Tamango

Upon application, I am immediately hit with an effervescent rose, with aldehydes giving the feel of sparkling wine, a mildly clove-green and bergamot soon following, continuing to tickle my nose as a delightful lemon-meets-phenyl-ethyl-alcohol-meets-hydroxycitronellal takes shape. Like its floral-aldehydic cohorts, Rive Gauche, Calandre, Caleche, White Linen and the like, it is all in the sillage. Sniff Tamango on the skin too close and it's a bit too-too-much, but enjoy it with the nose inches or more away, and it's blissfully breezy and elegant. The rose is light in hue, yet full-bodied within the ether, while the other florals are impressionistic. Then the already delightfully mellow Tamango moves toward an oakmoss and sandalwood, reminding me somewhat of the wonderful Prince Matchabelli Aviance that my Mom wore when I was young. Memories naturally come flooding in, and I begin to realize that wearing this is fast becoming a personal experience: an homage to my Mom. Only the most insatiable of fragrance enthusiasts may leave a space in our bloated collection for these scents that we wear only for ourselves. Tamango belongs in that space for me, hallowed and there to return to whenever I need it.

Aaaaah, my 70s forever and ever. My grandmother loved Léonard dresses, and only wore those. We had to travel to FR (Lille) before the Antwerp and Ghent stores opened to purchase them, if I remember right. As a kid, I reveled in the colors, the flowers, the silks, the mikado jersey. I always got the last catalogues (sadly lost now), and took in the scents in the store which lingered on in the car when driving home and in the house upon arrival. Tamango, along with Fashion and Balahé, were those scents. And Tamango was and is the most powerful: flowery beyond flowery, creamy, powdery, and almost brutally set off by oakmoss and cool greens. So perfect! Out there with originals Y, Rive Gauche, and Chloe. This is, moreover, one of the rarer scents the reformulation of which is still amazing! So yeah, I still have all the Léonard 70s dresses of my bobonne, and there is no way I would wear them without donning Tamango. Bliss.

A bottle of Tamango came along to me in a lot with vintage Ivoire de Balmain, and I'm so glad it did. It must be the original formulation I think. Delectable! It reminds me of the original YSL Champagne. That same slightly fizzy quality, an opening which is quite strongly apricot to me and then a beautiful, slightly aldehydic floral emerges. Can't really improve on the review by Plrowden for this vintage formulation. It sounds as if later versions of Tamango are not the same, sadly. Mine isn't all that old - it has a barcode, though the ingredients are only listed as alcohol, fragrance and water. For those who are interested in the vintage, its packaging is different from the picture above. The box is cream-coloured with a pink flower on the front, outlined in gold. And the bottle is similar in shape to the one above, but with a cream-coloured lid.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!! Now really! The first time i have tested it i didn ́t liked it at all, but now i am in love with this one! One of the most feminine (and i mean Feminine) fragrances i have ever tried, without being overly sexy, agressive or on the heavy side. I am using a latest version of this one, but as i read from others reviews the original is bit different, so in the nearest future i am planning to purchase and try the original edition of this scent. The lasting power is very very good for a EDT version. I have bought all the 90ml bottles they were selling in our shops so now i am totally stocked up with this one for a long time :)) I have also purchased a pure parfum concentration in old version and waiting for it to arrive to give a new review. I wonder if it is also as fabulous as the EDT version.

Got it today! Since first sniff, I `m crazy in LOVE with it!!! It is so FEMININE!!! I think it smells like a REAL WOMAN have to smell. To me it is a very beautiful, classy lady, serious but at the same time playful, gentle but sexy, sweet buy not in the girly way, so aristocratically cold, but inviting!!! Spicy, powdery, warmmmmmmmm... I can not stop smelling my wrist! It is so GORGEOUS! Since long time I was not so crazy about any fragrance that I tried. It is a cold weather in Paris today, a little humid, Tamango was perfect on me today, I was catching amazing waffles all the way home. It smells similar to English drag store classic PANACHE which I also like allot, but Tamango it match more intense. I got 100ml eau de toilette version, my guess modern... Oh, I`m so happy I got it!!!

I got a vintage mini and this one absolutely ticks all the boxes for me! Vintage aldehydic scents can easily go into the dated category for me, but Tamango feels modern-day compatible. Shower freshness meets something buttery and rich like a confectionary. Overall I get an impression of a steamy and clean after-shower moment, combined with a wiff of various beauty products - the ambiance of getting ready to go out clubbing. No perfume before has managed to convey this kind of anticipatory restless excitement! The sillage feels just right; not room-filling, nor just a 'skin scent'. Longevity sadly seems to be around 2 hours which is not enough for something that smells this good! Spring and summer yes. I would wear this for after-dark outings, oversprayed and reapplied as needed.

21. february 2011 "Nothing special about this one" that was my first impression about Tamango. Quite sharp with citrus notes in the opening, but then blends into something soapy indeed. I totally agree with all the others who feel that. But since it is going out of stock in my country and they sell it for a bargain price i wanted to try it again. And now the more i try the more i like it! This is a very feminine fragrance, now i finally understand it! The opening might scare you off, because reminds of a soap detergent, but just wait until it settles down in about 30 minutes! Rose with aldehydes is a beautiful combination here. Indeed a great as an everyday scent pleasant and very feminine. For women of every age: suits young and old. Also the lasting power of EDT is very good.

This fragrance is really close to my heart because it was my mom's signature scent , she would wear it to work, I can remember her 2 piece outfits, leather high heels, and always wore a silk scarf. She was so classy and empowered but at the same time sweet and approachable, those good qualities were represented in her perfume choice. The notes are a lovely bouquet of creamy flowers , almost like a lipstick rosey scent or Nivea cream florals, then the cool side comes with the oakmoss and saldalwood, the tonka and amber are there but never sweet, that is what I love about this perfume, is extremely creamy and comforting, never screechy or harsh, best to be worn on dewy spring mornings or after a hot steamy bath for a replenishing sleep.

OK Where to start for me. I can see why this one has many followers. It has a lovely mixed quality to it. It has the aldehydes going on, similar to Replique sort of vibe. Could be construed as a No 5 type opening but it is greener to me. And richer. And nicer... But still thre is that sweetish opening. Then into the greens and soft civets too. To me this is far nicer than many far more famous ones of this same genre of perfume. Cannot be considered cheap smelling by any constellation. Class all the way. Day and night all arounder tennis and weddings. Also so agree with Madame Rochas comparison.

Thanks to all the wonderful Fragrantica reviewers, I blind bought this and received the bottle today and couldn't wait to spray it on my wrists...I am in LOVE. It smells familiar, not sure what it reminds me of, possibly Vivara? Anyway it's a beautiful feminine floral chypre style, absolutely elegant and feminine. I think I will be wearing this pretty regularly. I have the reformulation, I was not lucky enough to have experienced the original, but I am not sure how they could have improved on what I am immensely enjoying on my skin.

Tamango est un de mes parfums signature : féminin, élégant, racé, très 70's. Il n'a pas rencontré le succès qu'il aurait pourtant bien mérité. Je le classerais plutôt dans les floraux-aldehydés que dans les chypres. Moins boisé que Farouche et Climat, sa tenue et son sillage sont honorables. À privilégier par temps froid sur un pull en cachemire ou en mohair.

This perfume in the vintage formulation is not really a floral to my nose. It is an oriental spicy I would say. It has a lot in common Dioressence and even more so Yves Rocher Diamella. I never knew Diamella had a twin, but she has and it is Tamango!

Chanel No.19 and Rive Gauche, yes, but also Climat, before it was reformulated. But quite apart from these similarities, this is a wonderful scent, with a perfect balancing of sharp and soft notes. I enjoy every minute wearing it.

They totally repacked it . New glass bottle , new packaging with Leonard's flowers . I't's less old fashion, even a bit trendy I'd said ... Anyway the fragrance is still amazing . A real awesome classic .

Yesterday i tried it again and it is a great perfume!! Leonard is a masterpiece supplier, they have SO many fantastic perfumes!!

I totally agree with loismonahan! It really does remind me of Chanel 19 & Rive Gauche :>

This does have some similarity to Rive Gauche. An old school vibe, very 70's, to me, as I was a child sniffing perfumes back then. I like it but don't know if I want to wear it. Perhaps around 25 years ago, when I wore Caleche as I madly adored it, I would have fallen for Tamango. And a room-mate used to drown herself in Rive Gauche daily and I guess I had enough of that too, long ago. Tamango's like a walk down memory lane although this is the first time I've smelt it. Nothing wrong with an old school vibe by the way. (Vintage miniature). Edit 220113:Seems much less like Rive Gauche this time as I get used to Tamango. It's the sweetness coming through the sharp notes of the first few hours that surprise me. Sweet carnation blends harmoniously with the other flowers and a touch of amber. I need to press my nose into my skin to get this, but it's good, really good. Perseverance or patience has won out this time. Few more tests before I consider a full bottle. Chypres can be so interesting even if often find them difficult.

This review is for the original 1977 formula. The first impression I had as this scent hit my nose was of a rose' sparkling wine! It was effervescent, rosy, woody and a bit green. What a delight! The aldehydes and rose mix masterfully with the spices, carnation and iris, making this a most fresh and feminine fragrance which is incredibly wearable. I didn't detect the Lilly of the Valley, or the citrus. I am not fond of citrus in my fragrances, so to me, this is a very good thing! I am enamored with this full bodied gem! As the aldehydes fade, so does the spiciness, leaving a rather rich but light-hearted floral which is quite delectable. The dry down is a gorgeous blend of soft florals and the beautiful oak moss. I loved it from start to finish and it is still glowing on my skin! Sillage is moderate on me and so is the longevity.

Reading a perfume's review gives me an idea how others perceive a certain scent. In the case of Tamango the feedback is generally positive. Some time ago I'd tested this very perfume and didn't like it. Now I've tested it again, wondering what it is that I'm missing about this frag. It's a classic chypre and a vintage, so what's not to like here? The dry down does remind of Rive Gauche, which I do like. There's no similarity to Ysatis, as far as I can tell. Sometime it's easier to consider what's good about a disliked fragrance. Tamango isn't cheap or brash, it's well made and rather ladylike. Sophisticated in a quiet way. It's stylish in a 1950's manner, cool and almost demure. These attributes are the polar opposites of what I like in perfumes, my favorites run towards the deep, dark and heavy stuff.

I bought this only once, back around 2000, because I liked the name and found it dirt cheap online: I remember it sold for under $20. I got it and liked it enough to send samples to a few of the people in the online perfume lovers group I was part of, then I eventually used it up and never repurchased. I always found the opening a bit brash and it took a while for it to settle into a quiet, pleasant, slightly mumsy floral with rose and LOTV being predominant. A definite "like" and nice memory, but probably not one I'll revisit.