Juba Perfume Oil

This is my signature scent, now loaded with memories of two decades of loves lost and found; of being 16, 25, 35 and now, 38; Italy, Shanghai, Frankfurt, Japan, Montreal, Toronto, Israel; it is so much a part of me, and so much a part of people I have loved, or remember fondly, that I can't imagine not wearing it. Yesterday, shortly after I dabbed some on my wrist (read as smothered all over my neck arms, because I'm crazy like that) someone remarked that it smelled like freshly cut roses. Once, on a plane, I held it to a strangers wrist, and he said it was musky. Every morning when I apply it, I immediately recall lily-of-the-valley in my parents backyard, and the smell of rotting peaches in a fruit bowl. I wear this fragrance with abandon, so, yes, the sillage is strong. It lasts for about 6-7 hours, maybe more, and there is a definitive softer, muskier dry down. I have been asked if I wear Calyx by Prescriptives by several people: there is obviously a similarity but I haven't tried Calyx myself, so I couldn't say for sure. My favourite memory, now living in this perfume: Sitting in an old brownstone, waiting for a film class to start, when my first big, crazy, mad love walks in the door, looking for a seat, eyes scanning the room. He spots me, and walks over, saying, "I smelled your perfume, whatever it is."

i've been a fan and customer of The Body Shop since the 80's (mail order through catalogs, shipped from the UK)... and yet i stumbled across this scent quite by accident. i was wearing Ananya (perfume oil, from The Body Shop) and spent an evening with my best friend - he thought i smelled amazing, and i thought he smelled amazing... he was wearing Juba. so we exchanged bottles, and that was...what...15 years ago? more? and i still love this scent. it's a rich, savory citrus (no Orange-glo cleanser smell! and no bitter grapefruit!) but with something else i can't quite describe. when pressed, i call it sandalwood and oranges and it's how i imagine the character Angelica from Elizabeth Hand's _Waking the Moon_ would have smelled. Also, oddly, on what worked out to be our first date, between my now-husband and myself, i went into a Body Shop (Town Center, Kennesaw, yo) and discovered that the perfume spray of Juba had been discontinued. i didn't have my wallet with me, but he bought me all the bottles they had left. i'm down to my last two now, but i still have a stockpile of the oil and i still wear it when i need a little extra courage, oomph, or just need that certain something.

This is what my mom wore when her signature Amarige by Givenchy was too formal for the occasion. She wouldn't wear Joba daily, but she would wear it out for dinners (Amarige doesn't suit dinner parties - too loud - whew!). It was such a sensual scent, that it really affected my perception of my mom. I saw her as youthful and free when she wore it, someone who was more of a friend than a mother. I wish I had some now, to smell, for sentimental reasons. I'm a fan of The Body Shop, I've used nearly all the perfume oils at one time or another, plus the newer Love ETC and White Musk Libertine - but Joba is by far the nicest. If a major fashion house like Lanvin had somehow packaged the scent it would have been a hit with serious perfume lovers, I believe!

I'm rewriting my review!!!! Good God I got this 7 years ago and it has been discontinued since. I've hated it..until recently! It used to sting my nostrils bad, but even then, I refused to throw it away. This is a well made fragrance, as all TBS perfume oils with black caps are. Sillage and Longevity are beyond amazing. I know these never go bad, and as long as you don't spill it, it will last forever (well...almost). I figured a way to remove the stinging, almost rancid feel of this fragrance. Layer it with a warm and creamy TBS perfume oil to tame the sharpness and hold the fragrance down. I recently aquired another discontinued TBS oil, Indian Gardenia, dabbed it on my wrist, waited for about half an hour then remembered I still had Juba and decided to resurrect it. I dabbed it on the same spot I placed Indian Gardenia. It smelled amazing! Indian Gardenia's creamy quality was able to turn Juba from medicinal to mouth watering. Very fresh without being sharp, syrupy yet intoxicating. Think canned mandarin oranges, drenched in light syrup then topped with salt. Perfect summer to fall scent. I'm starting to love Juba!

I dated a beautiful Latina girl back in the 1980s who used to wear Prescriptives Calyx. After we broke up, as young couples often do, I noticed a waitress at work started wearing Juba oil and I could sense somewhat of a similarity - both were fresh, sweet and made me want to get closer. Can't believe the Body Shop would discontinue such an amazing scent! The mainstream dribble in their current line-up is very uninspired at best. Their vintage version of White Musk was also totally intoxicating! I recommended it to another waitress at the same restaurant and she smelled divine! Ah, memories...