passing in 2013, and again seeing it at walmart for $12. Obviously not as strong or loud as the original but it touched my heart that it still smells pretty much the same. It's almost coke/ dr pepper essence mixed with warm cozy seduction.

This is one that REALLY changes based on body chemistry and time of year! My mom wore this once and it smelled sweaty, spicy, and heavily animalic on her. On me it was a warm, rich, spicy smell that softened to a mix of woody spices and powder. This is long lasting, has a decent sillage, and is DEFINITELY a cold weather perfume. Phenomenal for me, but try before you buy or get somewhere you can do returns.

Tabu has been my signature for many years. It’s deep, dark & mysterious. Cheap as chips and great value. I go through a few bottles a year and always have back ups for when I run out. An absolute classic that’s withstood the test of time. I’m careful if the weather is humid and I sweat, as it becomes a musty and unpleasant smell in my clothing, rather than my body. I’ll always have Tabu on hand.