Sikkim (1971)
by Lancôme

Sikkim reminds me of the expression, “to fly off the handle.” Sikkim’s escalation is so quick that it doesn’t even seem like progression, just the flip from something calm to something disturbed. The first sniff sends you reeling. Sikkim is fast, rough and, I don’t know---I guess abundant. It’s just everything at once. It’s a heavy, raspy green chypre, but, although light on amber sweetness, it’s also a big spicy oriental with an almost medicinal vibe. It’s a great, fun ride, and in the end it’s an animalic green chypre with a dusting of spiced sweetness. Built from so many drydown materials, this scent has remarkable endurance, but (blessedly) that quality lovely of many stark chypres---it becomes a skin/body scent in the drydown.

29th November, 2010.

I found these notes on the internet:
"ylang-ylang, jasmine, galbanum, oakmoss, leather, patchouli".
It seems there is an original version from the 70's and a modern (re)release. No idea what I am sampling as it a mini edt (I'm guessing it's oldish). It opens in a dry lemony (maybe petitgrain) swirl. And then there is a fresh greeness. In the mid notes there is the faint suggestion of toast (?) or I am possibly crazy. In the EDT there are no basenotes to speak of. A faint suggestion of the dry green and white floral notes remain.

12nd October, 2010.

I remember a sample from the 1970s - I didn't like it: it strongly reminded me of cough-medicine. Syrupy, cloying sweetness to cover something bitter and nasty. But perhaps it has been modified in the meantime?

20th April, 2010.

Thumbs wayyyyy up! Relaunched as an EDP in 2005 as part of the Lancome La Collection series, this is one serious chypre! Oriental in feeling with a melange of musks and spices, leather and greens. Not for the faint of heart. A somewhat animalic edge pervades this 1970's classic.

15th January, 2006.