Norell

This smells like old money to me. Or maybe it's my association with this scent and who wore it that is making me think that way. You see, this was the signature scent of my godmother. Her apartment was the top floor at the Stanhope Hotel, opposite Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum. She wore Chanel suits, tastefully exquisite jewelry, and Norell. I purchased a bottle of the vintage cologne and with just one spray was transported back in time. Sophisticated, worldly, classy, refined, elegant; that was my godmother to a T and exactly what this captivating fragrance exudes. It's very complex. As complex as she was. A beautiful chypre with strong dynamic florals on an Oriental backbone. It's said this fragrance shook the world of French perfumery when it was released. Of that I have no doubt. A fragrance with this level of complexity could certainly go toe to toe against anything created in France. Considering the popularity of this fragrance, even in that country, I am sure French people at that time would agree. After not having smelled this for over 30 years, smelling it again flooded me with memories of the lovely lady who was a second mother to me. Though she is long gone, I still have all those wonderful memories, and now something that will bring back those memories in even sharper relief. That makes this little bottle worth its weight in gold. One thing I want to say about the versions that are available. I wanted to get the exact version that my godmother wore. I know it was the first. Something that impossibly rich couldn't possibly be anything else. While doing my research I learned that this was manufactured 4 times, as follows in this order: Norell Perfumes Inc Norell Prestige Perfumes Norell Five Star Fragrances Norell Norell Parfums New York I've only smelled the original formula, Norell Perfumes Inc., so I can't speak about or recommend the others. But I do recommend the original Norell, especially if you want to experience something uniquely beautiful that will make you feel, and smell, like a million bucks too.

I’m happy I bought Norell even though the similarity to Fidji is there. Norell is a creature of her own! There is familiarity between the two. Catapano composed both after all and in Norell you can smell that ethereal floral halo that is part of Fidji. But Norell is closer in character to something along the lines of Occur, Mystère and even Charlie. Aldehydes, ylang butteriness and light spices are there in the start. Gardenia with tuberose remind me of the alabaster skin I smell in Chloé. The purple feel of hyacinth and iris tie it to Fidji. There’s a sense of skin cream and powder that to me feels familiar, safe and comforting. From what perfumes used to be and smell like. Fidji is a nightgown in the summer breeze. Fidji du Soir goes R-18. Norell takes a more dynamic character, with the galbanum, oakmoss and resiny spices giving it a power chypre personality. The hidden animalics give it a dark side that reminds me of the floral chypres I mentioned above. Norell is sexy while Fidji is innocent. Kinda like Chloé is the peach fuzz to Ysatis glowing tanned skin. A bold and powdery floral chypre, spices instead of leather and subtle civet/musk notes that make it the Americana version of the best 70’s French and Italian perfumes, the high end version of Charlie (a stunner from when Revlon was gold) and the nocturnal side of Laura Mars, who brilliantly captured the essence of Norell in the ads. Norell, like many perfumes, is inevitably inspired by others and has inspired others that came. But even though Fidji and L’air du Temps are the ‘closest’, there is a darker development, a bolder character and a more visible ‘I don’t give a fuck’ attitude. If this was released in the 80’s, it would have become a sought after unicorn. Masterpiece! And as far as the European ‘Soft Eau de Cologne’ version, which I own in 240ml; this is downright edp in strength with 73° concentration. This ain’t a wallflower!

A kind Fragrantica friend here gave me a partial bottle of this vintage fragrance and I love it. For some reason it actually reminds me a bit of vintage Stetson for Men but like a woman version of that. And it's not at all like Lady Stetson. This is a powerful fragrance. The type of fragrance that announced your arrival. You were marking your territory back in those days. I remember formidable, strong willed women wearing this type of fragrance when I was very young in the 70s and I didn't understand them or these types of perfumes. I was still in Princess mode in my mind and had no use or liking of Evil Queens. I wore Avon Roses roses. I was pure and innocent. But as a middle age woman who has seen quite a bit of life and has suffered the blows the world can give I understand this type of perfume and why women of that time wore them. Norell is green stems pulled out by the roots and transplanted in a musky dark black earthy ground. It is the sharp arrival of spring with pouring rain of thunderstorms, the aromatic driving wind carrying the aroma of tender spring flowers, the muskiness of the past autumn leaves, grasses and past animal skat newly free from the winters snow. But all of this is done in a perfume way because this is a real perfume, not nature. It is a mimic, or more of an impression of wildness. This is a perfume wore by a woman who is a thunderstorm. A beautiful old school green, musky, animalic, floral. Dated for most but for me I still say it is chic. Retro chic. And ps the dry down is a purring tiger.

before I joined this club,I had read the term chypre, but had never really known what it meant. I knew that certain perfumes contained oakmoss or cedar but did not know how it affected the perfume. After having read several reviews and doing some research I decided to try a chypre floral,now I had tried Norell several years ago in a local drug store and had really liked it but for some reason did not buy it. I have preferred oriental and oriental floral perfumes, most of my life. After trying Cuir de Lancome and Nike de Saint Phalle, I decided that I love chypre florals and am trying to branch out. I saw Norell at a local department store for a very reasonable price and decided to get it. One of the Fragranitica members was asking about green chypres and mentioned Norell. I realize it is considered a floral, but it is much more complex than that. I am still trying to improve my reviews so bear with me. Norell does start out fresh and green and soon after blossoms into a rich and beautiful floral. I can smell the carnation and mimose, but the other flowers and spice seem to become one opulent note. The dry down is amazing, warm, but with a fresh note as well. It like Niki,is very underrated. It is elegant and classy, perfect for any age or sex. It can be worn anytime day or night. One of the best 1960's perfume out there and(this is the best part)it is very affordable. I bought the cologne because I understand it has not been reformulated. Even though, a cologne, it last several hours.

Not being a purist about fragrance formulations, last year I bought a bottle of the Norell EDT at TJMaxx. Unlike the reformulations of other well known fragrances, I could find no improvements over the old scent, only very very bad characteristics. The new EDT opening is so harsh it's almost unbearable and the opening is very long lasting, over an hour. The dry down is not much better. The original was a beloved fragrance of mine back in the 60's and 70's and this new formulation made me question my olfactory memory. I just had to check my memory so I purchased a bottle of vintage extrait. There indeed was that wonderful fragrance of my past. This led me to purchase a lot of 2 partial bottles of the vintage EDT, one a splash, the other a spray. These were also excellent specimens of the original fragrance. These EDT's have the longevity and sillage of the best of today's extraits. Loving the Alien wrote the most apt description of this divine scent. I had to laugh at the comment about Norell being suited to outdoor activities. I first encountered Norell on my Lacrosse team opponent during a game in the spring of 1969. Isn't it amazing how often we can recall the first time we smelled a fragrance? If you are looking to try a vintage fragrance, there is a lot of Norell available at reasonable prices. All of the concentrations have held up well. I've since bought several bottles for friends and they all agree that a vintage bottle of this is a priceless treasure!

I can remember seeing this one frequently at discount stores for the last 20 years or so. I never really gave it a chance. The "plain" box and bottle and the inexpensive price led me to assume that Norell would not be a pleasant scent. It seems I should know by now to never judge a fragrance by its packaging. Norell is a humble reminder of this. I purchased the Bath Oil, after hearing that its scent was closest to the original formulation of the fragrance (pre-1997). The bath oils works just fine as a perfume, by the way. And oh, lovely Norell, I am so sorry I passed you by all these years! The scent opens with a blast of sharp green, followed by heady florals and spice, all on a woods-and-moss base. The floral phase lasts the longest and the flowers are bright and powerful, reminiscent of Patou's Joy. I get a waft of oriental spice every now and then. Something in this phase reminds me of Molinard de Molinard as well. The beautiful dry-down, however, is classic chypre. I agree that "Floral" doesn't adequately classify this complex scent, but neither would "Chypre." The scent is a perfect match for what I now recognize as the understated elegance of the box and bottle. Norell would be a classic beauty at any price, but it would be a shame if any Chypre or Floral Chypre fan let this one slip by when it is priced so low.

(parfum, 1st formulation) This one is an extremely 60s green floral chypre. It is largely a "clean" scent of the 60s genre: think Estee and Climat. Norell has a brilliant and lifelike hyacinth opening which is just picture perfect. On fabric and paper this crisp delight lasts a long time. It is so difficult to find a good hyacinth note in perfumes but this one nails it. Shortly afterwards a spicy and intensely waxy carnation comes onto the scene with a big slug of yellow forals, a "soapy" overdose of linalool and a touch of galbanum. There is a lot to admire here - the buttery ylang, the beautiful daffodil, and the smooth spices float like a puff of smoke over the golden chypre base. There are other aromas in here that give a hint of golden fruit. The whole thing dries down somewhat close to Estee, its strange, musk-laden, golden chypre base being unmistakable to me. It has great longevity and is delightful for sunny mornings. It has a distinct sillage that is both airy and implacable. As such, it would be the perfect scent for daytime outdoor activities which conveniently matches its affinity for picnic weather. It's very intense, though it doesn't seem that way when you first dab. Apply less at first for a better effect later on.

Norell...WOW. I hoard the vintage stuff whenever I can so I will never be without it! This is my number 2 favorite fragrance, only slightly overshadowed by my signature, Estee. Norell's composition is complex and sophisticated but still warm and dreamy. I am biased because it has some of my top favorite notes: Coriander, Myrrh, and Cardamom. The strong carnation and rose notes are moderately heavy. It can remind me of Tea Rose (which I love), but Tea Rose is linear and has little warmth. The Coriander, Myrrh, and Cinnamon make this fragrance more pleasantly approachable. The bath oil (which I also occasionally use as perfume) is slightly sweeter and translates the same as the cologne spray, but lasts on my skin until the next shower. The cologne has good longevity too and 2 sprays lasts through the work day. When I wear Norell, it adds to my confidence and assertiveness and definitely ramps up "FIERCENESS" in my persona. LOVE!!! I know Faye Dunaway was once the face of Norell, and when I wear it, I think of that scene in Mommie Dearest when she's meeting with the board of Pepsi and shouts, "DON'T F*CK WITH ME, FELLAS!!!!" ---Norell :o)

With Norell on my skin, I know that I am wearing PERFUME in capital letters. I have the sudden urge to say to anyone in front of me, "can you leave, please? You're right in my eye line." Norell is staggering in its heady, take-no-prisoners green spiciness, where all is an abstraction, but silhouettes of carnation, ylang-ylang, narcissus, hyacinth are haunting apparitions among the swirling, golden "perfuminess" of it all. It's super musky, dusky, Venus in Furs costus and lipstick on white collars, and amber-hued Pears soap lathered on sweaty skin. Yes, it's as unisex as the oceans are wide and deep, because this is not a pretty little filly, it's got the muscle of a colt, and I love it for that. A disclosure is necessary: this is not a Five Star Fragrance version. I was advised time and again to avoid it like the plague; this one is all New York, New York, baby. It's fascinating that Josephine Catapano could create both Shiseido Zen and Norell: truly yin and yang. Norell feels like a raspy, chain-smoking, seen-it-all indulgence, and one too many sprays can be intoxicating. Don't say I didn't warn you.

I reviewed this perfume before, but I recently received about 1/4oz. left in a 1oz. bottle of the Prestige version in a lot of vintage perfumes I bought from someone downsizing their wardrobe. Prestige was the second manufacturer for this perfume. While Prestige seemed to have followed the original formula, there is a not-so-subtle change. It is a little skanky now thanks to the addition of civet to the mix. I'm not a big fan of that note so I will stick to the first version, but a heads up for those who like it - the civet is real and not that horrible synthetic motor oil stuff they are trying to pass off as civet today. So, if you like this fragrance and you like civet, this should make you very happy. For me, not so much but I do know someone here who seems to gravitate to fragrances with that note, so I've since passed this on to her. For those who don't like civet, steer clear of this version, because there is no skimping on that here.

I have worn nothing but Norell, daily, since I was 16 years old. I was introduced to it by a woman in her twenties purchasing it in the drugstore where I worked. She and her roommate shared a bottle, and it was her turn to buy. To say it is my signature scent is an understatement. I've used it exclusively at the back of my neck for 30 years, and can actually hear men inhaling when they hug me. I've had so many people stop me to ask me what I am wearing. People whom I know have bought Norell for themselves, but then have noticed that it doesn't smell the same on them as it does me. Thanks, more for me! I'm heartbroken it's discontinued, but just keep taking chances and buying vintage bottles on EBay. The scent just intensifies with age. So far, only one has been counterfeit, and the seller refunded my payment without question. I wish a perfumer would consider producing it again! I will need it for another 40 years, I'm hoping!

if you want to make yourself known this is the right perfume this fragrance demands your attention. the begining the cypre greens with undertones of bergamot lavender & hiacynth the lemon just floats into the backround. a couple of minutes later going though a sweet narcissus gardenia stage but the spicy residue of cypre still lingers but in a earthier scent with rose cinnamon and cardamon. the drydown is an intoxicating myrrh. a bit dated now but i think it was ahead of it's time released in 1968 but the perfume design and the box with it's big bold black lettering NORELL makes you think of a 80's bussiness advertisments or a barbara kruger famous piece of work your body is a battlegroun this is one of those sex in a bottle perfumes because it is sexy a perfume for a young women with an old soul.

I was always intrigued by Norell, i finally got to try it a few days ago when Nyoka generouslly sent me a decant sample. Norell is a beautiful floral green - it is the only foral green that blended well with my chemistry (so far). The projection is wonderful and staying power good. I wore this on Wednesday and as usual carried the sample along with me when i went out. In the bus i decided to retouch (not because it was necessary but simply because i like building up mega sillage) so i took it out and applied it discreetly to my wrists; well i fell asleep and when i awoke my sample was gone. The lady sitting next to me had pilfered it! I guess she found it's beautiful aroma irresistible but i would have happily given it to her if she had asked!

This my recollection rather than a review. Norell by Norell utterly transported me with its burst of florist-fresh air. I ADORED it, but as a Junior in college, in 1971, couldn't afford it. Not to be denied, I walked to Saks from my university, and no matter the weather or season, I wore a sweater under a coat, carrying a sweater in a shopping bag. Upon arrival, I beelined for the perfume counter, liberally and heavily sprayed both sweaters, promptly closing both jacket & shopping bag nearly hermetically containing the fragrance. Returning to my dorm, I shoved one sweater in my underwear drawer and another with my other sweaters. I imagined the fragrance trailed lightly about me for weeks until I could meet my paramour and tryst again.

When capital "P" Perfumes went out of style, a lot of us felt lost. Reformulations had gutted our old favorites (if they were still around), and many just disappeared from shelves altogether. Vintage Norell is not a beast. She is a Perfume. In my humble opinion, a perfume of this complexity does best in dab form, and that is how I wear her. Others have stated her notes and development better than I ever could. What I can say, though, is that my vintage dab bottle is an experience, not just a smell. Side note: I bought this at an estate sale from a woman who was reeking of Light Blue, thinking, I am sure, that she smelled fresh and clean, and happy to unload this old dinosaur. If only she knew!

This is an elegant, captivating perfume. It makes me sing that old song, "sweets for my sweet, sugar for my honey" cos that's what I get. Honeyed, enduring warmth and sweetness with a great balance of depth. Goes on nice and strong, and mellows slowly from the green, flowered opening through the beautifully balanced middle notes (loving the carnations!!!), into the final, lasting depth that for me really makes a perfume matter and endure as a stayer. Very female, in a refined and classy way. Filled with that classic 60's vibe, both in the notes and the balance. No screeching here, just mellow, enticing moments. 10/10 for this one...already getting another bottle.

My mom wore Norell back in the 70's and of course, my sister and I did too. It made us feel sophisticated and grown up. Over the years I've seen the reformulated Norell in various places, but this past weekend I found an almost full vintage EDP bottle at an estate sale. I bought it along with a vintage bottles of Mitsouko EDT, L'Heure Bleue EDT, and First parfum. I sprayed each wrist with Norell before leaving the house to run errands. I could not stop smelling my wrists. I adore this stuff! It reminds me of 1000 and to some extent, Chanel No 22.

Testing Vintage Mini 71% perhaps 1960 ́s or 70 ́s. Some mentioned top notes have maybe faltered, but I get quite an amazing sort of hybrid between a powdery floral aldehyde such as Chanel No 5, but then there is also a green aspect, but a different sort of green, a soft green, almost like a little Cristalle and No 19 were added. I use three Chanel examples because I want to mean harmony because to me, Norell is very harmonious. I am not a big fan of Chanel No 5, but Norell is a more pleasant cousin I find. It is fresher, still sweet mind you.

How I wish I loved the current formulation. I wore this in the 1980s and got so many compliments. Five Star took over in 1999, and it hasn't been the same since. I ordered the bath oil and the cologne spray, thinking they would be closer to the original than the toilette spray. Then I ordered vintage Norell from The Perfumed Court to compare, and though the current cologne spray begins the same, it falls apart. Oh, to have the vintage back!!

I just got this in the mail, due to the great reviews I read here and being a HUGE fan of anything falling into the chypre family. My go-to is typically scents like Ciara and Aromatics Elixir. Norell did not disappoint. From it's "in your face" opening to the lovely drydown, it's definitely in my top 10 spots. Will be wearing this in heavy rotation among my other scented friends.