Demi-Jour

A fabulous floral! Aldehydes sizzle, bringing together the floral notes perfectly! It is heady, sultry and oh-so-feminine. I can definitely smell the violets, heliotrope and rose. The jasmine is faint and I get no LOTV. The oak moss emerges and softens the blend into a gorgeous soft bouquet as the aldehydes fade. There is definitely bergamot in this even though it is not listed as a note. The dry down is just glorious! A soft meltingly delicious floral. I wouldn't call it an oriental, but a gorgeously and expertly blended floral. It would be too much for warmer weather, but on cold days, it is sublime. (I have the Dana version, as it is stated on the back of the box.) Sillage is heavy fading to moderate Longevity, on me is long lasting

I have a vintage splash non Dana bottle and it’s gorgeous. Rosey, sweet, strong floral.

Review of vintage formula, in the round cut glass bottle, silver cap, with "Houbigant, France" on the bottom. I have no idea what the concentration is, as the bottle doesn't specify, and this came without a box. Above, the description states that Demi Jour is an oriental, and the notes imply it is an aldehyde. To my nose it is neither, instead presenting as a robust fruity floral. DJ opens with a strong fruit note, cherry to my nose, although perhaps raspberry. In the heart ylang ylang is forward, supported by the slightest touch of LoV, rose, and jasmine, a very bright and cheerful combination. This is the first bright and cheerful Houbigant I've encountered. Demi Jour is quite unexpected, and just lovely. The dry down brings out a lovely crisp cedar, and a creamy sandalwood (pre IFRA). The cherry note remains throughout, but softens in the dry down. Heliotrope showed up on my skin during the dry down as well, lending a powdery feel to the scent. White musk also appears, keeping Demi Jour clean and fresh smelling. Demi Jour feels like an Easter picnic, with everyone wearing their crisply ironed best, children and dogs rioting on sugar highs, and adults decked out in flowered hats and crinolines relaxedly watching the madness while sipping the first batch of sweet tea to be served that year. Cheerful, lively, playful, relaxed, but still dressy. This is definitely a day scent in composition, but has enough strength for evening. Long lasting, very good sillage, and generally a sweet, fruity floral. Dainty in composition, rather than in volume, this one has some power to it. I didn't detect any violet, oakmoss or cedar here. Periodically someone will ask on the boards for a strong shampoo like perfume recommendation- I think this might qualify as such.

Smells like a heavier version of YSL Paris. In this the violet is stronger and the rose toned down a little. This appears a bit spicy too as if there was some coriander added. Plus the orris root, which smells kind of earthy in that slightly moulded, Iris-sultry way. Just a wee bit, but enough to make a difference. I used to dislike Paris and find it a boring, generic rose-scent, but today I’m able to appreciate it as a rather joyful, little spring-tune. This one smells as if Paris has lived through another summer and now it’s autumn and she becomes moody or even a bit gloomy. I kind of like it, but cannot see myself wearing it.

This confuses me. I have a tiny bottle of Demi-Jour in a box, that I bought on ebay some time ago - they are still for sale and cheap. The box is cheap-looking and the plastic tray inside, even more so. However, it says Houbigant on the box, and also Made in France. It calls itself Parfum and I have no reason to doubt it as this is some potent and long-lasting juice. And it smells - proper. I don't remember this from the 80s so I have no olfactory memory to compare with, but it's a rich and complex floral oriental with a prominent violet note. It has that big over-the-top 80s feel and no mistake. I like it :)