Laura Ashley No. 1

I was having an email conversation with my mother about perfumes recently, and I asked her what she had within reach... among some of the real 80's stinkers like Poison, Red Door, and Opium, she had the Laura Ashley No. 1. I told her that she should hold on to it tight because its discontinued and can cost $350-$800 for a 3.4oz on the secondary market! Well, she said she never uses it anymore, and it is an original from the 80's... so she's bringing it to me next summer when she comes to visit!! yay! I'm very excited. Especially since I have not had the chance to test it yet! I like florals when they are done well, and it seems as if this one fits that. I'll update next year when she brings me the precious potion! If I hate it, I'll be throwing it onto eBay and buying my long coveted: Guerlain Elixir Charnel Gourmand Coquin!!!!!! (I almost hope I detest the stuff) Edit: Aug 3 2012: Well my mom brought the bottle, it is 1/2" from being totally full. This bottle is beautiful, and so is the box it came in. This is the most lovely fragrance. Will have to keep it. :D I agree that this smells like a flower shop, or a garden of fresh flowers. The gardenia is front and center on this, but not in a cloying way that gardenias can be sometimes. Not as green as I was worried about either. I don't know what oak moss smells like, but if it smells like Laura Ashley No 1, then I need to explore this note more!! The daffodil is the next flower I can identify, and this is what makes this smell like late spring to me, along with that fragrant hyacinth! This is really, really lovely. THANKS MOM!!

Ahhh.... The sophisticated smell of the early 90s, when Laura Ashley clothing reached their Zenith of fabulousness, long cream tennis skirts, beautiful v neck tennis jumpers, a blue straw boating hat... Hints of Brides head Revisited... private schools.... Long summers spent in gorgeous village cottages... This shop ooooozed sophistication back then too. You could indulge the Victorian look everyday without a shred of guilt... They had lace/fine crocheted cobweb scarves in a multitude of colours, it was a cave of fabulousness...we all took it for granted, it was literally felt we'd never lose it... Sophisticted and sparkling ..... No. 1, the ORIGINAL juice. Trust me, the original is in a similar vain to Lubin's Eau Neuve, which was also doing the rounds in any discerning drug store in Paris at that time. A sophisticated lemon scent with a gorgeous soft sexy base that lasted. If you didn't know it was Laura Ashley you'd swear it was a Jean Claude Elena scent, it's THAT good. Like all good things, they took LA away... and left us with underwhelming clothing, permanent sales and ghost like pieces of interior design, it, was a very very sad thing. And of course, with it, went the perfume too. If I had infinite funds, I'd ressurect LA and the original clothing & permues, I bet everything would sell out in two weeks.

I'm sure I have the new version. IF I have ever gotten a whiff of the vintage, I don't remember. Reviews made me leery of a purchase, but then I had nothing to compare it to. I have no fondness for oak moss, leading me to believe I might prefer it more than the vintage? I find this to be a Victorian garden full of flowers. It has an old fashion charm, and truly elegant. My review must be short because as it can only be stereotypical. But I approve of this new reformulation, and will enjoy it MOST, during the spring/summer, even though I've marked all four seasons. When does a flower just not smell good? I enjoy this immensely, on this gray, cold, snowy morning but will save it for when the Robins sing. I smell a bit of lilac and lily of the valley which do not appear in the notes. I smell no vanilla which does. I agree most with the hyacinth. It's very apparent and I admire it in this perfume. I love that this is still packaged the same. I think the creamy background might display the vintage more appropriately. White, although not near as nice, might be more reflective of this pretty reformulation. I'm so very happy to have this, and received a compliment from a very young lady, and two compliments from women not fond of floral scents. This is on my love list.

I discovered this beauty in my perfume stash. I'd forgotten I had it. It really does remind one of early 1980's, when Laura Ashley clothes were in fashion. I may have put this away as it didnt suit me at the time. I was then into Body Shop fragrances & the oils sold from big glass jars with glass sticks. Frankinsence, Amber and all the heavy fragrances were the ones I wore. LA NO.1 was the total opposite of the fragrances I wore. No.1 is a beautiful fragrance. I love the scent of Hyacinth blooms so this is a perfect, "bright" floral. Strangely, I sprayed no.1 on one arm and Avon "Today" on the other arm. They complemented each other beautifully. No.1 is so well blended that I could only make out the hyacinth but not the other individual floral notes. I couldn't smell any fruits. The drydown is beautiful.

I see a lot of complaints on here about it being completely changed. Being that I've never smelled the original, I can't even imagine how it used to smell. When my mom got a bottle of this and started using it, to me I thought it smelled like something released 15-20 years ago. So you imagine my shock when I saw it was released in the 80s. The early to mid 80's of all things. Part of it does smell a bit 80s because of the peach but then it starts to smell kind of light and summery and not 80s at all. Big hair and shoulder pads and pastels don't come to mind when I smell this. From a guys point of view I think it's a very decent fragrance. I'm sure the original version beats the daylights out of this one but until I smell it, I'd say the new one is very good.

Wooooow, what an amazing floral scent!!!:))) It shares one note with my beloved Pleasures but there's much more to it than this - it's a well-balanced fruity floral, most romantic scent for June endless days and evenings! It smells like a garden after the rain - that's the most general feel that I get from it, but the longer I sniff, the more wonderful fruity notes I get - peach and bergamot, a tiny bit of white currant maybe? The notes are so perfectly blended that none of them stand out. Maybe the rose and oakmoss (both of them I love), but they are not dominating. I get the notion that I've known this perfume ever since I remember, while I've only just tested it for the first time in my life!!! This perfume will be my good friend from now on, I guess:D

I had a bottle of No.1 when I was in my teens in the early 90 ́s, and it was one of my best-kept treasures as I absolutely adored this fragrance back then. It was such a lovely, ultra-feminine and sparkling floral with warm hints of vanilla, cinnamon and musk. It had an amazing staying power too, as the scent was still there after two to three days after I had sprayed it onto my clothes...that's why it took years to actually finish the bottle and its contents! And I do remember that the bottle and its package were so cute that I didn't have the heart to throw them away, so I used to keep them as decoration long after the fragrance itself had worn out.

I was lucky enough to receive the original Laura Ashley No.1 for my sixteenth birthday. She recalled wearing it when she was in high school, about thirty years ago. She told me about how the first formulation was much better than the new one as well. She was able to find the original scent online, and it was possibly my favorite birthday gift that year. Laura Ashley No.1 has a strong citrusy smell as well as it being very floral. To me, it is a lovely addition to a warm, breezy spring day. I will always favor Laura Ashley No.1 over most fragrances. I really hope the formula goes back to the original. This fragrance should be able to live on!

I always smelled it on my mom when i was little.I still remeber holding the bottle and stroking the floral engravments that didnt fade although i tried to scratch it so much.It had an awesome scent that i still smell in my head as if I never let go.I would kill to get this perfume back,how come laura ashley stopped this perfume although everyonewas begging it to come back?I havent smelled anything like it since.Ever.I would love to write a petition to ask them to bring it back.what a shame.what a loss that we cant find it anymore.beautiful and soft ,the perfect female woman.

Got a vintage bottle so can't comment on the new formula. Many of the new formulas are watered down/aldehyde versions of classics, but that's a different story altogether. Opening notes are definitely hyacinth, gardenia and what I thought was Lilly-of-the-valley which is not listed here?? Then it settles down and you can smell some sandalwood or musk perhaps. I prefer it in a cooler temroersture and will try it in fall too. I will also use it les s frequently as would like to hold on to it as long as possible ;)

A blind buy gone right! Laura Ashley products are pretty distinctive and high end. So it was a lucky break when I snagged a bottle of this beauty cheap. From the look of the (lovely) bottle I expected a light floral, nostalgic and feminine. LA No1 turns out to be a bright, fresh and completely unisex scent. Fruity notes resembling apples support the florals while a touch of spice and wood rounds out the composition. There's a hint of musk, too. LA No1 is beautiful and I'm so glad to have it.

Walking in a garden filled with flowers in spring. That is the impression you get if you smell this. One of the best flower fragrances I've ever smelled, it smells like fresh flowers. Very pure and soft perfume without the sometimes overwhelming aquatic scent. Fits everyone who likes flowers. I don't think they still make it, I would love to have a bottle of this again. Update: I purchased one on Ebay, a 30 ml bottle eau de parfum, the smell is still marvelous, I'll be very greedy on it!

My Mom loved tending her flower garden and also this perfume. She kept the pretty bottle for years. I searched forever for a replacement, even purchased similar fragrances, to no avail. Then, I found it! Although unable to play in the dirt anymore, she's back in her garden again. Thank you! Laura Ashley ♡♡♡

I have the vintage juice. This frag takes me back to the eighties when I wore those girly girl Laura Ashley dresses and the whole store smelled of this perfume. Although this is a time capsule it is lovely enough to wear now. Spring for the vintage.

I found an unopened bottle from years ago at the back of the bathroom cabinet. I knew that I loved it back then, but I'd forgotten how much. Light, floral and charming, it goes on as a lovely, little cloud, and makes me feel ten years younger.

I have vintage and it is all HYACINTH. Sweet and lovely sweetened by the narcissus and gardenia and deepened by the sandalwood and musk that are just support but not distinct. This is not an oakmoss chypre. It is a lovely sweet floral.

This was my very first fragrance. I probably bought it in 1990/91 when I was in 6th grade. I would love to get my nose on it now. I found a body spray and it smells nothing like the original fragrance. Extremely disappointing.

Just bought a vintage version and am delighted: it brings back warm summery memories from my youth. Unfortunately haven't been able to try the reformulation so am not able to compare...

Most incredible perfume ever. Eau de parfum is the best. I wear it to bed even when I am by myself! So sad it has been dicontinued!

My absolute favorite floral perfume.

Although the new reformulation saddens me deeply, the new formula is still lovely in a different way. By no means is it any better than what the original was. The new version seems like a distant cousin. The similarities i see are some of the florals. There is just a different harmony between them (including new florals & excluding old florals) as well as a tweak on the green notes. I feel the pyramid shown above refers to the older version. The newer one has a fruity top note of either a blackberry, cassis or current. Nothing seems peachy here. I remembered this as one of my absolute favorites from my teen years in the 90's. I have no idea what it costed back then. It was a gift from my grandmother who always had a fragrance to gift to me on every birthday & Christmas (being the mega perfume collector that she was). I do remember the bottle having a similar floral design all around the bottle rather than just halfway. Also, i recall the 80's-90's version to be more creamy with a stronger narcissus note, which was incredible! I used it sparingly and hoarded it like it was a rare gem for several years. I recieved the news one day that my best friend was moving away. So everyday that she had left to spare with me, i would bring it with us to give ourselves a spray and we would have as many adventures with our other friends as possible. The day she left, with tears in our eyes, she said she wanted a squirt of the old Laura Ashley no. 1 in her purse so she could remember us by. I ended up putting the bottle with it's remaining contents in her bag without her looking. The prices that the original formula go for online may seem out of line to some. To me i feel that old juice is well worth it. Despite the older version being way more lucious & golden than the modern one, i still put this new formula on my love list. It's just a love on a much lower level than the beloved former one, sadly.

As others have said, this is a familiar fragrance. I've never owned it but certainly smelled it. Now, onto the review: classic, clean floral. There isn't any hint of dirty sensuality, and you know what? That's okay. Sometimes you just want to smell good. There seems to be a mixture of yellow and white flowers. Some green, and little sharp citrus, too. I've only had it on for a few minutes so I will update at the drydown. I really like this. I am sure it is not nearly what it was, but for what No. 1 is now, it isn't bad. Has the same green floral flavor, if you will, of Tommy Girl and the original Victoria's Secret Pink. UPDATE: So, I might be a tad obsessed with this fragrance. The drydown loses the green sharpness and becomes purely floral. It is not sweet, just floral, which I like. Initially, the opening has a lot in common with Jessica McClintock (original) but the drydown is just a lovely bouquet of flowers with foliage still attached.. I am not getting any fruits. I tried this opposite Guerlain's Idylle, and honestly, preferred the Laura Ashley. UPDATE A MONTH LATER: After wearing this on many occasions, I still like the scent, a very sharp, green floral, but the longevity is poor. I may get an hour on skin, a little longer on clothes. I still don't regret blind buying it, I just wish it lasted longer. Might be worth tracking down vintage. I also wish it had more uncommon with the headiness of the original Chloe Chloe or Poeme. Scent: 8/10 Sillage: 4/10 Longevity: 3/10

Key Seasons: Spring/Summer Key Notes: Sweet Floral, Hyacinth, Spring-time blooming flowers. Description; A day that a flower show, quite old lady-ish however, nothing grand or particularly noticeable, although pleasant for day wear in the spring or summer, an office job etc. It is summery but not in a hot Californian summer way, in an English summer kind of way – if that makes sense. It really is a April-May scent. Development: (Linear): Once the alcohol as dissipated, the initial scent is the hidden citrusy florals hidden in there, but then it soon becomes its spring-time scent. It's really one of those "what you see is what you get" perfumes. Longevity: (Average); I have to note that this perfume neither strikes me as too short nor too long, you may have to reapply once or twice in a long day but it isn’t really much more than a “going to work smell”, maybe reapply before a big important meeting. Sillage: (Average); One thing I do like about this fragrance is that it won’t ever be overpowering (unless you douse yourself in it), I’d say you’ll get a nice arm-length hint, although it doesn’t strike like other perfumes do, it’s a gentle perfume unless you get your nose all up in it. Value: £15 for 30ml EDP in a set w/ body-lotion, I think, it was a while ago.

The fragrance listing and description for the current version which I found on a perfume seller site is as follows- Top Notes Bergamot, Galbanum, Hyacinth Heart Notes Rose, Tuberose, Orchid Base notes Styrax, Benzoin, Musk It also mentions purple rose, sandalwood, and Victorian plum. It doesn't mention half the notes listed above, especially not peach or oakmoss. That's not to say it isn't in there, but it is not mentioned in the description for the current version. One of the reviewers said that the current version is more apparently fruity, whereas the former version was so well blended that even though fruit is there it is not clearly discernable. I vaguely remember this fragrance and if I remember correctly, I had a bottle but didn't wear it all that much being more into other fragrances at the time.

This is a very interesting fragrance. I sprayed it on over 10 hours ago and the fragrance is still going strong in the crook of my arm. Well, that said, it's a positive in this day of wimpy fade away fumes. It began pretty green and citrus explosive, almost a typical masculine, but hold on a couple hours because then the flowers start to evolve and the feminine side appears and lasts and lasts. I remember this fragrance from years ago but never purchased and wish that I had now. The reformulation isn't bad but I cant compare to the original. Still a decent buy because the staying power of this one is truly amazing and ever evolving!

The colorful bottle with charming flowers is so daring. It smells like a crisp flower bouquet beside a fruit basket on a natural wood table on a sun shiny morning. All the fruits, flowers and spices are well blended giving us energy for the day to get through. Somehow, Laura Ashley reminds me of the famous early American family drama, the ‘Little House on the Prairies’ written by Laura Ingalls With all that mixed up, I feel, I have to be more honest and try to be a better person. So funny what a perfume can do to your life.

I bought the smaller of two bottles that were at Marshall's today, knowing it was the reformulation, but figuring it would be no great loss at $9 USD. And it does remind me of the scent of the Laura Ashley shops I used to frequent. Pleasant, floral, fleeting. I wish I could locate the original, but I would say this is an okay fragrance, if you're not expecting or paying too much. If it is at the discount houses now, maybe the owners of LA realise their mistake and will bring back the original formula?

Had the chance to purchase a 100ml bottle of this, new and unopened, from eBay at a reasonable price. Normally sells at a premium but this bottle was dry oil so many weren't interested I take it. Incredible. It smells wonderful, and is perhaps less overpowering than I used to find the EDP testers. Probably the reason I never bought it back when it was in Laura Ashley. Glad I was willing to try something new.

This is an extremely soft, extremely feminine fragrance. Classy, delicate, clean, lightly floral, a tiny bit powdery. Really lovely. Doesn't suit me, personally but I can imagine the woman it does suit.

I tried the shower gel of this and it smelled just like the original green radox bubble bath which you can get for like £2, it is a nice smell but quite generic and plain

Since the new version is a total remake it would be nice to have it listed separately from the original.

Reminds me of baby shampoo and Easter. Soft, feminine, yet green and fresh. Not for everyone.

It was a huge success with men, in general, and with my boyfriend,in special.

I’m not sure what the old version of this was like but this review is for the new one. It’s very sharp, floral and although it’s Spring now here in New Zealand this scent is very different from what I expected it to be. It comes a very pretty bottle but rather being sweet and floral, it tends to lean towards being sour like another reviewer suggested. I have been wearing it for a good half an hour now and it’s still very sharp. It’s hard to come by here now but when I saw one bottle available it made sense to buy it as I many other items from L.A. Sadly I had high expectations for this one but it’s not really my style which is sad. I will try it again in Summer but it might end up becoming an expensive air freshener if it doesn’t agree with my body chemistry. I don’t think I would work in the winter, it’s too sharp for that and it is definitely a daytime fragrance.

Just so very awful horrible smothering loud floral. SO headache inducing for me. If anyone wants it, let me know.

Oh how sad....this has been reformulated into oblivion! Not even a whisper of what it used to be.

Ditto-- There is no similarity to the old Laura Ashley No.1 from the 1980s. This one is NASTY.

I wore Laura Ashley No.1 from around 1990 until around 2000 when I discovered another scent that worked with my body chemistry (which has a tendency to turn many scents sort of sour-smelling)...Carolina Herrera (creme form). After they reformulated the CH scent to the point that it then turned "sour" with my body chemistry, I decided to go back to the Laura Ashley No.1, as that worked so well for me and didn't give me a headache as so many other scents do. When I finally ran out of my original Laura Ashley No.1's in my stash, I bought another bottle a couple of years ago or so and it was not even remotely the same as my original! UGH! As soon as I sprayed it on, I knew it wasn't the same! The longer I left it on, hoping it would settle down, it became so cloying and nasty, I had a headache from it within about 15 to 20 minutes. The new No.1 is NOT anything like the original! I had to completely wash it off and change clothes to get rid of the reformulated smell! Recently, when clearing out a closet, I ran across a little bin with some old fragrances in it and found a large bottle of No.1 shower gel! I opened it, expecting that after all these years it would have a horrid scent, but NO! It was beautifully fresh and flowery just as it was when new back in the 1990's! I have been using that, as it lasts and lasts all day after showering with it! Very light, but noticeable! I have now used it up and found someone on eBay selling some little sample bottles of the shower gel. As it turns out, they smell very similar to the original, but do not remotely have the lasting power the original shower gel had so these must not have been truly the originals as had been advertised. In searching for someone who may be selling a bottle of the original shower gel online, I came across this site and found this blog so interesting! If only I had found you before I purchased that reformulated bottle of the No.1 perfume, I would never have wasted my money on it! Now, at least I feel I know what to look for when searching for true vintage bottles of this beautiful scent! No clue in the world why Laura Ashley's family would ever change the formulation of this scent after her death! I would think they would have kept it and reissued it in her memory just as it was! So sad they had to ruin it. So, I'm back to my quest for another bottle of the original Laura Ashley No.1 Shower Gel!

I've never been to England, but this is still the go-to "English garden after a light rain" type smell for me. I remember smelling the original version in a Laura Ashley store as a child back in the late 90's and Ohhhhhhhhhh! Falling in Loooove! But my mom looked down at anything that didn't come from a fancy New York department store or have a fancy Le Fwench name (Chanel, Guerlain, Dior, etc...) so I wasn't allowed to have it. But still, the fragrance, the memory of it, stuck with me and when I discovered it here on Fragrantica, I knew I had to have it, even with the foreboding news of 'formula change.' Well, so I've had it for a few weeks now, and it would be disingenuous of me to say "it smells exactly the same" to testers I smelled a few times 20 years ago in a crowded store, but I can say "it feels the same" for sure! It transports me straight into the Secret Garden in the Frances Hodgson Burnett novel (minus the bratty girl from India, and the crippled kid that magically gets cured through fresh air and exercise, and hunky 12-year-old farm-boy Colin.) The (more)hyacinth-(less)narcissus blend is the star, sweet and dewy. But the oakmoss and gardenia (along with the soft blend of peach, galbanum, and cinnamon) make this very reminiscent of Cartier's La Panthere, which I reviewed yesterday. Maybe they wouldn't be flankers because the tone of this is very "English garden" and La Panthere is very "Boss-lady dripping in furs and diamonds" but they're definitely relatives for sure. Reformulation or not, you can't go wrong with the price (Less than $20 in most places online for 100ml.) In my opinion, this is safe to blind-buy. I would really love to meet the sensitive soul whose nose could possibly be offended by this gentle beauty!

This was my signature scent in the 80s. I found what claimed to be an unopened, NIB, vintage bottle (someone was selling a huge lot of vintage perfume from an estate sale). I took the chance and bought it. Either this is what was claimed or the reformulation has done an amazing job recapturing the scent, because it is exactly as I remember it! The box has a 1983 copyright date, but that may be for the design of the box--I don't know what the new boxes say--if anyone has a box of the stuff and can let me know if it also carries the 1983 date on the bottom of the back, please let me know. If this is the reformulation, then devotees have nothing to fear in going back to an old friend. Edit: After reading this thread I am more and more convinced this is the original because it is an exact match. Yay me. Releasing a perfume under the name of a classic, and not replicating the scent is the worst kind of greed. If you won't or can't replicate the original (with all of the new sanctions, in some cases it is impossible) then name it something else. Let it stand on its own instead of facing the jeers and derision of people who expected one thing and got another. I'm looking at *you* Emeraude! Edit 2: B2FL_DRMR, Thanks for the tip. I got my "free sample" (plus 1.37 postage due) from LA today. The reformulation isn't bad, but it isn't Laura Ashley No.1. It is a light, commonplace floral,quiet, powdery, feminine. There is none of the power and uniqueness of the original. I wore it for a few hours, then put some of the original on the other wrist. No comparison. Were it named something original I would like it ok, but not enough to buy. Had I purchased it not realizing it was a reformulation, I would have asked for my money back.

You can request a free glass vial sample on the Laura Ashley website (of this & all the new scent disasters they are offering). I received my samples within a few days of requesting it, I'm not at all happy with the reformulation, it doesn't smell like the original No.1, instead it smells like a fresh light spring floral shampoo type scent. It smells "cheap". It's not terrible, but if you're expecting something close to the original you will surely be disapointed. I don't detect many of the notes they claim are in it (marshmallow?!), it doesn't change much at all from start to finish, on me it kept the shampoo. It smells completly synthetic. It is only available in EDP strength, which seems to last like a light cologne strength. It is $68 for 2oz., I was shopping at TjMaxx today and found this reformulated version for $19.99 for a 100ml bottle of EDP. On the laura ashley website the largest size EDP is 60ml and costs $68.00. Its still not the beloved 80s classic, but for $20 for 100ml i couldn't pass it up. Its worth $20.00, but not much more. Also, beware seeking out a vintage bottle on ebay, i have seen the new creation being sold as vintage for a lot of money. You can tell the difference if you look close, the packaging is slightly different, the new one does not have the date 1983 as another member asked, and the new edp bottle only has flowers on the front unlike the vintage edp which has the floral print on the front & back, also the new version is a much lighter color, its not the golden color it was in the 80's & 90's. 5 out of 5 stars for the original, 1 star for the new version (3 stars, if ONLY used as an air freshener).

I LOVE THE 80s! This takes me back to 1985 when Princess Diana wore Laura Ashley dresses and then that became all the rage. The ones with the floral prints and puffy sleeves, sure to make one look like a meringue and I was so happy to look like that! There was a Laura Ashley dress shop on the main street where my mother would take me to get dresses. They always had a bottle of this on display. I remember skipping over to the counter and spraying myself liberally with this fragrance. Gosh that was a happy time in my life! I was so happy when I discovered new bottles of this for sale on a fragrance clearing house web site. I bought a bottle just so when I spray it I can remember those times. As far as this fragrance goes, I love the hyacinth. It’s pretty potent on first spray but it is not overwhelming. This could be a work scent but I wouldn’t go to spray crazy with it because it is stronger than something say, like Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau so Fresh. The hyacinth is authentic in this. It’s very lovely, like smelling a fresh hyacinth stalk in full bloom.

I wore the original No1 with the glass stopper in the late 80's. It was a gorgeous floral with a hint of fruit and oakmoss to ground it all. Stunning! My original bottle was finished decades ago. When I saw that they had brought it back, I bought the body spray and the second I sniffed it, I knew it wasn't the same. You know how some perfumes, even when they're reformulated, you can tell what they are without trouble (like the original Angel and the new reformulation, you can still tell that it's Angel without a doubt, but it's lacking).... not this one. It was just, well, something else, another scent entirely that had nothing in common with the original. I was so disappointed that I just gave it away. Still, I couldn't forget about the beauty of the original Laura Ashley no1. This week, I managed to score an unopened unused 30ml bottle with the glass stopper of the original for under 100$! If things go well and it hasn't turned, I'll be able to wear this beauty once again. Some perfumes just stay with you, and this is one of them for me.

Based on the notes and the reviews, I must agree that Laura Ashley has been completely reformulated. It has no luxuriousness left and goes horribly awry on my chemistry. The lovely scent it could be was completely absent for me, as it actually SOURED. I believe I was smelling 'calone', an aroma chemical that often portrays lilies and melons. How this is possible with the notes listed, I don't know! If you are looking for a lovely and fresh scent from the 80's, I'd highly recommend Jessica McClintock instead. Despite the fresh spring florals collage (lilies included), it never goes sour or harsh on me. And despite the reformulation it is still lovely and worthy of your pennies. If Laura Ashley was alive, I know she would not back this particular reformulation. Long live the memory of elegance and artistry that characterized that special house!

I have seen all of the negative reviews for the newly released version of Laura Ashley No.1 and felt compelled to give it some love. I too, owned a bottle of the original fragrance and loved it. I was SO excited to see that it had been re-released with a "modern interpretation". I sampled it and the first thought to came to mind was Ralph Lauren Romance. While definitely not identical, it has the same feel. Laura Ashley No. 1 is a fresh beautiful floral and while not quite as unique as the original, in my opinion, it is much easier to wear. I don't feel like it is wearing me. My husband goes CRAZY (in a good way) every time I spray the new one. And yes, I loved it enough to purchase a bottle and am ecstatic about having that beautiful bottle sitting on my dresser, once again.

My wife used LA #1 a number of years ago and was very sad when it was discontinued. She still has a bottle of the old stuff. I was excited when LA reintroduced LA #1 Perfume. This website says above "Laura Ashley No. 1 is a classic perfume from the 80s" so I assumed it would be the same or at least close. I paid $56.78 for a bottle and gave it to her for Valentines. We were very disappointed when we opened the package (which looks identical to the original perfume) and took a smell. It smells nothing like the original! Not even close! If you are looking for LA #1 from the 80's, as advertised, do not by this product. I contacted LA Customer Service and asked to return it for a refund. I was told that LA does not allow returns of perfumes. This is a total rip off.

I was at TJMAXX this afternoon and found a 1.7 oz. EDP for $10 in clearance and decided to take a chance after reading the notes and reviews here. When I got home, I sprayed a little on the inside of my arm and right away, I got a very florally Lily of the Valley note. How can that be? The notes stated doesn't include LOTV. I smell a strong similarity to another 80s favorite, Jessica McClintock -Jessica McClintock. Now, I have no recollection of Laura Ashley No.1 from the past but this is a bouquet of flowers in a bottle, hence, the floral decanter. It was a hot summer day, again, so I may keep this one and spray it in the evening to see if conjures up a crisp day of Spring. It's been over 7 hours and LOTV is still on my arm.

Another wonderful scent from Laura Ashley (beside Dilys). Unique with it's first notes with oakmoss, narcissus, a bit of galbanum and musk. I really get those notes right away. Then come some other flowers and a pinch of spices and sandalwood. This perfume is by no means fresh and bright. Oakmoss gives it blunt but fluffy greyness (I don't know how otherwise I could describe it), galbanum saves it from excessive softness and flowers bring subtle varied tones to entirety. Oh, this smells so calm, so comforting but also alluring and mysterious. Like an older, elegant and wise friend you admire secretly. Long lasting, sillage is good but not disturbing. I haven't found anything similar yet...

I was one of the many teens that wore this in the late '90s, so out of nostalgia I decided to test the reformulation. It definitely reminds me of the original, but it's just not "it". My tastes have obviously evolved since my high school perfume, and I've moved on from shallow florals to deep orientals and woody monsters, BUT I still hold a special place for the original version of this scent. Unfortunately, the reformulation is a weak echo of the original. The Laura Ashley site does offer samples if you'd like to test before purchasing. Simply click the "sample" tab and write an email requesting a sample.

I had worn Laura Ashley #1 back in the 80,s. Today I was cleaning out my vanity and found a partial bottle of LA #1. I was afraid it had lost it's potency, but no, it was still fresh. My heart was broken when they discontinued it. It must be brought back!!!!! I found that Este Lauder Pleasures Intense was similar and have been using it for years. But we need No. 1. I have wondered why some company has not bought the formula or at least tried to imitate it, (If that's possible) Sigh. Hurry, I' nearly 72. Can't wait forever.