Je Reviens Eau de Toilette

Used to wear this fragrance back in the 70's, had the ECD, pure perfume and a spray EDP in the Lalique "skyscraper" bottle. Loved this scent, the classic version and frankly have been put off the new version by many of the reviews I've read that are quite disparaging (glad to see below that some have found it pleasing though). But the classic is definitely superior in every way. I was lucky enough to win 2 auctions on ebay for the vintage version, one the 2-piece set of EDC and perfume in the Lalique bottles, but this was unopened and still in the original blue box with white satin lining. Got it for a steal, I might add. Then today I found I'd won a bid out of the UK for the EDP in the blue round skyscraper bottle, also unopened and in its original blue box with satin lining! I thank the perfume goddesses who know how much I love this scent and consider myself hugely lucky to have scored these unopened vintage bottles that have been stored in their boxes all this time. I have one small vintage of the perfume that I bought a few years back and was very surprised to find that it's freshness and lovely characteristics were still intact, despite the age. It's almost gone now, so I am looking forward to receiving my lucky purchases. This scent is a perfect daytime scent, sillage varies from very very soft to sometimes moderate as it goes through the drydown, you'll forget it's on and then get a sudden POOF of another scent to remind you. It's a very clean and outdoor fragrance, reminds you of walking in a meadow full of flowers, yet not sickly sweet or cloying, rather light and delicate. Perfect for work, as it is very subtle. And, oddly, the cologne is very long-lasting which I find quite strange, but there are always surprises with our favourites, aren't there? I actually love the vintage in all its formulations, but am afraid it will be a long while before I try the modern version....

This was the very first perfume I ever had, aged 17. It was given to me by my senior office administrator, (aged around 50), probably because she didn't like it, I suspect. It was in a round, but flattish bottle, in a light blue box. I was a little overwhelmed, being given a genuine French perfume, and didn't know what to make of it. I couldn't have named any notes, and didn't know that perfumes changed over time as they were worn. I do remember it smelled a little like Blue Grass, that my sister had, but I felt that it wasn't strong enough to give itself a character - we are talking late 1969 here. I knew nothing about perfume, but I knew at the time that, even though I felt privileged to own it, it didn't suit me. I was a tall, skinny girl with a pixie cut and very short skirts, and I felt this perfume belonged to a airey, silk-wearing hippie kind of girl. I'd love to try it again to see if I've grown into it. EDIT: July 2020. Just snagged 2 bottles, unused, of this in vintage eau de cologne strength on Ebay. (Hope it hasn't degraded). This is the exact same bottle as I was given all those years ago. Will update when I've given it a whirl. EDIT: 26/7/20 Decanted some of the perfume from the dab bottle to a small mist spray. Both the bottles are the Lalique and they are the Eau de Cologne strength. Verdict - beautiful, full-on floral, more like modern EDP strength. Absolutely lovely, but wouldn't think it has much projection, although I can smell it from myself well enough. So glad I was lucky enough to get these, especially at the ridiculous price I paid. I feel I have at last grown into this perfume - it's only taken 40 years! PS - about an hour in, the flowers get smokey - delish.

Have all classics "stood the test of time?" We look at Shalimar and Chanel No. 5, preserved, restored, exalted, after 100 plus years, but there are some that while comparable in their cultural and social significance, languish in the throes of time. Je Reviens EDT in its most recent iterations has grown reedy, fusty, like a forgotten lilac powder with a vaguely plastic-like simulacrum of a dry down. Additionally, vintages that haven't turned are difficult to find, as Je Reviens seems fragile, losing its lustre more so than other aged perfumes. Lastly, it could be argued that the composition itself hasn't aged well enough for even the most dedicated vintage enthusiasts to grasp its appeal. Poor, dear Je Reviens, so misunderstood. This open heart that can find love for even the most humble classics can lean into Je Reviens and feel comfortable. My vintage parfum and eau de toilette have but a silhouette of the aldehydes (my vintage parfum de toilette is just aldehydes for its first half hour), but there is still a shimmer and a glow just beyond: violets, orris, and lilac. It is a metallic blue tenderness, a haunting strangeness. If it were music, it would be written in Lydian scale. It's a melancholy cleanness, a wispy dry soap and starch, with a dreamy outline. What's most pronounced are the clover-azalea salicylates in its heart: the only other fragrances with such a strong presence of salicylates are the original fougeres (Fougere Royale, Wild Fern, English Fern). The base is a twilight tonka on a couch of musk and moss. Take a tip from me: go for old and hope for the best.

Je reviens is one of the most beautiful perfumes I ever smelled in my life . It's connected with my childhood since my mother ( along with miss Dior ) and my older aunt were wearing it. I remember the bottle round with the little angel and with the gold cup with the edges like a clockwork part and I was thinking is this the smell of angels ? For me that was the smell of angels not heavy not sweet or bitter not oriental and certainly not chypre . But what is it anyway ? It's something in between everything it's so rounded that every compound is in perfect harmony an accord in an accord . Everything blends beautifully seamlessly like a silk scarf like a lightweight cashmere pashmina . Of course it is a perfume that changed ( oh ! What's new ) over the years . Now it is thinned watered but thank God it's still smells like the old one of course it lucks the originality that was once it's signature . Of course now is very reasonable priced if not to say cheap. But I don't say cheap smelling on the contrary but whoever smelled the old stuff would certainly agree with me . It's a perfume that I will never erase from my mind and never forget . It's an unmistakable fragrance an original unlike the scents of our times that everything resembles with something else ( alas there are a lot exemptions serge lutens , hellena's creations, annick goutal to name few ) . Je reviens is a beautiful perfume a blend of innocence with a twist of something mysterious feminine and a small drop of evil . Certainly a must .

As usual, I am reviewing this without any influence of other reviews here, or even looking at the notes. It's a hard to find perfume, and I wanted it because so many had said it smelled like Blue Grass. I was so excited to get it, being that I have "captured my prey", muhahaha. Initial spray on inner wrist, oh,my.... it's pure alcohol and quickly goes into lemony baby powder and alcohol. Waiting one minute,lemon baby powder and cardamom, cardamom , cardamom. Then within 30 minutes, I am smelling camphor and baby powder. I am sorry. One hour, and I cannot smell anything but faded camphor. I will say it's my own chemistry, but my goodness, it definitely does not smell like BG. BG is HEAVEN. I believe strongly that this was definitely redone from the original, even though I've never smelled the original. BUT, I will review this perfume again, during the year, take it out to the streets, spray it when it rains, spray it when it's dry....I will give it a chance. EDITED 1 year later 12/2016: Glad I gave it a chance. I guess it needed to breathe, like a fine wine. Wore it occasionally through the year, but now that Winter's here, it just envelops you in a great scent. It 's what snowflakes would smell like if it had a scent....I know, I'm weird...lol The camphor smell if definitely gone. Cardamom is still there but less sharp. Classic, nonsweet, beautifully blended perfume. But it still doesn't smell like BG to me, which is best in the Summer, because it's soapier.