Nuit De Longchamp (1934)
by Lubin

A soapy, powdery, balsamic Chypre featuring orange blossom, balsam, oakmoss, and spices. There is some broom in this, which might account for its strangeness. Broom (or Genet) is not a usual note, and it tends to add haylike or tobacco nuances to a fragrance. Along with oakmoss, that would impart an old-fashioned character to this perfume that modern tastes would find challenging.

24th August, 2011.

"All my writing is about the recognition that there is no single reality. But the beauty of it is that you nevertheless go on, walking towards utopia, which may not exist, on a bridge which might end before you reach the other side."
Marguerite Young

Nuit de Longchamps is one of those scents that you will never mistake for another. My mini is dark caramel in color wiht a black top, so I believe I own a vintage version.

It seems every time I wear this it wears differently; thus, my attraction to the above comment 'no single reality'. Sometimes it is a strong hairspray/aldehyde that makes me think 'oh oh', and sometimes it is a smooth, highly polished woody oriental. I want to point out the two balsam notes, so ask yourself how you've rated similar scents in the past (Ormond's Tolu Balsam, for example). The dry down is sweeter than the sandalwood/oakmoss would suggest.

I agree that this is more of a 'mature' scent. If you bid for it on ebay you won't be competing with any of the younguns, that's for sure. Certianly for your own private utopian use.

I like it, and place it in my 'quirky gems' category.

20th February, 2011.

Hilaryjane very kindly sent me a sample of this in Eau de Cologne form and the formulation which is now considered vintage. A complex oriental blast of rose,ylang,powder, orange blossom ,carnation -smooth and rich even in cologne strength. The opening reminds me a little of Opium , Normandie by Jean Patou and Jubilation 25 by Amouage after which it veers into a powdery ,lighter ,rosy dustiness .
Classically good ladies' 'perfume.'

6th October, 2010.

I believe I have a vintage sample. There is nothing remotely modern in what I am smelling. This scent opens in the way common to many vintage scents when I assume the top citrus-type notes have turned. The powdery base is apparent right from the beginning..strong powder. When it settles an indistinct ylang/rose/carnation arises. The powder has a more vanilla tone. It's a powdery floral on my skin, similar to "Ecusson." It evokes the past. It's hard for me to comment..I'm not sure how well it has traveled over time.

16th June, 2010.

I have a bottle of the original (some what evaporated and dark) so I thought I would compare it to the new one.
Lovely!! Smooth, elegant and refined and a great reformulation.
It is not as full bodied as the original, lacking the natural civet and oakmoss base that suports so much but beautiful, feminine and utterly romantic though not in the modern trite, sweet, cloying, white flower way.
It opens with a burst of ylang ylang and jasmine flowers with rose at the forefront, then a warm floral chypre and dries down to a soft orris powder. Beautiful.
I know that people always say this this type of fragrance is 'old ladyish' but they forget that these were perfumes were once as young and modern as the old ladies who wear them! This is a symphony in smell where as so many modern ones are merely ring tones by comparison. 10 out of 10!

31st May, 2010.

Review for the re-release which is EdP.

Opens with a white floral citrus array of orange blossoms and bergamot and roses. What's really nice about this fragrance is its subtlety. It does not need to be loud and all the notes seems to dance around in a playful mood. Dries down into an elegant chypre with ylang-ylang hovering over top. Beautiful and not all too expensive.

14th December, 2008.