Organza Indécence

The jacaranda note appears to be missing form the pyramid above...and as it is a very sweet note, and dominates this scent, it's a bit of a problem. I am testing the original and the reformulation EDPs side by side-in a sense they are not so different. I have to say, Indecence is so hyped, that I was expecting something much more impressive. This is NOT Dior Addict, although it tries to hit some very similar notes. I think that the cost of the mini (original) and sample (reformulation) have colored my expectations for the perfume. In the reformulation the jacaranda blossom is forward from the outset, and screeches worse than tuberose. In fact, I initially thought it was synthetic tuberose. Then I had to go hunting for the official notes. The cinnamon is also forward in the opening accord, and I can't tell if it is synthetic cinnamon, or if the sweetness of that jacaranda note is simply blending with the spice in such a way that it "feels" fake. Vanilla is overwhelming, contributing to the sweetness overload. I notice that a couple of reviewers suggest that this scent is similar to candy, to caramel (burnt sugar) and to very sweet fruit. This is accurate. It is overly sweet, and while the spice seems like it could be interesting, it just never settles into a place where it actually becomes a pleasant scent. The dry down occurred on my skin within 30 minutes, and I could only detect the scent if I breathed on my skin. Doing so, however, did produce a brief waft of nicely balanced spice, jacaranda and vanilla, only detectable with my nose touching my wrist. Meanwhile, the original has a much quieter opening, the alcohol being the dominant scent. Once the heart opens, cinnamon, clove, and perhaps anise? are present, with just a touch of vanilla and jacaranda. This balance is dark and warm, and holds steady for several hours. The difference between the two versions reads as one of quality, but knowing that sandalwood is part of the base, and therefore probably used as a fixative for the other notes, I wonder if the synthetic sandalwood in the reformulation is just not up to the task. I don't notice a real difference in the sandalwood itself, except that it is more apparent in the original, due to the more restrained balance of notes. I can't help wondering if this issue has been dealt with in later versions of the reformulation? I am testing the first 2000 batch, so the IFRA sandalwood constraints had just gone into effect. It is possible that later versions of the reformulation improved, although the reviews below imply that it did not. Ultimately the original dries down to something similar to the new version, a touch of cinnamon, vanilla, jacaranda blossom, and creamy sandalwood. But the scent is reduced to faint traces almost six hours after application for the original, while this occurred within an hour on the reformulation. Both scents are softer than expected during the heart adn dry down, but the heart lasted long enough on the original to be satisfying, and the deeper tone was much more enjoyable. I can see wearing the original, and being pleased, knowing what those around me are smelling when they lean in. I can't say the same for the new version. It's not horrible, it's just not pleasant, either. Overall, I think that the original would grow on me over time. It's possible that the reformulation might, as well. But frankly, I don't like the reformulation enough to find out. My recommendation to people who are thinking of blind buying just to try the famed Indecence? Don't. This scent would be interesting in the original formulation at a reasonable price. But at the current sky high prices that they are selling for, I think that you will likely have the reaction I did: "This is NOT that special!" I encourage you to spend your money elsewhere, and maybe, when you make a friend who has a bottle, beg a small decant for a reasonable fee. I've seen minis going for $40 on the 'bay, and anyone who pays that kind of price will find the contents of the bottle disappointing. But if you find a *good* deal on the original- go for it ;) EDIT: The original version od Indecence has indeed grown on me. I find that layering with the original Organza produces terrific longevity and projection for the spice notes, and the combination is AMAZING. If you own both, I strongly recommend that you try it!

I wasn't supposed to like this. I put off buying it forever. For many reasons... mostly cuz I've been "sucked in" by reviews before, only to be disappointed. Its not the reviewer's faults... its mine for not sampling before blind buying. Another reason I put this off is obvious. It's discontinued and is fetching great prices for the sellers on eBay. Not a good position to be in for a buyer. So, my hope was that this would be a "meh, I can live without this" scent. My hopes have been dashed against the rocks of low expectations. I. love. this. stuff. I know there are plenty of notes to croon about. But for me, it's all about that creamy resin sprinkled with the enchanting cinnamon. I am a sucker for a few things. Sweet vanilla powdery bases. Plummy opening notes. Cinnamon. And a good creamy teeth achingly sexual amber/resin. (I don't "feel the plum" in this, by the way) But boy, oh boy, am I swoooooning for that light warm cinnamon creamy resin filling. I was so lucky to have gotten a .17oz (oh so freaking tiny) bottle for $7.50. (!!! I KNOW, HUH???!!!! Yay me)... and the dabbing was great. I immediately knew my wallet was in big trouble. But today I also put 2ml in a spray atomizer and I have been luxuriating in this scent for 9 hours now. Just a few spritzes on my neck and between "the girls" and I've been falling in love with myself! WHY WHY WHY did the perfume house discontinue this??? SERIOUSLY??? I just have not seen cinnamon done this good in a perfume. No, I have not smelled them all, but dang, I have smelled a lot. I've been on a cinnamon hunt for a long time. I favor CK Obsession for that reason (and the same creamy resinous drydown). I see there is the new offering of this, but the notes are totally different, and the reviews on the new stuff are poor. At least for those who dare to compare. For those who never experienced the original, they say the new stuff is good. But I'm forever ruined now. I hope to experience the new scent soon, just out of curiosity. But I'll be trolling the eBay shelves for days to come, looking for the elusive seller who has no idea what they have in their hands so that I can SNATCH it up for a song. Sorry, not much reviewing going on here. Mostly just cow-eyed adoration. If I was smart, I'd come on here and tell you all that this is horrid and to stay away! (so I can have what's left on this planet for my own). *sigh* So, um... ah-em... THIS IS HORRID! STAY AWAY! ;) see ya on eBay. EDIT: The current version of this is almost identical in every way. Don't believe those who think otherwise. I am no longer bidding on these via eBay... the new bottle is easy to find, relatively inexpensive compared to the vintage and smells heavenly divine. If anyone who doesn't think the new stuff is any good and wants to pay a fortune for the two huge full bottles of the vintage that I own, you can PM me. I'll be thrilled to strike a deal with you!!!

This review is based on the formula from 1999-2000. I received a mini bottle in a gift set from my mother during that time. My aunt called from the mall saying she was buying her daughter a gift box of 5 mini perfume bottles. It was on sale in Macy's or similar store. She asked if my mom wanted to buy one for me, so we said yes and my aunt picked it up and my mom paid her. I believe they were gifts for my cousin and I for Valentine's Day or Christmas, but I'm not sure. It's hard to remember. The gift box is red wood with silver metal design on top, and a picture frame in the center. The inside is lined in red velvet with 5 mini bottles. Obsession EDP, White Diamonds EDT, Amarige, Organza Indecence, and Davidoff Cool Water. I was about 22 years old, and wasn't into perfumes due to my allergies growing up. Perfumes often bothered my sinuses. But I was glad to have this gift set for occasions I wanted to use a fragrance. My favorite from the set was Amarige, which I wore for several years on any special occasion. It was a nice neutral scent on me and wasn't strong. I kept the gift box on my dresser for years until the top was tarnishing and I stored the set on my closet shelf. A couple of years ago after I started collecting perfume, I took this set out and sampled them again. The best was Indecence. It started out loud but dried down to a delicious warm buttery scent, with some spice and sweet notes. Normally patchouli makes me feel ill, but in this scent it either disappears fast or is blended nicely. It is one of the few perfumes with patch in it that I love. I brought it out for my mom to try too, since she remembers the gift box well. She tried Obsession and it was very loud on her. Filled the room. Cool Water didn't smell good, and White Diamonds EDT is not as good as the EDP. Amarige no longer was very good to my nose. Indecence is the best of the 5. Really smells delicious. I went online to order a new bottle and was sad to see it was discontinued. I cherish my mini bottle and keep it in the gift set. I saw some people selling the mini for high prices. I won't sell mine, for sentimental reasons and because I love it. A new formulation probably wouldn't smell as good, but it would be nice to be able to buy a new full bottle. I did buy a new Amarige, which was still available. Just to have it in case I ever want to use it. I also purchased Organza, which is good but not great like Indecence.

One caveat before the rhapsody: this is a discontinued cult scent now, not a shop-shelf buy. Finding a bottle is half the romance and most of the frustration, so read the rave with that in mind. Vanilla has spent two decades being the note everyone apologises for. The default setting. The thing you smell on a teenager who raided the Body Shop, the flavour of every three-for-two supermarket candle. Perfume snobs (and I've been one, on my worst days) file it under beige, inoffensive, faintly embarrassing. Organza Indécence is the argument against all of that, and it wins. This one is for people who actually love vanilla and have stopped pretending otherwise. It wants nothing to do with exoticism or spice-rack theatrics, no clever clash of scent and colour to certify your good taste. What you get is vanilla, raw and unhurried, on a cream base that borders on the obscene. On my skin, it reads as milk and vanilla over a dry, resinous wood, the same austere dryness I get from Wenge DK. What more do you actually want from a bottle? There's an honesty here that most gourmands never risk. The syrupy, cakey ones smell juvenile next to it. Indécence is warm and carnal and slightly rude, which is presumably how it earned the name. The quick card: Longevity: a few hours, and it belongs to the evening. Bottle: tacky, and still better than anything Mugler has ever put out. Low bar, cleared with room to spare. On skin that normally devours perfume: high and immediate. It simply refuses to leave. Price: shameless, and now that it's discontinued, shameless with a collector's markup. Person it conjures: Dita Von Teese. Song it conjures: "Closer", Nine Inch Nails. Make of that what you will. Tempo: more tango than waltz. Wearing it since 1999. Bottle: 100 ml. The Dita and "Closer" pairing does real work, so I'll own it: this is a fragrance about controlled filth. The burlesque version of desire, rather than the messy one, sensuality performed with immaculate posture. Which is exactly why the tacky bottle is forgivable. The juice has better manners than its packaging.

For my very first review, I figured I'd start with my favorite perfume of all time; Organza Indécence. First, there is no connection at all with Organza ; I always wondered why Givenchy didn't simply name it Indécence. Then, this is not a fragrance for shy people ; here, we are not dealing with a sweet or flowery perfume as we can smell most of the time but with a very spicy, surprising perfume, with exceptional staying power and sillage. If you wear it, there's a good chance people will turn around and ask you what your perfume is. For me, it was always in the good sense of the word ; people loved the smell and were pleasantly surprised to discover it. Regarding the notes, first I smell cinnamon, powerful and enveloping at the same time, then come the powdery side and vanilla, all enhanced by plum and amber. What I particularly like in this perfume is that cinnamon, here, does not smell as in a cake, that there is no note of incense (which I don't particularly like in spicy orientals) and that it is resolutely feminine (often difficult to find a spicy perfume which is not unisex or which does not lean towards the masculine). It was extremely sensual (in fact, many men approached me thanks to - or because of ! - this perfume) and I felt incredibly good when I wore it, sexy and confident. It was my signature, my smell, like a second skin. The fact that it was relatively unknown to the general public means that I have never come across a single other person wearing it, a truly delightful feeling. Sadly discontinued, then re-released a second time (slightly different but just as daring) and discontinued again today:'(. Since then, I have always been looking for the perfume that will replace it... without ever finding it.