La Nuit

Oh my La Nuit! Why do the best fragrances are the ones getting discontinued?! My quest for La Nuit started with my love for skank and the quest for something stronger than Kouros. Even though Kouros stands out even today, not only among masculine fumes, but as a chypre, it's not what it used to be. I have memories from my childhood of men smelling of Kouros and it has definitely been castrated. The essence is there but it has had its voice muted. I prefer the memory of what once was... So the idea of La Nuit intrigued me until I finally found a vintage (the only formulation known to me, as it was discontinued soon after it's launch) edp, sealed, 100ml, ready to come home with me. I don't recall Tabu, though I'm sure that as a child I must have smelt it, but La Nuit fits the description of a powerful animalic. The opening blast is a full on rich civet, covered in real oakmoss, along with a touch of honey to further dirtify things up, just how I like my animalics. For the first hour or so the sillage is huge, embracing me in a warm furry way and making me swoon until it settles down a bit letting the indolic jasmine and rose take center stage for a while, before settling in a leathery muskiness. The animal has growled, and now even though it still makes its presence known, it murmurs, never shouts, unless you lean closer. Civet is up front from beginning to end, which on my skin is about 12 hours. This fiery animal has some similarities to Bandit mainly from the leather-oakmoss-civet trinity, but where Bandit is a cold hearted dominatrix, La Nuit is a warm, skin-on-fire wild cat begging to be caressed. Highly sensual, it evokes thoughts of desire, lust, erotica... One of the best animalic chypres I have ever tried, and one which I will definitely use without moderation, as I don't believe such a torrid love afair should be kept secret. Still easily available on ebay, if you love perfumes of yore and the sensuality of a REAL perfume, don't miss out the chance to try it, it's a breathtaking perfume!

When She was wearing. " No Perfume "... This scent was and will always remain my absolute fav...Sadly missed by it's unavailability in stores here... La Nuit and I were several bottles into an affair that lasted from the first bottle which was purchased by my father as a gift to myself, back in the days when we all lived together in this townhouse on the periphery of town, way back in the 80's. A perfect fragrance for perfect chemistry one which is particularly imprinted upon my memories, a time when I could detect my lovers sleeping environs once riddled quite delightfully of my perfume. Yes 'La Nuit' is not just a fragrance. It is in fact a perfume. A perfume filled with Joshee kisses and many intimate fun filled evenings. Patti Smith's 'Because The Night "comes to mind here. This is Paco's luscious patchouli, not dirty, not cheap, A honeyed linear experience which lasted and lasted.... I even took a sickie from teaching to go to a special member only Diamaru shopping experience, no longer in Melbourne, to purchase the runout's and sister products, lotions and body creams and dusting powders along with several large EDP wedge shaped flacon's. My oh my! What a spree? My credit card really took a battering even at clearance prices way back then. I know this daring, bold and sensual fragrance was not for everyone, as I to date have not met anyone in person who wore this. This fragrance enveloped one like a magic cloak of transformation, from house wife to mistress at a spray. Yes. My affair with 'La Nuit' will forever be in my heart for all the charisma it evoked in my life. 'La Nuit' and I stuck it out for a very, very long time. Incidentally I am and always be a Paco Rabanne aficionado. The possibilities are endless with 'La Nuit'....

Last night I tried two drops from a mini I was given recently. I instantly fall in love with it and today I wanted more. It's not a proper fragrance for the office but I could not resist. Glorious, dirty, dangerous, lovely '80s chypre. Civet, rose and oakmoss in a stunning combination. Honey is also very noticeable and transforms the entire composition into a sultry blend. It's so captivating that I cannot describe it properly with words but only with a song. Oh, the night is my world City light painted girl In the day nothing matters It's the night time that flatters In the night, no control Through the wall something's breaking Wearing white as you're walkin' Down the street of my soul You take my self, you take my self control You got me livin' only for the night Before the morning comes, the story's told You take my self, you take my self control Another night, another day goes by I never stop myself to wonder why You help me to forget to play my role You take my self, you take my self control I, I live among the creatures of the night I haven't got the will to try and fight Against a new tomorrow, so I guess I'll just believe it That tomorrow never comes A safe night, I'm living in the forest of my dream I know the night is not as it would seem I must believe in something, so I'll make myself believe it That this night will never go Laura Branigan "Self Control" 1984

-"You should't have missed the party last night chap!" -"Why dude?" -"Cause you lost the chance to feast your eyes on the most stunning woman you'll probably ever see." -"Really?" -"Aye mate! She had the most breathtaking angles on her face and the most bewitching curves below it. And she did knew how to play and throw every single one of them!" -"Gee man! Why didn't you give me a ring?" -"Cause after she stormed the room, everyone forgot there was a world outside it." -"Sounds like she did smelled some blood, huh?" -"Smelled you said? Her scent buddy! Oh my...her scent!" -"What about it pal?" -"It was as her scarf drenched in it was wrapped around my face, taking me slowly to oblivion and rendering me incapable of uttering a single word." -"How did it smell like chum?" -"Dangerous, profane, sharp, dominant, and hollering "Dare me if you dare!" Like a feral animal's den, which despite the dangers that might lurk inside, it makes you feel an irresistible impulse to enter it. Like nobody's business!" -"Surely sounds like meaning business." -"She drunk a truckload, zeroed everyone in, smoked a carton and ripped her clothes off. Everybody, and I mean everybody, stood agape at her naked splendour!" -"And then?" -"And then she turned into a werewolf!" -"A wer..." -"And gracious sakes lad, she got even more beautiful!..."

In light of the death of the great Paco Rabanne, I rooted out some vintage miniatures from his brand. I have no great love for any modern PR perfumes, but there are several gems among the discontinued ones. None more so than La Nuit. An excellent floral chypre, it is of its era - reminiscent of bold 80s greats like Paloma Picasso. Dense and rich yet somehow airy, it is beautiful and high-quality. La Nuit is clearly a chypre from initial spray, herbal and mossy with some citric freshness. The florals follow closely, dense and powdery. Clean jasmine is initially detectable, giving way to rich, powdery rose. Honey sweetens the edges of the florals as the scent progresses, adding a nectar-like nuance to the florals. It is utterly satisfying. The mossiness in the background develops as it dries down, with a nice animalic quality adding a little edge. Dry, woody notes emerge, with trusty patchouli adding earthiness, rounding out the chypre accord. It becomes musky as it fades, mossy and slightly leathery until final fade. Sillage is strong and longevity is long-lasting. Another excellent vintage chypre, LN is nothing unusual, but is beautifully formed. Well-blended and wearable, it is unisex by today's standards. For cold weather. Excellent. 4.5/5.