Jardins de Bagatelle (1983)
by Guerlain

Why are Geurlain still pushing this out -- maybe it's time has come again. To me, it's a cold, synthetic, tinny floral that should have been dumped in 1984.

30th December, 2010.

Has a great openning like a Beethoven symphony, all of a sudden all organs playing loud fills the air. Powdery and a bit dated but really luxurious. The main flower is tuberuse with an violet iris end which gives the powdery effect. I will spare it for my fifties though.

21st September, 2010.

This was one of my favourite scents in the late 80's up until 1993. Men loved it. They would ask me for the name of my perfume so they could buy it for their wives. It was divine. I recently splashed out and bought it again. Big mistake. I don't know who has changed more - me or it. But, in any case, the affair is over. It's like seeing someone you once adored in the street and asking yourself what on earth you ever saw in them. It now makes me flinch so dramatically I practically give myself whiplash. Still, every now and then (because I am a romantic soul) I spray on a little hoping for the old magic to return. It never does. Maybe I should just face facts.

18th December, 2009.

Lots of flowers in this garden… Jardins de Bagatelle is a very nice ‘80s floral – mainly white floral. It is refined and smooth, with the top notes and middle notes presenting a massed floral display: I can’t separate out the individual notes, but it is a pleasant aroma without anything except its competence happening. I can’t determine the differences between the top and the heart notes, but the base comes in with its own identity. The base of vetiver and cedar features a nice civet note which adds a bit of depth to JdB. I think that the civet dates the fragrance a little.

It’s a nice fragrance – I like it but I don’t see it as anything special in its present incarnation. Chances are, this, as so many others of its time, has been reformulated to its own detriment. Good sillage and longevity.

4th December, 2009.

One of the first white florals that didn't sock me in the nose. So soft and creamy in it's initial stages, then the dry-down is more ethereal than I would have expected. Medium sillage and good longevity...I like to wear this for day-time.

18th November, 2009.

Hmm, just got a sample of this through. Smells dated to me, reminds me very much of YSL Paris which was much loved in the 80s. Not unpleasant though just don't think I'll be buying or wearing it.

3rd August, 2009.