Knowing

Knowing is an arm wrapping itself around your shoulders on a day when the stresses of life - i.e., the thoughts that turn into static within your mind, the feelings that pull themselves apart within your chest, and the memories that dictate present reality - are in need of dialling down, even if only temporarily. Knowing calls to you on a day when you require peace, sanctuary even, and are ready to submit yourself to its green hues and escape into the fantasy forest it builds from within your own mind. Knowing, from my own perception, says, "I have no gender, I am sexless and aromantic. I have little ego, and I will not intrude upon a room just to please whomever I may find within it. I will not be lowered by the changing expectations of fragrance, as I live only in accordance with the meaning of my name. I will come to know your skin, and you will come to know me when you no longer wish to perform, people-please or project a distorted image of yourself - because I will already know what you need." That is not to say this fragrance couldn't be a special gift from a certain someone, or have romantic connotations - because the beauty of scent primarily lies within its subjective nature - but its effect, its uniqueness, lies in how it stands strong and stark against the "sweet 'n' sexy" feminine fragrances of today. There is little that could be considered "everyday" about the composition of this beauty, even though it's often viewed as a gateway chypre, if you will. Note-wise, I perceive this as being an interesting, borderline gourmand type of savoury chypre because its herbaceous side is so mouthwateringly dry and quite pronounced in the opening with a distinct coriander note. The rose in here is so clever, so sneaky, because it, too, has been dried down into the bowl of potpourri this frag often exists as for many; becoming one with the aged petals and spices, emitting a unified perfume-y scent that nudges you to try to "spot" the elusive rose as it hides in plain sight. The florals aren't necessarily dominated by the green notes here; rather, they've somehow been fully assimilated and work around you as one. An hour or so into the drydown and, despite orris no longer being listed as a note in its reformulated state, I can always smell it: so powdery and suede-like, bringing about a luxuriously clean and refined character alongside the pronounced aldehydes that run right through its profile, before beckoning the cardamom, patchouli, vetiver and oakmoss to follow suit. The scent eventually transitions from being notably green to notably soapy-clean and classy; revealing a core that is defined by the only word that springs to mind whenever I reach this point in the drydown: integrity. In the far drydown, the entire scent profile becomes distinctly 'honeyed' in how the green, floral, and amber notes all merge into a single stream of viscous resin that feels rich and golden. An addictive, earthy-sweet sap, warmed by your skin, creates a fading trail as the fragrance gracefully departs. Knowing performs in a way that can still be deemed respectable, even in its post-reformulated state, with a lasting power on protected skin as well as fabric, that can reach ten to twelve hours with four to six sprays, and a sillage that leaves an intriguing trail that will make itself 'known' to the person next to you, and likely the person next to them as well. - An enchanted forest unfolds before your eyes with moss-covered trees, patchouli bushes, roses that find themselves intertwined with living, breathing vines that seem to be following you with each step you take, and white flowers whose petals almost seem to sway in your direction as you pass by. The scenery is strange and worldly, seemingly containing flora and fauna that originate from exotic lands, somehow existing, and coming to merge, as one. The earth beneath your feet almost has a pulse, a heartbeat; this is a land that breathes. Heady scents fill your nostrils: aromatic, earthy, and spicy. The trees secrete their viscous resin, creating golden rivers of amber that seemingly solidify right before your eyes. You feel the buzz of life against your skin, as both leaves and petals alike come to caress your arms and legs. You know you're being watched, but somehow, that knowledge only fills you with a warm sense of comfort. You know you're welcome here. You're yet another life form the forest is eager to merge with, and you lose hours, or even days, with yellow-orange-red skies transitioning above the trees. Eventually, you find yourself feeling lulled and sleepy, and you discover a soft patch of forest floor on which to rest your weary bones. A pleasant breeze rolls over your skin, and the trees rustle once more just to wish you a peaceful slumber. Your heavy eyelids close, finally, as you float away... Suddenly, your eyes flick open, and you roll up, splashing lukewarm water over the side of the peach bathtub you've been meaning to change. You're feeling hazy, as you realise you must've fallen asleep during a much-needed soak. Dispersed soapsuds float atop the water. The spiced candles remain lit, offering a warm glow against the shadows since the sun seemed to have set while you were snoozing. It was naughty of you, but that "one-time" cigarette you lit just to take the edge off has burnt itself out in the glass ashtray you sat on the floor next to the tub, and a vetiver-esque smokiness still fills the room, mingling with the fragrant candles and the dusty yet still perfumed bowl of potpourri you have on display on the windowsill right above the sink - again, you really need to get around to updating the bathroom. But the most interesting thing is the bar of soap you recently bought - and was so eager to try, after reading the wonderful reviews on its fragrance and skin-cleansing properties - that managed to slip into the tub and dissolve somewhat. It slips and slides as you try to grasp it, but finally, you grab it before any more goes to waste and glance at the word debossed into it, now faded and on the verge of disappearing: Knowing. Your mouth forms an amused smirk, appreciative of the undeniable accuracy of its name, after having experienced a much-needed escape that, seemingly, only dreams are made of.

I scored an elderly lady's collection of vintage minis for a song and this was in there. She was charging 70 and some of the minis are worth even more than that, but I didn't know till I got it home and checked. Not that I'll be selling them, but good to know incase SHTF LOL I've got a backup plan. I bought these perfumes last year, and every now and then I feel like wearing a powerhouse, so I reach for the containers and my hand guides me to exactly what I need in that moment, though I don't know till I spray it. Today it was Knowing. Normally when I reach in, I take my time and sift around a bit till it feels right, but just now my hand was immediately drawn to this. 2 seconds later and I'm in HEAVEN. This is DEEP. I feel as thought I'm slowly stepping through the deep deep moss covered woods, greenery & rich aged wood everywhere. It's so intense. I smell almost no floral, if any, it's dainty white florals that blend into the greenery beautifully. The scene in my mind as this scent spreads around me, engulfing me in this world of its own.. I'm in my living room still though, right? I wonder if anyone else were around if they would be transported to this magical moss covered fairy forest land I've found myself in... This is unlike anything. The closest similarity I can think of would be my vintage Paloma, but even that has a more feminine powdery softness to it. Definitely shared DNA though. They smell related. Very similar, but this... this is unmistakably unisex, earthy, clean clean clean, the cleanest of patchouli, while also being totally of the EARTH, and oh.. the oakmoss!!! I would dread to imagine what the reformulated version must smell like missing this. The vintage Oakmoss is EVERYTHING in this perfume. This is a deep mossy forest, damp, but not moldy. Luscious woods, during a rainy season, but not on a rainy day. It's just so full and lush. Surrounded by thick moss everywhere. No fruit, hardly a floral. Woods, moss, earth, greenery, very slight soapy powder and yes, spice, but it doesn't overpower anything. Everything blends so well. Mine opened straight away with the oakmoss, greenery and woods, but this bottle is vintage, the juice is rich thick amber and I get no fruit at all yet. Pretty sure the fruit notes aren't going to show face and I'm 100% okay with that. Why oh why don't they make perfumes like this anymore??? And how have I owned this for a year and not even noticed this bottle?! This is potentially my new favourite perfume.. but is the new one even anywhere close to this magical? Men - if you can get your hands on a vintage, do it. Women who are of the earth and aren't afraid to be so so real - FIND A VINTAGE. This is unbelievable. This is pure confidence in a bottle. You could wear this dressed to the nines, or in your pjs to bed.. any time, any season, day or night. Though I'm not sure it would have the same effect on a hot sunny summer day, I'm willing to bet this even works then. I want my whole life to smell like vintage Knowing.

(Review of a vintage EdP from 1990) Knowing slides right in to the genre of floral chypres for women that actually can be worn just as easily by a man. Think vintage Dioressence and you’re on the right track. And just like Dioressence, a very bold character lives in the bottle. I suppose that’s the point of “knowing”, right - when you know something, you’re confident about it. The perfume is confidence in a bottle. The opening and the heart are achingly gorgeous - well, the whole of the perfume is, honestly. Rose is somehow allowed to fiddle in the air with a sheerness and frivolity that hooks you instantly. It is found hand-in-hand with bergamot and other hesperidics, and also quite famously pittosporum, which was quite novel for the time. Evoked by what seems like a citrusy jasmine, the pittosporum also has a green edge that comes in very handy when this top cedes to a heart of a loamy and slightly green patchouli accented by florals. The florals of Knowing are quite restrained, powdery, and elegant, which reminds me a lot of what Guerlain used to do with florals in their masculine perfumes (think Habit Rouge and carnations). What makes Knowing very interesting and fun to wear is immediately noticeable in this transition from the top to the heart as the note evolution does not happen in perfectly timed concert: the hesperidics leave first, leaving the rose to do the work, then an orange blossom comes up from the heart to relink the hesperidics and the rose, while the pittosporum more slowly gives way to jasmine and patchouli. Then, as if by a survivalist imperative to launch itself, comes oakmoss in that grandest of vintage mannerisms. On my skin it takes over the perfume completely; on a blotter it has a much more nuanced presentation with the floral vocalists in tandem. The damp woodiness of the oakmoss ushers in a stunning dry down of woods, vetiver, civet, and honey. There is a bit of an amber lean to the base, but it is convincingly an old school stinky chypre - dry aromatic woody, and a wet, slightly sweet, and certainly funky fecal accord from the civet and honey combination. The base maintains the belting operatic contralto timbre the perfume started with; as Knowing evolves and dries down, it doesn’t lose strength, confidence, class, or elegance, it simply moves on to the next part of the melody. Estée Lauder used to be very good at this type of thing - call it loud, American confidence if you will, owning the room so to speak, and they essentially told us they wanted their perfumes to do so right from the outset with Youth Dew. Knowing is going to own the room you walk into. It projects and sillages like warfare, but yet it smells intricate, intelligent, and divine. It’s not all talk and no trousers. In the massive genre of floral chypres this is one of the best ever made, right up there with Dioressence, which, for me, is high praise indeed. Legendary.

Batch code A34 24 110 - 6 months 23 days old. Estee Lauder's Knowing smells AMAZING! I was surprised at how freaking GORGEOUS and potent the current formulation is. Now, while it's no longer got "Eternal Longevity" like it once had, I find that 4 maybe 5 spritzes is perfect for a full 8 hour experience. It really has a classic, ultra clean-soapiness which I really love, and it also has a slight, beautiful spiciness which is simply intoxicating. The aldehydes are noticable, but not nearly as much as Say, Grès by Cabochard for example, and the Aldehydes really add to the "classy vibe" this fragrance offers. The patchuli plays really nicely with the cardamom and thankfully the civet is done in a way that really isnt that noticeable. The vetiver gives it a citric edge and is probably what gives Knowing that high end soapy nuance. It does smell like a classic "vintage" dna, but it does not smell overly "dated" or "old lady" like to my nose, and I also think that us fellas can pull this off with no problemo because its such a clean, classy fragrance that can definately be dressed up or down by men and women alike😉(smelling like you just stepped out the shower after having used an expensive, luxurious bar of soap is GENDERLESS)! Im so glad that I got past my concern about Knowing leaning "too feminine" because after trying it, and considering todays sensitivities, its definately NOT too feminine leaning. Performance is really good especially considering the HORRIBLE reformulations that have been done to some of my favorite classics such as Ralph Lauren's Polo, Tuscany per Uomo, Dior Fahrenheit and a few others which Ive been so dissapointed by lately. Excellent, timeless fragrance and I highly recommend Knowing if anyone is looking for a very wearable, classy, sophisticated fragrance. Ive also read some reviews where some folks claim that there's a "cigarette smell" in Knowing, but I dont pick up on that AT ALL! Now classics such as Grès by Cabochard contain leather which does have a slight "smokey" nuance, but Knowing doesn't contain a leather note which pretty much explaines why I do not get any cigarette smell. Now, if ya really dislike aldehydes, then Knowing may not be for you, but Id give it a chance because I used to also dislike Aldehydic fragrances, but now I look for Aldehydic fragrances bc I've grown to really appreciate that note quite a bit so the same may happen to you😉. Estee Lauder's Knowing is an 8.5 outta 10 fragrance imo. And is an affordable, "unisex" MUST in anyones Perfume collection.. STELLAR CLASSIC FRAG!!💖💫💣👌. Go getchall some Estee Lauder's Knowing Ya'll, before they steralize it with another reformulation, or worse.. Discontinuation!!🫨Thanks for taking time to read my review.

Setting: Macy's, 2020. Mission: Purchase a Youth Dew holiday gift set. Plot twist: The protagonist is derailed by Knowing. Yes, Knowing has left me dumbfounded in awe. It all started a few weeks ago. I eyed that sculpted tester bottle, sitting near the Macy's checkout register, nearly hidden from sight, and asked the sales clerk to spritz some Knowing onto a card. I hadn't smelled it in a long while, and didn't remember much caring for it back then, at the beginning of my fragrance journey. But what the hell, right?! So color me flabbergasted at the olfactory symphony that greeted my nostrils! I fell absolutely, totally in love. Trying to show some restraint, I left without purchasing a bottle, but that card never left my hands the rest of the night. By the next morning, I was back at Macy's for my betrothed. Knowing is timeless and majestic, now my reference rose chypre. The current formulation opens with an aldehydic blast alongside mimosa, a bit startling at first. Give it a few minutes, though, and the scent coheres on skin, as rose emerges atop the earthiness of oakmoss. There's a little fruitiness too—at different points in its evolution, I can detect a hint of melon or a smidge of plum, but they're always in the background. (Plum was much more noticeable on the tester card.) A musky civet accord gives it an animalic funk, for me, the proverbial cherry on top. In a Knowing frenzy, I also purchased a vintage EDP splash bottle. It's quite similar to what's currently available, except it smells more grounded, with stronger oakmoss and rose notes. In comparison, today's version feels more diffuse. That said, both are perfect. Beyond the smell itself, I've also fallen hard for the "vibe" that Knowing embodies. It's confident and self-possessed, intelligent, no-nonsense, commanding respect. Knowing reminds me of Angela Carter's feminist fairy tales (seriously, read The Bloody Chamber and thank me later), a heroine retreating to the forest, tending a private rose garden, her restorative act of meditation. I imagine women like Joan Didion or Jean Smart wearing Knowing upon its original release. Today, Michelle Williams (actress, not Destiny's Child, lol) or Fiona Apple might wear it straight, that is, unironically. So, please, please, please, whatever you do, just buy a bottle. A singular experience awaits.

As a lover of chypres and rosy perfumes, I have long wanted to try Knowing. I find Estée Lauder perfumes to be (more or less) consistently excellent, especially the vintage versions, and Knowing is no exception. I found a vintage miniature from the 1990s on eBay, and it is simply wonderful: elegant yet extroverted. The oakmoss is sublime, grounding this scent throughout, making for one of the best vintage chypres I have tried. Knowing reminds me in parts of other perfumes (a more elegant Paloma, leathery notes from Cabochard) and the opening unexpectedly reminds me of Cacharel LouLou - perhaps due to the plum note in conjunction with the rich white florals. Knowing opens with sweet fruity notes, notably juicy plum, bolstered by florals and green notes. There is peppery spice present from the initial spray, which, along with the heady tuberose note, sets Knowing firmly in the 1980s. There is also a fresh airiness to Knowing, thanks to the dewy green notes and wonderfully soapy aldehydes. Some aquatic melon adds freshness too. It is deeply pleasant and nicely balanced, while being compelling and addictive. As it develops, the oakmoss gradually emerges, providing the rich chypre backdrop. Sweet, increasingly powdery rose is dominant at the heart of this scent, bolstered by a sweet white floral accord, while woody notes add depth. Lily-of-the-valley is particularly prominent, adding its typical green floral lift, while orris root adds an iris-like powdery note. As it dries down, Knowing becomes wonderfully mossy and woody, with soft leather notes emerging. Slightly animalic yet still light and airy, it is rich, warm and just the right amount of spicy. The soapiness remains, reminiscent of an old-fashioned, good quality hotel soap. It fades to a powdery, amber skin scent, becoming musky as it fades. Sillage is moderate, and longevity is pretty decent. Although traditionally feminine, Knowing - like many vintage chypres - could today be pulled off by a man. An underrated gem, Knowing a top quality rose chypre. I would love to compare it to the modern incarnation. Complex yet beautifully balanced, it is sweet, floral, ambery, woody, leathery and mossy without being a muddied mess. A marvel. 5/5.

Hello all. I have Knowing, both of the old formulation, and of the new formulation. The old formulation was one that went from 1988 to mid to late 1990's. This version of it will knock you down. It was a nuclear room filler. If you are fortunate enough to find a bottle of the old formulation, you would also see that it is eternal. You could get it to last more than one day on your skin. There was no need to go hard on the trigger with this one. Two squirts in the shirt, you should be good to go all day. Now, let's fast forward to the newer, current version of Knowing. It does a pretty good job of maintaining the same general profile as the OG. There are some changes. This newer version to me doesn't seem quite as "honey rich" as the old version did. It also seems a little softer, and a bit soapier. It IS toned down, but longevity still seems to be there, so the newer version of this hits the way it needs to. This version to me seems like it can work just as well for a man as it would a woman. The price of it is pretty reasonable too. Two squirts in the shirt, two on the neck, this will be enough to get you through the day. This has a permanent place in my collection as long as they continue making it. I also wore this today, and took a shower to wrap up the day, and I could still smell this on me. So longevity? This one has your back. For the guys out there who might not have a clear idea of what this smells most like, I get an Azzaro Pour Homme meets YSL Kouros, or Hugo Boss #1, and this is what you would end up with. If you enjoy the scent profiles mentioned here, you will love Knowing, as it is in the same basic profile ballpark. With Knowing, you get a really outdoorsy, dryer sheets on a hot summer day type of vibe. For me personally regarding different scents, I have in many cases chose to completely disregard gender based marketing. With the case of EL Knowing, there are some scents marketed to men that are sweeter, and more feminine leaning than Knowing actually is. So yes, a man could definitely pull this off.

KNOWING how much I detest the Legacy Knowing, I put on some of my older formulation and once again rued the change. I suppose it is possible that my version with its funny blocky bottle and puzzle-piece cap is a shadow of its former 80s self--I bought mine in 2023 but it could be a year or two older--but I still like it much, much better than the fruitier version that the Frédéric Malle nose trust produced for the Legacy edition. I'm glad I have a large (two ounce?) bottle of this because I will not be spending $280 for the Legacy edition, which is similar enough on the drydown but obnoxiously plummy (or possibly black curranty) in the opening, so much so that it barely smells like a floral chypre anymore. For me the real beauty of Knowing was the slight asperity, that mossy, elegant rose amid the earthy and aromatic notes, combined with the zing of the aldehydes. The Malle Knowing is considerably less aldehydic and less mossy. I suppose the oakmoss in my Knowing must be a synthetic, but it's good enough for me. I suppose it's possible that Malle wanted to amp up the ingredients that don't cause IFRA hassles, but I still prefer the previous formulation, the one that will probably be phased out because it's so much less expensive and doesn't "improve" the status of the brand. Legacy Knowing smells streamlined and simplified. I suppose that might be more compatible with modern preferences, but Malle's Portrait of a Lady is plenty complex and still a big seller, so one would THINK that Knowing could be more like that one, perhaps, and less like a plummier, less aldehydic, watered-down disappointment. I think to avoid the oakmoss headaches, Malle's team might have upped the labdanum along with the fruity notes. That might be why it sometimes makes me think of vomiting a few slugs of Mad Dog into an expensive leather handbag. This formulation never makes me think about fortified-wine vomitus. It makes me think of roses and haylofts and very expensive soap.

Man, Ive smelled many Chypre fragrances from High-End Designer, as well as a few "Niche," but in the end Knowing has got to be my all-time favorite Chypre for sure! The way that the Patchouli is done in this fragrance is simply STUNNING and may be one of THEE CLEANEST, most beautiful interpretations of a Patchouli note that Ive ever come accross. The Plum and florals are also amazing and also very "Clean/Fresh" smelling and don't necessarily come accross as "Florals" or "Fruit" unless ofcourse one takes the time to really dissect the scent as they experience it. The aldehydes are NOT overly soapy, "Cigarette like" or off-putting like maybe Cabochard's Grès can come accross to some noses (although I LOVE Grès) and the note truley jist makes this dna more effervescent and almost ethereal. Now with all that saif, Knowing is still a dense fragrance which has amazing performance as far as projection and staying power go. Knowing is most def Unisex" for today's pallette and as a man, I feel 100% comfortable in wearing it. Also, I had purchased Paloma Picasso's Chypre fragrance for my mom years ago and can honestly say that besides the fact that they're both "Chypre fragrances" they just aren't all that similar imo atleast. Paloma Picasso is more "Dirty" or "anamalic" and I feel that the aldehydes are more prominent in Paloma Picasso's fragrance which is also AMAZING in its own right. Anyhow, I have to give Knowing a 9.5 outta 10. Its very close to perfection and one of my top fragrances out of my nearly 200 plus bottle wacky collection which includes everything from Classic Cheapies, High-end designer as well as Niche frags. Well, many thanks to whomever took time to read my long a$$ review, but there's just so much to say about Estee Lauder's Knowing. A Stellar fragrance INDEED!

To not know 'KNOWING' is a great shame for all perfumista's young and of a more mature age of fine vintage chypre fragrance, this was my dear Mothers signature scent for decades, I KNOW because I usually gifted her with pure parfum & the occasional bottle of the eau de parfum for everyday use. The parfum was beyond luxurious, one drop of this deep golden elixir would last for hours with best results after layering with the edp. Once I was fortunate to have obtained a OG heavy glass 1 fl.oz flacon of the parfum, clear deeply carved crystal base with a emerald green stopper, beautifully decadent and Oh' so Parisian chic, Estee Lauder sure hit this one out of the park so to speak, it was a very complex fragrance but effortlessly so to wear in fact I still keep on hand in my collection a few vials of the parfum so as to re-connect with my darling Mum, just a sniff and I feel her presence with me since her recent passing a few years ago. This was another big hit from genius perfumeur Jean Kerleo of Patou'1000' fame also one of Mum's other favorites including Van Cleef & Arpels 'First'(1st.formula), Paloma Picasso's Paloma & YSL's 'Y' all in parfum concentration to name but a few, mostly chypre's as this class suited her to a tee. I urge folks to hunt down the vintage if possible, it's still out there although not that easy to find these days, well worth the trouble you wont be disappointed of that I can guarantee it, on the other hand the more modern and easily found eau de parfum is quite acceptable, a little thinner these days but still gorgeous none the less, in some ways 'KNOWING' reminds me of another great chypre love 'CABOCHARD' but that's another story... A truly beautiful & unique fragrance!!!!

Foi hoje! Saí em direção á loja de perfumes. A muito tempo que na minha cabeça e coração estava, decidir finalmente qual seria o meu perfume de assinatura. E foi hoje! A loja grande, linda. Assim que entrei senti a mistura dos aromas, que agradavel. No meu coração estava o Knowing. E os meu olhos foram até ele. No expositor encontrei o frasco, é igual á minha memória visual. Resolvi testar. Sim! É este! Todos os pontos a favor. Um clássico, carregado de charme. Encontra-se poucas pessoas que o carregam consigo , talvez por ser forte e marcante. Um aroma pouco copiado,natural na sua composição que marca a sua presença logo de início,assim como eu. E ele tem florescido na minha pele ao longo do dia, mais do que nunca não deixa de ser ele próprio, nobre, impactante, charmoso, cativante, e mais uma mão cheia de adjectivos. Ele foi "o eleito" por mim. Quero que quando alguém o cheirar se lembre de mim, e pelas melhores razões. Cheira a Li... Agora já no fim do dia ainda o sinto, agradável, majestoso e subtil ao mesmo tempo. Enfim, tenho o meu coração a pular de alegria e o meu nariz vibrante por finalmente poder sentir algo de verdadeiro. Talvez tudo isto se deva à reação da minha pele, que se proporciona ao uso de aromas fortes. Se alguém procura algo como "acabado de sair do banho"este não é opção. Mas se for como eu que um Chanel 5 pode ser usado á noite para dormir, aposte nele e aposte em grande. Já não se criam perfumes assim, como este. Andamos todos a cheirar ao mesmo e o mesmo! Sabonete ou desodorizante sei lá eu, ao que estas tendências comerciais no levam! Por isso é de viver intensamente, e viver com o Knowing em nós e conosco.

Just opened a brand new current bottle. This smells soooo gooood. The first time I smelt it 10 years ago, it was an amazing experience. I had no idea what to expect from the bottle. But when I inhaled, something clicked in my brain. Hey, I knew this smell! I don't know where from, but it definitely registered in my mind as something deeply familiar, and oh so good. I think that Knowing is one of those perfumes that when it has gone off, it can smell quite bad. But if it is fresh, it's absolutely wonderful. A classic and oldie, but in such a good way. Even though the smell is somehow familiar to me, I do not recall anybody around me wearing it. So I don't have any personal associations of any particular person that it reminds me of. I have a miniature bottle that has definitely gone off and smells rancid. I have a beautiful vintage 8ml refillable pure parfum spray in a heavy gold refillable case which is stored in a small fabric pouch. This one smells fresh and lovely. Now I also have a current formula edp bottle, purchased in 2022. And to me it smells fantastic. Just like the pure parfum which I have. It seems to project more and last longer, but the sprayer expels more perfume than the tiny sprayer in the pure parfum one, so maybe that's why. Maybe my nose is not refined enough, but I am just as happy with the current edp as I am with my vintage extrait. Obviously I want to keep and save the extrait because it's precious, discontinued, hard to find and all that nonsense that we all get sucked into. But all that aside, the current edp to my nose is fantastic and I am really delighted to have it. Makes me feel good when I wear it.

Finalmente encontrei o perfume signatura!❤️ Era mesmo o que procurava,UM CLÁSSICO,puro vintage... Já o tinha usado no início dos anos 90 e agora quando o coloquei foi como uma viagem no tempo, ele levou me até essa época. Foi um recordar de boas memórias. O que eu procurava era algo marcante sem exagero,algo que realmente fosse agradável e expressivo, que revelasse o meu carácter amistoso e um pouco rebelde,uma mulher fêmea que gosta de brilho,agradar e fazer se notar. Este perfume é tudo isto. Não queria nada moderno, floral, que fosse igual a todo o mundo. Hoje em dia os aromas novos cheiram todos ao mesmo. Ou compras um perfume de nicho e gastas uma fortuna tens que encontrar um clássico que ainda se mantenha fiel á sua criação, á sua origem. Eu até compreendo o porquê agora,devido às novas regras de controlo ambiental,os custos dos ingredientes base tudo isto levou a que os perfumistas se limitem a copiar os aromas uns dos outros e mais lançam no mercado versões de versões, edt, EDP, elixir, e por aí fora. Mas deixemos as coisas menos boas e vou tentar expressar a minha experiência. Não recomendo este perfume para uma compra cega,nem a quem gosta de aromas suaves de quem acabou de sair de um banho. É um aroma forte com carácter que deixa um rasto super agradável. Mesmo depois de longas horas e de ser colocado na pele ainda se nota o fundo de um perfume... O melhor de tudo e aqui fica o desabafo que faz deste perfume o meu signature, é que a roupa do dia em que o usei mesmo depois de lavada e quando estou a passar a ferro, ele ainda permanece. Isto sim é um perfume no verdadeiro sentido da palavra! ❤️❤️❤️☺️😍

I have only done a paper test of Knowing so far, but I'm delighted by it: a clean, mossy, rose-forward chypre, not sweet at all, sparkling with aldehydes but rich in shadows. Although I'm sure many people can and do rock Knowing year round, I think Knowing is a highly autumnal scent; it reminds me of the classic chypres I have loved from Lauder, like Private Collection, as well as a bit of Diva by Ungaro and perhaps some Aromatics Elixir. I'm also reminded slightly of the 80s formulation of Eau Sauvage that I used to cherish in my late teens--a good friend, someone with whom I remain close decades later, gave it to me, and I always dabbed some on when I wanted to feel confident and soignée (I was a Midwestern teenager into punk rock, bear in mind, and I'm not sure I was even aware that my teensy travel bottle was marketed to men, mostly men my dad's age who imagined themselves regulars at Studio 54). Update: Wearing it today, I like it just as much, maybe even more. It still reminds me of Private Collection, only a bit more floral, with a stronger rose and perhaps more lily-of-the-valley and mimosa. There are a lot of ingredients, which seems to be the rule with chypres, but the overall effect is dry, clean, crisp, aromatic, and elegant. I could see how this might bug people who prefer syrupy-sweet florals and gourmand notes--there's not a scrap of anything that seems remotely edible or, shudder, "lickable," in Knowing, rest assured--but I find this more appropriate for an autumn fragrance. Most of us don't want to be spontaneously licked anyway.

When I first smelled this on paper while randomly smelling women's fragrances with my wife I knew I wanted to try it for myself. A chance encounter a few days later allowed me to sample on my skin and that was more than enough to place an online order. In an overnight skin test, Knowing lasted 24+ hours on me; it's like a more floral and fruit-integrated Kouros with a better middle for spice and the civet dialed back to be noticeable instead of prominent, with a very similar base. I believe this is a better chypre than Kouros. The open is aldehydic spicy green notes and powdery rose with background lightly sweetened fruit with a noticeable but palatable civet making its presence known without being overbearing. The rose remains deep into the heart as those green notes evolve into a complex blend of patchouli, powdered cardamom, dusty cedar, and assorted florals. The base is absolutely gorgeous; Kouros fans should compare the notes because they are near identical, just in different concentrations. Spiced oakmoss and continued patchouli with background civet sits atop more of sandalwood / cedar combination with hues of a balsamic musk. The scent profile changed on me multiple times in my testing and it possesses an eternal longevity that requires effort to remove, so just be wary as it is your SOTD whenever you decide to put it on, plans be damned. As burly man that could be mistaken for off-season Mr Clean, Knowing is a top 10 frag in my collection of 250. It's awesome and I hope more dudes give it a chance.

Stuningly GORGEOUS! Totally "Unisex" for today's pallet. As a man, I am completely comfortable in wearing this just as much as I am in wearing my Kouros, Aramis, Bijan or any other "Male Targeted" Chypre. That Patchouli is just SOOO CLEAN and absolutely addictive. Excellent performance too! Paid about $50 for it, but Id have paid $200 its just that amazing! A 9 outta 10 chypre bordering "perfection" which (Vintage Knowing) infact was! Oh and P.S. dont freak-out like I had when you first spray your brand-new bottle of Knowing and get something super weak and "wierd smelling"! This fragrance initially needs a bit of air to be introduced into the bottle, and then the following day it will have completely transformed. Infact It took my bottle a solid week for it to become what its meant to be, and the performance just goes from great to "BEASTLY" the longer you have Knowing in your collection. I actually wore it a few times when Id first recieved it, but was NOT getting that "Beastly Projection" everyone was claiming Knowing has, but now a few months in, its a certified "BEAUTIFUL BEAST!" lol! Anyhow, Im giving Knowing a 9 instead of a 10 bc when it was originally Oak Moss heavy, it truley wore like a freakin' DREAM. Now, Estee Lauder did an amazing job at keeping this fragrance stunning and with really good performance, but ofcourse something was inevitably lost when the IFRA regulations took hold😒. Anyhow, Thanks to whomever took the time to read my thoughts on Estee Lauder's Knowing, 😉 CHEERS!

I mean, wWOWw! The way that the "Clean/Patchouli" base is used here is freakin' INTOXICATING! Knowing really is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! It's funny, Im a 50 year old man and still remember when Knowing first came out decades ago and recall how "Feminine" I thought this fragrance smelled. Now fast forward almost 30 years later it smells perfectly "Unisex" to me, and I now actually cannot picture a woman pulling this scent off all that easily. It's just an observation on how tastes, fashion and how we used to have these strick rules on how a man and a woman should smell. Anyhow, yeah Knowing is truley a STUNNING, modern-ish Chypre. When I put my nose upto where I spritzed Knowing my eyes roll in the back of my head its sooo beautiful. Imo, its worth it weight in gold and this is the type of dna these "Niche Houses" are using nowadays. So unique, very long-lasting with really great sillage. I like that its not a monstrous projector and instead creates a nice, long-lasting scent bubble instead which keeps it classy (probably bc of weakened reformulations which actually make more wearable).I also appreciate that although the aldehydes are present, that note does NOT bombard your nose bc of how well its dosed here in Knowing. Im so happy that I decided to go for it even though I remember this scent as being ultra feminine. I strongly recommend that the fellas try this fragrance if your looking for something sophisticated and even masculine. An easy 9 outta 10 fragrance! Be in the "Know!" Lol

I've got both versions of Knowing on at the moment; the vintage formulation on one arm and the contemporary on the other. To start with both formulations are beautiful, dusky, dusty, slightly spicy, nose-tickling chypres that call to mind a stately old library, like the smell of old books, but in a heightened, exaggerated way-- perhaps leather-bound volumes that were once packed in a wood crate with various herbs and spices to keep insects at bay. It is an enveloping scent, surrounding you like a wool blanket, and just as comforting. It's a wonderfully androgynous fragrance: I could picture Virginia Woolf's character Orlando wearing something like this throughout the various stages of his/her multi-century, multi-sex journey. To compare the two, the major difference between the vintage formulation and the contemporary one is the strength of the floral notes. The vintage is much more overtly floral; the rich rose and mimosa stand side-by-side with the woody notes, whereas in the contemporary formulation the floral notes recede demurely behind the harmonic trio of oakmoss, vetiver, and patchouli. The contemporary version has an aromatic and clean character, drier and slightly soapy. The vintage is dirtier and more animalic-- there is an underlying whisper of earthiness that is not present in the contemporary version, like the smell of wet decaying leaves. In terms of sillage and longevity they seem to be on equal footing, a light application is all you need for all day pleasure.

It's finally time to write down what i've got. I know it's a great Rose Chypre, yes, what's the difference with some of the other chypres (such as Gucci No.3)? I like to find out the difference. First of all, it's easier to buy, and knowing must be a better choice than Gucci No.3, which has disappeared... Whether it's the price or anything you can think of. I'm sure of the contribution of Estée Lauder. I don't always like to discuss who is more beautiful, it's very difficult for me to make a choice. Knowing is unquestionable, excellent. But what makes Knowing so beautiful? I think Civet and Oakmoss are a great combination, and without the Civet (animal) substrate, knowing wouldn't be attractive. It's still good and still beautiful, but this special feeling comes from Civet, a scent that works best with skin. After mixing the roses, together they become a dark brown-yellow liquid, strong and distinct, unlike No.3. Of course, none of this is enough to explain how wonderful knowing is, from flowers (roses) to animals (Civet), Oakmoss, resin (Amber) and wood. You'll find that Knowing's composition is rich and diverse, a complex that has everything and doesn't depend on a single kind of elemental material, so Knowing's quality doesn't float much. I smell Knowing now, I don't know the year, but it smells really "retro"! (Guess annual production from 1988 to 1990)

I love this perfume! At first I thought it was a bit too masculine for me; I sampled it on a piece of paper and while the longevity was insane - over two days! - it just smelled a little sharp for me. I absolutely love Private Collection and Beautiful, which are also recent additions for me, and both of those smell much better on my skin, so I decided to test Knowing on my skin. Wow! Every movement that caused me to catch a whiff of the fragrance was a moment of pleasure and delight. This scent is beautifully rosy and mossy. It is so very uplifting and energizing while still feeling refined and luxurious. I tried wearing to bed and it actually kept me awake because I was so excited at how good I smelled! I’m glad I gave this another chance. Mine is a mini vintage spray. I look forward to trying the recent edition since so many say it just as good. This is a love! Edit: I wore this all day today with sprays on behind my knees, on my belly and two on each inner upper arm as well as a walk through mist. It did seem a bit strong (but delicious!) however no one said anything to me and it settled down in about 30 minutes and went on to tantalize me with beautiful whiffs of a blend of sweet and spicy rosy powder. I am just so happy with how classically perfumey this smells and how complex and layered it is.