Jazz Prestige

***** Amongst those collectors for whom the pursuit of now obsolete olfactory treasures remains a constant source of fascination and nay, dare I say, obsession, then the discovery of a boxed, full bottle of YSL’s, ‘Jazz Prestige’, would be similar to a back-street car-boot-fare scenario in which Steve Buscemi’s, ‘Seymour’, discovers a pristine copy of an early, vinyl, John Coltrane album released on the original Prestige record label. Indeed, just as in Terry Zwigoff’s remarkable, Ghost World (2001), we would see ‘Seymour’ admire the album’s sleeve and 50s artwork: feel the weight of the vinyl as it slides from out of its inner sleeve: watch his thorough inspection of the disc for scratches, faults etc, and ultimately his playing this disc on his old hi-fi equipment to preserve the sound of the day, marvelling at the ‘live’ feel of early Coltrane’s ‘sheets of sound’ captured on an analogue –not digital – recording: Buscemi’s trademark over-crowded teeth breaking in to characteristic easy, yet friendly grin - left foot tapping in time to the beat of Art Taylor’s driving drumming. Such is the masterpiece of ‘Jazz Prestige’: a bottle of now discontinued hard-bop perfume delight that, like the youthful Coltrane’s tenor solos, goes on-and-on: twisting and turning as the (unknown) nose throws everything in to this creation, yet manages to ‘pull it off’ with an unfolding series of outcomes that constantly engage and inspire the wearer. So, as if in the film Seymour had also been in to vintage perfumes, I ask you to imagine Buscemi’s unmistakable laconic tone giving enthusiastic, erudite commentary to the quietly quizzical, ‘Enid’, (Thora Birch), having judiciously sprayed ‘Jazz Prestige’ on to each others’ wrists. I shall leave you to imagine the rest.... ‘You see...it is at once citrus bright; aromatic green, and kinda deeply floral, with a heavy ylang-ylang head note to me.....but don’t be fooled by the box: this is really a unisex despite the 90s bullshit marketing label. Yeah... here we go...this baby is backed by a depth of pepper and spices: an ‘Oriental’. Here...check this out...yeah! Great! You get the apples, okay...but wait now for the chypre notes...these were really cool in the late-50s/60s with a guy called Chant...but here’s the thing...this is no chypre either...cool...you dig the ‘leather’. Yeah that’s genius...really....but you wait a few hours and tell me how this smells then. The oriental shifts to chypre and then to a true fougere...the tonka bean-plus oakmoss thing...yeah, that’s right, the Paco Rabanne fern vibe. Only this is a 1000 times better! In fact, this is one of the best fougere chords there’s ever been, though most people out there just don’t know it, they just stick to Paco and Drakkar. No go on...take it, friend: it’s for you!’

I really miss this fragrance, a flanker of the awesome Jazz.. Jazz was my signature scent and have been using on and off since my teenager days. What will make me extremely happy is to be able to get Jazz Prestige again. I remember it to be even stronger and with better longevity than the normal Jazz. I could go out clubbing and after dancing the whole night, still be smell it on myself after showering the next morning. Amazing creation. I wish YSL can bring this back but since L'Oreal took over around 2008, things have been going downhill so it is very unlikely that the world will get to smell this masterpiece again. 10/10 UPDATE: 16 February 2021. I was able to secure in total 10x 50 ml sealed bottles from a seller on eBay in the USA. My personal stock levels of my original signature fragrance is now sorted for a VERY long time. LOL. All are from a September 1996 batch and they arrived today. It is as awesome smelling as I remember it to be. The items were obviously immaculately stored which has a big effect on how potent and good they will smell decades later. I have bought a couple of vintages recently all 13 years + in age that is either weak or the top notes smell a bit "off", all coming from countries with very high average temperatures. Prestige is much richer and more potent than the original Jazz release. The opening is almost like a blast of notes being thrown in your face and really awesome. I get the carnation, tobacco accord and some green notes not present in the original Jazz. The drydown is one the very best of all my fragrances with the prominent sandalwood. Mysore sandalwood is indeed listed as a note on the Jazz Prestige box. I have realised that chances are probably zero that Prestige would have been released again, so I am happy that I was able to track it down again after just over 20 years. As I have both Prestige and vintage Jazz (in the white & black molded plastic cover) now at the same time, I was able to do a direct comparison. I definitely prefer Prestige over the original. Although I wear fragrances primarily for myself, this gets me unsolicited compliments every time I wear it. It obviously projects very well and stays a full day on me.

YSL Jazz Prestige, a flanker to the original Jazz released in 1993, is now discontinued but still admired by fragrance enthusiasts. The fragrance opens with a refreshing blend of bergamot and mint, giving it a crisp and invigorating start. As it develops, notes of geranium and apple emerge, adding a subtle fruity sweetness and floral nuance. The base is warm and slightly smoky, with sandalwood, tobacco, benzoin, and patchouli providing depth and a touch of vintage charm. In terms of performance, Jazz Prestige lasts around 6 to 8 hours on the skin. Its projection is moderate—noticeable within arm’s reach—and the sillage is subtle but present, making it suitable for close encounters without being overpowering. This scent is versatile and works well for casual daytime wear, especially in spring and fall. Its aromatic freshness and warm base make it appropriate for both relaxed and semi-formal settings. Overall, Jazz Prestige is often seen as a more approachable and modern take on the original Jazz. It retains a masculine character while introducing a fresh, slightly daring twist. Due to its discontinued status, it has become a collector’s item and can be quite expensive on the secondary market.

I would LOVE to see this AMAZING juice make a return to the market. The sharp notes of lavender with a spicy undertones of sandalwood being supported by cypress and oakmoss giving this juice a real attractive bold aroma. There's warm floral aroma from Geranium, carnations which helps to soften the sharp spicy notes. The aroma of leather is just noticeable when it's combined with nutmeg this juice has a very attractive robust aroma . This fragrance has such complex blend of notes coming together beautifully like a symphony. Longevity and Silage is very high lasting well past 8hrs It is a real shame that this fragrance is not available anymore. :(( I'm soo happy that I found a 100ml bottle, I use it sparingly knowing that I won't be so fortunate to have another bottle. Prestige is just that...a PHENOMENAL JUICE that you won't have anything else to compareit to. Without a doubt this frag is definitely highly recommend. 10/10...this juice is UNBELIEVABLY SEXY...why wait until the summer. The heck with that!!!!!!

i like it. is different. perhaps reminds me selfish chanel platinum but so bitter! is a fragrance that goes in many directions .... we can find a thousand facets like a good wine ..... elegant, sophisticated, stylish, macho, dandy ....... a perfume to have. really suitable for many occasions. 9/10 rich!!!!!