Divine Folie

Is it a perfume for a mad god? Or is it a divine madness? Or perhaps, "It is folly."-- Boromir. In any case, how appropriate for me. It is a divine madness to think I could simply trade the sensual pleasure of food for the sensual pleasure of perfume, that my Monster Powers could propel me on a journey of fragrant weight loss. Except that it worked. So, Divine Folie: when it popped up in the auction listing, how could I possibly pass up the opportunity to purchase a vintage mini. The top note was worrisome. Sharp and acidic, I dreaded that my lovely and lunatic perfume desire might turn out to have turned. But no, it was merely the citrus note of neroli. A minute later, the scent was truly divine. Complex and "perfumy" in the way of all my favorite vintages. I detected floral notes, but they made room for something else, something deeper, probably vetiver. And then, while the florals stayed on stage, they were joined by a lovely vanilla that took center stage, like a prima ballerina as the White Swan dancing in front of some sort of floral Greek Chorus in hues of rose and iris, edging the Swan's lake with flowers blowing in the wind. A demented vision for a divine folie. There is no amber note in the note pyramid of this perfume and yet it smells ambery somehow, the vanilla note claiming its full exotic beauty. As she takes a bow and the dancers leave the stage, the divine scent of their performance remains, the perfection of their beauty transferred from dancers to audience, from flowers to nose to brain. What a divinely mad, god-touched thing it must have been to make the first perfume. This scent on my arm comes not from the deeps of time but only from the last century, and yet, in paying close attention to the messages it carries, I partake a little of the divine madness of the poet.

I have been collecting modern Patou's for awhile now and thought I should sample some of the vintage offerings. This is my favorite designer house fragrance brand and I am sorry to see them close their door especially since I have just discovered the beautiful perfumes this house had to offer. This reminds me of L'Heure Bleue by Guerlain which I own but this is better because it leaves out the anise note which I have trouble w/ in that one (at least it goes away after 10 mins) This is a beautiful, spicy, carnation scent that is a bit dry but not dusty. The vanilla in the dry down give is a sweetness that keeps it from becoming arid. I wish it was more widely available, all I was able to get was a mini. This is a beautiful old world fragrance that takes you back in time, to a time I didn't even live in but like to imagine what it would've been like. Things seemed so glamorous and enchanting. I know there was a war coming and a lot of heart aches and hardships that came w/ that time but there was a pride in ones appearance, a can do attitude and a common sense of purpose that I think we lack today. And the fashion! There were no sweatpants to be found that is for sure! I will wear this one when I want to feel glamorous and a bit posh...

Divine Folie seems to be the "premier œillet" from Jean Patou, a prickly and stimulating carnation that rivals that of Caron's Bellodgia, but leaning more toward the ylang ylang side of the accord, just a bit more sultry and humid. This is further punctuated by the sunny disposition of orange blossom. Be that as it may, what becomes evident over time is a delightfully powdered veneer from orris and what feels like some heliotropin somewhat recalls L'Heure Bleue or Vol de Nuit. What can I say? I love this. The color that comes to mind is that of a deep garnet red gem. It tells of a time when elegance was a sacrament, even in the most foreboding of times. [From 1984 Ma Collection mini]

"Oscar" by Oscar de la Renta (made 1977) almost copied "Divine Folie". I kid you not! They are very identical. This is 50% "Oscar" + 50% Guerlain "L'heure bleu". "Divine Folie" smells more expencive, sweeter, and much more rounded, and more well done than todays "Oscar" in those tall bottles. "Oscar" is my signature-scent. So this came as a big SUPRISE to me, as I've always thought "Oscar" is such a scent that stands out from the crowd! Fascinating ineed! I'd go for "L'heure bleu" instead of this hard-to-find $$$ discontinued one.

A fascinating medley of floral with warm oriental base. The spicy carnation opening reminds me of Caron Poivre and Caron Bellodgia Extrait. It gets quite powdery towards the middle because of the orris. Several of our members found it similar to Vol de Nuit but I think it is much warmer and less assertive. Quite a few of internet reviews considered this a sad perfume which I respectively disagree.