Herbessence

Rosesharp: I think I know the exact "leaflet" you're talking about ! It was from a company called Direct Cosmetics ( then based in Leeds, they still exist online in 2022 ! ). They did indeed sell hard-to-find fragrances at incredible prices ( I bought Halston from them when you couldn't find it anywhere else in the UK ) Anyway, back to Herbessence: I did get lucky on eBay and got to own this amazing scent again. The name's a tad misleading, it's not herbal not particularly green (least not in a Alliage or Private Collection way ). It's a powdery, spicy oriental/chypre that does indeed have elements of Youth Dew and Cinnabar. Weirdly, there's even a touch of Gingham by Innoxa ( if anyone remembers that ) in the slight powdery sweetness at the beginning before the spice asserts itself. HR might be better known for Apple Blossom and Blue Grass ( quite rightly ) but this is a lost gem.

This is an OMG fragrance, one that grabs me quickly. It really is special, if not quite AS special as most of the prices on eBay. I found one that was quite reasonable. My treasures usually come in multiples and it can be a while to test. I usually do a quick sniff and that helps to "triage" the testing, so to speak. This one didn't smell like much, at all, so it was a while to get to it. I was afraid it was another weak cheapie, but then I discovered it had the little plastic plug in! Out that came and so did the most beautiful scent, it is very aptly named. It has a bit of that lovely resin quality like Youth Dew and Interlude, some woods, lovely herbs & patchouli. The notes shown here are sadly lacking, this has far more than just that. If I had discovered this in my youth, I would have worn it non-stop!

I only have a little bit in a spray bottle and I love it. If you like chypre types such as Private Collection you'd probably like this one. I don't spray it very often as it's almost gone but it has the gorgeous lush powdery dry down that PC has. It's one I would wear frequently if it were readily available. If I ever saw a bottle of it somewhere for a fair price I'd snatch it up faster than you could say perfume ho! Such a pretty gem that not very many collectors have experienced.

I recall this was my favorite fragrance made by Helena Rubenstein. And the Apple Blossom. I remember it as strong patchouli, some vanilla, some woods, but very much like a very spicy Oriental. I loved this one & probably should get it again since I still love this type of scent. It was strong, had a pungency to it & IMHO was similar to Opium, Youth Dew & Cinnabar on me. My very most fave by HR...

I used to buy this from a leaflet that came around to work every few months in the 80's. They were selling it at a ridiculously low price so I would buy a few bottles at a time. I absolutely loved this fragrance and I'm so sad that Helena Rubinstein have stopped making it as it was one of their most memorable scents. I have tried to purchase this on eBay but it seems only to exist in the USA for some reason. The price is always too high and I'm not sure that I would want to pay too much for an old bottle even if it hadn't been opened as most of them have. I have to add that when I was wearing this fragrance, I seemed to get a lot of male attention which was nice, wish it was still around ! I can't understand why popular scents are withdrawn only to be replaced by something inferior.

The notes listed here will give you the wrong idea of the impression this scent gives. Certainly there is patchouli here, and it is green, but it lacks the bite that patchouli can so often have. It’s balanced and mellowed by the vanilla and...something buttery. I wonder if there isn’t ambergris in the mix? Or orris root? I’m getting galbanum, as well. The woods feel more palisander rosewood than sandalwood to me, but this is all just a guess on my part. It’s jaunty in the way that Imprevu is jaunty, but this is for a lady who knows her mind and cannot be rushed.