Ultima

English fruitcake, Fire, and Ice. Frosty aldehydes juxtaposed against spicy heat. In fact, a truer "Fire & Ice" than Revlons older fragrance with that very same name. Ultima has basically two principal phases, which are its chilly aldehydic opening, and its very warm, resinous drydown, since if not for a very transparent rose and a spicy note of carnation, middle notes would be practically non-existent in this fragrance. It is because of this bypass of middle notes that this fragrance quickly transitions from a dramatic, cool white, powdery opening, to its intensely warm (Hot) amber drydown, which is overflowing with cinnamon, cloves, and candied fruit (sorta like a rum soaked holiday fruitcake), resins like opoponax, and a boozy, sweaty, animalic musk. Bergamot surprisingly runs throughout the entirety of the fragrance, it seems to intensify Ultima's cold facet, and adds a subtle fruity freshness to its heated drydown. Definitely unisex, and by todays standards it could even be said that it leans a tiny bit masculine, probably because of its subtle smokiness, rich woods, and its pronounced patchouli and pimento notes. Ultima by Charles Revson is a delicious and uniquely beautiful oriental composition made from very fine materials. It is like nothing you will ever smell in modern perfumery, a nearly forgotten work of perfumery Art from a bygone era.

Hi @AcrroauParfum, I'm glad you finally got Ultima, a truly beautiful fragrance that I'm sure you will prize having in your collection. I have to disagree with you on the Tabu/Youth-dew "love child" analogy. Yes, these fragrances are all somewhat similar in that all three are very ornate, heavy orientals with a strong vintage slant, but that's where the similarities stop for me, as to my nose all three are quite different at their core. Ultima lacks Tabu's highly distinctive "root beer" note, which in my opinion is what sets Tabu apart from other orientals of its kind, and in the case of Youth Dew, Ultima does not share Youth Dew's unique, intensive cola note, which greatly contributes to Youth Dew's one of a kind personality. So to me, these three are totally different beasts. They may be related as in "family", but they are all completely different in character.

Perfume Oil Roll On version, stored in it's box all these years, just for me (to find on eBay). Absolutely wonderful. A crystalline, womanly, and extremely nostalgic "dress up" fragrance. If I close my eyes, the house is full of energy. . . grownups are talking and laughing. Something special is happening. Mom is wearing eyeliner and she smells. . . so. . . beautiful. Thank you, Mr. Revson.

I’m wearing this fragrance this Christmas! It is a warm, festive delight. The spices, aldehydes, civet, and opoponax create a glittering amber cloud. It is actually my favorite of the classic vintage spice bombs, thanks to its airy yet architectural vibe that to my mind prefigures modern niche approaches to perfume.

I found it in my mother-in-law's closet and fell in love. This is the smell of real "Opium" in the concentration of perfume. It's the smell of my childhood and my mother's youth. It has been perfectly preserved to this day. I admire perfumers from the past. Who can create such a masterpiece now?

Smoky and delicious with intense spices and tons of aldehydes. Instant love. Reminds me most of EL Cinnabar.

there is a bit of warmth and sweetness in the bottle that i don't experience at first spray-it opens woody and a bit bitter, then after a few minutes, it gets more of an oriental-incense thing going on. i get a lot of opoponax and carnation here. i haven't smelled youth dew in awhile but that's what came to mind when i initially sprayed this. civet and patchouli become more prominent over time-it becomes earthier and a bit dank. then after about an hour the notes combine into a really nice earthy incense combination.

I managed to encounter a pristine bottle of this vintage vixen, the box is a bit careworn but the leaflet inside perfect with the image of a very sophisticated sixties looking woman, bouffant hairdo and heavy eyeliner, silently promising fragrant luxury. With no plans to be enchanted, I cleaned out the nozzle and sprayed. Not expecting,much the cloud around me was hard to describe but in very little time it became warm and spicy, comforting and yes, luxurious! As many have mentioned Ultima is remindful of many of those spice laden orientals that everyone and their mother wore and I look at “people who like this also like” and I smile because I have as well! But somehow, this masterpiece of Charles Revson’s solo venture from Revlon is different. Ultima never becomes too anything .. not too animalic, not too spicy or dirty, never too bombastic or headache inducing as some of those others could be! Not! Ultima simply manages to become lovelier and lovelier with each passing minute! This tall crystal bottle is easily close to sixty years old but I’m marveling that it has accomplished quite a significant feat .... what we all would love to do, 🌹 “age gracefully.” 🌹

First found it in 1969 and loved it. Had worn Tabu since 1960. My daughter says whenever she smells Tabu she thinks of me, because that's what I have worn my life long. Had Woodhue, Tigress, Obsession for Men, Zadig, and a few others- but my acid skin seems to burn off any light scent or strictly floral scent. I have to have patchouli, amber, musk, civet, ambrgris, sandalwood or some combination of them to keep it "alive" on me- or reapply it every 4 hours. (Must be my acidity, because any pink blush or lipstick turns orange on me in short order.) I put on Ultima when I need a pick-me-up in spirit. I also had (way back then) Ultima II, but can't remember the difference. Was delighted to rediscover I could by it. When unopened, I can't tell the difference of it being old. Since it was never reformulated/sold and remade, sometimes it's better than the vintage Tabu I can buy now. Of course, I still have some of my own vintage Tabu including bath oil which really LASTS on me. Ultima stays on me long enough for daytime.

Wow. I sprayed this and instantly thought of my mother, and I'd never remembered her wearing any particular perfume before. It is woody, dusty and smoky, rich and deep. Not one for me to wear but I am so glad to have tried it.

Similar to Youth-Dew and Tabu, just not as sweet. It's spicier. Maybe more like Opium or Cinnabar. Dry spices. No cola notes.