J'ai Osé

J'ai Ose ("I Dared") starts with a jarring blast of aldehydes, but before I have time to react, I am intoxicated by it. It's like disco lights and the glint of gold jewelry, body heat at first, but like a dream, it somehow morphs into an outdoor affair, and instead of leisure suits and jersey wrap dresses, people are donned in fleeces and hiking gear, albeit flashy such attire. The dizzying rhythm of music contrasts with the smell of the woods and flora. The wetlands smell of patchouli as there are strides and spins on the boardwalk, there meadows smell of vetiver as party-goers are wary of deer ticks whilst dancing and prancing. Then everyone moves to some form of altar while a voice sings "brothers and sisters!" The crew then gathers in a circle as a censer swings, and everyone is imbued with frankincense and benzoin, chanting. It all changes form outdoor jamboree to a ceremony. The air, already filled with resinous incense, now has the additional scent of powdery sandalwood mixed with orris root, while violets, jasmine, a panoply of flowers start to fill the perimeter of the altar. Then a stage all of a sudden appears at the foot of the altar, and Billy Preston and Syreeta start singing "With You I'm Born Again." Okay, I guess that makes sense. Anyhow, J'ai Ose made me feel all of this as I daydreamed while wearing it. I will have to agree with Barbara Herman (who inspired me to seek out this and several other vintages through her Scent & Subversion) that J'ai Ose has quite the story arc, from a time where one was more likely to listen to a record album from beginning to end. It demonstrates a restraint and temporality that may be lost in an age of short attention spans, but if one deliberately slows down and lets this or any perfume take its course, they may be in for quite an experience and notice things they may have otherwise missed.

J’ai OSE was my first “grown up” perfume. Many years and many fragrances later I still have not found anything that could come close to that exquisite bouquet of notes, lush and sophisticated at the same time, the kind that elevates a perfume to the status of a signature scent. J’ai OSE is translated as “I have dared” and, apparently, was inspired by Napoleon Bonaparte and his love story: a shorter, stout shape of the bottle; the stopper, that is reminiscent of the Emperor’s famous hat; and the name of the fragrance itself resonating with “Josephine”. I believe, the original J’ai OSE by Guy Laroche was discontinued in the late 80s and is now produced by J’ai OSE PARIS. I was a little leery about buying the new version but decided to give it a shot... and was not disappointed! J’ai OSE PARIS has remained the same magnificent fragrance I remember from many years ago - a timeless classic...

I have a vintage bottle in EDT. The cap is cut to appear as one giant lipstick. It’s coloured with burgundy shades that easily suggest such a comparison. The allusion is further enhanced by the honey-ambery looking potion kept under lock inside the bottle. This is the scent of sophisticated balsams, expensive powder, and yes, red and proud lipstick. Excellent fragrance with quality ingredients - sandalwood, iris, amber and a gallant accord of violets, all wrapped within a mossy makeup bag. An oriental to be admired. Guy Laroche is one of those rare houses that do not release many fragrances. In their lifetime they have only a handful of pillars. All three in my collection - Drakkar Noir (2010 bottle), Horizon (1993 bottle) and J'ai Osè (cannot figure our just how old is this beauty) are absolute pleasures and treasures. *****

I just love this. I think my bottle, is unfortunately Post-IFRA nonsense. If your bottle is earlier than mine, I am truly jealous of your precious potion. Perhaps because mine is extrait it has a supple presence that the spray EDP may be lacking? This is really smooth and blended with perfection as only a master perfumer can summon. The oakmoss does remind me of the first chypre that pulled me down the rabbit hole: Millot's Crepe de Chene. I bought this in 2011, so it is most likely post the IFRA debacle. Perhaps next week I'll try an experiment, I know that one of my Crepe de Chine bottles is older than I am, on one wrist Jai Ose the other Crepe de Chine. Yummy.

J'ai ose Guy Laroche was my signature scent for years, unusually captivating perfume which should be back! Barely noticeable oriental note, just as much as I love, it's a timeless perfume. A masterpiece. Composition was unique and so feminine. What I particularly loved about this perfume - aldehydes were highlighted. Mostly all oriental frags are seductive, mysterious and sexy, sensual... J'ai Ose was oriental with soapy overtones, so pure and gentle, and at the same time puzzling. Noone ever made anything better then this. This is Art. Yes, it's J'ai Ose. And fragrant trail was one of the most impressive that I remember. 10/10

My father gave me the original in a Napoleon-hat bottle for my 16th birthday. Unfortunately, it wore me then rather than the other way around. The new reformulated version of it (by Parfums J'ai Osé Paris, with a lipstick-shaped metallic cap) is still the same scent, like a piece of music written for a philharmonic orchestra but performed on a guitar by a virtuoso like Paco de Lucia. Even reformulated, its complexity and harmony surpasses by millions of light-years most of the modern mainstream and niche offerings alike. And now, 30 years since, I wear it instead of the other way around. Better late than never.

It's been my favorite perfume for many years. I am talking about pure perfume version, not ODT. Very sensual and dreamy, like a fairy tail. Very feminine with almost animal sexual smell of my skin. My mood would always be up, when I was wearing it. Unfortunately, my last bottle of a vintage version from 1978 is almost empty, and the new version just does not get even close to the original one - weak, bleak and unisex. Too bad, I love the original Guy Laroche J'ai Ose, and don't get anything from a new one...

Where have you been all my life?! Haven't tried the new version and honestly don't even want to! Vintage parfum version is absolutely superb, so sensual and special but not in a screaming way. I am an Opium girl end after him i thought i will never fall in love with a perfume ever again but here I am enchanted with Jai' Ose. What a name also wow!! I like when perfume takes me back dreaming of old times 😍 All you great reviews here helped me to find this gem so thank you!!!

Truly loved this fragrance... it was a favorite of my mum's, and i always thought it was soooo elegant, oriental, sharp, bittersweet, somehow mystic.... I still sniff the empty bottle (not spray, the older one) just to keep the scent alive in my brain! I cannot fathom why a company would discontinue such a gem... And when will they finally get down to making it again..??????

Blast of head-knocking aldehydes becomes a spicy leathery oakmoss, like a femme fatale draped in a stylish leather jacket puffing on a cigarette. Gets much spicier and woodier as it dries on my skin, leaves a noticeable trail. Autumn and winter only for this, lasts all day.

One of the most elegant and sumptuous perfumes. I have the perfume extract. It, s the elegance of the classic first Armani combined with the oriental warmth of Coco Chanel and the sensuality of Opium.And a touch of the class of Patou 1000. Just excellent.

I totally agree with Svetlana Kogan! So true. I remember this beautiful fragrance from my childhood and I wear it's modern version at home sometimes - it works better to enhance my mood than than the ice-cream or even sex ))

WOW,thats good, strong and powerful smell from other ages, and like many other female frags from old days, currently more suitable for men, not boys,men, than for women, use only in winterdays,too strong otherwise.

It is my all time favourite! I think this frag is epitome of class and elegance..Mysterious and rich, unique and unforgettable(old formula). Will buy or swap old version if somebody is interested.

rich and complex in the good old way,a barroque juice very unisex in todays standards,winterish and elegant,perfect,in my view,for leather jackets and pants...a golden hidden treasure.

Wear to a cocktail party to meet the President of France. Classy to the bone. Sweet smeltering smokitash came to mind upon first glorius bourbon leather whiff. Nice so nice.

Current EDP version: what a wonderful LEATHER fragrance! Very Parisian, exquisite, of the highest, old-school quality!

Such a masterpiece, oriental, with heavy, bitter notes, long lasting and highly recommended.

Such a great scent. My chemistry changed and I can no longer wear it. Perfume is best.

Just bought this today and am goiong to pick it up! I am so excited...

Un altro profumo anni 70 stile Magie noire, Opium, Mystere, aromatics elixir, composto con l'unione di centinaia di elementi naturali,resine,radici,erbe,note di origine animale, spezie e muschi,il che lo rende molto adattabile su ogni tipo di pelle,capace di creare sensazioni diverse e atmosfere differenti. Le sue note sono dorate,misteriose,luminose e anche vellutate, è caldo e avvolgente, ma non è invadente. Raffinato,elegante e nobile, non lo vedo adatto a gente troppo moderna piena di tatuaggi e piercing,unghie finte chilometriche, facce di plastica e vestiti volgari. Quelli che disprezzano i profumi d'epoca solitamente è perchè non li possono indossare. Per apprezzare questo profumo come gli altri,occorre sentire le versioni anni 80 e non quelle attuali che non hanno niente in comune.

J'ao Ose is very rich, woody and smokey fragrance that manages to be elegant and sexy without being sweet. The bitter smoky note makes it especially unique....makes me think of a campfire in the middle of a starry night. At first spray it reminded me a lot of Royal Secret,but J'ai Ose is much smoother, more rounded and well behaved. In terms of sillage, it makes me think of Hermes Elixir, that I just recently wore, as it projects very similarly from my skin. It is very noticeable and you know it's there, but at the same time it's not all over the place,or walking in front you announcing your arrival with you bringing up the rear. A great fragrance that shouldn't be overlooked by true perfume connoisseurs.

My mother liked this fragrance when she was young. She says that it was gorgeous! As for me, I think that this fragrance is good enough, especially for the night, but unfortunately nowadays I can hardly feel the same beauty. On me it smells mostly the vetiver note. Also I can feel something like a cedar oil. It seems to me deep, dark and even strict. But my aunt says that it smells like a naphthalene. But I can't agree with her. Just an oriental scent. Maybe the thing is in the vetiver note. But it really doesn't smell like typical nowadays fragrances. And it's even awesome!

Had vintage. It's over now. When my young Mum had this scent, it lived among the nice and the liked scents of hers, she didn't love it as in "madly, deeply, THE one" sort of love, but enjoyed it anyway. Like mother... like daughter: I wore this scent with calm, not heart-stopping, but quite sincere enjoyment. I liked the flowers it had for me, and a drop of powder, and the greenness, and something warm, something very nice...

I never smelled the original. I test spritz the current formulation and my first thought was that it smells unisex. My husband can wear this easily. It wears sharp and bitter with my chemistry, saved only by the sandalwood and a touch of amber. It is not for romantic evenings, IMO, but OK as a casual or outdoor scent. It could become an annoying scent in a closed warm room.

I liked it when I was 17, I remember that this perfume stayed on scarfs even after few washing...I still have a miniature bottle that is vintage but keeps the same quality fragrance,unfortunately the new version of this fragrance is more strong and not that elegant as the old one seems to be...but my mom still likes it, I order it for her on line periodically

Ahhhh...the '70s. The '70s had such a distinctive smell. It smells like cashmere, thin gold watches, amber and oakmoss. This is what I envision Michelle Pfeiffer's character in Scarface smelled like.

For those of you craving to have more of this type of perfume, try Sonia Rykiel le Parfum, for me that one is even better, but that is my personal preference. They are both beauties! A.

Whoever it is made by now , it doesn't make it any less wonderful!

I could smell this before I'd even sprayed it, strong sillage! I was instantly taken back to the 80s and remembered the scents my mother and other women wore then. It smells like incense on my skin - smoky, woody, slight floral like dried roses. And the longevity is amazing. It was a little time warp in a bottle for me... I definitely appreciated the uniqueness of it, but it's not something I could wear.

Oh, lordy. I don't think it's supposed to smell like an asphault mixer, is it? The purse size bottle I got was SNIB, and indeed it doesn't smell like it's gone off, it just smells like tar. If you're familiar with Le Baiser du Dragon, it's like the opening notes of that, but much more acrid and difficult, and it's never eventually softened by any luscious, sweet oriental notes like Baiser du Dragon is. It just remains Eau de Tar. Something is wrong with my bottle, right?

Not a favourite of mine. The story is all about Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Patchouli and Amber on my skin. I sneeze - so I pass this one.. Ingen av mina favoriter. Alltsammans är Ekmossa, Sandelträ, Patchouli och Amber på mig. Jag nyser av den så jag passar...

Fragrance Review For J'ai Osé Guy Laroche Top Notes Aldehydes Citruses Peach Coriander Middle Notes Rose Orris Root Jasmine Patchouli Vetiver Cedar Sandalwood Base Notes Oak Moss Amber Musk Benzoin J'ai Osé! I Dared! To Wear This Fragrance! J'ai Osé (1978) By Max Gavarry is a vintage treasure perfume that marries chypres and Orientals in a Guerlainesque fashion, with a fruity fresh summery citrus based top, a greenish heart of patchouli, very little on the florals other than a powdered root of iris flower and a rose, aromatic woods with amber and musk dry notes. Quite simple and subdued but beautiful, like a French lady in kit gloves, an elegant pearl necklace or formal gown in a color that matches with this scent; a moss or emerald green. My girlfriend Lysette in Paris France has worn this fragrance when she fell heir to it after her mother's passing. This is an aristocratic cologne of high caliber and all the classic French chypre French perfume ingredients. Smells like a million bucks. Lysette recently sported this beauty to a gala celebrating the recent victory of President-elect Emanuel Macron. This is decidedly old school, dating from the late 70's, with a lot of those green notes and oak moss notes that made up the staple of perfumery in those heady golden days of perfume. The name of the perfume is suggestive of a confident, shameless woman who would dare anything to get what she wants. Still, I must say that there are classic fragrances that have that kind of attitude but not this one. Rather, this is very lady-like and modest, powdery, green, woodsy, musky with a subtlety and sophistication that doesn't require the lady to jump anyone's bones to get attention. It's a classy dame and all she has to do to get anyone's attention is to show up! For more daring scents, I would go with Chanel No. 5, My Sin (Lanvin) Scandal (Lanvin) 20 Carats (Dana) Tabu (Dana) and Opium (Yves Saint Laurent). Some reviewers with excellent noses have detected similarities to such frags as Opium and Guerlain's Mitsouko as well as Fidji and Zen by Guy Laroche. If they are smelling it, I'm not. I don't know why Laroche would simply rehash the same scent - Fidji and Zen. Those fragrances were Oriental soapy mossy scents with aldehydes, but for me this is drier and woodsier with an herbal edge. It's also worth mentioning that the notes in the vintage original are natural and aromatic as opposed to artificial and chemical. This is hardly modern even for 1978. It has an oily and very natural body with a patchouli heart, sandalwood and orris root, vetiver and amber musk, in a way closer to the make-up of Opium. I hate dropping names but it helps to get you an idea as to what it smells like. It's a hybrid perfume with Oriental nuances and chypre essence. It's Mitsouko and Opium's baby! If you like those big green musky scents (and yes unisex/masculine for women's perfume) this is sure to be your fragrance. Yes it's mature and quite unapologetically fragrant. Two spritzes and you'll make heads turn. So all you need is that one spritz in the one spot you want it to go. The scent has phenomenal sillage, a cloud of perfume surrounds you like a nicer smelling dust cloud when you wear it and it will get you noticed anywhere. It has staying power boy does it have staying power! All day, all night and into the next morning. This has none of the sweet gourmand berry girly candy scents of today's youth-oriented perfumes or celeb scents. It's a different animal. The best time to wear it is in the autumn and winter when the green notes really pop and it smells soothingly herbal, with that vetiver and big moss accord coming through. Floral notes in this baby are minimal with only three that really stand out to me: rose, iris, jasmine. These are classic French floral notes and the iris is the big winner here. For a while it becomes powdery but not like talc powder or dusting powder. It's definitely more of a musky floral with green and amber tones, and woods all around. A Gaelic chypre. Now, one last thing, if you want to know where one can buy it, look for it on ebay where you can still get the original vintage and Amazon.com which sells the reformulated eau de toilette. The EDT is not bad but it's softer and more soapy with uninteresting qualities compared to the vintage original parfum in the red box and the miniature splash bottle as picture on this page. Worth a blind buy but only if you are already accustomed to wearing chypres and vintages. This is French perfumery at it's zenith in the 70's. One visualizes French actresses like Catherine Deneuve wearing this, or the sophisticated Italian beauty Isabella Rossellini. It's a First Lady perfume, Prime Minister's wife, a lady who is in the center of everything and has everything she wants. Simply ravishing! Thanks Fragrantica!

As with the Fidji perfume story, the comments about this perfume are 90% fantasy or illusions. I have chromatogram-mass spectrometry analyses of several versions of this perfume. The heart of this perfume is almost 7% high-quality patchouli. The moss here, however, is synthetic. There are very few aldehydes at the top—trace amounts. Instead, there's a cocktail of fruity esters that create a peach-in-brandy effect. Standard jasmine and rose fill the body of this magical perfume. And synthetic isobutyl quinoline creates that bold leather-moss note that wasn't typical of women's perfumes of the time. The perfume is 90% synthetic. The natural ingredients are represented by 7% patchouli and microdoses of bergamot, vetiver, sandalwood, rose, and jasmine. The magic of perfumes of that time lay in the genius of perfumers whose talent came from God, and not from neural networks like Quentin Bisch with his android fragrances.

Every perfume can be analyzed on the amateur and professional level. I agree with some sophisticated reviews here that the new version of the EDP may have lost some of its depth. But my amateur brain does not care. The first sniff of my wrist - and I was taking a time voyage, just like so many of the reviewers here, to my childhood, my elegant mom wearing this, the happiness, the lightness of being. The brain does not care about the depth or longevity. It reacts to the notes in the fragrance and transports you to the memories. If you grew up in the 70-ies, you will feel jovially nostalgic smelling this. If you are a youngster - you will be amazed at how beautiful an old fragrance can be. Can be worn during all 4 seasons, day or night. This suits any woman of any age above 25.

I have a decant of the new formulation, thanks to a generous Fragrantican. Firstly, this is not my style of fragrance; the strong ratings for sandalwood fooled me but this is more of a dry oakmossy chypre. Im surprised to see it called oriental. I don't get any burnt rubber, although the opening hints in that direction. I do smell musty, gray leather (although leather isn't listed) which transitions to dusty powder with a touch of lemony rose. There is a dusty, mummified earthiness to it. It is quite powdery and dry, too dry for me - both preference and skin, I prefer richer, spicier scents. I found the longevity poor, maybe 2 hours, and sillage low - moderate. Nothing remarkable or memorable here, too bad.

I really thought I would like this one, based on the notes and the category and era in which it originated. I recently scored a vintage J'ai Ose by Guy Laroche mini. It doesn't smell like it has turned, but I admit, I am not 100% sure what it should smell like. At any rate, I was a bit disappointed. On me, J'ai Ose has a very 1970's musky aroma. Kind of like a musky floral perfume on dirty denim jeans that are permeated with the person's natural body odor. Very dark and murky, and yes, very interesting, and not stinky (in spite of my description of dirty denim!) Alas, it is not quite what I was hoping for. I do think I'll give it a couple more tries before I write it off completely.

I have the newer version of the EDP and it most certainly has the "J'ai Ose eau de perfume plus natural spray Paris" lettering on the front of the bottle. I purchased this bottle from a very reputable seller I've used many times. This pairs wonderfully with original Chloe body lotion. Although one of my cats does not seem to share my love of oakmoss because he, again, ran away when I put the Chloe lotion on and sprayed J'ai Ose today. Funny that my other little kitty doesn't seem to mind my chypres at all! Even cats have perfume preferences! Lol, who knew!

Smells like liquid gold to me.Very rich, opulent, the scent of an eccentric but elegant woman. I am always thinking Gala, Dali`s wife! Aldehydes are very short living here, and I feel something like bergamot - but it`s all about peach, rose, moss, musk and aromatic oils. This scent is like a velvet black glove, it is caressing and definitely turns heads.One of the best orientals ever made.And it`s absolutely delightful in perfume concentration.

The Jai Ose being sold now on FeeBay isn't the Guy Laroche scent! Many of the distributors are assuring their buyers that it's the same, but the box says that the contents are made by Jai Ose Parfums Paris. These are being falsely advertised as Guy Laroche!! If you recently purchased a sample, mini, or real bottle, check the box and see what it says on the back. This also applies to Jai Ose Baby!! NOT Guy Laroche products!!!

on me it is almost the unidentical twin brother of mitsouko. though at the last stage j'ai ose gets a bit more sour than mitsouko and has less sillage and staying power. this perfume is not for girls or even very young women. is has mossy-dusty qualities that turns it to be a serious, cold weather scent. i like its Weirdness, but will not be using it everyday. i can see it becoming a gender bender

I remember wearing this in the 80s, it was my signature fragrance then, I loved it. Sad that its not made any more,(the Original) but then again, it probably wouldn't like me now! After this I started wearing Mitsouko, but after about 20 years it "Turned" on me Can't wear it any more, so I expect if the original J'ai Ose was still around, it would not be the same on me either.

A very lacquered oriental with the aldehydes jumping out first to greet you then the greens, then soapy for a moment too long with patchouli peeking thru and finally settling into a powdery finish. I also purchased it from Fragrance.net, new bottle in the cellophane box with all the markings; hence very authentic looking. But it's going back, once again, it's not for me.

What SadieBluesLady says is correct. The one available nowadays is not the same formula than the vintage. The new is smokey leather. It is made by Casper, as I read on the box. Don't be mislead. The vintage has reached astronomic prices on ebay. I tested the newer version today. It's not bad, but to have exquisite leathers, I already own my Cabochard.

Oh this takes me back when I was in my 16-17 and if you wanted to be à la page you had to wear J'Ai Osé. I liked its being spicy and longlasting. I liked heavy perfumes back then. I do not think I'll wear it again but I treasure happy memories of those days. The bottle was luxurious and I still have a miniature sample that it's beyond cute.

Just received this yesterday and it's a winner! It constantly changes and the scent is different (at least for me) as you enter the cold (in Canada we do that a lot!) or come into a heated environment. It is very sophisticated and different and definitely stands apart from everything everyone else on the subway is wearing! Love it!

I have a trial bottle ordered from FragrqanceNet because of the good comments here, and I think that the perfume was not good anymore. It smells very weird in the bottle and on my skin it smells sour and old faded roses. Couldn't wash away quickly enough of my wrist! No this fragrance is definitely not for me.

A warm, classic and sophisticated fragrance in the vein of Givenchy's original L'Interdit. Also reminds me of a richer version of Guy Laroche's Fidji. It has an oriental feel and does remind me of the older style elegant perfumes. It's very well priced and it's beautiful, don't go past this one.

My mother has some of it left, and wanted to let me smell it. While putting the cap back on, she accidently pushed it over and spilled 5 ml over the table.. I was absolutely mortified. If you'd like something like this but in a cheaper (avaliable) version, try Salvador Dali classique.

J'ai Ose is a night club in Paris and the boudoir afterward. Oakmoss. Leather. Smoke. Then, a bit of spice and some wood. Finally, animal and amber and powder. It's not likable or sweet or uncomplicated. It's a full-on powerhouse that lots of people would dislike. But I love it.