Pheromone

My love affair with "Pheromone" goes back to 1990. I was an au-pair then in Miami and I received this fragrance as a birthday gift from a good friend of mine who was working as a flight attendant for Pan Am. She once told me, that on one of her flights back from Europe another flight attendant was wearing this fragrance and got tons of compliments and (indecent) proposals from male passengers while serving the first class..... I was so intrigued by this story that I wanted to get this fragrance so bad...but back then I did not have the money to buy it myself....so luckily, I received my first bottle as a gift :-) I was hocked from the first sniff and it became my all-time favourite for almost 18 years! For me it is one of the most unusual fragrances out there. (True, the story behind "Pheromone" how it was discovered in Egypt etc. etc. is truly fascinating and a PR masterpiece). When I smell the fragrance now, I get the "green" in it....back then, I did not somehow...all I got was the exotic spices and the warm, mystic notes. Thanks to "Pheromone" I started to appreciate the greener fragrances...like "Mitsouko " which this fragrance reminds me a bit, but "Pheromone" is not quite a "Chypre". I believe the magic of this fragrance is in the body chemistry! I know, "Pheromone" was extremely popular since it was released, but I think not everybody was wearing it well.... The beauty of this fragrance reveals itself only if applied with a very light hand. Too much of it and you will run for cover! So, it is no surprise to me, that it got the reputation of a major "stinker" but with any fine things in life....less is often more! Now and then, I wear "Pheromone"...I consider it a classic and therefore is not dated or old smelling. It is (still) a very unusual fragrance to this day - You will get noticed when you wear this gem....it is not for the shy and wallflowers out there.....you will need to wear it with an attitude of an Egyptian queen!

I've heard some people dislike some perfume when they first smell it and then come back to it and they fall in love with that scent...I've never experienced that until now. I got a great deal last summer on ebay and bought a vintage Pheromone by Marilyn Miglin, an eau de Parfum. When I got it I kinda liked it but I didn't love it, and I even liked it so little that I've propably only sprayed it like three times after the first spray. But today I tried it on and fell in love. ( The official notes are as follows Top notes:Bergamot, Leafy Greens, Orange Flower Mid notes:Jasmine, Geranium, Iris, Cassis Absolute Base notes:Sandalwood, Oakmoss and Vanilla Absolute ) ...not quite what was listed here in fragrantica but leafy greens include palm leaves, mint etc) The scent opens with a huge green leafy bomb, maybe a little bit aldehydic even. The sillage fills the room. Palm leaves are there for at least 30 minutes. As the scent warms on the skin it gets muskier, more flowery and woody. High quality jasmine is noticable. The basenote part is just the most amazing and my favourite part of the whole show. There is definitely some hardcore oakmoss which has been there the whole time. There's fabulous "vintage" Vanilla-Sandalwood combo among the oakmoss. Maybe even some civet? This drydown reminds me of Chanel no 5!

Dense, moody Aromatic/Green/Chypre. "Biblical" aromatic notes (picture Moses and the Pharaoh's daughters in the bulrushes) lead you into a marshy world of sullen, bruised florals and sodden, dark-green essences that remind one of a Louisiana bayou at twilight, or a hidden Florida salt marsh. Atop a powerful, nigh-indelible mossy chypre base. A fragrance Marie Laveau or Nefertiti would've prized. I think PHER'OMONE is a daring perfumer's masterpiece. It smells like nothing you know of. It is a love-it-or-hate-it number. It smells Yin... concave, recessed. Instead of projecting outward, it seems to be curved inward, if that makes sense. It smells like a real flesh-and-blood woman who has just shampooed her long hair and stepped out of the shower. Her body soaking wet, steamy warm and clean yet still offering hints of the smell of woman. Yin. Moody, sophisticated, mature, evocative. Not for young girls, cheerleaders, ingenues or sorority sisters. I agree with another writer who said that it smells Texan... haha.... like a Lynn Sakowitz Wyatt type: staggeringly, unfathomably rich and expensively turned out from head-to-toe... 80's helmet-hair and padded Dynasty shoulders, but with an oldschool working-class Texan accent you can cut with a knife.

This has been my signature scent since the early '90s and I have never fallen out of love with it. Living in Chicago, Marilyn signed purchases for me on the spot at Marshall Field's on at least two different occasions. I got to speak with her about when she was a dancer and she asked about my career. She has beautiful etiquette and is just a lovely person. I will never stop loving Pheromone. I adore the well-blended complexity of this fragrance, but definitely pull out the lotus, palm, and spices. The dry down is heaven. I've never received more compliments on a fragrance, although I wear it solely for my own enjoyment. Here's a tip for those of you who feel you need to buy vintage: You needn't. You can purchase the perfume or the perfume oil. Both are glorious and smooth, and haven't changed over the years. And you can order directly from Miglin's website, by phone, or stop in the boutique on Oak Street (yes, that's the luxurious Gold Coast) in Chicago.

This fragrance has become a staple in my collection since the very first time my date and "future" husband smelled it on me and found it simply irresistible, I was 22 yrs old then. I strongly believe that body chemistry and personality affect how a fragrance will tell its story on our skin rather than age. A truly beautiful fragrance is ageless! Pheromone is so unique ... I have not encountered a fragrance quite like it. This exudes luxury and sophistication and I am so happy that I discovered it in the midst of other common and generic scents that surround us. It is not for the weak, the initial spray comes out strong and spicy but then it dries down to an ethereal yet profound woodsy and floral notes blended so well that it's so hard to describe it other than ... infinitely provocative to the senses.

If I didn't know any better I'd think I was wearing Wind Song by Prince Matchabelli. Oddly enough, the notes don't really match at all but I had to come on this site to jog my memory of exactly which scent this reminds me so much of. Pheromone has that same beautiful mix of cool and crisp yet spicy. Others say it reminds them of Charlie. I must disagree. Charlie (from my memory, as it's been years since we last met) is rather aggressive. I don't get that from Pheromone. She is much more subtle and seductive. I'd never put Charlie and Pheromone together in my mind. If you enjoy Wind Song it is almost certain that you will also enjoy Pheromone. Absolutely gorgeous! Easily a 3-season scent, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Most definitely a love for me.

My mother-in-law, a beautiful Egyptian woman who smelled as wonderfully exotic as she behaved, was the inspiration behind my discovery of Pheromone. I went to the perfume counter of my local department store seeking a scent that was both earthy and ethereal. The sales associate suggested Pheromone - emphasizing the richness of its gold flakes. Honestly, that was not a great selling point to me. I agree that it has a "soapy" quality; but I prefer to call it fresh-scrubbed. It manages to be both intense and light, spicy and green, warm and sharp all at the same time. I have tried many perfumes since the early 80's when I bought my first bottle of Pheromone, but it always remains my "signature" and favorite.

Pheromone is so complex and carefully balanced. It's hard to describe because it seems to contain every note ever created, but none are distinguishable as singular entities. On me, pheromone is a very soft skin scent, reminiscent of a lovely dry-down of your favorite fragrance. The scent remains pretty consistent throughout the day. On others, it seems to be strong and seductive. Not my experience at all (in a good way). Pheromone has served me as a gateway perfume. Without having worn it, I would not have given a chance to anything powdery or oriental. It has really helped ease me into appreciating various notes and types of fragrance.

Truly unique. As always, notes have been described to perfection, and so there is nothing to add in that. I must say that this is one that was a blind buy- a set deal from QVC and of course it sounded divine. I waited for over a week to get it, nervous that I bought FRAGRANCE from QVC, of all places (I usually just buy outright, rather than add the pain of flex-pay, LOL!) I got it, opened it, inhaling an exquisite aroma, my eyes no doubt closed, and depressed the spray cap. And it broke off the bottle. Excellent scent, still. Bottle 2/10 Juice 7/10 Projection 7/10

I'm surprised by the comparison to Charlie, I don't smell that. I'd agree with Ma Griffe. This is much greener than I expected, a bit like Vent Vert, but most of all like Lauder Private Collection without the honeyed scent of lindenflower. There, chrysanthemum offers the spice accord you see in Pheromone. Edit: my vintage Charlie DOES smell a lot like Pheromone. Both very nice. My new Charlie smells like Halston. All similar anyway though. Private Collection is greenest, then Pheromone, Charlie, and Halston. Love this style, but you have to be in the mood.

Boozy, kerosine, politically radical opening that gradually parts a vodka curtain revealing an obvious tribute to Bernard Chant's particular take on the chypre, gradually revealing an aldehydic powderiness and a luxurious aromatic astringency. Beautiful, unisex balancing of florals and mossy woodsiness. Just a bit animalic. Just a bit indolic. Delicate but earthy. Really remarkable. Love it. Love the way the vodka lingers. Love the playful send-up to Chant, intended or not. Really, really incredible.

Vintage Pheromone edp is green floral chypre with the depth and sophistication of the genre. It begins with a green herbal blast that smells reminiscent of the spearmint note in Herba Fresca. The heart is a lovely symphonic floral that slowly moves into the slightly animalic oakmoss/resinous base. There is no sweetness. There is a warmth and depth that one rarely finds in modern perfumery. Pheromone is not shocking or daring. It is a beautifully done perfume appropriate for most occasions.

Vintage review: I personally love how this smells like a straight-up forest. It's a little smoky, a little spicy, a little soapy but it just smells so classy. It was never expensive or super glamorous, they just blended it to perfection, so it smells expensive. I smell cinnamon and clove and a ton of musk on the drydown. As strong as it is, it's quite easy to wear. In the summer just spray very lightly.

I have a huge bottle I bought on HSN, about 20 years ago. I used it a little bit then, but it wasn't one of my favorites. I was thinking about it today, and decided to give it another try. It is really lovely. I like it a lot now. I guess I just needed to be more mature to really appreciate it. I agree with those who say "less is more". This isn't something you spray a lot on.

I was introduced to Pheromone in the 80’s when I worked in cosmetics and it was one of the fragrances at my counter. I fell in love with it and the Fluid Gold. I don’t wear it often as I like to save for special sexy time on Summer evenings... Unique, beast mode, one spritz in my cleavage is all it takes!

I actually love this. As Trinity states,less IS more. One tiny spray on the abdomen will do. Maybe it's not a good simile,but, Pheromone is like garlic. One crushed clove can make your entire dish. Take a big bite out of an entire bulb (like an apple) and you and all around will be sorry

This is so very beautiful! What a wonderful thing! If you have not tried this you really should it is so different and well made!! I would say that you can smell all of the spices and such that is in this. I just can't stop smelling my own wrist! I keep saying mmmm!

Wow, this is lovely. Lots of oakmoss in the opening then spices. I can smell the cinnamon radiating and a little minty tingle on the skin then some woods, floral notes and a soapy vibe. This reminds me of vintage florientals without the carnation.

Just a quick observation: The dark-green vintage Bath and Body Oil (a.k.a. Sacred Oil of Phéromone) smells very similar to Jannat El Firdaus by Swiss Arabian.

Pheromone EDP In honor of the late, great Marilyn Miglin (who passed away last month, March 2022), I am doing what I should have done a long time ago and reviewing a few from among my large MM fragrance collection. Ms. Miglin wasn’t a run-of-the-mill peddler of perfumes; I believe she was a genuine scent-obsessed fragrance enthusiast like we regulars here on Fragrantica. Pheromone, of course, is Miglin’s opus majus—or at least her most famous work. I have had a “vintage” Pheromone splash EDP for a good 10 years (don’t know what the seller’s parameters for “vintage” were) and I also have a spray EDP, likely of more recent production, but I don’t know by how much. The vintage EDP has far more projection despite being a splash and is a tad rounder and fuller, almost “nuttier” than the drier spray EDP. This nuttiness—the same effect I get from “vintage” Estee Lauder Private Collection; perhaps it’s vintage vetiver in the bases?—is in both versions in varying degrees and is what sets apart Pheromone from the much sharper, more astringent chypres I prefer (Clinique Aromatics Elixir, Lancome Magie Noire, Jean-Louis Scherrer by Jean-Louis Scherrer, etc.). In fact, comparing vintage EL Private Collection and the vintage Pheromone splash EDP, I would say they are similar enough that a fragrance-lover who merely wants a member of the 70s chypres category and already has one does not need to acquire the other. Now, if you are a chypre fanatic like me, who affectionately knows and loves the small differences among the chypres of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, yes, by all means add Pheromone to your stable of classics; it is not nearly as assertive as EL P.C. and fills an important role as “understated, subtle chypre.” During the blessed ritual of choosing a fragrance of the day, I frequently and intentionally bypass Pheromone and EL Private Collection. This is because of that nutty, rounded chord both strike; I crave a more piercing, higher-pitched edge, especially to slice through humid, muggy climates. However, this reason I often brush past Pheromone may be the same thing that tempts you to try it. Also, the more recent spray EDP is definitely soapier and less rounded than the vintage dabber, so I can default to the former on the occasions I want a more mellow chypre experience (even that more recent, lighter version is still softer around the edges than some of the other classic chypres I named). Of course, as a late 70s chypre, Pheromone is still gloriously dry, and in 2022 in a room full of perfume-wearers will certainly still stand out from the flood of post-2000 dessert-centric gourmands, ultra-fruity florals and sweet fruitchoulis, and balmy ambers and orientals. But unlike its close cousin-chypres, Pheromone will not demand the attention of passersby; its lower pitch means people around you—who are unlikely to be rabid 70s chypres fans— won’t perceive it as an assault on their olfactory nerves. Today in full spring, the sun is shining, and where it shines on Pheromone-anointed skin, it releases the wholesome, dry, nutty, earthy clean scent that is a true field of wildflowers, roots and stems (I’ve never smelled sweet, rosy or “floral”-scented wildflowers, have you?) This spring in the northern hemisphere—or in any season around the world, for classic chypres are always expertly and triumphantly seasonless—bask in Pheromone’s murmured earthiness and give thanks for Marilyn Miglin’s venerable career in fragrance. RIP, grand woman and fellow fragrance-enthusiast.