Valentino

My mother used to wear this perfume in the 1990's when I was young her bottle had since ran out a while ago...She used to wear the EDT and the empty bottle she still kept till present day. I could still get whiffs of this marvelous scent when I sniff the nozzle and it brings upon such pleasant memories.. I was a little kid sitting near my mum's feet as she was getting dressed, putting on her make up, and most importantly her perfume. She was young, beautiful and not suffering from any health problems like she is today..and I was a kid with nothing that I have to worry about in the world at all, everyday felt so free. To sum it up, this scent makes me feel very joyful sometimes very nostalgic, re-living the past and temporarily escaping the chaotic world that I am living in today. I was lucky enough to find another bottle earlier today from a perfumery who had put a few of their old tester bottles out for sale after Christmas, I got the EDP (a little more powdery and dense compared to the airy and green EDT) about 90% full for $80. Not a bad price to pay for such a wonderful creation that makes both my mother and my self very happy when we smell whiffs of it.

Floral, dry-sweet and green lots of fresh cut roses, lillies (without the hayfever) and peachy basil on my skin. My mother would wear this in the early 90's for special events and it screamed class to me from a young age. It oozes freshness, and sophistication. This is truly delicious and hard to get hold of without paying a fortune. I had a bottle a few years ago which had turned, recently got a new one for a bargain price which had been stored correctly and smells amazing brings back so many memories. this has a dry sweetness which reminds me of Yvresse and Ysatis, but this has a bit more of a green undertone which reminds me of Estee Lauder Private Collection with the green wet rose notes. Delicious, I start craving this in the spring along with my Fidji, Estee Beautiful love and Elizabeth Taylors diamonds and emeralds all fruity slightly tropical tinged fresh cut florals with green herbaceous undertones.

The cool, crisp green elegance of Valentino opens with what reminds me of the smell of apple blossoms, which happen to be in bloom here in New England. Much like these ephemeral flowers, it smells dewy and clear. The other florals, hyacinth, lily of the valley, reminds me of how you experience them in the air rather than up close and personal. There is also a cucumber-melon-like quality in its heart (perhaps due to cyclamen aldehyde). Its trembling, vernal vibrancy grows more rosy, sweet and dry over its development, winding down to a soft mossiness and subtly animalic musk. It's surprising that among enthusiasts of 70s vintages, especially green fragrances, this isn't discussed quite as much. It's a strikingly beautiful floral, feeling like the flowers and slightly bitter foliage together, after a rain, the sun warming the leaves.

Posh stuff. A perfume of times where Mums were young, the guests for the house were expected, nice food, nice music and most interesting conversations, along with..perfumes. I suppose I was guessing which perfume who will wear, like in old times children where watching on which horse someone have arrived with visit. Valentino is smell of glamour, that was possible and accessible even in hard times, one drop and you are a Queen. One drop and even simple dress will do for theatre, one drop, stolen from Mum's wardrobe, and you are the princess at school. It is still so very beautiful and slightly bitterly sad, as we can only return in childhood days by memory, provided we have this magical drop of Valentino. I want to thank my friend blacktaffeta for this wonderful present, so privileged.

I am immediately drawn back to around 1984. This is one of the first perfumes I bought while living overseas. It captures a time in my life when I was young, felt invincible and carefree like a giddy, worldly traveller who was enjoying life to the fullest and marvelling in the sights and sounds of another world. I remember the sweet and sparkling scent that made me feel so much more grownup and mature than I really was and I probably paid way more than I should have for a perfume but the purchase was made because of the way the scent made me feel and I never regretted that purchase or those memories. Just thinking about it makes me want to search for another bottle for memories sake. P.S. I found a bottle...I'm in Valentino heaven!