Rush (1999)
by Gucci

Bizarre is the first word that comes to mind when describing Gucci Rush.

I'm actually quite familiar with this fragrance, my childhood dance teacher used to wear it as her signature. To me, Rush conjures up memories from the past. It's the smell of lipstick, hairspray, various cosmetics and hair curlers.

Gucci Rush does however smells wonderful on smokers. The smokey tobacco tends to blend wonderfully with the plasticky, peachiness that is Gucci Rush.

However, without the tobacco, this fragrance is a nightmare. Oddly enough I find that if I continue to smell Rush I start liking it as my nose becomes accustomed to its unique smell, however if I leave it for 30 minutes and then go back to it, I'm back to disliking the scent.

It's either a love it or hate it. I personally dislike the tackyness of the packaging and the cheapness of the fragrance itself. I'm usually pretty open-minded with unique fragrances, but in this particular case I am not.

This is what I'd describe as being the smell of melted lipstick meets tomato sauce. Odd, loud and nauseating, it seems to last a lifetime on my skin. Even harsh scrubbing can't kill this fragrance or help regain my sense of smell.

26th June, 2011.

I don't usually like even a hint of powder but for Rush I make an exception. What does it smell like? It smells like you intend to have a great time.

Me (to guy): ...Did you just rub your chin on my shoulder?
guy (now sheepish): I was smelling you...is that cool?
Me (laughing): It's cool.

You may want to wait until after sundown, but wear Gucci Rush. People will smell you.

So, as long as you are cool with that.

27th April, 2011.

Rush is good, if you like plastic peaches, shrinkwrapped jasmine and hairspray. A very loud pop scent for silly robot-girls on extasy. You spray it in Rome they smell it in New York. Amazing, but not my type.

28th March, 2011. (Last Edited: 4th April, 2011.)

You know, us perfumistas love to denounce "modern chypres" as far cries from the real oakmossy deal, but Rush manages to smell both modern and genuinely chypre-like in its use of patchouli, vetiver, and fauxmoss. When I first wore it I was struck by what I detected as a clear similarity to classic lactonic chypres like Rochas Femme, particularly in Rush's drydown. The milky lactones, vanilla, cedar (which seems to be emphasized on my skin), and warming patchouli give Rush a nice fat bottom, like a fruity floral with the bass turned up. And then, of course, there's that fuzzy, synthetic, almost chemical haze in the opening - a mix of Scotch tape, hairspray, and...toner cartridge? VCR head cleaner? It's an utterly bizarre, addictive, delicious and hilarious fragrance, hugely underrated, and a joy to wear. May it never be discontinued.

27th February, 2011.

I bought this for my wife -- I love it on her!

6th January, 2011.

There’s nothing I can add to the comments I’ve read about how this smells. Hairspray, lactones, patchouli, non-existent flowers, bubblegum, poppers. All true.

It’s the feeling, though. There’s not even an attempt to tether this thing to anything actually botanical. Natural and chemical are words I tend not to use, because what do they mean? Nature, as we use it discussing the environment, has no meaning whatsoever when you look at it. And what matter isn’t chemical? That said, Rush’s value is that it is unnatural and chemical. And altogether unapologetic. And all the better for it.

If this is a signature scent, I pity the people close to the wearer. This is definitively an occasional scent. It is loud, cruisy, intolerant and laughs incessantly. This is the Dionysus of perfume. It’s also monotonous, not in the sense of humdrum, but of hitting one note, and one note only, endlessly. There is very little evolution in time with this one, but why should it be otherwise? Who wants a party to end? All credit to Tania Sanchez for describing this as both large-scale outdoor art and intended for a night out. That’s the best characterization I can imagine for this baby. Ultimately, though, the night-on–the-town analogy gives with one hand and takes with the other. Yes, Rush is the life of the party. Absolutely. We’re all drawn to her when she arrives. But she’s also the sitter. The last one at the party, dancing drink-in-hand by herself while everyone else has left.

Wonderful.

9th December, 2010. (Last Edited: 26th January, 2011.)