Safari

It's amazing how this perfume has touched the lives of so many. I love reading the stories - here is mine. I was introduced to Safari through one of my mom's best friends. She's a fashionable lady with the money that allowed her to indulge in all the top shelf makeup and perfumes. She's also a generous lady who passed on the stuff she didn't like or grew bored of to my mother and I. Hence how I wound up with two nearly full bottles of the vintage perfumed Safari creams in 1997. I was 14 and somewhat of a tom boy, as well as a huge geek, but I was still becoming a young woman and so I was drawn to some of that lifestyle, despite the fact that I barely wore make up and had not yet taken a set of tweezers to my eyebrows. I had a vanity made of clear glass and cheap brass metal set up in my room contrasting with my Xena, Sailor Moon and dragon posters. Those crystalline jars graced the glass top, more for aesthetics than any appreciation of the scent they contained, next to GAP's Grass, Vanilla Fields, Adidas for Women and CK One. When I was 15 I met a shy boy at high school. My first real crush. I asked him to accompany me to our highschool's Winterfest dance and to my delight he said yes. I picked out a deep blue dress made of crushed velvet, and my mother lent me her white velvet, faux fur collared Winkleman's jacket that she used to wear to attend church as a little girl in the early 1960's. She curled my long auburn hair into loose ringlets. I looked like Kate Winslet from Titanic. I looked, first the first time in my life, like a lady. But what kind of perfume does a lady wear on her first date, with her first crush, at her first school dance? The elegant, romantic bottles of Ralph Lauren's 'Safari' caught my eye on my glass vanity. I went to the dance wearing that deep scented vintage concoction and felt as rich and classy and as beautiful and rebelliously wild as Rose DeWitt Bukater that night. As I slow danced with my date, he leaned in and whispered in my ear, "You smell incredible". My first perfume compliment from a boy. And the boy would soon become my first; my first boyfriend, my first love. And Safari became my first scent as a woman. A rich, creamy scent of grasses and powder and wildflowers. An elegance not afraid to explore. A perfume I wore while sitting in a field near my house in cargo shorts and hiking boots wearing brown eyeline, weaving flower crowns of rushes and dandelion and thistle. The years began to pass, and I slowly used up all the beautiful, richly perfumed lotion in those elegant bottles. And my life went from a young girl's fairy tale to a horror story, with different instances of abuse and trauma and developing PTSD. All the scents that had come to grace that glass vanity over the years tarnished much as the brass that lined the glass did; J'Adore, CK One, all tossed in the trash can because they became connected with abusive, terrible memories of a life I desperately fought to escape and leave behind. All except the empty bottles of Ralph Lauren Safari. As I unscrewed the cap of that crystalline bottle a sense of peace, beauty and innocence washed over me. I was taken back to a time when I believed in love, people and the world. A time when I felt beautiful. A time when I felt loved. A time when I had hope. The empty bottle moved with me to many states in the country. It accompanied me through many experiences. Through many achievements and many losses. When I felt down, or depressed, I unscrewed the silver and brown elegant cap on the empty bottle and sniffed, and was instantly transported to a time of innocent childhood. As I got older I meant to either re-purpose the jar or throw it out. Yet somehow, it just managed to tag along. Three years ago I found the jar again. After many years of forgetting about it and it's magic, I unscrewed the elegant top... and the scent still lingered, still hit my olfactory memories like a wave crashing against the cliffs here on the Pacific Northwest coast. I decided it was finally time to purchase the perfume. To my dismay, I saw it had been discontinued, some vintage bottles of the juice for sale on Ebay for an exorbitant amount of money. Sadly, I accepted it was just to remain what it was, along with all the emotions tied to it - a beautiful memory. Last year, I ended up hooking up again with that first boyfriend. And yesterday, I bought my first bottle of Ralph Laruen's Safari. I will wear it on our next date, and I will never say a thing about it.

Oh, I have so much to say about this one. There's so much going on here, from the era, to the bottle, to the perfume itself. Safari was released in 1990. It was not a shadow of things to come, as it bears no resemblance to the light as water, soapy, sheer floral, or citrus perfumes that were really popular at that time (EL Pleasures, Issey Miyake, CK One, EA Green Tea, Gap perfumes, you know what I'm talking about!) Safari seems to span several decades--you have your huge florals, 80s style--there are tons of flowers in here--the aldehydes that have been popular since forever, but in a nod, again, to the 80's the aldehydes are pleasantly reminiscent of hairspray. The aldehydes and hairspray make Safari smell decidedly 'perfumey' for a few hours (certainly a verboten style in the 21st century:) Then you have the green notes--the galbanum, moss, vetiver, that reminds me of a great green 70s perfume. And the other florals, pungent marigold, hyacinth, lily, so unusual. Yet the perfume is so beautiful and lovely that it reminds me of a perfume even older, maybe like a 40s Dior, or L'Air du Temps or something. The bottle itself is also classic in structure, a cut glass jewel, made to be put on your perfume tray that sits on your vanity. And the quality--this perfume will last all day with several sprays. And I have no desire for a touch up spray, because it has such a progression--there are like 10 stages Safari goes through before drying down into the base. The advertising is almost funny in retrospect. This is not a 'wide open air, grassy flowers on a desert wind' type of perfume. Safari is a veritable kitchen-sink 10 styles in one complicated perfume. And the notes are STRONG--the flowers are huge, this isn't some, oh, I think I smell a rose about 5 miles away. The drydown is definitely earthy-very woody & mossy for sure. But otherwise, who's wearing hairspray on Safari?? If I had to put Safari in a category it would be Green Floral Chypre Aldehyde. You really, really need to like green perfumes in order to appreciate Safari. And florals. Lots of flowers--hyacinth, daffodil, marigold, rose, jasmine, a compelling mix. So Safari isn't really of its time at all. But that's okay. And--the vintage is easy to find. Admittedly the topnotes are a little off on my bottle--I don't smell any citrus notes at all, and there is a definite nail-varnish smell to everything for a few mintues. But the vintage bottles can be found for even cheaper than the new stuff--I've never smelled the new bottles, but I would like to.

Oh well, I guess anyone has their own story about certain perfumes.... It’s the essence of it, as perfumes are so much linked to a period of our lives or to an occasion, or remind us of a person. Safari, besides being a drop dead gorgeous fragrance, reminds me of a romantic moment back in the early 90’s. I first encountered this fragrance thanks to a friend who was a miniature collector – we shared the same passion (I no longer collect mini bottles, but full bottles Lol). She got a wonderful miniature bottle of the recently launched Safari while travelling in the US, in Europe it was yet to be released. I fell in love at first sniff: what a majestic scent! I had to have it and I was desperate to have it released in Europe. Also the hype of something “non available” in Europe played its part, making it immediately hype and posh – in those years Ralph Lauren was the hypest brand. Then there was this boyfriend I had; it was really a cute romance, you know those first loves that leave a sign and sweet memories. Well, that very spring he was meant to go on a trip to NYC with his parents, and he asked me what I wanted as a present from that trip. I answered ”Nothing”, as I did not want to bother him with any requests. When he came back, one week later, I got my present anyway. Guess what? In a cute Bloomies Little Brown bag, there was a HUGE 125 ml gorgeous bottle of Safari.... I was overwhelmed. How could he possibly know it was the one and only thing I wanted from the US? I asked him how could he know I love that perfume (since my collector friend and him didn't know each other). He just said ”I thought you might like it, it smells like you”. I was impressed and really moved, as I grasped this young man knew me much deeper than I thought, having guessed exactly what kind of perfume would suit me. Safari is really a unique fragrance, bold, a little screaming once sprayed, so you need a light hand. Spicy and warm, but starts green... huge on the hyacinth and narcissus, for a moment you could think of Ysatis (but it's not the same). Huge on florals, goes down being warm and spicy, ambery patchouli with sandalwood. Lots of warmth in the drydown. Like being on a safari night camp, besides the fire. Surely it has loads personality and depth, it’s sensual and very feminine. It suits better winter times. Sadly it got discontinued, years ago. I still have a bottle and I will keep it and smell it, from time to time, just for a reminder of those fabulous days when I was young, in love and happy.

Honestly, in my heart? Forsaking all other fragrances, for me it's Diva by Ungaro (vintage, of course) and Safari, cologne concentration, 1989 version, my mom's bottle (and I definitely mean 1989, that is the year listed on the sticker label on the bottom, along with a legit 3-digit batch code. Hashtag EARLY!!) I can make this very bold statement, with over 60 perfumes on my dresser, including an ever-increasing vintage classic collection - and I love Halston, and I love Passion by Liz Taylor - having just re-smelled Safari *this evening*, after maybe two decades. In an overwhelming frenzy to collect and try, vintage vs. reformulated, I am so at peace with this scent. I keep smelling my wrist: can this be true? -- Was it really just as beautiful as I thought I'd sensed, 7 seconds ago? I must make sure -- Suddenly 98% of what I have...doesn't matter. Is this what it feels like to be able to "settle down"? I have next to zero literacy when it comes to notes. All I can vouch for are feeling and thought. Aristocratic. Serene. Approachable. Intimate. Grand. Majestic. Warm. Sunny. Viable. Heated. Relaxed. Soothing. Lovely. Embracing. Captivating. Heartwarming. Elegant. The height of femininity arcing over something timeless, primal, foundational. Incarnate, this is the woman who, from afar, is so exquisite as to render you petrified by reputation and appearance, and when you meet her, you wonder how you were ever intimidated, as she is the loveliest, most inviting creature on earth. I had thought Nombre Noir, never having smelled it, the finest, most rare delicacy in fragrance in existence. After thinking this bottle of my mother's Safari perfume had been thrown out years back, and disovering only three hours ago it has been here, in her house, all along, tucked away, covered in dust, in a corner of her cosmetics bin, and is not only half full but gorgeous and smells exactly the same as I didn't remember that I didn't remember (and no, that's not a typo), and I can cradle it in my hands? A huge, round, cut glass flacon. And it smells like...a type of sanctuary? You can keep your N squared. I'll take my Safari miracle any day of the week.

This is a bright, sunny fragrance and I really enjoy wearing it. I was first introduced to Safari as one of my mom's handful of fragrances; she wore this in the 90's, alongside Beautiful and, later, Amarige. When her bottle ran out, she never replaced it, but I missed seeing the cut-glass disk and the tortoiseshell in the stopper. I finally ordered a sample vial years after she passed to see if it held up to my memory of it. I'd been going through her perfume collection and realized that, as it happened, my tastes were developing to be closer and closer to hers. I sometimes have trouble with fragrances turning on me and, wouldn't you know it, so many of her picks work with my chemistry. Imagine my surprise when Safari smelled so much sweeter on my skin than it did on hers. I remember it being sharp and grassy on her; on me, it's round and sweet, like sweetgrass or hay. I broke down and ordered a bottle after wearing out my little decant.I actually like that it smells different on me; I love the fragrance (and the bottle!) and like being able to wear it without smelling like my mother, even though I originally revisited it out of a sense of nostalgia. So, about the fragrance itself: I get a lot of galbanum, that's the main note I detect. As I mentioned before, it smells sweet on me, but the way hay smells sweet, it isn't a candied or gourmand note. I honestly don't feel like I can speak to the other individual notes, as this is one of those multi-faceted fragrances where the various notes all seem to blend together. I love that each time I catch a whiff of this, it will smell subtly different throughout the day. The sillage on this is great; it unfurls throughout the day, and it's one of the few fragrances that has any projection at all on me. I have to be careful about how much I spray. It may be an older scent, but I think it can hold its own today; it doesn't smell dated to me, though it is definitely a departure from what dominates department store fragrance counters. If you're ready for something a little bit different, this may be the perfect fragrance to revisit.

Well I always come very late to the party, & then make a swift escape if I need to, thereby creating an air of mystery, so by admitting that I have NEVER got around to smelling this olfactory piece of heaven until now...in my late forties, & many many fumes under my belt, no less, means that I have arrived many many years late to this Safari party!! I am blown away by the effect this scent has on me. It is utterly a divine magical experience that to me, is very reminiscent of another masterpiece of that same time; Christian Dior"s Dune. I feel these types of perfumes from this era can all deserve to be included under the same umbrella that translates as ICONIC. Yes , there are the similarities to Dune, they share many of the same notes...the citrusy mandarin vibe , the aldehydes, the rose, the moss, the amber, cedar, sandalwood & patchouli bases, but Dune can switch between masculine & feminine to me, it gives off a mysterious, wild, free-spirited & elusive dry heated essence, where Safari is rich, smooth, creamier, the more refined, sunny & floral romantic sister. But that calming comforting sandalwood comes into play in both their dry downs & I guess that's why I'm comparing those two scents.....they are both born from a 'golden' era in perfumery. It lasts & lasts & keeps giving & pleasing & I really do love this. It's next on my 'must have' fragrance list. & it is NEVER too late....I still have enough years left in my life to enjoy this amazing creation.

Safari is my all time favorite perfume! Every time I wear this fragrance my three teenagers act like they are gagging and dying from the initial blast of this perfume. My daughter always says,"oh great mom is wearing her old vintage perfume"....which always makes me laugh because I was a teenager when this fragrance was launched,and this was the kind of perfume teenagers wanted to wear,lol!! Ah...how subjective fragrance can be to time!! Anyway, on initial first spray the galbanum is very dominate on my skin and gives off a strong musty smell. This is the note that causes my teenagers to act like they are dying,lol! (which does not bother me) This is the way Safari has always opened up on my skin. After ten minutes of this,the galbanum settles down into the background and lingers. The hyacinth, mandarin, and narcissus come forward and produce the most lovely intoxicating green floral. With the galbanum hovering in the background. Then after an hour of this the vetiver,amber,and sandalwood come into the mix. Safari then becomes that classic smell I will always continue to fall in love with. The longevity and silage has always been moderate on me. Maybe four to six hours? Depending on the weather. My skin seems to eat fragrance no matter how strong too. I have only mentioned the notes that I can smell in this composition. But I'm sure the notes that I can not detect are there at work too, making this one knock out perfume!!

Ralph usually makes quality creations - reliably . They are usually classy and well conceived and packaged artfully . He is my idea of the face of American design ( how about Melania Trump’s blue inauguration dress, gloves, and pumps ? ) He is a class act and SAFARI is has the preppy Lauren vibe . These days there are not that many perfumes that are distinctive or long lasting . Safari is both and it sporty and preppy and one of the best fragrance values I see today . It smells quite sophisticated and stands out among the perfume counter which is smelling more like the candy store for children at the mall . ( I am dead serious . ) This is perfect for a white blouse and khaki pants ( or jeans) and loafers , or a Lauren wool navy blazer . It has oomph ! If you like this , you also might enjoy another long lasting green and spicy scent ( very affordable too ) Aliage, buy Estée Lauder . It was the rage in the 70s on college campuses, and reminds me of Safari . Update : Forget Aliage . It has been ruined and I wonder how long Estée Lauder will stay in business after trashing the fragrances that loyal customers have purchased for years . That company is being led by fools and they are losing customers and confidence of buyers.

OMG ADDIC-TIVE. INSTANT LOVE. Refer to user SmellyB's review below, her words definitely sum up my experience of this scent, as well. Safari has the aromatic freshness of 4711 Original Eau de Cologne or Avon Sweet Honesty, with a sweet and delicious floral heart. Smells like the grownup and classy women from my childhood, of the late 80s. I can't stop sniffing my hand. I received my beautiful lil' 4ML bottle with a vintage set; I purchased it for the Paloma Tentations, but Safari was the breakout star. While I adore my rosy-peach Grojsmans, I'm a chypre-lover at heart. This isn't a pure chypre, but the tagetes and galbanum give it a greenness that other chypre lovers will likely appreciate. It smells great on top of Aromatics Elixir that I'm wearing while testing. I love when I buy in multiples, and the quiet one that I have no expectations for blows me away like this. I've been pondering why this is called "Safari," coming from an American brand, with a rather domestic-smelling juice. There's nature in it, but not the exotic kind. I can definitely imagine a Jane Porter type wearing it (someone who takes trunks of clothing and possessions with them to "rough it" in a tent, 19th century-style.)

I loved Safari to an almost unreasonable degree - it was like a magic potion to me and I cherished its beauty. Tresor was my "daytime" fragrance, but Safari was for my nights. I wore it for many years, and within the ambience of this scent there are many many tales I could tell. It's the fragrance of my early '90s Orange County loves and lusts and losses and gains and confusion and getting through my 20s ending up stronger and better than I thought I could be. I haven't owned a bottle in years now, because there are parts of me within the notes of the perfume that I don't yet want to feel again. Herein lies the rub: the magic can also be the curse. Safari smells like orange blossom, and oleander blowing on the breeze in warm night winds. But it's the blend of marigold and galbanum that hits right after the breezey beginning that gets me every time. It's like inhaling the concept of beautiful if that could be done. All this romanticism aside, if worn heavily, Safari also has a seductress side from orris, patchouli and vetiver. Safari is a scent for a redhead in a red dress, and that redhead is wearing that red dress for reasons of her own.

So much has been said about the grandeur of Safari: galbanum this, 1990s-via-1970s that, fruity chypre, so on and so forth—it leaves me thinking what more can I add to all the praise without risking redundancy. The treble of its florals do it for me: clarion hyacinth, sunny marigold—so much glorious tagetes oil! Then there is a hay-like, cresolic narcissus as well. They are all tinted by the hue of quenching, tart, dark berry fruitiness. This drenched and delectable bouquet is affixed to a sunset amber and drier, grassy vetiver that drives deep inhalations out of me. The whole experience feels like a happy glow, a kick-your-heels-in-the-air energy: a perfect remedy for the dark and short days of early winter. It is fascinating that in its time of release, Safari was defiant to the fast approaching trends of the 1990s, and ultimately may have kept it less obvious in the shadow of such releases as Angel and Dune, and would eventually meet its fate by the 2010s. But man, what a gem indeed. I was so fortunate to have found this bottle from the 90s at a vintage store this past summer—for 10 dollars.

An old school true perfume that is the same from start to finish. You cannot crack this nut! This is such a perfect olfactory representation of Ralph Lauren. Classic. It is effortlessly elegant - the opposite of today's try-hard botox and Kardashian-esque version of femininity. This is a crisp white shirt with trousers and a slick of red lipstick. It is what old money smells like. A little floral, a little green and earthy, a little bit of aldehydes. This scent is distinctly 20th century America - the glory before the collapse. The juice is perfectly suited for its glamorous faceted bottle, which reminds me of the stunning RL store on Madison Avenue. Safari is a more sophisticated version of Lauren by Ralph Lauren in the red cube, which is also a lovely classic from this house. Such a shame they discontinued both because their modern fragrances are truly a bore. Thankfully, they still make Safari for men, a holy grail of men's colognes. But as for Safari for women, I will treasure my remaining sprays that conjure up memories of better times and un-dashed hopes.

A few hours ago I tried this Safari and totally and irreversibly fell in love. I bounced around the rooms, sniffing my wrist, chasing my husband and daughter to ask them what it smelled like. (Him: meh..., her: lemon grass and oranges. No idea, but at least she got 'grass' right) This aroma threw me right back 20 years ago, on a dusty street, bathed in the rays of the setting sun, with cracked pavement overgrown with tall wild grass, swaying yellow tips as I walk. There was a sound of buzzing insects, buses were passing somewhere behind. The weight of kilograms and years had disappeared, the street led to many others, and the sunset at the end of the day meant the beginning of something else. The wind carried the whiff of freedom. This aroma is a portal to another reality, another me, another time. It is amazing. I take deep and easy breaths and I can see clearly in the twilight. It smells green, fern maybe, grass but not wet grass and earth, no, this is open space and freedom, a bit of danger in the air and a road to follow. I love it.

I purchased a vintage bottle like I used years ago, and it smells just as lovely as I remember. Today I had the opportunity to test the latest version and was surprised to find it really is not much different from the vintage. The composition and the transitions seem the same. It also appears to have very good silage and longevity. I only sprayed the back of my hand and could smell it all around me. When I got home, I washed and moisturized my hands and could still smell it even after it went through all that. I had to go through the whole process all over again to get it off. There is one major difference which I don't see listed in the notes though, and it seems the vintage has civet in it, because I could smell that clearly off my skin after it becomes a skin scent. So, keep that in mind when choosing which you'd like to buy. When this bottle is used up, I will not hesitate to purchase the latest version since it seems the differences are so minor, with the exception of that civet, they're not even discernable.

wow, I just found the scent I was looking for. I am in love. This is the second time I'm wearing it, I blind bought it, and I am very glad I did. When I first sprayed it, I knew this would be my signature scent. Now I'm sure I found it. This is vintage, mature but also provocative, woody, spicy, elegant. It is also very versatile, can easily be wore all year round, suits a lot of occasions (a nice dinner, an office day, staying cozy at home, an important event). I grew up in the countryside, nature based scents are my thing. And this is nature itself. Thank you Fragrantica for making me discover this fragrance. I'm considering stocking so I won't lose another signature scent by discontinuation. Also, this is a fragrance designed by Dominique Ropion, the perfumer that designed a lot of my favourite fragrances, such as Alien, Givenchy L'interdit and the Intense flanker, Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant and my dream of consumption Soir de Lune (that I don't own just because I don't have the money for it).

I love this fragraaaaance! It makes me feel like I'm playing in my grandma's shoes. It feels very reminiscent of sitting at her vanity, trying on jewelry much older than me, dancing around in fancy scarves and through clenched teeth teasing an "eat your heart out daaaaahling" over my shoulder to an imaginary, doe-eyed, me-struck suitor, lol This fragrance reaches back even before it's time with it's initial bite and presentation of floral green notes, but it puts them forth in a way that is going to keep it interesting for years to come. It's the hip kind of vintage. It has depth and class and color and reach and is dynamic and interesting and shrill, but is also safe, and warm and enveloping and inviting and anchored. It's my grandma's nose on my face...if that makes sense. It has all of the memory of days passed, but still sits well in every "today" I bring it to. Sillage and longevity are wonderful. This fragrance is one of my favorite things and I didn't even ask it to be.

I have often wondered why this perfume is called 'Safari'. To me it doesn't remind me of the African heartlands, or the Serengeti. This perfume is a sweet and creamy explosion of all things floral, it's delightfully British in my humble opinion. It reminds me of an English country garden in midsummer as one sips tea from a china cup and enjoys the smell of fresh, blooming, summer, flowers. I wore this decades ago and loved it, time came and went, life passed by and Safari was forgotten, left in the realms of my fading memory, but today I was reminded what a beautiful perfume this is. Elegant, classy and silky soft, are how I would describe this fragrance. The longevity is stupendous, as it lasts until you wash it off and it has a good silage which may be a powerbomb on some body types, but on me it remains a fairly quiet perfume. I get a sense that this scent is a love it or hate it affair. Fabulous bottle, 10/10 from me.

This is a lovely, complex fragrance and strong on me. It lasts for hours and projects well which is is becoming more rare these days, with many perfumes having poor staying power. It reminds me of the fragrances of the 1980's because of its' strength and in particular it made me think of the original Armani for women perfume that I used to love in the early 1980's, which was sadly discontinued. I compared the notes listed on this website for both and they have many notes in common. Safari is green and woodsy when first sprayed but then soft powdery edges and floral aromas emerge. In the end I am left with rose - not a dewy cultivated rose but rather a wild, woody, rambling rose which is rather lovely. I would find it too strong for hot weather but somehow it makes me think of woodland walks and enjoying the outdoors in spring/autumn. I love it and will always want it in my collection. The bottle is also very lovely.

This is my absolute favorite fragrance from the 90s. It’s actually one of my favorite perfumes of all time even though I don’t wear it very often. I have both a small vintage bottle and a large one of the reformulation and there is a noticeable difference in silage and longevity, although I personally prefer the reformulation as it’s lighter. Smells exactly the same to me, just less potent. Although it’s still strong, neither formulation is for the faint. Safari definitely lives up to its advertising which is what drew me in in the first place. It smells like dust and vegetation on your shoes after a day in the bush.(I’ve never been there myself, but this is what I imagine.) Sad it’s been discontinued again, but I’m not surprised. I can imagine the innocent horror of an unsuspecting young girl picking this off the shelf at Sephora. The equivalent of my first encounter with Shalimar. Just a sign of the trend.

Second review: From the first spray to the drydown, Safari (vintage) is one of the most beautifully balanced florals I own. I have several backup EDP bottles. The faceted glass bottle is so pretty and the weight of the glass feels substantial in your hand. The beauty of the bottle matches the substantial green notes of galbanum, the not-too-sweet hyacith, and earthy notes of vetiver and marigold. There is a deep powdery accord that really comes alive as the florals tone down, must be the orris root and amber. I consider Safari "old-school pretty" and I will always have her in my collection. I just love it! Thank you, Dominique Ropion. You have created some of my other favorite fragrances as well (Jungle Elephant and Ysatis). I have Chanel No 22 on today but I am sniffing my Safari from the bottle as I read and sip my coffee this afternoon. Anyone else do this with their "perfume babies?" :-)

This is one of those painfully beautiful scents that gives you a different perspective every time you sniff it. Sort of like an enormous bouquet of exotic flowers. Each angle features a different blossom. That's this scent. It's one of the things I love about the classics. One of the refreshing things about THIS particular classic, however, is that even while it is lush and full with many notes, it's not heavy in the least. At least not to me. I feel that it's entirely appropriate for very day wear in virtually any setting. To me, it screams energetic, confident, cultured, ambitious, and down-to-earth. It won't go on my want list, only because it doesn't fit me QUITE right. Maybe a bit to poised and polished for me? But I definitely enjoy it and will treasure my little decant. Thank you, my Fragrantican brothers and sisters, for giving me the opportunity to try these astonishing scents!

It took me a minute to warm up to this. My first impression was, "Wow... This is really retro... Interesting but such a throw back..." Yet and still I kept coming back to it. Safari is definitely one of those fragrances you have to let settle on your skin. It opens harshly but once it calms down it's really lovely. And the name "Safari" suits it. It is a safari, but a romanticized old-Hollywood version of one, starring Elizabeth Taylor. (If you want to smell an actual safari, may I suggest Chanel No. 5, which smells like lions mating and peeing on each other on a bed of lily of the valley petals... That or a living room after your house cat sprayed all over the furniture and your futile attempt to cover up the stench with Febreeze). So I love it. But I do recommend trying a sample first and getting to know it before committing to a full-sized bottle.

Absolutely beautiful fragrance. This is one that has to be experienced to really "get" how timeless it is. While originally marketed as a fragrance for women, this is completely unisex today. I also own a Cosmair era men's version and actually prefer this one. The women's version is just so smooth and serene without being overly floral or sweet. It is so well blended and smooth after all of this time. The galbanum, and the citric aspects mix with the subtle floral notes and create an expansive, "take your breath away" landscape of scent. Its honestly hard to describe, but very beautiful to experience. It comes and goes on the air, without ever dominating or becoming obnoxious. It brings to mind open spaces, and longing glances. This is one to be worn with restraint, and 2 to 3 sprays is more than enough to enjoy all day and night. Magical.

An earthy dream. This is ethereal to my nose and transports me to open areas basking in the sun with the scent of bitter vegetation radiating in the heat. Also, warmed skin (amber?). It's powdery and clean, yet green and gritty at the same time. A floral green chypre that seems to be very popular to this day! I love the bitter greenness of this and the earthy vetiver, woods, and patchouli. This would fare well in both formal settings as well as casual imo. Refined and casual, depending on the occasion and what a person wears with this. I imagine a pale yellow, or white, starchy dress and nude heels for women, and can also see this pairing well with a light-colored suit. In fact, a woman's power suit in white would fit this perfectly. On the other hand, I envision jeans and a t-shirt as well. Lovely!

I decided to try a sample of Safari today. It was quite a hot summer day so I thought it would be a good choice. As the main note is galbanum I really liked it, but then I did some housework and didn ́t really think of it anymore. Suddenly the sky got dark and the storm started. I must say I really like summer storms with thunder and lightning so I went out to watch the rain, because I was quite hot and I wanted to cool down. Then I realized that I could smell something really beautiful. It was Safari on my wrist. The rain helped it to develop a wonderful scent. So for me this will be the scent which will remind me summer storms and rainy weather. Try it with summer rain because it is a kind of magic.

Another fantastic 90's scent which stayed in my memories for years. Untill I finally found a bottle in the States and purchased it. Thinking I was buying the 90's scent. Which was not... Just like Lauren this Safari had been turned into a cheap replacement of the Original divine scent. I think the brands that are not really perfume brands (read: Hermes, Guerlain,... ) only want to profit lost success and seduce people who suffer from some nostalgic memories (which we all do at a certain age). I will make a post saying: Which 80 - 90's perfume smells exactly the same as in those days. More of us would like to know and I don't feel like buying or huntin on ebay each bottle hoping for a miracle.

I wish I could write such an eloquent ode to Safari, my long-time friend and signature sent, as you did Guagamela. I was wearing Safari in my late teens when I met my husband. I wore it on my wedding day. And now, 18+ years later, I am close to finishing the original bottle that has remained such a faithful friend all these years. Her intoxicating yet complex scent brings back all the happiness, joy, and romance of being young and knowing what you want in life. Safari went with me to each job interview, celebrated all the highs of life and helped comfort me during all the lows. If I could give a gift of myself to a fragrance, it would be to you, Safari!

One of my all-time favorites since Safari came out in 1990. The vintage cologne or even the vintage EDP is much richer, greener and longer lasting than the current formulation. But the newer version is still very green and floral, unlike many pefumes on the market today. The galbanum, vetiver and marigold create a lasting dry and earthy backdrop to support the rich florals of narcissus and hyacinth. All of the notes are very well-blended in my vintage versions (mostly EDP) and I will always have this in my collection. I need to wear this more often! Safari is tonight's SOTE. If you love Chanel No. 19 this is her leather-free second cousin.

I found a vintage bottle of this crystal bottled beauty on eBay and I'm glad I bothered with the original formula, because it's something else! It is so familiar and it's strange that I couldn't figure out why, until my eldest daughter came home from school and told me 'It smells like grass!'; my mind clicked like a puzzle into place! Vetiver! Conclusion, this fragrance is a dead ringer for Living Lalique. I know this because 'It smells like grass' was my daughter's reaction to that fragrance too. Safari is sweeter, softer. But the vetiver is so sublime that I cannot help but see them as birds of an African feather flocked together.

I have a late 80s EDP version of Safari (Cosmair). It was a blind buy. It's a 50-degree day in January. I have no scent memories of the perfume. I don't get any sweet florals at all, only little, bitter, weedy flowers or marigolds and dry grasses. It leans herbaceous green. I'm fascinated because it doesn't smell like any other perfume I've smelled before. I don't hate it. Perhaps in the hot summertime I'll love it. I'm going to keep trying Safari. I think it's going to be a "grower." The bottle is lovely. I think it was a good purchase. EDIT: I could still faintly smell the base notes on my skin the next morning.

I have loved Safari since it first came out in the early 90's and used to wear it religiously. I recently purchased a vintage bottle and oh my, it's still as wonderful as I remember! While this smells nothing like my beloved Bal D'Afrique, I realized I had made a correlation between the two in my mind. They both evoke an exotic locale, Africa, a warm and sunny place in my mind. I was surprised to see they do share a few common notes - the tagetes, vetiver and amber being the most pronounced, but really don't smell similar at all. Safari definitely stands alone, is truly unique and is still a beauty to this day.

I was avoiding Safari for some unnown reasons, probably in my imagination it should be prickly-green and bitter-scratchy, sour maybe even. So glad I did that blind swap "out of curiousity" Lush, rich and creamy, almost fruity on my skin, soooo long-lasting and all those good creamy-wipped qualities are staying all the way, plus projection is terrific. I do leave the Trail after myself, as Safari is warm and feminine in the base, love the bottle , the smell is expensive. Would strongly recommend it to lovers of herbal-sweet, full-bodied fragrances - Fath de Fath, Ungaro Diva, Knowing EL, Sicily D&G

I work with a woman who wears this and every single time I smell it, it hands down wins against everything else in the building worn by anyone else, just wipes the floor, end of. I thought she was wearing No 19 at first but this is warmed up. Classy as a fine champagne, Safari's aldehydes and galbanum are bang on. This walks the fine line between coolly sophisticated yet somehow softly approachable. Absolutely stunning, am almost scared to try this in case it doesn't smell the same way on my skin but if it doesn't I'll stick with my No 19 (they're cousins) and simply admire it from afar.

Like being out in the jungle after a heavy rain. and the sun shines........ when the flowers (Damascus rose included), roots, plum, and green leaves blend heavily with the ozone. However it is a green scent throughout. I smell violet in there as well, even though not listed. Not a laundered soapy freshness, but a natures freshness. I believe if you like Femme by Rochas you may enjoy this. Just let it breathe after spraying, or walk outside and let it reel in the wind. Mmmmmm I really do like this. I might get to love it. It's unique. .

Classy, sexy, even mature fragrance. Ralph Lauren was really on a roll during the 80s/90s with Polo, Lauren (another favorite of mine), Safari, etc. Deep, sweet, chypre. Crazy complex. I was a die-hard Lauren user (the square red bottle, which was already complex enough on its own), and then graduated to Safari. I was taken in by the gorgeous bottle, and at the time, it was VERY expensive for me, but that didn't stop me! Definitely beast mode - I never needed more than just a couple spritzes to last me all day! (WHYYYY did that end???)

A perfume truly like no other in my mind. At least not at the time it was launched. Vintage is the way to go here. It reminds me a little bit of EL Private Collection again the original vintage. It is almost bittersweet, woody, green and hugely romantic in my view, but freshly romantic, not boudoir sexy. This was the perfume Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) would have worn when Denys Finch Hatton (Robert Redford) took her flying in Out of Africa...Awesome scene... maybe this scent was inspired by that iconic movie, the timing is right.

This is the best fragrance I have, it belonged to my mother. I remember using it just for special occasions, when she would let me use some drops of it. The bottle is gorgeous. This is a very special scent, it has many layers so you can't have a total impression just by sniffing it quickly in a shop. This is what I wear on special parties and events, I have an original bottle from the nineties, which is not a spray but with delicate cap. And oh yes the male version is just as good as the female. Have both, love both.

The opening: strange, edgy, somewhat difficult but still smart, interesting and captivating The heart: a beautiful mix of wild, bitter and still sweet herbs and flowers that sing so beautifully together The drydown: the finest breeze bringing aromas from heaven's garden This scent is a perfect song: starts loud and impressing, it steels your heart with the perfectly orchestrated middle part and it conquers your soul with a promise - that of untroubled peace And so is the woman who wears it I love it!

I once worked with a colleague who has in her 50s? 60s? (she NEVER would have told me). She was a grande dame with great taste and a great face - someone who had seen a lot, and who was never shy to share that vast experience of hers and give advice. I adored her and learned a lot - mostly, that I am never supposed to marry anyone: "Just do not do it. It will bring all kinds of complications. It is ut-ter-ly unnecessary." She herself had been married three times, and she wore Safari.

I started using this perfume when I was 16 years old in middle school. To this day, my friends smell it and say "it smells of you". I was a 90's teenager and completely fell for the "Desert-Safari casual elegance" of their ADs. Since the 90's, it has never left my perfume collection. Personally, it really gives me this chic-elegant-safari-theme vibe. It's very spicy but fresh at the same time. I love many perfumes but I have to say that this became my signature scent over time.

Ralph Lauren's muse...she wears khaki pants, white silk blouse, big but classy longish golden-brown hair, and she's beautiful with that "no makeup makeup look". There is really nothing quite like it. Another 90's romantic and stunning treasure. Honestly, I wore this on a date with a guy who turned out to be a creep, so I haven't worn it much since (bad memories) and it's such a shame. I should wear it more so I can accumulate good memories to associate with it.

It has such a unique start - smoky, leathery floral. Marigolds plus galbanum I think. Beautiful are also the sweet citrus facets of the start and narcissus is also prominent. It has a powdery-floral effect and is like an aromatic drink though this association is maybe thanks to the gorgeous bottle. Very unique. The heart is rich, the base is dominated by vetiver and cedar in a great way. My like for the scent is turning to love this warm day.

Guagamala, what a beautiful review! I am new to Safari, and I am sure I do not have the vintage *sigh* but your descriptions of the mood and feel that perfumes invoke are spot on. Perfume is very much about the 'feel' to me. If I may, since you love vintage, I think that you would love Tendre Poison if you can get hold of it. Since I first smelled it I have wanted to wrap myself in it and breathe it. Thanks again for your review.

This smells really nice and close to unisex in my opinion. It's a beautiful woody floral scent. I got a vintage bottle recently and I am happy I got it. This is more masculine than many of today's unisex fragrances. Rose and narcissus are very prominent in the cloud it makes and up close it becomes woody with sandalwood and cedar. Overall, it's a very beautiful and well-blended fragrance. It's much better than what I expected.

This fragrance reminds me of the 90s going shopping in the winter with my sister who wore it. It smells sophisticated, and I envision my sister dressed up with a fancy scarf, Christmas shopping with our European friends who were visiting. It is a strong scent that is not for everybody, and more suitable for the winter. I have a vintage bottle of this and put some on today as winter is coming and I feel nostalgic.

I received this as a gift from my first boyfriend in my 20s. It was the beautiful big box that is now my sowing box. It instantly became my signature scent. The mix of complex florals and the green Galbanum is absolutely intoxicating. The sillage and longevity is amazing. It maybe a little too intense for daytime. But still it’s the perfect homage to great 90s perfumery. I still have the little Eau de Parfum :)

Just got a mini of this fragrance & love it. What a treat. I'm in love with this fragrance. I love buying minis because it gives you a chance to try different perfumes without making a costly mistake, but after trying it I will tell you I will be buying a big bottle soon. This is such a delicate fragrance. I could just bathe in it. It's not too much of one ingredient, but a well blend of everything.

I had to give Safari a couple of try before I came into a verdict. It is a magnificent multifaceted fragrance. I smell lots of grass and fresh spicy notes in the beginning, I also detect its woodsy aspect after a while (dominated by vetiver). The heart enriched by some florals and fruits, and rounded by amber and orris. Aromatic, sweet (yesss!!), green, balsamic. Bold, elegant, and reinforcing. ❤️

Oh this is gorgeous. This isn't roughing it safari, this is an old style film star safari. It's "Out of Africa." On me it's warm and dry with sweet hay, and beautiful florals. The oak moss and the geranium mix to make a note that's almost cinnamon. Warm, elegant, floral, spicy. Truly gorgeous and really wearable I think. If you remember the great perfumes of yore with fondness you'll enjoy this.

Python sibling - powdery, cold, smoky and fruity slowly decomposing into miriads of scented notes. Nearly loved it. Secret obsession also seems similar to me, but was less dry and refined. Safari leaves a trail of smoky plums and spices - I loved that effect. It is a gem for people who do not like being obvious. Courage is needed to love wearing it - the composition is refined and bold.