Chaos (1996)
by Donna Karan

I may finally have found the ultimate saffron perfume! This vintage sample of Donna Karan CHAOS offers a hefty core of saffron which is buttressed by a variety of dark oriental elements to produce a gorgeous tapestry of scents. The saffron dominates from start to finish on my skin, but there is so much more going on than just that note, which swirls together with wood, incense, and herbs in an enticing and magical way.

I have been dissatisfied with some other saffron perfumes, including AP SAFRAN TROUBLANT, which strikes me as a Demeter-like culinary facsimile of saffron rice. I really do love the inviting aroma of saffron rice—but in the kitchen, not on my skin! Other compositions I've tried have been more complex but unbalanced or incoherent. Still others boast saffron as a note though it remains hidden from my nose.

CHAOS manages to avoid all of these mistakes. The only real complaint I could even begin to make would be that the perfume seems to me to be misnamed, as this composition is not at all chaotic. That's no criticism of this beautiful perfume, though, which has fairly big sillage and excellent longevity on top of everything else.

If it is true, as some have suggested, that the recent re-launch is of the original CHAOS formula, I'll definitely be adding this splendid creation to my collection!

22nd September, 2011.

Chaos is all about Spices. This one starts with a blast of coriander mixed with saffron, (but it isn't strong, on the contrary, it is a light spicy smell). and this combination goes on and on.

At the end, we then have something resembling a leather note mixed with a hint of musk.

21st August, 2011.

This unusual fragrance has long been a favorite; not a particulary feminine type,
but deeply mysterious, even a bit asexual in content. I noticed that it was
available on line at astonishing high prices, but patience pays and now the
original Chaos has been brought back into DK's line. It's distinctive bottle
is gone - now in a slender black column. It's available at Neiman Marcus,
only in EDP and under $100. Welcome home, Chaos!!

1st April, 2011.

An extraordinarily beautiful creation. I still have a little bit of this precious potion left in the original crystal bottle. I bought it for someone else who (unbelievably) couldn't get on with it - she very kindly gave it back and I started wearing it.

Others have described it well in the reviews; intensley fruitcakey, slightly oily, sweet n' sour, musky unisex aroma that lasts days. 'Masterpiece' is a bit of an overused word...but this surely deserves that title. Amazing stuff.

1st February, 2011.

The top notes and heart were lovely -- the cardamom especially delicious -- but the drydown is a little too sheer and indistinct for me.

The SA drenched me in this after deciding it smelled so great on my skin...and usually, in that sort of volume, I can happily glimpse the scent for hours afterward. This just disappeared.

Great fragrance though, no doubt about that.

5th November, 2010.

Michael Kors, kors opens with sandalwood
and white flowers first tuberose with it's acidity sweet accord and with gardenia
Lily starts the middle notes with spicy
sweet crispy note dries to an air of fresh
fressia amber provides the drying down
that is warm with musk that makes it a bit animalistic there is an leather undertone which lurks under the delicate
white florals freesia sandalwood and other notes in this.

turns this into an mysterious with a bit
of a clinical reputare.

9th October, 2010.