Jil Sander No. 4 (1990)
by Jil Sander

Ah.... I used to wear this years ago. I loved it. I so wanted to go back to it now, as I was recently on a mission to find a new signature fragrance. Sadly, it is quite expensive, and hard to find in the larger size. I refuse to buy 1.7 ounce bottles of any fragrance, when I can pay on average about ten dollars more to get the 3.4 ouncers. Ever place I searched on line, it was out of stock. I still hope that one day, I will find it available in the larger size, and then I can snatch up a few bottles of this. It is wonderfully refreshing. It is great for romantic wear, but also a great office scent, as it screams "POWER" with a "I'm in charge" sort of scent. This is a fragrance with confidence.

I find myself thinking often, "how can something so great, so flawless and classic be discontinued?! I cannot bear it!" And I always mean it, but this time I mean it the most.

In my top three faves.

Jil Sander is:
Swank
Classic
Elegant
Alluring
Perfect
Haunting

I seem to be a sucker for plum an peach in the same chypre, and this one does it in a really dark-as-night manner.

I agree its closest relative is Knowing (also great), but I think it's the finer fragrance. Knowing is a stately tudor-revival mansion graced by an impeccable woman's respect for tradition. Jil Sander is the real, kept-up Tudor manor, inhabited by eccentric, stylish gentry.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis supposedly wore this; perfect match. Rose and geranium make it a little soapy to start, but the fruits help out. Soon it melts into a classy white flower with rich herbs and resins to round it into a warm, sophisticated floral-oriental. Not to modern, not to old school. Good lasting properties. Nice to wear with a cocktail dress.

Top note: galbanum, geranium, peach, plum, rose
Heart note: carnation, heliotrope, jasmine, myrrh, rose, tarragon, tuberose, violet, ylang-ylang
dry down: ambergris, moss, musk, patchouli, sandalwood, vanilla

It smells of jasmine + plum + nice coniferous note + honey, very elegant scent, comfortable, soothing, deep, there is something aromatherapeutic in it, dark and soft, like a black velveteen, has a little in common with Poison and Romeo di Romeo Gigli (EDP!)

Jil Sander #4 is like a softer-edged version of Estee Lauder Knowing. It has the same woodiness, the same tuberose, moss, patchouli, and musk. But it starts with a fabulous green opening note, and then introductrs a beautiful peach or plum fruit, while Knowing is more orangey.
The vanilla in the drydown is the main difference between the two. Knowing is clearer, with emphasis on the patchouli, while #4 is creamy and much more vanillic. Both of them have a nice, soft finish, with Knowing being more powdery and long-lasting.
I have loved Knowing for a long time. It is strong, though. If I overapply, I get a bit of a pushy, overdone, chemical smell. #4 smells similar, but without the danger of overdose. Very nice.

This is difficult for me to rate, because it's not my "type" of fragrance - it's too heavy on the floral notes for my taste. If you like that sort of fragrance, this would be a winner, but I'll pass on this one...though I will try it again sometime simply because I think it's destined to become a classic.