Coeur de Parfum / Parfum Rare

A nimbus of greens and woods is what I feel around me upon initial application of Parfum Rare EDT. Shaded here with spice, tinted there with flowers, it's a chiaroscuro where light and dark, perhaps a bit of sturm and drang, shape the experience. A coriander, warm and sensual, is prominent about five minutes in, followed by an ever unfurling geranium, rosy-verdant, ever so slightly minty and sharp. Further into its development, a shuffle between bitter marigold and sweet rose feels beguiling to me, and then there is a gilded pollen feel, beeswax-like, just a dash of pert animalic swagger, just a smidgen. The sandalwood in its dry down is just ravishing. Fans of Jacomo's other beauty, Silences, along with Aigner Explosive, Clinique Aromatics Elixir, and even dare I say, Guerlain Vol de Nuit, would likely swoon over this like I do. It actually has moments where it rather feels like a floral chypre released at least forty years prior, slightly modernized to 80s standards. It is sonorous rather than loud, more unisex than the shoulder-pad-and-attitude fragrances that were at their zenith in 1987, and could easily and favorably be compared to niche and indie chypres being currently released. Parfum Rare is sorely overlooked and unsung.

I have 2 mini's, one says PARFUM RARE Coeur de Parfum, the other says COEUR DE PARFUM. PARFUM RARE ~ I love the opening, such a nice blending of wood, spice & dark smokiness (incense & forest, not tobacco). The gorgeous iris develops & blooms in the middle phase, a bit sweet and smells like lilac in there too. A bit much for me but man, I love that base! It's a bit aromatic, and definitely unique. Thankfully the floral part blends nicely after the middle phase. The mix of feminine and earthy is really good in this one. It could be a daytime option for Vol de Nuit fans, tea-time option =]. The base is more spicy than VdN but the floral is more sunny. Reminds me of Silences, with some warmth added. The mini is cute & the spice is nice! COEUR DE PARFUM ~ To be updated. It seems less floral but I'll review this one at another time! *Update: This has a lovley aromatic woody opening, but the florals lean lilac soapy compared to Parfum Rare. It's beautiful tho!

100% positive reviews and mine will reinforce this 100% again repeated. Try. This. All perfumistas and that is an order LOL...Really, what a classic Beauty, this one. I loved Silences always and now I try a vintage mini of RARE. I may well look to Ebay to stock up as they can still be found. I wonder if RARE and RARE Coeur de Parfum are two different variations? Classy juice - all the way. I ́m a very novice nose so I wont try to name the notes, but the feeling is really uplifting - not a cloying thing is sight. And it stays close to the skin, behaving as a proper perfume should... Kissing close to smell, yet a hint of a waft, as one walks by... And agree also on the sublte and fine note of masculinity, which to me balances things so well and so missing today too often in women ́s scents... Scents to me should all be of unisex choice as if a man likes vanilla rose, he should be able to smell like that and a woman like cedarwood.

I'm enjoying a lazy Sunday and here are my quick impressions on various iterations in order of my personal preference: Extrait Parfum Rare: Hello gorgeous! Smooth operator, least powdery. EDP Coeur de Parfum, black trapezoid bottle: Most like extrait, less powdery than the Parum Rare EDT, it seems like a cross between the Parfum Rare EDT and Parfum Rare Extrait. EDT Parfum Rare, tester clear round glass: I get more rosewood. EDT Parfum Rare, clear glass trapezoid with black lid: Most green opening, most powder. But all are beautiful and the quality is amazing. To my mind, this fragrance is totally unisex. I love this on me and I would LOVE this on a man. List of Notes From My Vintage EDT Tester Parfum Rare Bases Et Absolus: Bois de Rose Cardomome de Ceylan Jasmin d'Egypte Iris de Florence Rose de Mai Vetiver Oeillet d'Inde Coriandre Immortelle Mousses de Chene Santal Patchouli *edited for clarity

Love, love, love! (Sorry) I picked this up at an estate sale, initially more interested in the presentation case than the perfume. It had that late 60's cheesy elegant plastic look that was so loved by people like Andy Warhol and Rudy Gernreich. I was surprised when I looked it up to find out it was from 1987 and full of notes that I would not normally list as favorites. Putting it on resolved my doubts. It's wonderful with oakmoss (obviously the real stuff), vetiver, carnation and geranium. The wood note is fabulous but it doesn't smell like sandalwood to me--more like mahogany or a darker wood. The word that keeps coming to mind as I keep sniffing this is "crunchy"--not like granola but like a handful of silk taffeta. A delightful surprise. Sillage: arm length Persistence: 4 hours and counting Fabulosity: Audrey Hepburn in a Givenchy gown Value to price ratio: good 9/10