Esprit d’Oscar

I'm going to be quite honest, this brand was my first love when I was initially getting into fragrances 10 years ago. I used up an entire bottle of another Oscar fragrance around that time years ago, called Live in Love, and I still think it's an absolutely delightful fragrance. This fragrance, Esprit, honestly doesn't smell so amazing from the atomizer. I actually tried giving this away last year due to the fact that I hadn't reached for it in quite a while, so I held a bit of a get together with my neighbors. I lived in the midwestern US at the time, and many of my neighbors took one sniff of the atomizer of Esprit, didn't spray it, and most of them turned up their nose and said 'Bug spray.' Without saying that I agreed with them, I thought to myself: That's exactly why I haven't been reaching for it, because I hadn't sprayed it in so long, I've just been smelling it out of the bottle and saying the same thing, so I had forgotten just how beautiful it was on the skin. So at the end of the get together, nobody had taken the beautiful Esprit, so I chanced another spray, despite all the negative comments towards it. Then I was enveloped in a cloud of beauty. The scent that I sprayed wasn't the scent I smelled from the bottle. The scent you smell from the bottle can't even compare. Once sprayed on the skin, this quickly becomes the most womanly, heavenly, pillowy fluffy, soapy heliotrope musk with some fizzy citrus in the opening, with this slight tinge of aldehydes that I LOVE, as well as this vintage lipstick freshness that drives me crazy in the best possible way. I bought my bottle in 2020 and shortly after, it was unavailable for quite some time. Now I'm seeing it on Nordstrom Rack, and I hope my current bottle is the formula they're still using for this beauty. Please don't judge it from the bottle, because from the bottle, It smells so non descript and dare I say, cheap. But once sprayed, this scent transforms into the most demure, sophisticated, beautiful magical dreamy veil that it is, and reminds me so much of the love child of Chanel 5 Eau Premiere and Chloe Love, Chloe Eau Intense. There's this freshness to it, but it's not scratchy or laundry-esque like so many fresh fragrances are nowadays, the freshness is moreso a feeling, or a texture, and I liken it to a thin beautiful veil of scent that is prominent, yet still maintaining a translucency on the skin, where I can still smell my natural skin musk; Esprit just enhances it and beautifies it. It's not a thick blanket of scent, and it won't wear you. None of the notes overpower one another. They're seamlessly, expertly blended. Suffice to say, this has become a mainstay in my fragrance wardrobe once again. Lasts quite well, between 8-9 hours, with moderate-leaning-intimate sillage, and that depends upon how much you spray. I can spray 5-6 sprays, which is much more liberal than I'm used to spraying, but this fragrance is so inoffensive and likeable, I can get away with slightly overspraying, and it projects pretty moderately for 4 hours before turning into an intimate scent. I cannot imagine this fragrance offending anyone, and although it's quite a sweet one, there is 0% gourmand or food-like touches to it. I see it being described as 'almond-like' from the other reviews. While I can somewhat agree since heliotrope is often known to smell like almonds, Esprit never goes into marzipan territory. It just smells classic, French, perfectly mixes with the natural clean musk scent that our skin naturally produces, and from what I've learned, it's actually still a very popular fragrance in France, and they certainly do NOT like gourmand scents in France. They know best, so if you do not like gourmands but love vintage classy powdery luminous scents that shine and give off a womanly feminine soft nature, while mixing perfectly with your natural chemistry, then this is for you. I highly recommend.

Oh what a beauty! The opening of Esprit has sparkle and definitely resembles at least a little the original Oscar, if less herbal in aura. Here Esprit also reminds me vaguely of a sunny, modernized L'Heure Bleue, as others have mentioned. This said, in short order I am smelling a sweet floral in the same category as Gloria Vanderbilt, truly airy and beautiful. Strong and enveloping on first spray, shortly after subsiding to subtle elegance. There are yellow roses (as in L'aimaint), along with iris and gorgeousness in general. A boudoir floral, indeed. However! Dry down (which happens fairly rapidly on me) is the most lovely MIMOSA-like aura. I am fond of mimosa notes in fragrance, and also of 'mimosa trees', probably not even related to mimosa blossoms in general, but smelling somewhat similar. That charming, powdery cloud of scent is hard to miss on a summer's walk by pink blossomed yards! Yes, I know we owe Esprit's scent profile to a generous number of notes, heliotrope and iris (favorites of mine!) predominantly. Even so, my nose smells mimosa along with that gorgeous orris/ iris for the majority of dry down. Esprit is short lived on my skin, no surprise, and I don't feel at all unhappy about the soft sillage or shorter longevity. In some ways, this is license to spray with abandon, as I do with all lighter scents, spritzing on hair and fabric for best longevity. A boudoir scent is MADE for creating one's own aura of femininity, so scented undies and hair really make sense in this context. And as for wearing in small work spaces and enclosed environments, Esprit would be ideal. A spray or two beneath clothing will be nearly undetectable to any but your own nose, keeping good cheer within one's own energy zone and out of the general office conversation. ;) Would that all modern releases held this much charm and feminine allure in their stylish bottles! Hats off to the house of Oscar de la Renta for a new classic. Five Stars <3 Update: Wearing 5 or so spritzes generously on hair and fabric transforms a soft flower into a scent with lasting power! I love this gorgeous cloud of powdery goodness. A well named beauty, because my spirit rises whenever I wear Esprit. <3

I'm sure I already reviewed this at some point. I had a bottle, I really enjoyed it, but the nozzle broke and I never had much of a chance to wear it. Flash forward to this past week. I was browsing Ebay and came across what appeared to be an amazing price for vintage Oscar EDT - an earlier version from when they used to put the entire name "Oscar de la Renta" on the box. I loathed the new version, so I purchased the vintage, curious to smell what many consider a classic. This search also led to an amazing price for a large bottle of Esprit, and I jumped on that too. Since this isn't a review of the OG, so I will simply say that it is infinitely better than what is sold today. As for Esprit, I have no idea about the vintage but still really like it. However, I don't understand the comparisons to the OG. Not that flankers necessarily have to suggest the OG, but since this was considered an updated version, I don't think the share much in common. Esprit is definitely lighter, certainly not like the wall of white flowers and spice that washes over you with with the original. This has everything to do with purple flowers - iris, heliotrope, and violet - an a fluffy base of clean musk. I'd go so far as to say it's the antithesis of the original. There's no doubt in my mind that the original is superior in composition and rather revolutionary for it's time, but it is definitely dated. An appreciation of older fragrances is required, though it's still very wearable. Esprit is far from revolutionary, but I am such a sucker for iris fragrances that I actually prefer it. BTW - I did compare on different wrists, and while I stand by my experience of the two being completely different, the end dry downs have more in common. I also must note that Oscar in EDT form equals or even surpasses Esprit in terms of longevity and projection. Final verdict - they are both worth owning. It just comes down to a matter of personal preference, and considering the price, it will not break the bank in most cases. Just make sure to purchase vintage Oscar!

Wow! This perfume surprised me big time! I adore and own Volupte, Intrusion and Live in Love, but this one is somehow way nicer, more rounded and way more easy to wear due to its white florals and creaminess. I totally understand the positive reviews and I must join in praising.. I have the edt - I`m wondering btw, is the edp the exact same scent only stronger and even longer lasting? - and it`s a huge 200 ml bottle. Well, I can already tell there won`t be any problem in using it all up.. On me the opening is a bit annoying and sharp but after just a few mins all notes start developing beautifully. I get a lot of heliotrope, jasmine, tuberose and tonka, also bits of violet and barely any iris, and even less citrus, it is probably there but very underlying just to balance out the white florals. I didn`t read all reviews here, but I saw someone mentioning a bit of Jovan Musk Concentrate in there, I must agree, however lot of other Fragraticians mention the word `powdery` - I get none of that AT ALL. Creamy and lotiony YES, but NOT powdery. Also, it reminds me in moments of my beloved Rochas Byzantine, which also has white flowers and lotiony feel to it. To me it`s a heliotrope-white floral with a bit of bergamot and musk scent and underlying violet, barely any citrus and powder. It smells to me like a super-luxurious perfumey lotion, really soft and elegant, perfectly blended without trying hard. Lasting power in the case of edt is good 4-5 hours, then it turns into a skin scent - I bet the edp lasts all day. It is a scent safe to reach for any season, any occasion - except sultry bedroom scenes maybe - and it is crazy good value I mean I can`t believe you can actually get a 200ml edt bottle for around 30 euros..And the bottle is really pretty too, which is a plus of course. 10/10 for me and love it. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a well-blended white floral perfume, to me this is it.

Finally, all the character of L’Heure Bleue is here without the few notes that make it smell like one needs a trip to the doctor or a downtown deodorant. Esprit d’Oscar was introduced 99 years after L’Heure Bleue, for modern consumers who have to smell like they are at least moderately clean in order to be socially acceptable. I love absolutely love L’Heure Bleue, yet few people would want to be near me if I were to wear it. Just thinking about women wearing Edwardian-era fashions without air conditioning or modern deodorant products and knowing that L’Heure Bleue smells fabulous and disguises an array of stank with outstanding class makes perfect sense of why L’Heure Bleue is as it is. The combination of clean powdery lemon notes, indolic florals, and elegant musks like ambergris make Esprit d’Oscar a safe, gorgeously classy foray into modern, powdered, slightly sweaty but clean enough womanhood. The vanilla just gives it an impressionistic hint of something like Guerlinade. Esprit d’Oscar is authentic and continues the L’Heure Bleue story over a hundred years after L’Heure Bleue changed perfumery for the better in 1912. Esprit d’Oscar is not evocative of sadness the way L’Heure Bleue is, and it doesn’t smell genuinely blue the way L’Heure Bleue does, but there is a lot of classical perfumery beauty to appreciate here. There is genius in Esprit d’Oscar. The longevity is excellent and the sillage is just right. The original YSL Paris EDP came close to this with the beautiful powdery violet, but it has sour rose notes that smell like a blatant refusal to bathe for weeks. Esprit d’Oscar is thankfully devoid of rose, which is for the best. This bottle says made in USA, so perhaps this dodges IFRA. If so, that’s even better.

A vintage-style perfume for the modern age. This would sell like hotcakes if it was available at Sephora and advertised as a classy clean girl aesthetic perfume. It has a vintage feel but it isn’t actually dated. I’ve been burned by a few vintage blind buys and MAN do they smell dated no matter how much I wish they didn’t. But this is very wearable for me as a 27 year old who wants something more grown up sometimes. You just have to love powder. Esprit d’Oscar is the IDEA of a vintage perfume but executed in a more current fashion. I agree with the review by Maki, it will probably only smell vintage to younger people. It’s like a period movie. All the beautiful things we love about an era, watered down and repackaged for a modern audience. Some of the people who actually lived through the time would will be like “Hey, that isn’t authentic!” and maybe feel like something is missing or off about it. But it’s a great intro into older style perfumes. The opening is a very airy and fizzy baby powder. It’s really clean but creamy and warm. It doesn’t change a ton in the dry down but some of the initial baby powder vibe goes away. Works in any season and smells high quality <3 My only complaint is that darn cap. It’s very hard to get off and I’m afraid of breaking it. When I was researching this one online I saw some 1 star reviews complaining about a cap that wouldn’t even come off the bottle, so I guess my bottle is one of “those”. There were literally 5 of these at TJ Maxx and I wonder if I just picked a bad one or if they were all like this. I love the box and bottle though! One of my favorite presentations of my whole collection. Kudos to whomever designed it!

When I first purchased Espirit d’Oscar in 2024, I almost cried. The initial spray was overwhelming—heavy, and nothing like I’d imagined. I had blind bought it on sale, torn between this and Issey Miyake, unable to test it beforehand. Disappointed and regretful, I bottled my emotions like I did the scent, hiding it away. For almost a year, it sat untouched—a reminder to never, ever blind buy again. But today, something called me back to it. As the scent unfolded on my skin, I was stunned. It wasn’t the fragrance I had feared—it had transformed into something tender, comforting, and impossibly elegant. It felt like being held. Like warmth settling into your bones after a cold day. I almost felt guilty for misunderstanding it. Espirit d’Oscar is powdery, yes—but not in the aggressive, aldehydic sharpness of some vintage classics. It whispers where others shout. It has the dignified aura of Chanel No. 5, but softer, cozier, more elegant. It smells like peace. Like serenity. Like a private sanctuary of stillness and warmth. It’s clean, but not sterile; classic, but not dated. Unlike many modern perfumes that feel glossy and soulless, Espirit has depth. It has presence. It has soul. If a Greek goddess wore this, it would be Hestia—the goddess of hearth and home. She doesn’t demand attention. She invites you in. She wraps you in gentleness and makes you feel safe. This is a fragrance of second chances. A signature scent for someone who wants to be remembered for their quiet strength, grace, and warmth. A scent that says, “You are safe here.”

First air spray of a brand new bottle today and I was immediately back in the late 1970s as a really strong scent memory from when I was very (very!) young came flooding in. It smells so like my memory of the original worn by an opulent, sophisticated and chic adult someone I admired, possibly only admired because of this scent! Blind buy FB based on notes above, that seem accurate to me. No plastic toy smell, no play-doh, no baby shampoo or bathroom cleaner It is a creamy powdery iris heliotrope musk on me. Citrus is imperceptible, and I'm so pleased that the vanilla in this juice does not take centre stage. It evokes "yesteryear' because of my memory, and I can not slice that association from the scent. A time of luscious couture dressing rooms and window furnishings; silks and deep soft carpets that sound-proofed one's footfall; enamelled and cloisone makeup compacts and dusting powders applied with an enormous cloud-like pouff. My 18month old granddaughter unexpectedly toddled into the first test air spray, and a couple of hours later as she napped in my arms gentle wafts of this soft comforting creamy distinct fragrance arose from her and added another youthful dimension that was not at all discordant with the olfactory delights of clean baby skin. I'm home now and have squirted myself a couple of times and am so glad I got 100ml. This one would turn my head if I smelled it out in the wild. Amazing deal at CW Aus

Oscar de la Renta perfumes are not common in Europe, but sometimes you can stumble upon them in discount shops. This one was already on my radar, so I bought it for a pocket change. This is not how cheap stuff is supposed to smell! The connection to l'Heure Bleue and Après l'Ondée is obvious. Closer to HB, but it behaves like ALO, it's intimate and poetic. Like HB with much less anise and most of the oriental notes. The zesty opening is short and sweet and all those comfy, fluffy, powdery flowers, heliotrope, iris and violet, last a very long time. Little touch of tonka and vanilla, there is way too much of them in recent HB. Then just the right amount of clean musk, some dry wood and ambergris. The drydown appears endless and it's very musky with slight aromatic sweetness that I'm not too fond of. In this stade it's all about musk and tonka. All the notes of HB that I have problem with are absent or toned down. I see this as respectful simplified version of HB that is, for most of us, just too much to bare every day. I never had a pleasure of trying Oscar, so I can not compare. This little thing is comfy, fluffy and charming, just the way I like it. So that we are clear, I love vintage perfumes and I'm huge fan of ALO. Keep that in mind if you're considering a blind buy. If I wear it 2 day in the row, I can't smell it anymore. Esprit d'Oscar is a lovely alternative for those early spring days between ALO.

I couldn’t help feeling disappointed with this one. It’s very similar to Ellen Tracy’s Bronze which is all heavy powder on me. Esprit has a bit more development, and isn’t as overwhelmingly powdery. It smells warm, classic, slightly masculine or at least unisex. Unlike Bronze it does have a hint of citrus, but still not as much as I’d like. It’s hard to wait through the long, intense iris and violet middle. I love these notes when used with a light hand, but it’s too much for me here. They overwhelm the heliotrope, which is what I tend to prefer, and there’s no sign of the white florals anywhere. I’ve never known tuberose to be so shy! It becomes similar to Insolence at this stage, but less watery. I’m disappointed since it feels well-made and not obviously cheap (and I’ve come to appreciate de la Renta perfumes lately) but I can’t bring myself to enjoy this one. Definitely worth a try for those who like Bronze or Insolence, or iris/violet dominant scents in general. Edit 2023: This has improved on me. It’s more of a sweet heliotrope rather than a heavy dusty powder and the citrus, tuberose and ambery-ness combine with it very faintly and smoothly. Pleasant for when in the mood for something vintage-feeling but easy to wear.

Starts off as a slightly sweet, powdery lemon drop before gently easing into a soft pillow of florals and finally settling into a delicate soapy musk. Yes this perfume is powdery, but not in a stuffy or “grandmotherly” way. This is a light fluffy blanket of clean powder and soft florals that envelopes you and imparts a feeling of comfort, familiarity and safety. If you don’t feel comfortable wearing this out in public I’d still recommend this as an evening scent- something to slip into and get cozy with before heading off to bed. I’m very impressed with the scent profile and performance, especially considering you can find this at many discount stores. This smells much more luxurious than it’s price point would have you believe! I’ve heard this described as a mix of Chanel No 5 with Guerlain L’Heure Bleue, and I can understand why. I can see similar traits from both of those perfumes in this one- a wonderful combination really! If you’re someone that appreciates fine perfumery and isn’t intimidated by a fragrance that doesn’t fall into the crowd pleasing “light fruity floral” or “gourmand” categories, I would definitely recommend you give Esprit d’Oscar a try.

The citrus opening is a nose-tickling aldehyde that takes a while to dry down to the spicy powdery violet heart. The aldehydes and spiciness may be the reason for the "dated scent profile." Honestly, it surprises me there isn't a spicy accord listed, because it's pretty pronounced. I love the way this one unfolds throughout the day. I spray on quite a bit to start, as it's not that strong or long-lasting otherwise, but then the magic happens. Bracing citrus at the start, then white floral/violet soap bubble for the rest of the morning. Then for the dry down, lightly spiced violet gets warmed up with the resins and coumarin base to turn into the most comforting cosy violet powder by the afternoon. By evening, it's soft enough you can layer something else over without too much interference. I recently used EB Sweet for this and it was very pleasing. If you want the powdery violet without the bracing citrus opening and soap bubble, try Flower by Kenzo. Flower is also spicy, no citrus. Or if you like the soap bubbles, try Bronze by Ellen Tracy. Bronze is no spice, fresh lemonade opening, soap bubble violet in the middle, and sweeter, creamier dry down.

This was a fully successful blind buy for me. At first sniff of my skin, the initial citrus blast is there yet after a ten second drydown, the feeling is all heliotrope. Within two to five minutes comes the iris, powdery but not overly so but there is a sort of sourness to the iris as it emerges from behind the bergamot and lemon. About ten minutes into the drydown comes the tonka bean, which definitely does a fantastic imitation of vanilla and beautifully so. At this stage and onto the first hour I couldn't stop sniffing my arm as the white flowers developed and then settled in with the musk after two hours. Then, a fabulous melding of all the notes occurs and warms to something wearable in winter as an olfactory reminder of spring to come. In fact, I'd recommend this scent for the cool weather as well as warm. It's starts so sweetly and blooms like a garden that somehow lacks that stereotypical gardenia and magnolia, but is profuse with the citrus, orange flower, and irises that evoke a breeze from the Gulf of Mexico rolling over a deep southern veranda. As a Georgia-Florida girl, this pleases me immensely.

Esprit D’Oscar is soft powdered icing-sugar with honeyed heliotrope. This is what I wanted Alessandro by Mazzolari to be but it was too short lived and had a cherry vibe. Esprit D’Oscar is the perfect powdery fragrance - it’s less rubbery dolls head than Putain des Palaces, it’s less budget smelling than Rose Noire by Giorgio Valenti but it’s cheaper, less full-on sweet and less cherry Chapstick than Alessandro. Esprit D’Oscar is a perfect honeyed, dusty white marshmallow scent. Plus it’s so affordable it could easily become my signature. I’ll update once I buy a full bottle as the baby powder opening put me off initially so I didn’t buy it, but just wait it out and the dry-down is heavenly. Update: So I got a full bottle and I’m enjoying it. My local budget fragrance store had it discounted to $50 (CAD) and FragranceNet had it discounted to $41 but just know that Shoppers Drugmart has it for $21.99. Ignore the baby oil smelling opening as the powdery marshmallows come after the first 30 minutes. Longevity isn’t great, it’s a beast for the first hour or so then fades away completely.

I decided to smell this in the air first and it opens in a powdery, baby wipes, and soft rounded citrus kind of way. There’s nothing sharp, zingy or citric about this. It’s like an inoffensive pastel yellow. It’s very powdery and tactile, like rubbing Johnson’s baby powder between your fingers and the scent is also extremely similar. It has a strong purple floral presence that I owe to this strong powder accord which I love and was the main reason I purchased this scent. Although it’s purple, it’s very reminiscent of cream coloured walls for some reason. It’s instantly comforting and I felt my self visibly relax as soon as I smelled it up close. Maybe I’m overthinking but I do get something that smells like chamomile/tea-ish. The longer I smell this, the more I get this seemingly contradictory lactonic milky creamy note in it too that blends so well with that powder. I think sometimes florals get an unnecessarily bad rep, this is genuinely so good, a definite bed time and calming scent. It reminds me a bit of une histoires from maboussin and sultan OR from Pascal Morabito

. it's really a bomb. Mysterious (almost a clone of L heure bleue) and that one... is.. I do not even know how to describe L heure bleue -is a young mademoiselle of the 17th century in lace and brocade dress, hurrying to a dangerous mysterious meeting, windows of a stained-glass, lowered heavy curtains and purple flowers are seen in the garden on secret night trails .soooo dangerous .. but she needs to hurry to this meeting, which she will not forget even through many of her future incarnations .. Esprit is very much alike l heure bleue. but the esprit does not frighten like l heure bleue . The esprit has kept jewelery with diamonds and aristocratism of a l heure .. but there is no smell of danger in esprit, which is present in the l heure .. .. there are no citrus fruits. none . but a bunch of other useful and pleasant things. bought it because of citrus ( Google says esprit is one of the best citrus smelling perfumes) bought it blind. I knew that there are not enough citrus. - there is not at all. that's ok. I love L heure bleue , so let it be. 1

Everyone who is looking for the perfect heliotrope scent -- one that doesn't smell rubbery, or like Play-Doh, baby powder or a doll's head -- stop here. You've found it. Esprit d'Oscar is gorgeous, smooth and wearable. Imagine taking the powdery violet and heliotrope notes of L'Heure Bleue (while removing anything that is chalky/dusty or medicinal about that fragrance), combining them with a dash of jasmine, iris and orange blossom from Chanel No. 5, then adding a large dollop of musk (in the style of Jovan Musk), and you've got Esprit d'Oscar. This fragrance smells like a classic that's been updated for the modern wearer, yet not so "modern" that you can't tell what inspired it. It smells great from the first spray until it dries down. The drydown is particularly enchanting as it resembles the scent of bubble bath or baby shampoo. I think this fragrance would be suitable for almost any season or occasion; it just plain smells great, and I've already received a few compliments. This is going to be a a new favorite of mine, I can tell already!

Never have I thought that I'd be really fascinated with Oscar de la Renta. In example, this particular perfume grew on me. Even though I don't consider this a perfume (no one will know the concentration of perfume oil in this), I do really enjoy it! It smells like I went to an expensive spa or stayed at an expensive hotel filled with little luxuries like shower gels, nourishing shampoos and body mists that linger on the skin. Everytime I wear this, my cats are all over me. I work with cats so this reaction isn't just from the two that I own. My cat sniffs and kisses my face every time she smells it on me. She loves the scent so much she tried to eat things that were scented with it. For me, the fragrance works the best after it is sprayed onto dried body spray (on skin or clothing). I'm not the only one who loves this perfume: all the cats are at my feet like never before. 10/24/2024 Made for a Pharoah's daughter.

With so many of my favourite notes together, I knew that I would love this. A successful blind buy that absolutely does not dissapoint! The opening is bright yet soft, sparkling citus. White florals intoduce themselves, playing well together, no one note shouting for attention as they often do. Then we get to the best part, the beautiful dry down ❤️ Purple florals, tonka and musk, with a whisper of soft citrus and vetiver. Personally I don't find this to be at all soapy. Powder is definitely there but it doesn't smother everything else. Longevity and silage are moderate to strong. I see the comparison to L'Heure Bleue but not No. 5, other than it is also slightly sweet, classic and definitely signature worthy. I like to layer this over anise oil but love it worn alone just as much. This is one I reach for this when I'm in need of something comforting, to lift my mood and soothe my soul. I adore it ❤️

This is in my top fragrances of all time! I hope they will never reformulate the current version or stop the production. If anything, they should release bodylotion, body wash, bars of soap and powder. Don't fix what ain't broken, just release more products with this exact formula! Powdery, creamy, fluffy Iris dreams. I wish it was a bit stronger (you need quite a few sprays for it to last longer). Would be awesome if they released a high quality pure parfum with this exact scent. This fragrance smells bridal to me. Very classic, elegant and feminine. Some might find it too powdery of soapy, but it has a very creamy quality to it too in the dry down especially. A young woman in her early 20ies stopped me in my tracks at the drugstore and asked me what I was wearing, she loved it! She was ordering it straight away. So even young women who love classic scents could appreciate this gem.

Like a really expensive natural almond bubble bath. Its very light and clean, slightly soapy- but in a GOOD way (I normally hate anything soapy or sharp.) And some serious marzipan notes- must be that gorgeous heliotrope. I don't get much more than that until the dry down, which is soft- Some tonka and violet/iris for me. Its like what a super fancy lady with a sweet tooth should smell like... :) freshly cleaned and covered in sweet marzipan (Not that anyone should literally cover themselves in marzipan, but you get the idea.) With a light floral background. I love using this after a shower, after some almond body wash (haha) and vanilla body oil.... then finish it off with a few spritzs of this gem. I end up using this several times a week, its nice in the warm weather here, but even more almond-y in the cooler weather. Delicious.

This is one of the least expensive fragrances in my collection, and one of my favorites! The quality is superb, it has excellent silage and longevity, and the bottle is exquisitely beautiful. Esprit d’Oscar truly should cost 5x the going price, this is a classically beautiful, underrated fragrance. As many have previously noted, it strongly resembles an “updated” L’Heure Bleue, which is one of my top five fragrances. Guerlain's L’Heure Bleue is my nightly bedtime scent and Esprit d’Oscar is my ultimate comfort scent. Sometimes I enjoy “pairing” the two with a little Esprit on my neck and L’Heure Bleue on my wrists and décolletage. I have several backup bottles, as I never want to be without this lovely fragrance!

There is a review below that makes a reference to “The Blue Hour”. For those who might not have a whole lot knowledge of French, that is the English translation of L’heure Bleue, a perfume by Guerlain. Please note that “The Blue Hour” will not be searchable in this database because that particular perfume is catalogued as L’Heure Bleue. Now, for the review. This is lovely, and yes, it has some similarities to L’Heure Bleue, but it can also have similarities with Chanel N°5 Eau Première too, particularly in the dry down. I would say it’s like a hybrid of those two. So if you like either of those two perfumes, then you would most likely enjoy Esprit d’Oscar.

Second review. In my first review about two years ago I said it was "worthy of a repurchase" and yes indeed, that is what I did last week! Down to just a few ml of my original 100 ml bottle and so I brought home a new 100 ml bottle (found it at Ross for Less again, $20!). I wear this quite often. It is perfect for work. I feel like it smells like a combination of Johnson & Johnson's baby shampoo with a a creamy powdery lemon accord. It is just lovely. I see that others compare it to LHB by Guerlain and while that fragrance is beautiful, this one suits me more than LHB. It is both powdery and smooth and with a lift from the lemon and citron notes.

Powdery, very sweet, very yellow and purple. This is a walk in a Mediterranean garden in the summer. The orange treas blossoming, the wisterias, the freesias, the fig tress and the bees. Summer sweetness in the air, but at the same time a certain melancholy. This has a medicinal vibe to me, there is something very refreshing about this scent, like smelling a Vik jar, it goes straight up to your brain and tells you NOTICE ME! It's strange because this scent is fresh, but powdery at the same time. Reminds me a bit or Aimez-moi by Caron in that camphor effect. Perfect for summer, very bright, very open. A sexy scent to apply on wet skin.

I have never been a fan of the original, but YouTube reviews convinced me to give it a chance. I am so glad that I did! It’s a beautiful powdery floral vanilla smell that whispers aromatic love notes to me all day. This is the smell I want my children to remember me by. It’s not in your face sexy, but it is a sort of life-long, devoted companion kind of sexy. Dependable, trustworthy, nurturing, thoughtful, supportive. Pretty much the opposite of lust. To me, it’s sexy, but my definition doesn’t match that of most advertising campaigns. I don’t know how else to explain it. Give it a try, let it dry down, and experience the beauty.

Oh my. Mine is almost 6 years old. In my opinion, fragrances need to macerate a year at Least before wearing. This one ages SO well. It only gets better. It's royal, demands respect and admiration. My God it's lovely. Perfectly balanced. At the dry down I still get citrus (which typically fades quickly). It's so complex but So timeless. Anyone at any age can wear this for an important occasion. It does, however, demand maturity, but not in a "vintage" flavor. It's so classy and every note is distinct throughout it's life. It's not loud. She's prim. Proper. Powerful but humbly. I'm...shook. For $20 the market should be quaking.

oh wow, this one is so pretty and elegant. in the beginning it's citruses, orange flower, heliotrope and a little hint of tuberose. i recently bought a vintage mini of the original oscar because my grandmother wore it. i wanted to try it myself and keep it as a comfort scent. i do sense some similarities between the two, but this one is softer and lighter overall, and probably a bit more wearable for me, though i adore them both. the florals bloom more after about 15 minutes on the skin, and the tuberose gets stronger. overall this ends up a tuberose with lots of heliotrope. two of my favorite notes-i am happy.

Sniffing this from the bottle is giving me rich lady elegant dressing room vibes, something right from the 70's and 80's (even though this was released in 2011), there is glamor here. Soft and powdery, yes, but refined and elevated, not plastic toys and doll heads. This one gets better with time. Don't judge her too harshly from a newly opened bottle. Let her breathe and age for a bit, then try again, or get a well cared for original formulation. I have an original formula bottle 14 years old and a brand new bottle. They are very close, but the older bottle is a lot smoother and more refined.

I just love this type of scent. It references itself, of course, but also L'heure bleue, Vanderbilt, and L'origan. I agree with others that this is a fresher, modernized take on those, and it's wonderful. Makes a great "dumb grab" and smells classy, feminine, vintage, and yet FRESH! This will see lots of wear this spring. The lid is a downer. I had mine break and had to glue the metal neck back onto the plastic part, and now it works fine but I treat it delicately. It's very pretty, but they could charge a few dollars more to upgrade that part and I would gladly pay. Happy spraying, everyone!

THIS embodies what I hope for in a perfume - beautiful, structured, different scent, with great longevity and sillage, that makes me never want to be without it! Love love love this! Amber, heliotrope and violets YES!! I experience this best applied at a little distance from my nose - behind knees, on torso and small of back - otherwise some notes dominate too much and I don’t get the full enjoyment of it. It wafts upward deliciously for hours and hours and hours. I adore it! While not listed in the notes, I perceive a lot honey in this perfume, which just adds to how much I love it!

CARTE BLANCHE. Imagine drinking a steaming London Fog while wearing all white on a snowy morning. To me this is a white-musk scent, but elevated. It's powdery, fluffy, creamy, musky with some sweetness and has a timeless quality that may read as vintage for some. This has its fans, and it's a gorgeous scent, but I need to be in the mood for this, or at least have donned a monochromatic white outfit. Anyone could wear this, but personally, I think it would be best worn by someone with a big personality to underwrite the 'carte blanche' aspects. Nevertheless, it's a love for me. Enjoy!

Though I purchased L’Heure Bleu a few times I have to say that Esprit D”Oscar is prettier than the Guerlain LB perfumes I received. It also lasts longer than the ones I owned. Add to that Esprit D’ Oscar is the rather ethereal and timeless . I own an obscene amount of perfume , but if I could only take one bottle of perfume to a desert island , this is the one I would choose because it is truly timeless. It is an astonishing perfume and an astonishing value . I hope this perfume is NEVER discontinued because it takes my breath away and gets positive remarks from those around me .

My first Oscar De la Renta was so de la Renta. Honestly, it was not my cup of tea. My next Oscar de la Renta was volupte, and I fell madly in love with that at first sniff! Today I finally bought Esprit d' Oscar. Oh my goodness. This is a very beautiful scent. I'm so glad I bought it. It's sweet, creamy and powdery. Ultra feminine. Classy and sophisticated. Stunning, and good for any occasion. Love this one. ETA...I am wearing this again today. It's a slightly chilly day and I am reminiscent of the smell of Nivea cream. I love this fragrance! Its perfect.

Oh my...I’m actually blown away by the pure beauty and perfection this gorgeous bottle holds within its wavy glass walls. Magnificent from first spray to last sniff, there’s nothing I can say I don’t adore about this. Not one single thing. Nothing more than absolutely STUNNING, sexy, with just the right amount of maturity and allure. I’m in love, not just lust. 10/10 would recommend. Almonds and a cherry accord (not listed but it’s there) perfect cosmetic powder scent sprinkles throughout and a hint of vanilla but only a hint! An utter masterpiece.

Y'all this is a LOVE for me... so long lasting and elegant. I wish I would have bought this one sooner. It is a versatile scent, can be worn for work, church, or for a formal event. Definitely more appropriate for the Fall/Winter seasons. It is powerful, not for those that want a dainty scent. It definitely gets spicy at the dry-down and may not be everyone's cup of tea. I for one appreciate its complexity. It is powdery, floral, and delicate initially, but has the spicy base which keeps it powerful and interesting. I just love it, what can I say.

There is a new flanker to this called Esprit D’Oscar Amour. I own it, but can't find anything about it online. My guess as far as notes are raspberry, mandarin, hint of vanilla, some ambroxan. Nothing to do with the beautiful original Esprit, but it's really cute! Could make a great work perfume, very juicy, fresh and femme, not heavy and the ambroxan is light. edit: Amazon is selling, here's the notes-- Top: Pink Pepper, Pink Grapefruit, Black Currant, Raspberry / Mid: Jasmine Absolute Sambac, Orris, Violet / Base: Moss, Cedarwood, Amber Woods

My brain doesn't register this scent as perfume. I spray and spray and keep on spraying and smells like i just apply Nivea type cold cream. No, no i haven't put on perfume yet! Long lasting, moderate silage, but my mind plays trick on me, so i don't smell it unless i actively seek for the scent. Yes, comforting, smell like how a mom naturally smells like, just showered, clean and its almost bed time. My scent addicted self gets confused, to the point of disappointment. I kept wanting to spray a perfume, but i just did!

Wow, this is a powerhouse! I mean really, it's a statement. This is not one to go quietly into a room unnoticed. Sillage is extraordinary. The scent is deep and intoxicating. A creamy and rich floral first and foremost. The citrus is only in the background. If you don't want a cookie cutter, forgettable fragrance, this is the one to reach for. It's old school, but not dated. I feel a golden era movie star vibe when I wear it. A little Hepburn, Davis, Crawford, and Garbo. I already have a back up bottle.

If there is any doubt iris is the sprinkling dust that trails off Titania's glittering wand, exempli gratia. She comes to the rescue, hovers you to a heliotrope field and gives you a vintage lipstick set. If you're on her good side, on a bad hair day she will probably turn you into the midsummer's donkey and scent you with Musk Koublai Kahn over Oud oil. Spraying this on the bed before sleep makes it feel like it turned to heaven fluff and you're an angel that just hatched on a cloud.

Chanel No.5 Eau Premiere (Yes.) Jadore Absolu (Yes.) Issey Absolute (Yes.) I was so nervous unboxing this perfume this morning. I was so afraid it would smell like Oscar which for me had a slight tobacco smelling note that I don't always like in a perfume. But Esprit d Oscar isn't a disappointment to me, at all. It is a lovely fragrance, doesn't last long on me but I'm happy. Already thinking of buying a back up bottle though this 100 ml is huge.

There is a lot of comparing to L ́heure bleue but I must say that it is not so similar as it looks at the beginning. I am a regular user of L ́heure bleue and I can say that execept strong heliotrope there are differences. This is sweeter and not so complex, the longevity is definitely worse. But for this price it is really a great scent, nice and elegant and I don ́t have a problem to wear it when I want to smell something blue.

This is a go-to whenever I want to feel well put together in the mornings. Goes perfectly with the vintage aesthetic but still modern enough. I spray it on my hair in the morning and by evening, it becomes a comforting musky skin scent perfect for bedtime. I often layer this with Live in Love (also by de la Renta) for a refreshing citrusy zing. Such a bargain! It's the only fragrance I've ever bought back to back bottles of.

I fell in love with this luxurious citrus powder fragrance. The opening features delicate citrus notes, with citron taking the spotlight in a soft and elegant way. The heart reveals a tender powdery accord, reminiscent of a vintage powder puff—absolutely no traces of baby powder! Just a noble, refined powder that envelops the wearer in a gentle, ethereal cloud. I have the modern 100 ml (3.4 oz) bottle, dated May 2024.

A visit down memory lane with a nostalgic, powdery and make-upy fragrance. A smooth well behaved floral, without being cloying or synthetic. My skin does not bring out any citrus in this perfume. Clean, easy and wearable during all seasons. A beautiful vintage iris perfume that is reasonably priced and easily reached for. Solid 10/10. I believe it to be a safe blind buy if you like nostalgic iris perfumes.

A powdery fragrance that is perfect for bedtime. This is clean with subtle sweetness which mades it an easy reach. UPDATE Since I have had this fragrance in my collection for over a year, it has gotten stronger. I have been reaching for it on hot days and for days I need to be in the office and have gotten compliments. It's a great perfume to keep in the collection for days you are sure what to wear.

For the people who love powdery perfumes, this is it! As a person who's sinuses get always congested but love powdery perfumes, this is great. It's some powdery sweet and faint citrus perfume. Although the one thing I have to complain is only the weird shape of the cap, either I have a faulty one but you have to put a little effort to figure out how to perfectly pull or push the cap back. 9/10

Johnson's Baby Shampoo at first, then the most soft, elegant, misty iris violet heliotrope ever. Imagine a wealthy young debutante at a Belle Epoque ball in a corseted dress. Very melancholy but with a spark of hope like some heroine in a Henry James novel. Wings of the Dove perhaps. I feel like I'm going to be arrested for a perfume misdemeanor for wearing this in ripped jeans and sweats.

I am so happy to have discovered this hidden gem of a perfume. For the price of £21 for 100ml it's a steal. For me the most prominent note is heliotrope. It's a lovely powdery floral scent. And as others have stated, it does smell a bit like Johnson's baby shampoo, but much more elegant and refined. It's a stunner. A great one to have if you're a lover of classic powdery fragrances.

The little ones will have to go outside to play hide and seek in the schoolyard, and we’ll stay here, to speak about this scent’s silent sorcery. This smells like a woman. Smooth skin, delicate cicatrices, silky hair, kissing lips, loving arms, attentive eyes, sweet chiaroscuro of the motherhood, and this discreet daily miracle of being a crazily beloved wife in such a noisy world.