Intoxication (Vintage)

D’Orsay – Intoxication (Vintage EDT Review) About the bottle: I own two bottles of Intoxication. The first is a 1940’s 0.25ml parfum from France, nestled in its presentation box; the second is a 2oz EDT in a cut crystal starburst flacon from the early to mid 1950’s, with white twine around the collar and a black and white diamond tag (I won it for $3.95 at an auction - lol) this bottle was blended in the US with imported and domestic ingredients. Both are just as lovely; the sillage and longevity are very impressive. You can’t go wrong with either. Opening A halo of citrus flickers at the top. It’s not sharp or modern-bright though. Instead, it feels filtered through powder and dry air. I don’t smell any distinctly soapy aldehydes at the opening. Almost immediately the florals rise: • Rose • Jasmine • Ylang-ylang • Carnation (that unmistakable spicy bite) note that carnation isn’t present in the pyramid; I believe this is the nutmeg blended with the other florals that gives the impression of carnation. There is a clean floral soapiness emerging along with the florals here - for those who don’t like aldehydes, this isn’t a shrill aldehydic soap; more like if you smelled a premium bar of lovely handmade floral soap. Otherwise the opening is dry and reads polished, not playful. ⸻ Heart The florals now settle into a poised bouquet supported by a dry structure where interestingly the dominant note reads ‘Incense’ instead of a bitter green backbone : • Oakmoss • Dry Vetiver • Subtle nutmeg spice This is where 1938 Intoxication reveals its vintage era. The oakmoss gives a cool, dry slightly inky backbone — unmistakably vintage to modern noses, but to vintage fragrance enthusiasts it smells architectural :) To me this is the phase where Intoxication starts to feel really magnetic and so appealing. The incense dominance blended with the pretty florals is simply masterful. ⸻ Drydown The base is where Intoxication truly becomes enchanting IMO. • Benzoin/vanilla • Tonka bean • Sandalwood • Patchouli (restrained, not earthy) • Musk The sweetness doesn’t bloom fully until you’re well into the drydown; until then it just whispers. The dry incense and woody elements remain the stars of the show for the next hour or two, until they completely blend with the florals. Vanilla and tonka soften the edges without taking control. The result? A soft, beautiful cashmere-like intimacy. Clean. Warm but cool-tempered. Elegant without being austere. To me Intoxication would be the epitome of today’s ’quiet luxury’ trope. It’s a pretty fragrance that’s elegant, refined but very magnetic especially when you get to the drydown - the blend of ‘warm scented soap’ along with the whisper of vanilla/benzoin, tonka and incense just makes me want to nuzzle it and stay in that comforting space. It lasts remarkably well for an EDT (7-8 hours at least) and never becomes cloying. The 1940’s parfum lasts for over 12 hours on me. I’m someone who typically gravitates towards very warm, resinous florientals and orientals; Intoxication is the only floral chypre that has ‘Beloved’ fragrance status in my collection, it’s that appealing and special to me! Who is it for? Intoxication is for someone who: • Loves true floral chypres with some real oakmoss structure, but not overwhelming green notes • Appreciates evolution from citrus → floral → moss → warm resin • Enjoys warm elegance over too much sweetness • Prefers quiet magnetic presence to loud projection • Wants “clean” in a polished skin / pressed silk, cashmere and pearls sense — not laundry detergent clean It will appeal to those who admire: • Classic French perfumery • Vintage structure with true emotional depth • Refined, composed femininity If you rather enjoy the backbone of a classic chypre and want something softer and more refined than the bolder vintage orientals, Intoxication is quietly addictive! ⸻ Who This Is NOT For? Intoxication is not for someone who: • Wants sugary gourmand scents • Prefers fruity-floral brightness • Is overly sensitive to oakmoss bitterness • Associates any mossy base with “old lady grandma perfume” and cannot move past that impression - however, I just want to stress that the moss in Intoxication is far from being overwhelming. it’s inoffensive to me, and I’m very sensitive to bitter green notes. Incense is the most prominent base note to me. • Needs big projection and dramatic sillage

I'm very glad to have found this page with so much interesting info on vintage D'Orsay *Intoxication* perfume as I have recently added into my collection a perfectly boxed, sealed crystal 2 fl.oz bottle of the parfum from approximately the mid 1960's to the early 70's, the bottle is a flask type similar to that of the iconic Chanel cube although slightly slimmer and a little more stylized, thankfully there is no evaporation due in part to the box being cellophane sealed until it became mine, it is housed in a relatively plain two-piece constructed coffret of beige card board with gold lettering with the main title of Intoxication positioned at a diagonal from lower left to upper right facing front of the top half of the box while the stopper is held in place by a golden/beige twine including a suitable baudruchage membrane as was the practice back in the mid last century. I am so wanting to break that seal but will search for a small decant or similar to whet my appetite for this golden oldie, the juice is a pale gold in colour and has certainly withstood the ravages of time, I wish all of my vintage finds were found in this amazing pristine condition, on to my next thrilling adventure for that next great vintage fragrance, Oh it never ends 'lol' Best Wishes to ALL

Intoxication (Vintage) is a captivating and pretty amazing fragrance that unfolds beautifully on the skin. The initial citrus notes are surprisingly fresh and uplifting even at its age, yet they quickly intertwine with a warm and inviting resinous quality. The floral heart is where this perfume truly shines, revealing a delicate bouquet that is both classic and sophisticated. Mine is over 50 years old and has a depth and richness that modern interpretations often lack. It's a fragrance that feels both nostalgic and utterly timeless. While it may not be for everyone, those who appreciate the complexities of classic perfumery will undoubtedly find themselves drawn to its intoxicating charm. If you can find it, get it.

What a charming and tricky vintage fragrance. It has an impression of alcohol notes like a sparkling wine; hence the name. Effervescent citrus overtones with a heady floral center; a little hard to pin down. Something dry and powdery: violet or lily of the valley, maybe some rose? Solid, bewitching oakmoss base. Classic, but surprisingly not dated; deliciously wearable today, and wonderfully unique.

I purchased a vintage "Cosmopolitans' Collection of Internationally Famous Perfumes" from the 1960s, and this fragrance was included in it. It's definitely a vintage scent but different than the other heavy animalic, musks (which I adore) of that era. Intoxication is a sweet-balsamic, faint floral with resinous amber undertones. It smells like floral champagne poured into a real amber glass. While it's lighter than its peers of that era, it's still robust enough to take its place with the big girl scents. Even though Makila by Patou was sprayed in the film, this is what I imagine Holly Golightly smelled like when she hopped out of the cab in her black dress with large pearls and ate her croissant, drank her coffee while staring wistfully through Tiffany's window.