Cyclades

DISCONTINUED FRAGRANCE REVIEW NO.#5 / 10 Sorry to do this to you, Perfumites, but I'm about to review a fragrance that is near-impossible to get. I love this. Lo❤e this. Like, sell-off-my-first-born-child-to-get-it-love (I'm joking. Mostly). I got this perfume randomly about 10 years ago. I can't even remember what compelled me to buy it, but I wore it over the next year or so happily enough. It wasn't until last year that I even saw a picture of the bottle and almost screamed. Since I had become obsessed with it very slowly over the decade. Again, I'm sorry for hyping this up. It's probably not that special in a general sense, but I can't help falling in love over here. Essentially, it is a spicy, floral scent. I'm not the biggest fan of such scents as they tend to smell a bit...*looks around*... old. Not "old lady", calm down (I see you twitching there). More like a perfume starting to turn. This is gorgeous, though. It's kind of a spicy, vanilla-y, musky lemon. But there's a beautiful, slightly-heady floral there, nothing overly sweet (the vanilla adds the perfect amount of sweetness to this). There's also this slightly sharp greenery that is faintly soapy that I love. If I'm honest, the spicy greenness is likely the oleander. My parent's house used to have this oleander tree out the front, and that green, spicy - yet floral - note is definitely there and wonderfully unique. The sharp greenery is so perfectly aligned with the long, thin, sharp leaves of nerium oleander! Just like oleander - this scent is dangerous! The Cyclades are a group of islands, or archipelago (SUCH a great word!), in the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey. I'm under the impression the scent is meant to be reminiscent of a holiday in the Mediterranean. I have no idea if this is true, but I suspect such things. Does it make me think of a holiday by the sea in the Cyclades? I mean...it doesn't make me actively *not* think of it. Sure, I can conjure up some images of a woman sitting on a balcony in a Greek villa on a sunny day, looking over the sea with the scent of her recent shower behind her and the open flower market below her on the street. Mostly, I think of a woman who has a clean, crisp style (well-fitting clothes; tailored even), is highly intelligent, but doesn't speak for the sake of hearing her own voice. When she wants to say her piece, you'll kindly hush up and listen! Sillage and longevity are good! Sure, I'd like more, but it radiates a bit and smells awesome on clothes! Hangs around for 4-5 hours. It's intoxicating to me and I constantly sniff this on my hand! I adore the packaging and bottle. The beautiful watercolour accent sprayed across each is simple, yet beautiful. The strong, sturdy glass bottle and cap shape weirdly makes me think of a Transformer. But, you know, a nice, florally one. That aside, I adore this. Of course, it's dang-near impossible to get, so I will hoard my 50ml bottle and spray on the rare occasion so that I may continue to adore this beauty and indulge in its power! *** Kitty rating: 9.5/10!

Just had to try this because of the description. It is amazing how perfumers combine citrus and vanilla (like Pamplelune)to such a delightful effect. Then you toss in a little oleander and you have the perfect summer perfume. Very Mediterranean.

It was one of my all-time-favourites with a great, fresh opening which turns into a well-balanced floral body. How sad it was the one of a limited edition collection. I think Lancome should reproduce it...

I agree and feel the same as mirianacellier. And would buy if someone doesnt need it.

Bought on a whim & I am pleased that it is so pretty, so meditteranean, so relaxed....however, I am unsure if it is striking & strong enough to remain in my collection. This scent is soft, clean, sweet, warm & delicate yet has substance. At first it starts with an interesting green note that is bitter & fresh. Quickly, the fizzy-sweet heart opens & tempers the bitter-orange blossom. The fizzy-sweetness is not the sherbet fizz found in Armani Diamonds, but a soft, fuzzy heat-haze. Sleepy, sweet & sunkissed. From then on it is heady, swaying oleanders & gentle jasmine atop a base of musk. The jasmine-musk combo reminds me a little of that found in Light Blue....but here everything is softer, smoother, slower & more wistful in nature. On the dry down an unusual salty note emerges - like salty sea spray thrown up from waves crashing on the cliffs. This, accompanied by the heat-haze effect, are the best bits of this perfume for me. If only it had a fruity twist, a sour note in the composition or some gentle spice...