Paradoxe

Back in the early 1990's, my Mom and I went "halfsies" on a designer miniature perfume sampler box, sold on one of the television shopping channels. I don't really remember much about the other scents, but I do remember Paradoxe. As soon as I opened the bottle, I told Mom, "This one is MINE!". The reason? Well, to me it smelled almost exactly like the way I imagined the perfume O is ordered to wear, in the classic erotic novel "The Story of O", must have smelled like. It is dry, mossy, musky (but not too much) and has one of the best leather notes I have ever smelled in a woman's fragrance. When I ran out I was so sad because this is an expensive scent. Since Paradoxe was launched in 1983, it could not have been the inspiration for O's scent, but I wonder if someone at Cardin was a fan of that novel.

This perfume is divine! Very rich and complex. It's predominantly incense-y on me throughout the whole wear time(1+ hours). Along with the incense there is a strong amber note, almost honey complexity. Then comes the oakmoss, then leather. The leather here is of a very warm nature, like an old suede jacket worn by a woman who wears Trussardi Donna or Magie Noire. Then comes the pepper, very slightly. This perfume gives no flowers on me. Maybe a bit of an iris, to tell you the truth. I like this perfume very much, although the longevity is not as good as I wish. I like to mix Paradox with Basic Black by Bill Blass, for they are 2 perfumes that are not long lasting on me. It works for me, but not for my husband....he tells me I smell like an old lady....:((((

It was a blind buy, I ordered it because the announce kept appearing on certain websites. I thought I might give it a try as it was a special offer... and WOOOOOH! The scent is fascinating. It became a passion of mine. Old-fashioned, not a light fragrance, but a true oldschool one. Incense, pepper, amber - so the scent is not definitely girlish. Though it is a "for her" perfume, I think it might be considered as unisex. Love it. A hidden gem that was so worth discovering!

♥️An oldschool chypre on my skin. Not a power bomb but non of the chypre kind of perfumes are. But i enjoy it very much. Chypre is an unisex scent i have also a few man chypre perfumes. But they are all much a like and i love them all. This is a soft chypre not a harsh one like elixer of Clinique. Longtivity and projection are moderate just for 2 hours than you will have to apply again.

Just received this today. Classic ...hidden gem...old-school. I get woodsy-floral chypre-ish....vibes. The true beauty of this...is during the development on skin...then the dry-down. In the same vibe/family of Eau de Caron (which I own and love)...and yes, a touch/tad whisper of vintage Cacherel Anais Anais....but way underneath,IMO Happy blind-buy here.