Loewe 2

Loewe 2 was the second fragrance the Spanish house launched after L. While L was established, had its clientele and was considered a proper perfume (a beautiful green floral), the younger generation of the late 70’s wanted something different. Something less ‘proper’ and more naughty. Early ads said it all; ‘Inevitable. Yet, Loewe’. Or ‘Its crazy, and yet it’s Loewe’. The brand wanted something different so they came up with a classic homage and a modern spicy leathery chypre in one. Loewe 2 opens with potent aldehydes. Along the line of Miss Dior and maybe some Rive Gauche. There’s a big floral heart, mostly made up of gardenia and jasmine, with hints of green early buds and wilting petals. Honeyed, raunchy, classy. A bit of iris perhaps for a cosmetic powdery feel. Midway through the heart, a greener shadow appears. Oakmoss and leather with some spices bring it closer to something along the lines of Dioressence; herbal, but spicy. A chypre oriental. I find an ever present lick of either civet, castoreum, or maybe both. There’s also a pronounced vetiver and sandalwood that anchor it to skin and give it a robust flair. I wouldn’t say it was something modern in 1978; it was a proper perfume, with heft and gravitas, but instead of the green cool shade of L, it brought forward a narcotic white floral heart, and made the base spicier and more leathery while keeping the chypre character of L. And with a more pronounced animalic character. In that sense, yes, I can see its appeal to a younger generation and also why it would seem risky for Loewe, a brand at the time renowned for a very classic and a bit uptight style. Had it been launched by another brand, it would most likely be considered a vintage masterpiece today. Today many would say it’s old and dated. I say it’s a little known gem, that can still be found cheap, and it’s a forerunner to the big animalic chypres that would come some years later. All with excellent sillage and longevity! This, L, Esencia and Gala are the 4 masterpieces of Loewe. Do seek it out before it vanishes for ever. Elena, thanks again for adding it to the database!

Excellent creation that deserves more attention. Smells like a freshly gut flower boquet without any one floral dominating, although I do detect lily-of-the-valley in there.I do not usually like florals, but this is gorgeous and natural smelling. I have the edt splash and the sillage is enourmous. I would love to know who the nose was for this ???