Sirocco

Sirocco is a desert wind that comes from the Sahara. As the name suggested, a dry spicy oriental opens with citrusy coriander and lavender and settles to the musk, vanilla, benzoin and sandalwood base. The 70's cologne in green plastic bottle has a brighter carnation note that is not found in parfum. Barbara Herman reviewed it in Scent And Subversion "This gourmand Oriental perfume is a dark, sensual experience, and has a more mysterious aura than the brighter Emeraude and the friendlier Shalimar." The notes from our database is different from Barbara's research: 1964 Dictionnaire des Parfums de France listed citrus, lavender, benzoin, patchouli, vanilla.

My little vintage bottle of Sirocco is so cute, it's got tiny blue stones on the bottle cap. I've actually had this in my collection for a year, but haven't tried it till now and I have to say I smell more than what the notes on Fragrantica show. At first I smell a dry, dirty, musk and bergamot, but within minutes the scent of oakmoss, coriander, sandalwood, rose and a rich vanilla come out too. This vintage aroma makes me think dark, sexy, Parisianne chic, furs and cigarettes on the end of foot long cigarette holders. It reminds me of vintage Baghari or Shalimar: alluring, classic and beautiful.

I got a small hobnail bottle of this on eBay. It’s very similar to shalimar eau de cologne and emeraude. A very light version of the two. I really like it quite a bit.

A soft and dry oriental, spicy but not at all sweet. I like the choice of the name, sirocco, which is a hot and often dusty wind, as the smell of the perfume seems to fit this due to its dry character. A very nice break if you want something other than sweet perfumes, it reminds me of having a glass of Sauvignon blanc when you're used to Moscato. Moderate longevity and projection, cute old-fashioned bottle, classic old perfume launched in the 1930s, fun to try.

This goes on a spicy beautiful oriental that quickly dries down to coriander, sandalwood and some musk. It becomes a close powdery spicy skin scent. There has to be orris in this, though it could be the creaminess of the sandalwood, but that doesn't account for the powdery note. There also is a touch of oakmoss. And, I would swear there is a carnation note.