Guess Original

Oh yes, the 90's! Thanks Fragrantica for adding this truly beautiful and now very rare beauty!:-) I'm just walking down memory lane..... Picture this: 1990, summer, 11 pm around 28 c (but nicely windy coming from the beach) me and my friends having some nice "Margarita's on the rocks" at the "Clevelander" at Ocean Drive, South Beach! Just one sniff brings me right back to these wonderful times in my early 20this. Back then, I was an "au-pair" living in Key Biscayne (another beautiful place) and live could not get any better..... ;-) It was the time of the "super models" and South Beach just started to get a name in Fashion shootings. Claudia Schiffer was "the face" of Guess, all made up like the beautiful Brigitte Bardot, and the fragrance just smelled like her: veeeeeeery sexy! The fragrance starts at first very spicy and strong, I do not get much of the citrus top notes, but shortly settles into a gorgeous, jasmine, orange flower with vanilla middle note. The base is adding a touch of sandalwood, amber and musk. I can smell some civet too, but it seems not be listed. To me it is more spicy than floral ...thus, makes this perfect "Spicy Oriental" fragrance! Rumour has it, that the fragrance got discontinued because it stained clothes....what a pity this is! Just a couple of month ago I was lucky enough to get my hands on a new 3.4 oz bottle here in Switzerland for a very cheap price! On the internet you still can find this fragrance if you are willing to pay $ 425.00 for a 3.4 oz bottle. If you happen to find this one for a reasonable price, go get it! It is truly a beautiful fragrance for all of you who love strong and spicy fragrances like "Fendi" or "Obsession"....

I have a sample and this is GORGEOUS and I remember it from my teenage years. I also recently acquired a sample of Todd Oldham and they smell similar but Guess is a 10 n TO would be a 8.5 if I had to rate. I love the orris note in Guess. Also, I smell no resemblance to Spark, I love Spark too. Nor do I smell a resemblance to Xoxo Heartbeat. Heartbeat, IMHO is a dupe for Shalimar Souffle Intense. Guess Original is like nothing else I've ever smelled. It is powdery, balsamic n spicy and to my nose, the orris root is the dominant note. Such a beautiful and unique perfume. Well worth the high prices it's going for IMHO and I rarely say that!! 6/5 *****s!! Edit: Received my sample of MCM Obelisk today. I literally can't tell Guess Original and Obelisk apart. Along w Organza Indecence, these are my 2 fave vintages. Edit: I broke this one out today because fall is around the corner in Philly where I live, I can't wait!! To get with the change of season coming soon, I'm busting out my heavy, sometimes brooding vintages. That's exactly how I describe this one-brooding. Gorgeous. But I don't get the comparison to Wonderlust even a little bit. I like Wonderlust, it's nice, sweet, cute, easy to reach for. Imo, it's everything that Guess Original isn't. But, we all have different senses and to an extent, smell is subjective. Sort of. Unless it's oud/leather/saffron. I hate that trio. Those notes are not subjective. If you tell me it's there n that you smell it, holy hell thank you for telling me and I'm gonna believe you hehe Lol. Anyway, that was just a side note, sorry for rambling. But in all seriousness, does anybody not see the resemblance to Wonderlust? Or is it me?

This fragrance is categorized as a Chypre Floral, but I don’t get that at all. It’s more of a spicy oriental I think. It’s warm, deep, and spicy. It is so beautiful and sexy. And that’s both going from memory and from a treasured vintage mini I recently acquired, which smells exactly as it should yet even deeper. I caress and gingerly sniff this thing, guarding it like Gollum and his ring. It’s pretty ridiculous lol. I was an impressionable 12-13 year old when Guess was a hot sexy thing, complete with smoldering black and white photo campaigns featuring Claudia, Shana, Eva, etc. That was my beauty standard (I don’t wanna hear anything about “unrealistic beauty standards” these days). To this day, Guess jeans are the only ones that fit me right and the only ones I wear. The original Guess perfume takes me right back to that era teetering on the edge of the decadent 80s and restrained 90s. Fashion in the early 90s was beautiful and feminine before grunge took over. This scent was strong and spicy, feminine, and sexy. No other Guess fragrance after this one comes close to the original, imo. They’re nice, but “safer”. I tried the Fragrance Shoppe dupe a few years ago and found it was fairly close. I have to try it again. I’d also like to try MK wanderlust (many thanks for the recommendation). Otherwise I am considering saving up to splurge on an unopened vintage bottle if I can find one. UPDATE: I broke down and bought a nearly-full bottle that was not at an exorbitant price. I am so happy to have this in my collection. The top has turned vintage-y but once it opens up it is delightful. Spicy and floral and delicious.

When I was wearing Guess in the mid-90s, it was a very popular fragrance worn by many young women. This is the perfume that got me random compliments from strangers, and they always had to ask -- they could never quite recognize it for what it was. It blended with my own body chemistry and the result was something unique and, apparently, appealing to many people. I've heard it described as "syrupy" and gourmand -- one reviewer said they detected a chocolate note -- but I never got any of that. On me, it was orange blossom, then warm amber and jasmine, with (what my nose interpreted as) a plum note that seemed to linger throughout. Something about it felt "spicy" to me, but I can't identify any particular note. It did have a bit of sweetness, but it was never cloying. Like so many others here, I've spent years pining for this. I bought a full size bottle on eBay and regretted it almost immediately; upon the first spritz, it seemed almost like a single note perfume with only a hint of the fullness I remember. This has been discontinued for so long, the fragrance oils in my bottle had undergone various degrees of oxidation. It no longer had any complexity. I recently found a fragrance vendor who makes a lovely recreation of this, and while it's not an exact match, to my nose, it's very close. I have a fantasy that one day, Guess will bring this back by popular demand. If other perfumers can create something so similar, surely Guess can re-release the original (preferably in the same twisted bottle)! Fingers crossed.

I have only a few drops left in a mini obtained in a lot and am grateful to be able to wear this. To me this is a perfect perfume blurring the lines between 80s and 90s style of perfumes because it holds both elements. Moreso, to me, on the 80 ́s genre as it is maybe a little more floral-white floral-- specifically, than many of the 80 ́s of a similar vein such as mentioned Fendi, Anne Klein and so on. A less smoky, less woody, more floral spicyish oriental a Floriental? Now some of you writers are younger than me and perhaps missed the glorious 80s perfumes...And I see how many of you wish Guess resume production of this lovely one. Until that hopeful day, if I may suggest a list of perfumes which are similar. Now I know how a specific perfume is just that and these will not be the same, but nevertheless there are some ideas. Lancome Magie Noire ORIGINAL pre reformulation...has multi coloured yellow orange bands on bottle rare and exopensive on ebay Salvador Dali Salvador Daly original black opaque lip shaped bottle Fendi original Fendi Anne Klein original Anne Klein Paloma Picasso original Paloma Picasso Boucheron original Boucheron Creature - Gilles Cantuel original.. Knowing . Estee Lauder All these above are similar in some ways, and worth a shot perhaps on ebay for some minis. Of those above, my tops are Magie Noire, Creature, Salvador Dali but all of the above will not likely disappoint.

Thank you Marie96 for the dupe recommendations. I was gifted this in 1994, Christmas. My sister smelled it on a waitress during a trip to Florida and we both received the gift set. It included lotion, which was wonderful as it was a more subtle version of the scent. I remember loving it, despite it being a "darker" scent. My sister really loved it. I would love to have a bottle now and for several years I have searched fruitlessly online for a bottle, to no avail. *I think I want so many of the scents from my teens/twenties because they take me straight back in time. Isn't scent the one sense that can bring you back faster and more completely than any other sense? Closing my eyes,I can conjure up a spiciness, a subtle sweetness, a richness, sandalwood, some amber, a vanilla note...not foody, but a sensual vanilla. Yeah, this scent is sensual. It is more "do-able" for me than Obsession. It smells like the dark, caramel color in that fantastic angular bottle. Apparently the reason it was discontinued was that the dark fluid stained clothing. The fragrance allowed me to feel sexy at 20, hot even. Guess reminds me of long, swingy hair, and flannel tops ( or a leotard) tucked into super tight jeans with black, leather mules, dark brown lipstick (Revlon Toast of NY), matte foundation, and large gold hoop earrings.

This perfume is simply bad ass!!! And in a very good way. After finding a vintage bottle through the bay, having accidentally delivered to the wrong address then traveled back across the USA to me I am thrilled to have this vintage gem back in my collection. This came out in 1990. I was a mere 21 year old freshly into College and this fragrance was a scent you smelled often, but mostly by the girls who were bad ass! The fun ones you hang with at the bar all night. Not a fragrance for the prim and proper at the time. Wow what a flash back in my ole factory senses. Spraying it again brings back fond memories. In today's standards this fragrance might be viewed as mature which is so funny because it was worn by girls 14+ in the day. The lovely twisted bottle and very dark juice add's to it's mystique. A true gem.

I adored this juice in college into early marriage. It is the only fragrance I have ever gotten consistent and plentiful compliments on! I even remember being at a softball game of my husband's and the people around me asking what my beautiful perfume was! I wore it all the time and didn't think it overpowering then. I remember thinking it was so warm and sexy with a sweet spiciness. I still have a partial smaller bottle (after using up my 3.4oz!), but it is 20 years old!!! So it's very possible that it has gone bad, but I don't feel the love I once did. Now it seems masculine and woodsy and stale. (Probably is!) I wish Guess would relaunch this so I can see if I still love it as much as I did.

So...in my desperate search for the original Guess, I tried The Fragrance Shop dupe oil. It's definitely missing "something", some note that makes this scent so special, so...90s. It's great on its own, heavy on the patchouli and great for fall, particularly the month of November. But it's sadly not Guess Original to my picky nose. I will probably purchase an old bottle as a Christmas present to myself. Yes, I love it that much. The early 90s in a bottle. All that said, i urge anyone to try The Fragrance Shop. All the other dupes were dead on and outstanding quality. Lasting! I especially love the The Body Shop Vanilla dupe...Vanilla 5th. Fastest shipping ever.

Sometime in the mid 90's,I remember having tested Guess before I approached the cashier, a young male. His eyes got big as I approached and he asked me what I was wearing adding, "I LIKE it." My husband standing next to me hadn't said a word except, "Buy it." I'd almost forgotten how it smelled until I saw how Spark reminded some reviewers of it. I'd seen a 3.4 oz. bottle of Spark EDP selling at flea market for $40, but vendor offered to come down to $25 (slow day, rough economy). Read Fragrantica notes and reviews, went back and bought it. Does it remind me of Guess? I can't remember, but I'm crazy about Spark and so is my husband. Thanks, Fragranticans.

I wish they’d bring this back! Miss it enormously. Hoping to buy one pre owned at some point. I bought this from boots in 1993 as a 16 going on 17 years old girl, and it came with a free bag that was useful for college. Apart from Calvin Klein’s Escape, which was a Christmas gift, I’d never had nice perfume before. It received many compliments and my Mum, a Chanel Coco wearer would often sneak a spritz before a night out! It takes me back to carefree times as a young girl wearing my Gucci loafer dupes from M&S, Revlon’s Praline on my lips, white T-shirt, jeans, black velvet blazer and long chestnut hair parted in the middle. How I miss that time of life.

I recently received a sample of Michael Kors Wanderlust and immediately I was back in high school driver’s ed... and I was taken right back to Guess! Original. It’s not a perfect copy, but it’s close enough to bring back all the memories of when I wore this perfume. My first real boyfriend and all that entails. I felt so grown up and sexy wearing this amber fragrance, even though I wasn’t old enough to know the difference between real-life sexy and magazine ad sexy. No matter. Guess! Original smelled amazing and I felt amazing wearing it. If you have warm, wonderful memories tied to this fragrance, do yourself a favor and check out Wanderlust.

There is not much left for me to say, after all these great reviews. I can just say that I became a "Guess" hunter after it became discontinued. This is the fragrance I used to wear when I was eighteen.... Great memories! My boyfriend adored it and I felt very sexy and grown up when I was wearing it! It is a very distinctive fragrance, sweet and spicy and earthy, a blast of citrus and jasmine and gorgeous oakmoss and patchouli. The sillage is enormous and so is the longevity. I really wish it could be produced again... Until then, I will keep collecting bottles from eBay and hiding them away :)

I also had this one in the 90's. In my opinion, it was very different from others in that decade, but similar to an 80's beauty called Daydreams (by Maybelline). The oakmoss/chypre was the magic in both fragrances. I received tons of compliments. Guess was so desireable, infact, that a girl who babysat for me (not for long) stole it. The fragrance was so distinct that another girl in the neighborhood smelled it on her during gym class and told me. I called the junior high gym teacher, and got it back! Sadly, there was less than a quarter of the bottle left. Please bring it back, Guess!

I adore this fragrance, I have a tiny version of it which I keep boxed & tightly sealed, in a dark cool cupboard, and I indulge myself occasionally with a stolen sniff! Please, please, please bring this back guess, you are nearly getting there on the packaging alone on the latest offering (seductive??)... One can but hope.... EDIT....... I've managed to purchase a new, unused 100ml EDT!!! ( and it's just as perfect as my first ever bottle I bought in 1990! I'm soooooo ecstatically happy!!!!! ;o)

Oakmoss and spicy vanilla ice cream! That might not *sound* good, but it SO is! Someone, PLEASE, resurrect this stunning fragrance! I hate to disagree with 11 people, but Spark, while I adore it and wear it, is NOT in the same realm, as it lacks the pronounced oakmoss and patchouli that is the backbone of Guess, and so is not a suitable substitute in my opinion..Guess, furthermore, lacks that inexpensive/drugstore quality that Spark has. Guess could pass as current-day niche. Spark could not.

My best friends mom had this circa 1992. We would sneak into her room and spray and mix all her perfumes and lotions. I vividly remember the twisted bottle and way it smelled. Heavy woody, Amber. She was the trendy hairdresser always dressed up full make up with red spikey hair. This perfume screams 90s rebel. What I would do to get my hands on a bottle. I recently purchase spark as it's the only one I could find that's apparently similar. Just anxiously waiting it's arrival.

This stuff was great, it was similar to Obsession, Opium and Forever Krystle. All of which I still love. Sexy as hell, definitely an evening-only fragrance. A little on the unisex side. I well remember buying this with my very hard earned money at the time, 1991. Alas my very dull boyfriend didn't like it....come fall I may splurge and treat myself to a bottle of this. Nothing at all like Nebras but yes, something like Spark. Enjoy this if you can find it/afford it.

I have had a bottle of this since the early '90s, and it's still good. It's like an oriental with a sophisticated floral twist, kind of like a more mysterious Opium. Men swoon over it, as other reviewers have noted. Still, I'm careful not to spray it directly onto the wrist, because that's how strong it is. One only needs to spray a little cloud and walk through it, and it lasts well into the next day. Too bad I lost the cap.

My all time favorite. I've never been able to find a fragrance that even comes close to this sexy delicious scent. It does bring me back to the 90's. To me, it's synonymous with the glamorous aspect of that era. It's sweet and powdery and fruity and sexy and edible, and so much more, all at the same time! If I could wish only one discontinued fragrance back, it would be this one. I love it that much.