Halston Classic

Halston is elegance in a bottle, effortlessly chic and impossibly gorgeous. It’s the beautiful people that went to Studio54, not to show off like everyone does today, but to have fun, do drugs, dance till early morning and go home with a stranger or not. What turns me on about Halston is how perfect the melon/mint freshness is achieved. It smells like fresh breath. Like a rush of air. Wearing it I’m transported to a mid 70’s apartment, complete with shag carpet, palm trees and mirrored walls. Oh, and track lighting. Disco music is playing, people are gettin ready for a night out, the clothes are laid on the bed, and there’s a window open, letting in some cool breeze. Cristal (both Chanel and champagne), Azzaro, Opium, Michelle, Fidji, Paco Rabanne pour Homme, Pierre Cardin...that’s the kind of fragrances you find on the vanity table. But it could very well be Jean Naté or Jovan musk. Beautiful people, beautiful fragrances, a party ahead and some fun. That’s what Halston feels to me. Halston is mossy, woody, soapy. Soapy as in the smell of a fresh bar of soap. Fresh, like kissing someone that’s been chewing mint gum. Fresh like the new melon cocktail that’s all the rage and that you’re going to indulge yourself with. On me, the flowers take a back, unidentifiable seat. It’s all about the herbal marigold, inky oakmoss and woody cedar and sandalwood. Sometimes I get incense and amber, bringing it closer to a dark corner where everyone fabulously reeks of Opium. The richer crowd. But most times it’s about the green tapestry. Every time though it’s all about class and elegance. The kind of expensive perfume you use on special occasions. Like making a line outside Studio54, hoping that tonight you’re the lucky one. The one that Steve (Rubell) will pick to come inside and dance the night away with Bianca Jagger, and Elizabeth Taylor, and Jerry Hall, and Andy Warhol. But even if you don’t get chosen, the night is young and your friends will take you somewhere else. You’re in Manhattan, it’s the 70’s, you can do anything and go anywhere! Well, maybe not Studio54! Halston has little to no similarities to other fragrances. It could be, maybe, Ivoire, if Ivoire wears Ultrasuede and smokes menthol cigarettes. Halston, just like the fashion of Roy and the magic of decadent New York nights, is unique. It took something familiar, modernized it, and made it new again, complete with a sculptural bottle that fits it to a T. It screams optimism, elegance, all while shining like a disco ball. It’s not just about the beautiful people that made it famous, it’s about the feeling of letting go, having the time of your life and mixing with the crowd. Famous or not. Although it might appear as a nighttime scent, Halston, like most chypres, can be worn in any occasion. The vintage, mid 80’s bottle I own has intense sillage and longevity that lasts the night. I don’t know how the current formula fares but looking at what chypres have become, I have little faith. I think modern Halston wouldn’t be taken by the hand of Steve Rubell to go into Studio54. Adding: the vintage extrait (now own a 70’s bottle) has the same formula, amped up in a luscious animalic green. That night out at Studio54; well, it just moved to a dark corner. 🔥🔥

I bought a large bottle of the current formulation of Halston Classic after falling in love with the Netflix miniseries. I certainly wasn't alone, as it took three attempts to successfully procure a bottle online. One out of the five "Halston" episodes is dedicated to the story of the creation of this fragrance, a rare treat for perfume enthusiasts. Elsa Peretti's iconic teardrop-like bottle design features; from the flea-market necklace that provided the initial inspiration, to the prototype design, to the difficulty in convincing the corporate overlords to agree to it. While this gave an interesting insight into the design process, the real beauty of the episode was the focus on the creation of the juice itself. Creative licence is taken here, but Halston's scenes with Vera Farmiga's perfumer from IFF reflect the power of scent, the personal memories it evokes, and the craftsmanship that goes into perfume creation. Halston's three scents of choice are Lady of the Night orchids (a scented breed), cigarettes (sweet as well as smoky) and, infamously, his lover's unwashed jockstrap, gamely smelled by Farmiga. The scent itself, or at least the modern incarnation does not really smell like any of these, however, it can be argued that there is a smoky-musky-leather notes in the base are perhaps indicative of cigarettes and a used jockstrap. The opening is surprisingly cool. I associate chypres with warmth and richness, but Halston is notably a cool chypre. It is green and fresh, briefly minty, and watery in the vein of cucumber. The green notes smell natural, moist and leafy, reminiscent of springtime growth. There is a hint of fruity freshness, but it is not at all sweet. It is very bright and very soapy, refreshing yet not entirely clean. Woody floral notes emerge as it dries down, and the base develops, giving it warmth and earthiness akin to a traditional chypre. It is smoky and mossy, but it somehow remains lighter and clearer than other midcentury chypres, which are often dense and dark. Clean, non-indolic jasmine and powdery rose dominate the floral notes, as well as a brief sour note (marigolds?) that thankfully doesn't last. The oakmoss doesn't smell too synthetic, as it is nicely balanced by the patchouli and vetiver as well as the woody notes. Some spiciness creeps in, adding a welcome warmth and some depth, and it becomes quite balsamic in its middle stage. It remains pleasantly soapy. It fades to a woody, earthy amber skin scent with some sweet musk also evident here. Sillage is moderate-to-strong and longevity is pretty decent, lasting for over six hours on skin. A vintage-style chypre with a difference, this inexpensive reformulation is surprisingly decent. Best worn as an autumn/winter day scent, and as is the case with many chypres from decades past, it is unisex by today's standards. I would love to compare this to the original version that contains real oakmoss. Green, earthy, smoky-yet-soapy goodness. 4.5/5.

I came by Halston in a very unique and oblique way. It was the Christmas season in the early 90's and I was still in my teens. My father took us to the mall to get some holiday shopping done. Already a perfume enthusiast at that age, I stopped at a kiosk selling designer dupes and started sniffing away. God bless my dad...he never knows what to get a girl for a gift. :) He asked me which ones I liked best. Discerning where this was going, I picked out a couple and expected one to end up under the tree in a few days. Sure enough, on Christmas morn, I spotted the wrapped perfume-sized box and with anticipation of being transported into floral rapture, I eagerly open the package and found....Halston?!? Obviously, this was an epic misunderstanding! Adolescent Agnes would never choose to smell like industrial fumes, which was my unfortunate first impression. Still, I thanked my father and kept my mouth shut about this cosmic blunder. A Christmas miracle happened that year. I kept sniffing that bottle of Dupe d'Halston. Again and again, like an addict returning to huff a bottle of glue. Then I summoned the courage to spray some on my wrists and...well... I couldn't get enough of it in the weeks and months following. While all the other girls were wearing aquatics, I was wearing an ersatz disco era chypre. This was during a time when the 70's aesthetic was held in high disdain by my age group. I guess I always was a bit of a misfit. :) That bottle is long gone, but now I've got the real stuff, a vintage splash from the 70's or 80's. Adult Agnes continues to wear Halston occasionally during the year, but it's become my default Holiday perfume. When I smell Halston, I don't smell cocaine and discotheques; I smell Christmas. Thanks Daddy! BTW, that dupe was a very worthy facsimile of the original. If you're reading this hoping to gain some insight on whether Halston is for you, be aware that it has a HUGE capacity to grow on you, even if you're a chypre virgin as I was. I can't speak for the stuff on sale today, never smelt it; but the vintage offerings and that one bottle of Halston Faux Eau is and was mysterious and earthy. This would be very glamorous on a daring young woman who wants to stand apart from the gourmand gang. There's also that cozy and comfortable aspect to it that makes it so easy to wear at Christmas time. Is there anything I don't like about Halston? Yes, the bottle! It's disco-ugly and vaguely obscene and I don't like it hanging out on the shelf with all my other lovelies. There, I said it. Happy sniffing, Folks!

Hi RDfaerie, I think I may know the answer as to why you smell bitter chemicals in Halston Classic, when so many others like myself just adore this fragrance. It could be that Halston has an unpleasant personal association for you, but it might literally be the chemical makeup. I'm about to go all Perfume Nerd on you, sorry. I suspect that the culprit is Calendula Officinalis or English Marigold (also known as Pot Marigold). In Australia, English Marigolds are called Stinking Rogers. Nuff said. The scent is different to Tegetes, another plant which also goes by the common name of Marigold. That is sweeter and is also used in fragrances. Halston Classic for Women has English Marigold as a main fragrance note. As an experiment after reading your review, I sprayed Halston on my skin. It was awful. I couldn't believe it, because this is in my fragrance top ten. I've never experienced this before and thought my bottle may have turned. I then tried two of my other marigold fragrances. Yep - Stinking Roger. That's when I wondered if it was the weather. Today at my place the weather is humid and rainy, and the sharp bitter marigold note completely overwhelmed the other sweeter notes in Halston (and the other fragrances I own), and I had to scrub it off. Most of the time though this fragrance is very well balanced. So, before you toss your bottle away, please give it another try in different weather. Maybe Halston will turn out to be your personal Kryptonite, but if it works for you in the right weather, you might just love it too. So, in conclusion, I figure after my overspraying experiment today, that on a good day, Calendula gives a sweet fragrance an edge. On a bad day, Calendula reminds me of nursery rhyme my mother used to sing to me about a little girl who had a little curl. "When she was good, she was very very good, but when she was bad she was rotten". Not sure what my mother meant by that.

I simply adore Halston! These past few weeks I have been in dire need of retail therapy and have emersed myself in a world of perfume. Halson classic has been the stand out purchase so far. It was a partially blind buy relying on only your reviews to seal the deal. I give major kudos Bernard Chant for creating such a gorgeous well rounded chypre. I agree with many of the other reviewers that this is vaguely reminiscent of Aromatics Elixir, but much creamier as if you sanded down all its rough edges. Don't get me wrong I freaking love AE and wear it often in all its incarnations, heck I own the perfumer's reserve soild and fluid. But it's no secret that AE can be sharp. When I wear Halston I feel naturally sexy if that makes sense. I do smell the mint in the opening, no melon on me but I'm not sad about that. The heart is stunning, so floral and semi-sweet, this is where it gets creamy. It finishes as a woody amber, oakmoss and incense skin sent that will have you sniffing yourself for hours. I picture the Halaton Woman of 1975 in her leather halter romper, hair, stunning hair long and wavy golden shimmering. She would have smelt so sexy and alluring, a trail of creamy moss and incense following in her wake I picked up a gift set with a full sized body lotion for under $25 CAD. The lotion is to die for, it's the base notes and not much else. This makes it ideal for layering. I often wear it under other less mossy or green fragrances to give them a bit of base. This has made it into my tight circle of signature scents. I'm on the hunt for a vintage bottle. From what I read the older juice is much better, as it often is. If you see this at your local drugstore this Christmas buy it! You will be pleased you did.

Oh man that mint and melon combo are really coming through in the opening. They sparkle together on me for a good 20 minutes, then the melon pairs up with the carnation and peach to give their own unique contribution to such a beautiful punch in the nose. In a strange way, it smells like carnation is present from the initial spray lasting far into the wearing. I get the orris with the jasmine, ylang, and more of that carnation blending into something outrageously sexy on my skin. I do detect a slight hint of rose, but with my body's chemistry it seems almost like a very fresh, metallic rose. Definitely a sour tinge, reminiscent of that vegetal sharpness associated with roses that have not yet come to bloom but are on the verge. The resinous qualities of this perfumes base are out of this world! There's something really magical about the dry down. The patchouli is persistent and entirely pleasant with a warm and inviting dryness that is rounded out by the oakmoss and sandalwood. This is kind of throwing me for a loop in how it reminds me of: Le Parfum, by Sonia Rykiel. There is a distinct incense laden, woody, sweetness that seems to be present in both fragrances. I blindly bought this after hearing about it recently and Holy Moses, it's strikingly beautiful, and Oh My God, the price! I basically got this for a song. These are the types of gems that I want in my collection! Beautiful, balmy, bombs wrapping me in their captivating magic. My heart and soul crave this, while my senses love the journey their taken on.

This is silly but Halston is so beautiful it made me cry. Like how songs can make you cry. I’m a '90s baby, so there are no sentimental attachments or anything. I bought a new bottle at Walgreens and tentatively sprayed the inside of the box when I got in the car. The whole way home, I had my nose in that box just sniffing like a maniac. I’m sure if anyone saw me, they thought I was nuts. It’s the melon, the marigold, the woods. I couldn’t get enough. When I got home I sat down on the floor and sprayed my knee. Over and over again I’d raise my knee up to my nose. I did nothing else in this span of time, just enjoyed the journey. From the mint to the peach to the melon to the florals...it reached a peak, a zenith, and I felt myself tearing up. I wanted to take this moment, this scent, and hold it at gunpoint like they do in the movies and say: “Don’t. F*cking. Move.” I wanted it to stay still, for the melon and the marigold to stay with me just as they were. Ah, but of course she moved. Such is the nature of fragrance. After some time, maybe an hour or so, Halston faded to its woody base notes, becoming somewhat masculine (although not at all unpleasant). Such a mind boggling fragrance this is. I yearn to wear this. It’s so very special. Edit: Longevity far exceeds one hour - I didn’t intend to be misleading! It lasts all day on me. What I meant is that I only loved it for an hour or so. 🥺

Alex "Sane-Witch" Osipov's recent appreciation made me want to wear Halston Classic today, even though my city is experiencing a heat wave now, and a complex '70s-style leathery chypre is probably unwise. My formulation--a fairly recent one, maybe two years old--smells better than I remember, if not quite as mossily magnificent as its original incarnation, which I mostly remember smelling on teachers' coats when I was small. But considering what it costs, it's a wonder--and better than many expensive designer and niche frags on the market today, especially if you like classic chypres and won't go through sugary-gourmand withdrawal. I can't say I'm crazy about the melon note, but fortunately the oakmoss (synthetic, I'm sure) overpowers it. To the contemporary nose, I'm sure this smells rather masculine (if not like Halston's lover's jockstrap, and thank goodness for that), but I categorize Halston Classic with other chypres and chypresque perfumes. It reminds me a bit of another Chant masterpiece, Aromatics Elixir, as well as Patou 1000 and a teensy bit of Chanel No. 5 and Eau Arpège. When it comes right down to it, maybe this wasn't a bad choice for hot weather after all. I'd rather smell like a fine old saddle and some dusty marigolds than, say, an ice-cream sundae topped with marshmallows and caramel. Smelling like food when it's this sickeningly hot is a grave mistake, if you ask me.

I purchased my first bottle of this when I first started working in a cosmetics/perfume counter at the age of 18, in 1980. It's the most perfect chypre that I know of. The blend is spectacular, and I love that there are beautiful floral notes as well.. I purchased many bottles of this fragrance in the '80s, but I waited to wear it once it was not worn by so many women. It took me about 15 years to start wearing it..I still have some of those vintage bottles left today. Recently, I was given a gift of the new Halston fragrance, and it's very similar to the original fragrance. I have the version with alcohol. It's also long lasting on me. This is not my everyday fragrance, but when I'm in the mood for floral chypre nothing else will do for me. From a green opening to the floral middle to the spicy finale, every note is perfection. Whenever I wear it, without fail, my husband tells me that he likes the "soap" that I used. One good spray is enough for me, and it lasts a long time. If you have problems with it not lasting, don't spray it on the pulse points, where it sometimes burns off too quickly. Forget about the '70s. Few people recall it from then. You can wear this now!

This was my BFF's signature scent in high school, and I recently bought her a brand new vintage splash. We opened it together, and she was in heaven. The top note of mint is very distinct, and cooling. Also, as typical, it's the first note to disappear with age. I recently bought myself another vintage version and fell in love with it. The mint wasn't as present in the opening, but I catch whiffs of it on the drydown. The woody basenotes are perfect! Not one wood stands out, yet it's a creamy combination of all. Thankfully the oakmoss isn't overwhelming as it can be typically in vintage fragrances (where true oakmoss is present). If you're looking for this classic beauty, note that the box will only say Halston and not much else. Also, the vintage splash, while inconvenient, is the one you want. It's probably a decent blind buy, but I'd start with a mini. Lastly, you can't beat Elsa Peretti's designs for the legendary Halston designs, both for the artistic bottles (look for the glass stopper one) and beyond. Edit: This fragrance upon drydown is perfect for layering with a light white floral for a perfect blend of floral and wood.

A week ago I purchased a new Halston from Walgreens ($19.99. Score!) and have been loving it ever since. So sexy, so 70s, so Liberated Woman working 9-5 and to the discotheque at night, yet still smells relevant. Today I received a bottle of the vintage version and... WOW. It is a vintage bottle - the dark juice, no writing on the bottle - in its original sealed box. The vintage and the new Halstons are the same scent except the vintage is a darker, scratchier, more mature experience. The opening reminds me of Bal a Versailles and I smell a bit of Arpege as well in the vintage. The new version is crisper, clearer, more shrill, colder somehow. The vintage will sit alongside my Mitsouko and VCA First where the new one will likely reside in the Chanel No. 19 and Bandit area of my perfume altar. I might try to layer them and see what happens. EDIT: OH MY GOD. It's been an hour since I sprayed the vintage Halston. It smells like a rich, luscious woman. Like I imagine Charlotte Rampling and Marissa Berenson smell. Slim silk blouse, jangly gold jewelry, cigarettes. I think I'm in love.

I just got this bottle of Halston Classic this morning. I sprayed a little on my left forearm and wrist and waited.. Not for long. At first it hit me and I was like "Oh no" But in only a few minutes my whole outlook changed and I can only tell you how I felt. I know a lady who is a nursing supervisor. She is tall and beautiful and quite and sincere. She does not say much but when she does, every one stops to listen. She exudes confidence and mystery. You just want to know what is going on behind those eyes, but you know that sadly, you might never completely know this woman and if you did, you still wouldn't... That is what this Halston reminds me of. Quite intensity, intelligence, confidence, beauty, longing and multi layers of mystery. I love it and while I lack the "perfume" vocabulary to describe it, I can tell you that is smells the way it makes me feel above. I either want to be that woman or kiss her, don't know for sure. She/Halston tosses me on my head and now 6 hours later, she is still lingering in my head and on my wrist.

This isn't going to necessarily be a review but rather a description. This is a chypre, straight and true. You have to love this style of perfume to appreciate Halston. If you love Aromatics Elixir, Magie Noire, No. 19, Private Collection, etc. you will enjoy this. Spray through the air and walk through to really get the most out of this warm, golden, floral, oak moss-y beauty. This is a great alternative for when I don't want to use my more expensive Aromatics Elixir. That said, Halston does not smell cheap nor dated. I have been on a gourmand kick lately but suddenly craved some crisp, clean chypres. It is great for a professional environment if applied with a light hand and allowed to bloom. UPDATE: Third day in a row wearing Halston Classic and the only downside is longevity is pretty poor. On clothes, it's fine, but you don't really want to spray chypres on clothes since they need body heat to open up and bloom. I get about 3/4 hours max on skin before needing to reapply. Granted, it's dirt cheap so it's not a budget killer.

I’m a member of a fragrance group on FB, and a lady had a bottle of Halston, from the 80’s that she had to re-decant into another bottle because the origial bottle was leaking. She said the first person who wanted it, she’d send it, so l hopped onto the opportunity to experience this perfume. I remember smelling the newer version in Sears, one day and l thought it smelled. Horrible! It smelled like hot sex and ass, not in a good way! But l wanted to try the vintage and I’m sooo glad l did! This is unlike anything I’ve smelled before; it’s so unique! Upon initial spray, l thought it was quite sharp, and that l smelled a lot like a mint julep lol. But when it dried down, it got sweeter, incense-y, herbal, melon and l couldn’t stop smelling my wrist! This one surprised me and I’m so happy l have this! I’m definitely going to get another vintage bottle because l enjoy unique perfumes, as l don’t like smelling like everyone else. I’m going to wear this one out, today so I’m hoping it goes well and l may get a compliment(s)😁.

Bernard Chant is a favorite perfumer of mine, and I came a bit late to his creation here, having been a long time fan of Aromatics Elixir and all of his works for Estée Lauder and Aramis. The classic, original Halston, with its bottle designed by jeweler and close friend of Halston, Elsa Peretti, we see Chant taking some cues from Mitsouko, Chanel No. 19 and Dior Diorella, adding galbanum, peach lactones and a melon accord to his template floral, mossy chypre template. The result is a dazzler of soapy, earthy proportions on a foundation of oakmoss and vetiver. The real showstopper is just before we reach this coda: a gregarious, bright, somewhat sour tagetes marigold that keeps all of its floral brethren in check and escorts them all into the inky and beautifully coarse dry down. To think that one would walk into a discotheque and smell this in the ether. It's tasty, lustrous, and has just the right tempo for me. The EDT and cologne only differ in that the cologne is more sheer and diffusive. Both are spectacular.

A wonderful, complex scent-and this is AFTER IFRA-related reformulations! Oh, how I wish I had a time machine to smell the original version of this, Opium, and Poison 😭 Things started out a bit on the hectic side when I first sprayed it on. The peach and melon fought with the green notes and bergamot right afterwards, making it hard to pick them out individually. I put that down to my bottle being a store tester. The mint started coming through after about 20 minutes after I put it on, and stuck around for about three hours. Then the middle notes slowly eased in, starting with the marigolds and orris root. Later still- about seven hours after spraying it on- the base notes eased in. I especially love how the incense note eases in similar to the one in Poison. After nine hours it becomes a delightful skin scent; the balance between the powdery and herbal/aromatic notes and the musk is sensational. I especially liked how it lasted a literal workday; I wish that more newer scents had this longevity.

Love this scent. My grandmother wore this every day and it never smelled old lady-ish. She always smelled young and would get compliments on this perfume. I remember always sneaking into her room and spraying it on a little. I always remembered this bottle and now that she’s not here anymore I tracked it down and bought some to remember her. She would wear this and Z-14 by Halston. Because of the nostalgia, I love it. And I love spraying it on at night to remember her and feel like I’m in her house again or she’s with me again. Scent is amazing for memories like that. But nostalgia aside, I am a man, and find this scent perfectly unisex. I get compliments when I wear it out, so if you are a man thinking of trying this one out, don’t hesitate. For the price point you can’t go wrong, so I don’t feel bad spraying a lot on my bed or curtains as an air freshener or as a memory stimulant. Strongly recommended from both my grandmother and me. :)

Love the Vintage Halston cologne! I have a horde of it. It's certainly one of my all time favorite fragrances. This fragrance always makes me think of seashells and the beach for some reason. I don't know why because it's not coconut or coppertone. Maybe it's just the crisp woods..... The vintage cologne lasts until you wash it off. The new reformulated version is really nice but it's not nearly as deep and rich as the old stuff. It is still rather long lasting in its current form. Halston is unique in that it's cool and warm fragrance at the same time. I smell greens, light peach and lots of rose, carnation and marigolds. The dry down is mossy, ambery woods. It's very unique. This is easy to wear and very versatile. It also obviously inspired other fragrances such as Niki de Saint Phalle, Armani Femme 1982, Gucci No. 3 etc and another Bernard Chant creation released a few years later.. Lauren by Ralph Lauren.

I can't believe I missed out on this scent in its heydey, although I might not have been able to afford it back then. It reminds me of another '70s fragrance I love, Imprevu -- probably because the green woody notes are so dominant on me, and I get very little of the florals. But while I love Imprevu, I'm IN love with Halston. So green and woody! The green leaves top note just never quits. The initial rush of mint and bergamot, with just a hint of the peach and melon, is quickly replaced by the freshness of the cedar heart note -- which also stays throughout. Of the florals, I get only marigold and perhaps orris root, but then the oakmoss and vetiver snuff them out. Finally, a blend of the oriental base notes emerges, sweeter, spicer, but not too much so. A fragrance that's fresh enough for daytime, but sophisticated enough for evening. Sillage for the EDC is moderate, longetivity impressive.

I know only the current formula in EDC concentration. And I love it - as I do all fragrances from genius Bernard Chant! I understand that what I smell is slightly or even totally different from the original formulas, but I definetely believe that this fragrant is a piece of art for it's own sake if not compared to anything, not even to it's origins. As many of Bernard Chant's fragrances, this is totally unisex in a veeeeery sexy manner. It has character, it is multi-faceted it has it's depth and warmth and fresh features as well. Marigold is a note with strong character, it's definetely not for everyone, it's not the usual pretty floral note but something earthy, if not dirty..... It's a smoky, sexy, in this current formulation rather powdery chypre. One can interpret this as a mess or as a magnificent complex scent according to tastes and skin chemistry.

Many years ago, when I was in high school, I tried Halston and rather liked it, although at the time I preferred more "Oriental" scents. I found a couple of bottles of the cologne on clearance at CVS this week, and was prepared to be somewhat disappointed by a reformulation. However, Halston actually smells better to me than it did back then (perhaps my nose has matured!). The oakmoss is quite prominent, although not as strong as Nuit de Noel, and there is a slight sweetness from the amber/sandalwood.There is an almost masculine feel to Halston, which I like. Men could certainly wear this fragrance. I love the smoky woodsy notes, and the carnation is not enough to make me sneeze. This is a very sensual and mature fragrance, and I would call it aggressive in a typical 1970's "liberated" way! Sillage and longevity are amazing, even for the cologne version!

Chypres make me so happy. They evoke the passage of time and places favored by Viking gods. Elemental, complex, leathery, ancient, caves and rocks and moss and canyons, earth, trees, sunlight, ice, rain, decaying and blooming vegetation. Things that existed independently of humans and always will. Halston is a beautiful chypre. It has such a lovely bitter edge in the opening before it warms up. The transitions and drydown are gorgeous. It is lost on cooler pulse points - wrists and inside my elbows - so I spray on the torso, nape, small of the back, and over the heart. It lasts 10-12 hours before it changes to a skin scent that I can still smell the next morning on myself, my pillow, and sheets. It is not the original I wore and I’m sad that it is no longer made, but this version is stunning and quite perfect on its own. I will always have it.

I do not care that this isn't the original 1975 formula. The purists can clutch their pearls and scour the internet for evaporated bottles of brown sludge from the Carter administration if they want to. I have better things to do, because this current formulation smells AMAZING. And I don’t care that you can pick it up for the price of a sandwich. It smells expensive. It smells like it has a mortgage, a fur coat, and a lawyer on retainer. It's a mossy, earthy chypre bomb. It's notes are loud oakmoss, marigold, and aggressive green. It screams "I have arrived," and it refuses to use an inside voice. It's the only chypre that has ever elicited a "DAMN, you smell GOOD" from my husband. And it pulls compliments every time I go out on the town. It's a purely optimistic mood that demands you have a good time. Halston, you are my ride or die!

This is some nice stuff. I've smelled it on numerous occasions on various people but most recently my mom has been using perfumes that she used to wear many moons ago. I can see why this was so popular back in the day. It smells so refreshing, cool and clean. I tribute the refreshing and cool parts from the mint. Although it's not sweet pungent peppermint. I get spearmint. And it lasts a decent amount of time. The peach really works to keep the mint from smelling toothpaste like. It continues on very powder and somewhat mossy, very woodsy and somewhat floral. I'd say this is good for year round and for anyone 20 and up. It doesn't seam very dated to me at all and neither do a lot of the 80s powerhouses, probably because I have fondness for them and am used to them

Halston Classic is such a gem. It’s a classic chypre: woody, mossy, a little green with floral touches, softened by a smooth, musky base. It doesn’t follow today’s trends, but somehow it doesn’t feel old either. It just smells expensive and timeless. When I smell it, I feel like I’m back in the late '70s... NYC, Studio 54, beautiful people, disco playing; total glamour. My mom used to wear this in the 80s, and later my sister wore it in the early 2000s when she was in high school, so it’s always been around me. I get that for younger people who are into sweet, trendy perfumes, this might smell a little odd or different. But honestly, give it a shot. Keep an open mind, after all, back then, this was the cool, hip scent. It’s not dated, it’s just a classic.

I couldn't really smell this the first couple times I wore it. I had been wearing Mitsouko a lot, I wonder if that made me anosmic to it. Today I doused myself in Halston. On my commute, I suddenly smelled something leathery. I said aloud "There you are, Bernard!" This reminds me much of Cabochard, but less leathery, adding subtle melon and dewy flowers. Upgraded to a love! P.S. Is anyone else unhappy about Bernard Chant getting written out of the mini-series about the perfume HE created?? Or am I just biased because B.C. is my favorite? Edit: This is really good, even in the modern formulation! Makes me wonder how incredible the vintages must smell. (adding in 2025: old versions are greener.) @statesman - Yes! Gold Dial Original! Weird but wonderful.

HALSTON Classic I bought it back in 1978 in my student days. And loved it. Many bottles later, I took a break from it. Today after decades I got my bottle of the vintage from eBay for $12. I must say, after cloyingly sweet, gourmand oud and overpowering fragrances, HALSTON is a heavenly sniff for a sore olfactory system. Elegant classy and as definitive as ever. It easily goes from day to night. I love its clean edginess and seamless flow of complex notes. It’s a fragrance that epitomizes excellence in the pursuit of eternity. To be relegated to the past is an expression of our times —of fads, marketing and herd mentality. It stands monolithic in its quiet awareness of its own beauty radiating from a flacon that is impeccably designed. 10/10

Received my vintage mini perfume a couple days ago and this wasn't what I expected at all. I wore this a couple times in HS and didn't like it much. Always received compliments but personally, not thrilled. That was oh so many moons ago and now, wow. Absolutely love it. Warm, complex, I still smell the note that I disliked as a teen but find it terribly appealing now. Maybe my "nose" has improved, I don't know. Still not sure what that note is, sharp, not a bit sweet. Maybe that's why I like this frag so much now, I've lost a lot of my own sweetness over the years and gotten more complex and sharper. Lol. Whatever the reason, I really, really like this now. A little dab does the job, definitely on my "go to" shelf now.

Smelled it so many times in my younger years! I even had some in the early 80's and didn't want it. I gave it away to a friend, I think. LOL! The laugh's on me! During a recent sampling of my samples stash, I smelled Halston like it was a whole new fragrance. Too many notes here for me to really explain this rhapsody of scent. My how the passage of time resets your impressions of things. What a gorgeous perfume! I love classic and vintage perfumes and Halston is definitely one to try if you tend to like chypre types. I'm also on a mission to sniff out Halston Amber Woman which a friend told me about. I've been out of the buying loop for a spell but it's time to play catch up I guess!

3This goes very nicely after showering and lotioning up with Bath and Body works Sensual Amber products. I thought I didn't like marigold note all that much, but Halston (and Van Cleef) have changed my mind about that. Halston is softer and more delicate than Van Cleef, which I wore just prior to Halston. I got two bottles of Halston for an unbelievable $10 each two years ago and made sure to store them properly. Still smell great! It's perfect for this November 1 (still! wet and gloomy) weather that will just not go away in Toronto right now. Oh well, I have my lovely Halston at least. Edit: my bottles do not have the written "Halston" on them that the illustration shows (?)

Love! I got a splash bottle of the original formula (I'm guessing it dates from the mid to late 80s). The bottle is so adorable and goofy looking! From what I can tell, it has kept incredibly well and has retained its original bright and sparkly character with tart, inky oakmoss. It's a refined scent, but it still has a playful quality to it and doesn't feel overly formal or mature. This means that Halston works with just about any occasion, season, and outfit (yay!). While it's an iconic scent of its time, it doesn't feel dated. It's one of those perfumes where you feel confident wearing it, yet it doesn't wear you. An easy grab.

Another unplaceable evocative scent memory from my '70s childhood! I don't think I got this back then, before I got wise and recognized the crisp allure of a chypre! Leather isn't a note, but I could swear I smell it. I would never expect this to smell so good from the notes listed, but now that I'm learning to love the works of the great Bernard Chant, I am finally game to wear Halston; between Halston and Aromatics Elixir, also a Chant creation, I'd probably give AE the edge, but that doesn't make Halston any less of a fabulous scent, not to mention an incredible bargain. I really love the drydown, which brings to mind Ciara.

Fruity sweet, sexy and smoky. I was able to pick out the melon and it is very aromatic overall. It is heavy on the incense, but in a way that I enjoy. I love Clinique AE, and it makes sense to me that it was created by the same nose. With this perfume I feel that I am powerful and daring. It is so fun! I think in a parallel universe I was in Studio 54 too lol. I can't wait to wear this on a night out in the winter, as this scent will keep me warm. It is a very cozy and delicious scent. Unfortunately, the lasting power on this one is not good on me, but it is so inexpensive that it does not matter to me. This is a love for me!!

What a delight to have this again in the original version! Halston Fragrances, Inc. Spray Cologne, made in N.Y. I've been sampling some very "niche" scents lately, and sadly, none that I've tried were anywhere near as good as this inexpensive gem from the 70's. The real Oakmoss, the tagets/marigold, incense, herbs, melon, florals... oh my! It is warm here today, and my vintage Halson is working beautifully on my skin. It is refreshing and yet sultry (I don't know how, but there it is...) Please do try to find a nice original or old version. It really is as good as we Vintagers say. ;)

There's so much loveliness in that funny lop sided bottle! I'm a little late to the Halston party, having received a mini of the vintage only days ago. Oh, I smelled the stuff on others before, but never knew the name. H. is so warm and soft, it reminds me of a thick sweater on a miserable winter day. Good sillage and great longevity! But here's something strange: H. smells like an Oriental to me, but it's listed as a Chypre. The scent is similar to Clinique Aromatics, which I also love. I've ordered another vintage bottle today. Hopefully it'll be as good as the one I already have.

Halson is disco in a bottle! The first time I bought a bottle and smelled it, I got extremely nostalgic & emotional, anyone who grew up in the 80s & 90s will understand! It just evokes a different more carefree time. To me it reminds me of the smell of a shopping mall in the late 80s/early 90s, the combination of the smells of movie popcorn, strong perfume, & cigarette smoke hanging in the air. Man this was nostalgic! It’s definitely a party smell, and I’ve gotten tons of compliments wearing it out on the town! It’s definitely Studio 54 vibes, great for anyone fun and outgoing!

I do like, almost love. I just don't know where you could wear it without the consent of Human Resources or the Church Committee. At home, in the evening, a snowy cozy night. One spray will do it, so the 100 ml bottle is a lifetime supply even if you live past 100. It's loud, it's old fashioned. It's woody and masculine. I am not sure which version I have. At one point I had the body cream which was a little easier to wear. Not for the office where you have meetings in close quarters. Better than most of the scents it is compared to. For the price, it is a must try.

Review for a New bottle not vintage. As soon as I tried this I spotted Bernard Chant's touch. Such a classic fragrance and on paper perhaps one that I would not enjoy so much. As I do love Aromatics I thought I would give it a whirl - and I am glad that I did. Initially mossy & spicy. But within minutes a softer floral peeks out - hello florals! Its not too floral though, its not sickly or cloying. You should be careful about over spraying for sure - it is strong. I can see this is going to be a well used fragrance for me - better stock up!

Halston is an alarmingly interesting scent. It's a fresh chypre with mint and marigold, both notes not used as often in fragrances but it's those two that stand out the most. Roy Halston was gay and his perfume creation resembled both his feminine and male side, therefore it makes sense why this fragrance leans towards the unisex category. It's bold and powerful, yet green and fruity with a sweet trail left on the skin that lasts for days. Simply one of a kind. It can get addictive. It suits adventurous women with a simple code of fashion.

Oh, I loved this so much way back in those 80s days! I have a major weakness for Chypres. As I recall, my stepmother gave me a partial bottle because she didn't much care for it, and then I bought a bottle, or possibly got one as a Christmas gift. Why did I stop wearing it? I'm not sure. I guess I just went on to something else. I remember it as being pretty strong. If you have a vintage bottle of this, I recommend spraying it carefully. Also, I wouldn't recommend this as a blind buy or as a gift, unless you know the recipient likes it.

I really enjoy chypre fragrances. Two of my favorites are Lancôme Magie Noire and Clinique Aromatics Elixir which are both 70's creations. Since Halston Classic was also a 70's creation, I knew it was a must have for me. It definitely has the same vibe as the other two and was a terrific blind buy. I love it! Crisp green leaves, resinous marigold, and bright carnation are layered over the deep and earthy oakmoss. The amber provides warmth and a touch of sweetness. I'll wear my trio of classic chypres a lot this fall. Can't wait!

I can see why younger people would find this vintage smelling but this is a classic and I find it timeless. I decided to wear this yesterday before heading out for the day and wow I kept getting lovely whiffs of it. It just seemed to glow on my skin, there is something magical in this potion. I have had enough of all the gourmand smelling fragrances out there at the moment with no lasting power. I would describe this as a greenish floral fruity chypre which gets better and better on skin. They don't make them like this anymore.

Purchased today what I hope will be the original formulation (fingers crossed). Purchased a bottle previously but it was reformulated and did not last as long as the Halston i recall from the early 1980's, plus it is missing the depth of the original. Not bad, but not the original. FYI: for those seeking to purchase Halston, I do not recall the original formulation having the words 'Halston' on the bottle, like some are showing on Ebay and even here on Fragrantica. This may tip you off that it may be reformulated.

I love Halston so much! I am wearing it right now under bulky winter clothing. It will transform on my skin throughout the day. I will edit this in a few hours to report its evolution. Two heavy applications in total today, the last one applied 4 hours ago. At first I smelled sharp marigolds, incense and, amber in a very thick cloud. I loved it! Punched me right in the nose! Now I smell incense, patchouli, sandalwood and amber. Pretty and sexy and warm. This is a winter bundled up stay at home favorite.

Halston is Studio 54 in a bottle, a party in a bottle! The very first time I sampled it, I was transported back to the 80s, the smell of a busy mall, cigarette smoke in the air in almost every building, fluorescent lights, and general debauchery. It literally was a time machine that took me back. The scent itself is a gorgeous sultry woody musky chypre. It smells like sweaty sex and a night at the club. It's one of my go-to club scents, wear it if you're on the prowl!

Ooh! Received this in a Big Box of '70s today (Halston, Ciara, Tabu, three that my scent memory strongly associates with that decade), and although I'd worn it some years later, waaaaaay back in the days when I was a young pup working in an office in Manhattan, I'd totally forgotten about the warm, musky deliciousness of the drydown. Can't wait for cold weather (for oh-so-many fragrance reasons) so that I can layer it with Halston Amber. Yum.

What can be said about this that hasn’t already been said? It’s a classic. A tad abrasive and undeniably vintage - I get the green, a refreshing burst of mint, the musk. My mom wore this quite often when I was a kid, and it remains one of my favorites to this day. Although the newer bottles don’t smell exactly as I remember, it’s still something I love to wear myself when the mood hits and a nice pretty modern fruity floral just won’t do.

Halston is a wonderful smokey sweetish woody blend, spicey too. I see the Azuree reference and would even go to a Cabochard reference, which may well be a leather note. To me, it is sweeter than Cabochard, more powdery. I anyone wishes to trade someting for a new full boxed bottle of the original Halston vintage, I am getting some. I am longing for Cabochard original and also any of Annick Goutal original vintages. Open to many.

You have to like vintage fragrances to like Halston Classic, for sure. I love it. It’s so old money rich b who was the absolute queen in the 70s-80s. It’s LOUD loud, so if you decide to try it, be gentle! It’s sweet, a little woody, and unapologetic. To me, it’s definitely not for daily wear, but there are definitely some occasions for it. I totally get how it is not for everyone, but I dig it :)

GREAT drugstore fragrance! I don't know if you can still get it or even if they changed the original formula, but...I think of Gia Carangi because she wore this. So 70's, ahhh, the nostalgia ...disco dancing...couldn't go to a disco without smelling this! It also makes me kind of sad to think how far Gia could have gone in her career were it not for drugs that cut her life painfully short at 26.