Reviews of Fendi (original) (1985)
by Fendi

I should point out that although I'm a 20-something heterosexual male, I would wear this perfume. I know it's discontinued and extremely hard to find now, but there are still bottles out there, and I am seriously considering buying one for myself. There are definitely warm floral elements to it, but there's also something very bold, like a suggestion of oak and leather that for me sends Fendi beyond the feminine realm and into that of a unisex fragrance. I have come across only a handful of women who have worn Fendi, or anything like it, which makes me think that its waning popularity would lend it a unique anonymity, and I doubt anyone would smell it on me and think "you smell like a girl." I'm Italian, so maybe I'm biased, but this is Italian fragrance at its best in my opinion. When I think of all the wonderful smells of Italy's countryside, Fendi is right there with them.

This was my "signature scent" for over ten years, and I'll always love it, no matter how "dated" it may seem. A lovely, warm, sensual fragrance with excellent longevity. Be careful with the layering and formulations, as a too-heavy hand will do you in! A quick spritz of EDT should have you covered for hours! Full-strength parfum, especially if layered over the lotion, can give a very harsh bug-spray like chemical note that should be avoided. Also, the lotion has a pearlized sheen to it that always annoyed me.

I just bought a bottle of Fendi edt usniffed in my local drugstore on clearance for $8. Poor Fendi! Reduced to the drugstore bargain bin! I can see how people would think it's overbearing - it's not the style we are accustomed to today - and I do get the medicinal note that Tanto mentions. I also smell a vegetal note (celery/cilantro-like) which must be the geranium. As it dries down it's a bit spicy, and has a tobacco shop/pipe tobacco honeyed quality that someone mentioned. I get powdery leathery rosy florals on top of that. It's definitely a 1980's power chypre/oriental. It reminds me of Coco a little, also Paloma Picasso, also Agent Provocateur (although that's recent), even 1000 de Patou a little. It's dated, but I go around in other dated fragrances that are even more obnoxious. I quite like this little bottle. It smells sexy and dressy-uppy. If this edt is the reformulation, I can't imagine how potent and rich the original parfum must have been. Not bad for a drugstore bargain bin find.

One of the prettiest and softest non-feminine foral. On my skin, it is a snug and warm scent that I can't resist sniffing. Sadly under-rated. I wish more men will wear this.

Wore this when I was likely too young for it (High School), but then I was also wearing Poison and Opium then, as well. I still keep a bottle around and found this one for almost nothing at an antique store. Great on me for special winter evenings. Even smells good on my hubby, too!

Strong, overbearing, and medicinal. This is one fragrance that I find has "no appeal". The best way to wear this fragrance is to keep it in it's bottle on top of your dresser !! When it was popular in the mid 80's, women would wear this and think they were so "fashionable" BUT what they don't realize is that when they walked out of the room, other people would comment on how horrible it was. I'm so happy that this stink water is now out of vogue and we no longer have to suffer through smelling it on others.

I remember as child smelling this on my Godmother. For the sake of scentiment I purchased it at a grocery store, and jokingly spritzed it on. Eventually I began seriously wearing it, despite the fact that it is a women's perfume, and really does "smell like an expensive fur coat" (as described by Fendi). I received a few compliments for it (once from a man at the gym, who seemed to think I had exceedingly good taste...) It was also my signature fragrance while I vacationed in Brazil. I have no idea how or if I pulled it off.

Fendi's original perfume is a rich and elaborate fragrance, based in Patchouli, geranium, tobacco, spices, honey, etc., etc. The top notes are jarring and I do not like them--sharply floral. The middle notes sometimes reacted funny with my chemistry and smelled putrid--I preferred to wear it on clothing rather than have it mix with my man-oils. The basenotes, with the noticeable presence of patchouli, are what really attract me to the fragrance. But for me, as a male, it is not worth waiting for them to develop! I have since bought a patchouli cologne that spares me from walking around in the voluminous gowns, lustrious floral and mink robes of Fendi's original.

The Fendi sisters described their signature fragrance as "what an expensive fur coat would smell like". Not a line used in today's marketing, I'm sure - but it is accurate as a brief; Fendi smells very warm, very furry, very expensive and very dated.

I wore this for awhile, even tho I am a floral person, I found it to be really nice and spicy! Even tho I am a floral person at heart, I love the smell of cherry tobacco in a pipe or the smell of a tobacco shop at the mall. mmmmmm

I wore this as a cocktail waitress in a jazz bar. It was just perfect for me at the time: close to the skin it was sweet honey and leather, but threw a powerful floral that cut through the smokey haze of the bar and kept me feeling fresh. I got complements every night. I don't have a bottle anymore, but even thinking about that time in my life brings back the scent of Fendi...

CalChic has nailed the essence of this beauty - luxurious flowers and smoky leathers. At once zingy and sensual - a real woman's frag. I wear it in all kinds of weather and situations - it surrounds me in opulence. Wore the original twenty years ago - this latest version (a gift from a generous BNer) is just as good. A must have...

love it, it's the only perfume I have ever worn that everyone comments on, especially men, smells like the sweets 'Cherry Lips' YUM

This is one of my all time faves. Patchouli, musk, leather and honey drizzled over a sunkissed skin. Yummy. Makes me feel all woman when I wear it, and gets great reaction from my husband.!!! Every time!!! What more can a girl ask!!! Joking aside, this scent is perfect for any occasion as it makes you fell invincible. Ideal for that tricky business meeting when you want to feel confident and succesful.

One of my all-time favorite scents. It feels "just right" to me, in the Goldilocks sense. When I wear it, I feel well put together and confident and totally at home.

I've owned both the original version & the new mix. Only once have a smelled such a distinct perfume (Dolce & Gabbana's Pour Femme is the other). Fendi is not for the shrinking violet. Fendi works on a woman who is aggressive & knows what she wants. I cannot name the notes in Fendi, but it all works! Careful tho, more than one spray of the original can choke an overzealous user.

One of the most beautiful floral/leather scents for women! It's an olfactory aphrodisiac for me!

If you can wear this fragrance well, consider yourself fortunate - because on the right person, it is incredibly beautiful. I find it to be a very, very sweet, almost syrupy chypre with quite a lot of patchouli, which is what really stands out and "makes" it on the right wearer, I've noticed. There are also threads of leather, carnation, sandalwood and spice, all woven together to create something deep and luxuriant. It very much says "Fendi," which brings to mind amazing leathers and furs and topaz-toned silks. Seems most apropos for cooler weather though I've met at least one person on whom this smells terrific even in 100-degree plus heat and intense humidity.